Saints Owner Tom Benson was interviewed in Sunday's New
Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE and said the high "cost of doing
business" in the NFL is a growing concern to him. Benson:
"Just the cost of doing business has gotten to be
unbelievable. It's now gone past even the players.
Coaches' salaries are at an all-time high. I'm not saying
that's right or wrong, but they are. ... Our costs are going
up so fast, you wonder where the breaking point is." Asked
about his bid to improve his lease at the Superdome, Benson
said, "We've got to get this club doing better, both on the
field and off the field, so people will feel good about us.
Then we'll take a look at it." Benson, asked if the team
wishes to operate the Superdome and the New Orleans Arena:
"I'm not in the business of managing the thing, but we do
have problems" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 3/26).
COURT DATE DELAYED: In Sacramento, Jim Jenkins reported
that the Raiders will "have to wait until next year to see
if a Sacramento jury will award them damages in their
countersuit with the city of Oakland and county of Alameda."
While the trial was to take place this spring or summer,
Superior Court Judge Joe Gray has "granted attorneys
representing the city and county more time to prepare their
case after the Raiders decided to amend their damages claim"
from $800M to $825M. With the changes, a trial "probably
wouldn't start until February" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 3/26).
HOUSTON SALES: Houston's expansion franchise expected
PSL sales on its Web site to have a "minimal impact," but
"nearly one-third of the 20,000 PSLs already sold have been
purchased through the Internet." Team spokesperson Chip
Namias: "Nearly $17 million of the $50 million in PSL sales
have come through the Web site" (AP, 3/27).
FROM THE NFC EAST: In DC, Liz Clarke reported that
"nearly" 4,000 tickets that Redskins officials have said
"would remain priced at $40 for the 2000 season will instead
cost $50." The team announced March 8 that the $40 seats in
FedEx Field's upper deck would not be raised, but now the
team plans to increase the price on the "best" 4,000 of the
12,000 seats in question, with 8,000 remaining unchanged
(WASHINGTON POST, 3/25)....In N.Y., Gary Myers wrote that
the Giants' new uniforms are "[actually] their old-time
uniforms with gray pants instead of white and red lettering
on the white road jerseys." The team is bringing back the
"NY" on the helmet (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/26).
