The NFL wants John Kent Cooke to own the Redskins, a
league official said Sunday, but a rep for the trustees of
the Jack Kent Cooke estate said that they will "stand" by
their agreement to sell the team to the group headed by
Isles co-Owner Howard Milstein and MD business exec Daniel
Snyder, according to George Solomon of the WASHINGTON POST.
Cooke's final bid of about $680M was not only less than the
Milstein/Snyder group bid of $800M, but also less than that
of AZ business exec Sam Grossman, who offered $720M. The
NFL believes the trustees "should be flexible" in allowing
Cooke to increase his bid if he wants to. NFL Senior
VP/Communications & Government Affairs Joe Browne: "The
current (Cooke) ownership has a proven track record. The
continuity of this ownership would be a plus for the league,
if it can be accomplished to the satisfaction of the
trustees." However, a rep of the trustees said they had a
"binding contract" with the Milstein group "that precludes
our submitting any other proposals to the [NFL]." The NFL's
Finance Committee wants the trustees "to consider submitting
a proposal from Cooke" and has asked them "to explain at a
meeting in Miami later this month under what circumstances
they could submit a bid" from Cooke and "why they chose the
Milstein group over [him]" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/18).
SHOW ME THE MONEY: In DC, Tony Kornheiser questions
where Cooke can "come up with" an additional $120M.
Kornheiser: "This thing could end up strung out in court for
years. It seemed like the Milsteins bought the Redskins
fair and square" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/19).
