In Oakland, Cam Inman reports 49ers co-Chair John York yesterday "disputed a recent report that his oldest son, Jed, will lose power as the team’s CEO." Asked if the CBS Sports report was false, John York replied: “Completely." York declined further comment. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, appearing on S.F.-based KNBR-AM last Monday, said Jed York "wouldn't be involved in football operations" (EAST BAY TIMES, 12/19).
PUT IT ON MY BILL: ESPN's Adam Schefter yesterday said the Bills are "preparing to make a move" with coach Rex Ryan. Schefter: "The thinking right now is that they're likely headed in another direction." Schefter noted Bills GM Doug Whaley is "safe" ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN, 12/18). In Buffalo, Jay Skurski wrote with a season-ticket base "again pushing 60,000, the Bills enjoy almost unwavering support from their fans." But with tickets being available for $6 on the secondary market for yesterday's game against the winless Browns, it is "clear that satisfaction with the current product is low." Skurski: "Surely, the woeful opponent, weather conditions and proximity to Christmas all factor into tickets being available for such an embarrassingly low amount, but there is no doubt that price is a reflection of the frustration that comes with being perpetually 'in the hunt'" (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/18).
THE INVISIBLE MAN: In N.Y., Brian Costello writes after the Jets' 34-13 loss to the Dolphins on Saturday dropped the team to 4-10, the "invisible" Jets GM Mike Maccagnan "should have been standing in the locker room willing to speak to reporters." Costello: "He should take some ownership of this mess." Maccagnan is the one who "put together this terrible roster." He "filled the team with veterans on their last legs and very few promising young players." Costello: "But Maccagnan did his bye-week press conference and now hides from the media until a postseason session, where he will duck and dodge questions" (N.Y. POST, 12/19).
JUST A LITTLE PATIENCE: In Chicago, David Haugh wrote the Bears "never will lead the league in attendance or patience," but Bears Chair George McCaskey needs to "muster some anyway." Reasonable souls "would consider it rash" to fire coach John Fox or GM Ryan Pace now and it "only would make fans wonder whether the Bears will have to wait until the next generation of McCaskeys for rational leadership." Changing leadership "risks bringing the Bears closer to being the Browns than beating the Packers" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/18).
