Browns President Alec Scheiner said he is “pleasantly surprised” with the team’s transition to an online registration process to attend training camp. The club said that this year’s "average attendance of 3,494 is 842 ahead of the previous high of 2,652," set in '12. In Cleveland, Kevin Kleps noted the '14 norm "doesn’t include the 20,673 who showed up for the Browns’ Family Day scrimmage" last Saturday at the Univ. of Akron. Scheiner said of the online registration for camp, “I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how well it’s worked. People are happy because they have certainty” (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 8/6).
RED TAPE: In San Antonio, Tom Orsborn notes former Vikings Owner Red McCombs believes that Raiders Owner Mark Davis' visit to San Antonio last month was a "sincere effort to gauge whether it's a viable NFL market and that he returned to the Bay Area with a favorable impression of the city and its leaders." McCombs said his family would be interested in buying into the Raiders "if that's what it would take to get them here." But McCombs was quick to add that he "isn't sure whether Davis would want local investors." McCombs believes "it's a myth that San Antonio is a bargaining chip" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/7).
ALL IN THE FAMILY: In Detroit, Josh Katzenstein reports in the Lions' preseason media guide, Martha Firestone Ford, widow of William Clay Ford Sr., "is listed" as Owner & BOD Chair. Bill Ford Jr.’s "title remains" Vice Chair, but he will "likely play a bigger role in the decision-making process moving forward." Firestone Ford’s three daughters -- Martha Ford Morse, Sheila Ford Hamp and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis -- are "also on the team’s board of directors" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/7).
SPOT ON: The Rams yesterday unveiled their '14 marketing campaign called "Defend Our Turf." the campaign features superhero illustrations of Rams QB Sam Bradford, WR Tavon Austin, DE Chris Long, LB James Laurinaitis, DE Robert Quinn, RB Zac Stacy and K Greg Zuerlein. The campaign will receive placement on local TV, radio, print, outdoor, digital and print. Spots will air during tomorrow's Saints-Rams preseason game on KTVI-Fox at 7:00pm CT and will continue throughout the season (Rams).
IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN: Eagles President Don Smolenski yesterday said the team has discussed switching back to the kelly green jerseys that were worn in some variation from '43-99. He said, “There are some rules with the NFL that provides some restrictions that we’re trying to work through, but that’s going to take some time. It’s there and it’s something that we do talk about, but until some things, I think, change at the NFL level, it’s going to provide restrictions for us” (WIP-FM, 8/6).
