"If the Ravens go to the Super Bowl and are successful, I'll be happy," Polensek said. "I think in a lot of people's hearts in Cleveland, they feel the same way."
But in the case of Modell and Cleveland - as with runaway Colts owner Robert Irsay and Baltimore - forgiving and forgetting are too much for some fans.
Some Browns fans blame Cleveland officials for not offering a new football stadium earlier, but there remains overwhelming sentiment that Modell did not have to move the team.
"I don't think there's anybody left who wants to stone him," said John Barry, 54, a lifelong Browns fanatic and president of the Bumpers Browns Backers, a team fan club. "At the same time, there aren't any real Browns fans who would wish his team well. We haven't forgotten him or what he did."
He insists that fans in Cleveland wish Modell no personal ill, but they don't want to see his team in the Super Bowl.
"Absolutely nothing against Baltimore," Barry said, "but nobody here wants to see that man succeed."
Though support for Modell in Baltimore is at an all-time high, some residual Browns fans in Maryland will be rooting for the Oakland Raiders today.
Terry Hunt, past president of the Baltimore Browns Backers, said she will be happy if the Ravens get to the Super Bowl, but not this season. Not until Modell gives up ownership of the team.
"I think what bothers me is the way he's treated in Baltimore," she said. "To me, he's cut from the same mold as Irsay, yet it's OK because he brought a football team back to Baltimore rather than taking one away. I have nothing against the players or the fans - I want the fans in Baltimore to be happy - but I can't believe how quickly they embraced him.
"I guess everybody likes a winning team."
