NFL Approves Stephen Ross To Become Dolphins Majority Owner

Ross Approved To Become Majority Owner Of Dolphins

Dolphins co-Owners Wayne Huizenga and Stephen Ross were given approval by the NFL owners last week during their meeting in St. Petersburg “to go ahead and close the final deal in which Ross becomes the majority owner,” according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN. The two have set a tentative date of December 30 to finalize the deal. Mortensen: “If Barack Obama wins the election in a couple of weeks as expected, Huizenga senses that certainly the capital gains taxes are going to go up, and therefore he wants to go ahead and get the rest of his money before Obama takes office” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 10/19). In West Palm Beach, Lambiet & Frias cite a source as saying Huizenga would sell all but a 5% stake in the team to Ross by December 30. However, the source said that due to recent downturn in the economy, Ross “might not have the cash to buy” Huizenga’s portion of the club (PALM BEACH POST, 10/20).

DETAILS OF POTENTIAL 18-GAME SEASON: CBS’ Charlie Casserly reported under terms of an expanded 18-game regular-season that was discussed at the owners meetings, the season would continue to begin the Sunday after Labor Day, with the Super Bowl “played the third week in February.” Casserly: “There will be more regular-season games played in January. We’ll have a full season of Thursday night games -- that will be new. International, neutral sites, possibly a game in L.A., possibly more games at different sites overseas in Europe.” He added the Pro Bowl “would be scheduled the Sunday before the Super Bowl,” meaning players from Super Bowl teams “would not play in that game.” Casserly: “I think the bigger issue here is the new collective bargaining. I think this is a way that the owners could possibly get a deal with the players to expand the deal, have a new (CBA) where there is expanded revenue through playing more games. A chip in the contract negotiations is the way I look at it” (“The NFL Today,” CBS, 10/19).