CLEVELAND(AP) -- A planned fan protest seemed to fail as Cleveland
Browns Stadium was three-quarters filled before Monday night's
kickoff against Baltimore.
Two die-hard Browns fans, disgusted with the direction of the
1-7 team, had urged fans to stay away from their seats for the
start, hoping it would send a message to team owner Randy
Lerner.
There were thousands of empty seats for the opening kickoff, but
it was difficult to know if they were because of the protest or
late-arriving fans. The notorious Dawg Pound bleacher section -
where the protest's organizers normally sit - was at near
capacity.
Heidi Nicklaus of Cleveland seemed to sum up the sentiments of
the majority of the fans and took issue with the boycott's
organizers.
"If you're a fan, you're a fan," she said. "If you're not, go
find another team to root for. You should be in your seats for
the kickoff. I'm a fan. I'm going to my seat."
Dan Kelly, who grew up in Cleveland and now lives in Akron,
thought the boycott was a good idea. Kelly, who is 60, has been
attending Browns games for 40 years. He wore a hockey
goalie-type mask similar to the character that frightened people
in the movie "Friday the 13th." The phrase "Wait Till Next Year"
was written on the mask.
"I've looked at this stuff since I was a kid and it's always
wait till next year," Kelly said.
Kelly, a barber, talks with fans every day and thinks their
frustration with Lerner, who also owns the Aston Villa soccer
team in the English Premier League, is boiling over.
"They think Lerner's more interested in his soccer team," Kelly
said. "They think he's playing with the fans. You shouldn't play
with the fans."
Kelly is glad Cleveland has one thing in its favor.
"I'm more of a Browns fans than a Cavaliers fan, but thank God
for LeBron (James)," he said.
Justin Miller, who lives near Youngstown, thought the boycott
had some merit, but won't abandon his team.
"I've been in the military," he said. "I've traveled all over
the country and all over the world. I've seen Browns Backers
clubs almost everywhere I've gone. It is frustrating, but I'll
never give up on the Browns."
The two fans who initiated the protest online recently met for
two hours with Lerner.
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