NFL owners were notified yesterday that former Patriots
Owner Billy Sullivan will receive $11.5M over the next four years
as a settlement in his antitrust action against the league,
according to Will McDonough in the BOSTON GLOBE. Sullivan
claimed an NFL rule prohibiting the sale of stock in a team to
the public forced him to sell the Patriots to Victor Kiam.
Sullivan's first suit against the league went to Federal Court in
Boston, and in October '93, a jury ruled in Sullivan's favor,
awarding him $38M, with "treble damages" making it $114M. But in
December of that year, a judge reduced the award to $51M, and in
September '94, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned
the decision. Sullivan tried to sue again last year, but the
trial ended in a hung jury. Each court case reportedly cost the
NFL $3M, and when Sullivan tried to sue a third time, NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and some owners began talk of a
settlement rather than paying the legal fees and risking a
"substantial" loss if Sullivan won (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/11).
NEWS & NOTES: NFL Dir of Communications Greg Aiello said
the league plans "to look into" allegations that former Packers
tackle John Jurkovic gave painkillers to QB Brett Favre (USA
TODAY, 8/12)....The NFL may "put a stop" on the Ravens contract
with top draft pick Jonathan Ogden. Some members of the NFL's
Management Council feel the contract was structured to "sidestep"
some rules in the current CBA (Will McDonough, BOSTON GLOBE,
8/11).
