Franchise Notes
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Zorn To Address Team About Online
Conduct Following Cooley Incident |
Redskins coach Jim Zorn yesterday said that he plans to address his team today "regarding their conduct while using the Internet," after TE Chris Cooley "displayed private team information" on his personal blog. Cooley on his blog posted a picture of "six questions from the 'Tight Ends Test,' which was in the Redskins' playbook" for Sunday's game against the Saints. Cooley in his response to the questions "briefly described the play of the Saints' defensive ends and listed the number of players used in defensive packages." Cooley earlier yesterday released a statement "apologizing for the nudity that also appeared in the photo" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/16).
FIRST PITCH: In San Jose, Ann Killion notes the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) franchise in the Bay Area is "so new that it doesn't have a name, a logo, a place to play" or a GM. Team Owners Nancy and Brian NeSmith are "in discussions with Buck Shaw Stadium, but they also are considering other venues." Brian NeSmith said that he "has financial limits but isn't worried." NeSmith: "I expect to lose money the first couple of years." The NeSmith's this week are expected to announce a GM for the team (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/16). Meanwhile, in Ft. Worth, Tobias Lopez reported "no women's pro soccer" will be played in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area next year, as the WPS ruled that Dallas Sting Owners Brent Coralli and Jack Hanks "aren't ready for the big leagues." Lopez wrote a potential franchise "needs savvy leadership. ... The Sting guys never brought in anyone with experience, connections or the common sense" of Chicago WPS President Peter Wilt (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 9/14).
MLB TEAM NOTES: Pirates President Frank Coonelly Saturday said that the team "will slightly increase their budget for major league payroll in 2009 from the current $54[M]." But Coonelly added that "should not be taken to mean ... that the figure would be maxed out." Coonelly: "We're not going to spend just to say we got to a certain number" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/14)....The Reds with seven home dates remaining have drawn 1,928,549 fans, which is "slightly ahead of last year's attendance pace, when they drew 2,058,593." In Cincinnati, John Fay writes the team's "aggressive marketing plan will continue -- win or lose" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 9/16).
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