Kosar owes almost $1.5 million in "unsecured debt" to the Cleveland Browns, who he played for from 1985 to 1993. Kosar also owes his ex-wife Babette $3 million and $725,000 (from a personal loan) to the owner of the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League. He owes a bank more than $9 million for bad real estate deals.

You know you're screwed when two of your biggest creditors are your ex-wife and your former boss. A statement released by his lawyer blames the bad economy.

''His misplaced trust and reliance on those close to him to manage his businesses and finances along with the global recession has been the impetus of this last resort,'' the statement said.

His ex-wife tells it a little bit differently.

She accused him of acting ''financially irrationally and irresponsibly'' by ''giving away money'' and other assets, according to court documents. Kosar, indeed, told The Miami Herald in 2006 that he gives away money, calling himself ''very generous.''

If generous=foolish, then I'd say he's about right. This is just another example of athletes not taking the initiative to learn about their own finances. Do your homework, utilize trustworthy financial advisers and pay attention to where your cash is going. And never ever let your ex-wife see you giving money to charity that could be used for her botox injections.

For $228,806 in unpaid taxes. For his part Kosar claims the bills got lost in the mail after his divorce from wife, Babette, led to a new address. Has any marriage to a woman named Babette not ended in divorce? We linked this in blogdome but that was before Kosar added a chef to his enemy list. Yep, Kosar is also embroiled in a feud with his business partner, Dan Heri— a former chef at the inventively named Bernie Kosar's Steakhouse.

In pertinent part Kosar and his chef have been engaging in email warfare. Which the Miami Herald nicely excerpts:

Harri: ''Kosar Hospitality owes me . . . I have kept very low profile on this.'' Kosar: ``I went way above what I should to help you and you haven't even repaid one thing let alone all the mess and crimes I am cleaning up from you.''

Harri: ''Am available . . . if you would like to discuss.'' Kosar: ``U ungrateful stupid idiot . . . You can rot in hell . . . You aren't even close to professional.''

U disappoint us so, Bernie. Am I the only person hoping he has to file for bankruptcy so we can see what he spends on hair products each year?

Bernie Kosar gets thrown for a loss by the IRS [Miami Herald]
Bernie Kosar flagged by the IRS for delay of payment [SportsByBrooks]

Today the owner of the Las Vegas Gladiators, Jim Ferraro, announced he is relocating the team to Cleveland - and that former Browns great Bernie Kosar will be the team president. The team will begin play next summer at Quicken Loans Arena.

Of course the inevitable last-second playoff losses to the Colorado Crush will be tough to take at first, but you'll soon get used to it, Cleveland fans, just like always.

Want season tickets? Dig in.

Cleveland Joins The Arena Football League [AFL.com]
The Colorado Crush