Jim Brown skipping Browns' ring ceremony in team rift

CLEVELAND (AP) - Brown was an adviser to Browns owner Randy Lerner before he was stripped of his duties by Mike Holmgren, who was hired in December...

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown has informed Browns president Mike Holmgren that he will not attend the Sept. 19 ceremony when the team unveils its new ring of honor.

Brown, considered the greatest player in team history, is one of 16 Hall of Famers to be inducted in the ring during halftime of the team’s home opener against Kansas City.

Brown was an adviser to Browns owner Randy Lerner before he was stripped of his duties by Holmgren, who was hired in December.

Brown sent a letter to Holmgren that was obtained by The Plain Dealer. In his letter, Brown says he had no formal contract as an adviser with the Browns, and he believes his agreement with Lerner was violated because a clause in it stated he would answer to no one but the owner.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

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