In Miami, Armando Salguero wrote the Dolphins and coach Joe Philbin deserve "a round of applause ... for cutting out the questionable hazing of rookies this year following last year's harassment scandal." Players were "told in no uncertain terms hazing has to be severely curbed if not cut out altogether." A line on hazing "has been drawn even though Philbin declined at the start of camp to identify where that line actually lies" (MIAMI HERALD, 8/3).
TOO SOON? ESPN.com's Darren Rovell reported Cowboys fans along with their preseason and regular-season tickets will receive "a sheet of playoff tickets." The actual "printing of the tickets and sending them ahead of time to fans is sure to cause a stir." But Cowboys Dir of Corporate Communications Brett Daniels said, "It's a convenience for our season-ticket holders to have everything in one package." NFL Senior VP/Club Business Development Brian Lafemina said that the Cowboys are the "only team in the league that preprinted and sent out its playoff tickets to fans in advance this year," but he added that he "expects more teams to adopt this practice in the future" (ESPN.com, 8/1).
CULTURE CLASH: In Austin, Kirk Bohls wrote of reports the Raiders are considering relocation, "Does anyone really think the Raiders would seriously consider moving to San Antonio? Their bad-boy image flies in the face of the good-guy Spurs culture. Can you say bargaining chip? I'd give it a 1 percent chance of happening" (MYSTATEMAN.com, 8/3).
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? The Ravens on Saturday announced that their joint practice with the 49ers scheduled for Friday at M&T Bank Stadium was canceled, as the CBA "limits the number of consecutive days a team can practice or take part in football activities during training camp." The decision to "call off Friday’s event stems from the 49ers’ practice and travel schedule leading up to Thursday’s first preseason game" at 7:30pm ET. The Ravens will "hold a free and open practice" at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis tonight at 7:00pm (BALTIMORESUN.com, 8/2).
CROWD CONTROL: In Green Bay, Richard Ryman reports some 67,336 people showed up at Lambeau Field Saturday for Packers practice, as tailgating "broke out everywhere." The Packers entertainment zone tents "were in operation and a lot of fans were making their own fun" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 8/3)....Cardinals fan fest welcomed a team record 23,500 fans on Saturday to Univ. of Phoenix Stadium (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/3)....The Chargers FanFest crowd on Saturday was "larger and more spirited, for sure, than any FanFest turnout" from '10-13. Turnout was 18,000 and "doubled last year's" figure (UTSANDIEGO.com, 8/2)....The Rams "put on another strong FanFest event Saturday afternoon, drawing 15,723 fans" to Edward Jones Dome (STLTODAY.com, 8/2).
