The 1923 Cleveland Indians season was their first in the National Football League (NFL).
[1] The team also canceled one home game with the Toledo Maroons due to poor attendance, with just 400 fans paying admission.
[2] Team owner Sam H. Deutsch declaring that if he had allowed the two squads to take the field, he would have lost $7,500 due to salaries, guarantees to the visiting team, park rental fees, and other incidentals.
[2] Cleveland was not forced to absorb a forfeit for their failure to play, despite the fact that both teams were present and ready to take the field.
[2] Deutsch asserted that he still lost $2,500 on the day despite having stopped the contest.