NFL Franchise Notes: Colts Hosting Contest For Super Bowl Rings

In Indianapolis, Steve Ballard notes the Colts are hosting the “Quest for the Ring” contest in which five Colts fans will win Super Bowl rings. The three-stage contest will begin with the sale of $5 raffle tickets through November 20. Twenty-five numbers will be picked, and the winners will take part in a hunt for Colts-related items throughout Indianapolis. Ten finalists will appear during halftime of Jaguars-Colts on December 2 and will each be given a box, five of which contain rings. Colts Owner Jim Irsay said that the team is the first in NFL history "to make Super Bowl rings available to the public" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/31).

PATRIOTS: ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said of the criticism the Patriots have received for running up the score on teams, “When you talk to a few owners around the league, they’ve sensed that Patriots Owner Robert Kraft has been uncomfortable, or … hurt a little bit by the damage to his franchise’s reputation over ‘Spygate.’ If you watched Kraft and his son Jonathan (on Sunday) near the end of the game (against the Redskins), they didn’t appear comfortable with what was going on down on the field. ... Bob Kraft’s reputation does mean something to him” (“Monday Night Countdown,” ESPN, 10/29).

BILLS: The Bills have sold 48,236 season tickets, up more than 5,000 from last year and the highest total since ’94. However, three of the 164 private suites remain unsold and seats “could be had in the stadium’s three indoor clubs and four outdoor clubs.” Suites at Ralph Wilson Stadium cost $40,000-95,000 annually (BUSINESS FIRST OF BUFFALO, 10/26 issue).