AFC Franchise Notes: Jets Offer First Shot At Concert Tickets

In N.Y., Phil Mushnick reported the Jets are offering fans who buy season tickets the "first shot at concert tickets," as well as "exclusive opportunities for other stadium events." But these tickets "delivered from the inside for inside trade" are precisely what is "being acted against by New Jersey legislators and New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram." Mushnick noted current law "mandates that no event in the Meadowlands can withhold from the public more than" 5% of tickets for general sale (N.Y. POST, 8/16).

Jaguars Paying Market Rate To Keep Players Like Garrard

PAYING THE PLAYERS: In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette writes though the Jaguars have "laid off some people and reduced payroll in certain departments," the franchise "isn't trying to win on the cheap." Jaguars Owner Wayne Weaver "pays competitive price for his on-field product." There is "no debating that the Jaguars paid market price" for '08 draft pick DE Derrick Harvey, '09 draft pick OT Eugene Monroe and contract extensions for QB David Garrard and RB Maurice Jones-Drew. There will be a "lot of empty seats at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium this season," but "one thing isn't up for much debate -- the Jaguars are paying market price to win" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 8/17).

BLACK OUT WATCH: In Cleveland, Tony Grossi reported the Browns, who as of Friday had "less than 5,000 tickets left" for Saturday's preseason home opener against the Lions, have "discounted all unsold tickets for the Detroit game for half-price to beat the blackout." If the tickets are "not sold by Wednesday's 72-hour blackout deadline, the game will not be shown live" locally (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/16).

KING OF THE JUNGLE: In Cincinnati, Paul Daugherty wrote though it has been known that Bengals President Mike Brown "runs the team by his own judgments, for his own ends," occasionally, as with his appearance on HBO's Hard Knocks, the "curtain opens so obviously wide, that notion can't be denied." Brown "doesn't meddle," as "meddling suggests an annoying butting-in from the outside." Daugherty: "Brown's is strictly an inside job" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 8/15).