Bengals Exec VP Katie Blackburn, the daughter of
President Mike Brown, "is in line to become only the second
female CEO/President," according to Mark Curnutte of the
CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Blackburn "is the only woman in the
31-team league whose job description includes contract
negotiations," as she is the Bengals' "in-house expert on
the NFL's complicated salary-cap structure." Blackburn also
"handles" the team's radio and TV contracts, and she "played
a major role" in lease negotiations with Hamilton County for
Paul Brown Stadium. Brown, who has run the team since his
father and former Owner Paul Brown died in '91, said
Blackburn "runs quite a lot" of the team's operations and is
in line to be his successor. Brown: "That's the plan.
She's older [than Brown's son Paul]. That's a big reason.
She's very able, quite smart and very determined." In
comparing Blackburn to himself, Brown said she's "less
confrontational," noting that "already, around here, a lot
of people go to her -- not me -- out of choice." Besides
her work on contracts, Blackburn "is connecting the Bengals
to the community and using players' appeal to help"
charitable organizations such as the United Way and Boys &
Girls Clubs of Cincinnati (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/25).
LOYAL TO A FAULT? The Bengals signed fourth-round draft
pick Curtis Keaton to a three-year contract last week, but
Keaton said that he was "unhappy" with the loyalty clause
"that could cost him" his $300,000 signing bonus if he
criticizes the team. Keaton signed the contract "under
protest with the understanding that the clause will be
removed if it's found to be invalid" (CINCINNATI POST,
6/24)....The Bengals began moving into its new offices at
Paul Brown Stadium over the weekend and will begin working
out of the location today (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/24).
