In N.Y., Larry McShane reports Sunday's Broncos-Giants matchup -- also known as "Manning Bowl III" because it will pit sibling QBs Peyton and Eli Manning against each other -- is currently the city's "hottest ticket, with 50-yard-line club seats selling for up to $4,400 apiece on StubHub." TiqIQ data shows that the current average asking price to the game is $489.42 per ticket, while lower-level end zone seats with a $120 face value currently "are priced anywhere from $331 to $630" on StubHub depending on how close they are to the field. VividSeats.com "advertised lower-level seats between the 40-yard lines for up to $1,200 a pop," and upper-deck 50-yard line seats with a face value of $85 were on sale for $330 apiece (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/9).
FAMILY MATTERS: CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora cited sources, who confirmed a SportsBusiness Journal report last month, as saying that Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam III could turn the "day-to-day-operations" of the team over to his father, Jim Haslam if he is forced to step down in light of the Pilot Flying J scandal. Sources said that the deal has already been signed off on and "would go into place should ... the younger Haslam be suspended from serving as owner." Sources also said that it is "extremely remote that Haslam would be in a position whereby the NFL would prompt him to divest himself from the club entirely," but added that if this happens, the league has "identified potential owners who might be able to assume control of the team in an expeditious manner" (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/7).
SCHEDULING SHAM? CBSSN’s Amy Trask said of the Ravens' season opener being played in Denver due to a scheduling conflict with the Orioles, "I do not think Baltimore should have been placed at Denver for that game. Because they could play at home and had to be on the road, they should not have had to play at the site of last year’s dramatic double-overtime playoff victory." She added, "Knowing that the Orioles weren’t going to move their game and Baltimore couldn’t be in Baltimore, then put them somewhere else" ("That Other Pregame Show," CBSSN, 9/8).
GREAT EXPECTATIONS: In N.Y., Billy Witz wrote, "Nobody does expectations like the Cowboys." Team Owner Jerry Jones said, "We have the Cowboy factor. ... When you look at the cities that don’t have NFL football, we have a great following there. We’re the No. 1 television team there is." He added of the Patriots, "How long has it been since New England’s won a Super Bowl? Almost 10 years. What happens is if you can do really well for a notable period of time -- and they got three -- you can ride that horse for a long time." Jones: "The Cowboys, it’s like going to Las Vegas. We shove a lot out there when we throw the dice. I’d rather go down falling short on expectations and have done it not in an unorthodox way, but with some twist" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/8).
