Cleveland real estate developer Bart Wolstein formally
submitted his bid for the Browns, according to David Lee
Morgan Jr. of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. Wolstein gave the
NFL the required $150,000 ownership application fee on
Friday. At his press conference, Wolstein was flanked by
former Browns players Dick Schafrath and Jim Brown, both of
whom would serve as unpaid consultants. Morgan writes that
Wolstein "is a later entry in the franchise derby, [and] is
looking to make up ground. ... Still, Wolstein feels like
the odd man out" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 7/21).
BROWNS BIDDER FROM PLUTO? In his Sunday column, Terry
Pluto wrote, "We hear that the NFL wouldn't mind if the Paul
Warfield, Calvin Hill group emerges as the winner" in the
team's ownership pursuit. Warfield and Hill are aligned
with Isles co-Owner Howard Milstein, who now has seven "top
Cleveland corporate types and political insiders" in his
group. Pluto wrote the local leaders "seem to be betting
that Milstein's group will prevail -- and maybe they have
good reason to think so. The Milstein group seems to be
confident. They have even opened an office in downtown
Cleveland" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 7/19)....Don Shula visited
the Cowboys' training camp Saturday with his prospective
Browns partners, Charles and Larry Dolan. The trio met with
Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones and VP Stephen Jones (FT. WORTH
STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/19). Jerry Jones: "We think of Don Shula's
great record and his leadership ... and we want him involved
in the NFL" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 7/19).
