Don Shula was introduced yesterday as Exec VP of Larry
and Charles Dolan's ownership group bidding for the Browns.
Shula, a Cleveland-area native, signed a five-year contract
that calls for him to oversee the football operation,
including the hiring of a coach and GM. He also would be a
5% equity investor if the bid is successful (Dolan Family).
WHAT IT MEANS: In Cleveland, Tony Grossi reports that
unlike fellow 5% holder Bill Cosby, Shula "intends to play
an active role in the weeks leading up to the critical NFL
owners meeting in Dallas on July 27-28, when applicants to
own the Browns will present their cases." Larry Dolan said
that he and Shula will soon embark on visits to "every owner
willing to talk to us" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/17).
Larry Dolan: "We have Bill Cosby to address the socially
responsible side of the organization. Now we have Don to
handle the football side" (Terry Pluto, AKRON BEACON
JOURNAL, 6/17). Shula: "Forty-three years, you're totally
involved -- and then all of a sudden you're not involved,
you're not in the loop. That's what I've missed the most.
... [T]his gives me the opportunity, if we're awarded the
franchise, to become a part of that again" ("SportsCenter,"
6/16). In K.C., Jonathan Rand writes that with Shula, the
Dolan group "strengthened its front-running bid" to acquire
the Browns (K.C. STAR, 6/17). In Miami, Greg Cote writes
that Shula's "respect among club owners ... is unparalleled.
Assuming the Dolans' finances pass muster, the fraternity
will readmit Shula with gusto" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/17).
STOCK PLAN: ESPN's John Clayton reported that the NFL
and the NFLPA "have worked out a stocking plan for the team.
They quietly agreed to copy the Jacksonville-Carolina model,
which will give the Browns the first pick in each of the
seven rounds of the 1999 draft, plus an extra pick at the
end of each round, a full salary cap and at least 30
veterans through an expansion draft." Clayton adds that the
team "must spend" around $22M of their cap in the expansion
draft. The only change is that the league has the option
"to limit the number of extra draft choices after one season
instead of two" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/16).
ON THE MARC: Marcus Advertising's execution of the
Browns' PSL ad campaign is profiled by Michael Freeman of
MEDIAWEEK. The Browns allotted Marcus $980,000 for the
multi-media campaign, and in all, more than 52,000 PSLs were
sold (Michael Freeman, MEDIAWEEK, 6/15 issue).
