Browns President Alec Scheiner said that the team has "discussed at length dynamic pricing." Scheiner: "We really haven't made a decision yet. But it probably will not be this year" (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 1/28). Meanwhile, the Packers on Monday said that they "will not use variable ticket pricing." But Packers Dir of Public Affairs Aaron Popkey yesterday said that the team will "monitor how variable pricing works for other teams" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 1/29).
ASK NOT WHAT BROWN CAN DO...: In Cleveland, Jeff Darcy wrote Browns Assistant GM Ray Farmer's decision to turn down the Dolphins GM job "may prove to be as important to the Browns future as the hiring of Mike Pettine as head coach." Farmer turning down a job that "would have been a promotion and advance minority presence in the upper ranks of NFL management, obviously begs the question, why?" Darcy wrote knowing Farmer is there "as potential check and balance" to CEO Joe Banner and GM Mike Lombardi makes him "less uneasy about future Browns draft, free-agent and roster moves" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/28).
ALL ABOARD THE RYAN EXPRESS? In Houston, Jose de Jesus Ortiz noted former MLB Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan yesterday had a "productive visit" with Astros Owner Jim Crane and GM Jeff Luhnow, leaving Minute Maid Park with a "commitment to decide before spring training whether to rejoin the club." Ryan’s "potential duties with the Astros aren’t completely set, but it’s clear" that he is "intrigued by the opportunity to work" with his son, Astros President of Business Operations Reid Ryan. Nolan Ryan said, "I visited with (Crane) and Jeff on what the role would be. I told them I'd give it a thought and I'd get back to them in the near future" (CHRON.com, 1/28).
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: In Detroit, Drew Sharp writes it is "not surprising" the Pistons are "again a dysfunctional mess with disjointed pieces that can’t properly mesh until other roster moves are made." There is "no shortage of blame for yet another season falling into irrelevance." Pistons Owner Tom Gores "set this nonsense in motion, creating a playoffs-or-else ultimatum this season." Gores should "hold himself accountable for wrongly creating an illusion of urgency" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/29).
