NFL Lockout Watch, Day 5: Teams Put Lockout Plans Into Motion

The Bills “plan no layoffs or furloughs as a result of the NFL work stoppage,” but the team “has imposed pay cuts for the administrative employees,” according to Mark Gaughan of the BUFFALO NEWS. Team sources said that the salaries “of all employees are being reduced on a percentage basis, up to 25 percent.” Bills CEO Russ Brandon said, "We have made prudent preparations for the possibility of a work stoppage. We have, for some time, been very upfront and transparent with our staff so that they too could make prudent preparations.” Gaughan notes if the lockout “stretches into September and causes the cancellation of all or some games, it's expected the Bills will reassess their stance on layoffs” (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/16).

Panthers' roster back online after team removed link from site yesterday

DISAPPEARING ACT: In Charlotte, Darin Gantt noted the Panthers put their player roster “back online” yesterday afternoon after it was removed from the team's website earlier in the day. Fans who had bookmarked the site could "still see the names," but the link had been "removed from the front page." A team spokesperson said that it was “taken down because of the ‘uncertainty’ of the labor situation” (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 3/15). Meanwhile, in St. Petersburg, Rick Stroud noted “oversized pictures of eight Bucs players that draped” Raymond James Stadium for the past year “were ordered taken down by the team over the weekend.” Stroud noted the NFL “has discouraged teams from using the likeness of players for marketing purposes” (TAMPABAY.com, 3/15). 

KEEPING IN TOUCH:  Titans season-ticket holders are “receiving letters from team owner Bud Adams this week.” Adams in the letter “sends a message to fans that their support has not been unnoticed and is appreciated.” Titans Exec VP/Administration & Facilities Don MacLachlan said that “this is the second letter Adams has sent to season ticket holders since the 2010 season ended.” MacLachlan said in the event that a game is canceled, season-ticket holders “will receive the payment of that canceled game.” MacLachlan: “They would get that refund in its entirety” (WKRN.com, 3/15). Jaguars Owner Wayne Weaver also sent an open letter to fans. The letter read in part, “I firmly expect that we will play football this fall. Therefore, our ticket and sponsorship efforts will continue with business as usual. We will also continue hosting offseason events for our fans, as we have done before” (JAGUARS.com, 3/15). In DC, Mike Jones noted Redskins Exec VP & GM Bruce Allen addressed the NFL’s labor situation in a letter to fans yesterday, and his comments “were the first any Redskins official had issued since the NFL’s owners imposed a lockout on players Saturday” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 3/15).