NFL Franchise Notes: More Holdups In Steelers Ownership Deal

Steelers Sale Must Be Approved By NFL Finance Committee

WAYNE'S WORLD: In Florida, Vito Stellino wrote Jaguars fans and team Owner Wayne Weaver "stand at something of a crossroads." Though the team did not sell out their non-premium tickets this year on a "season-ticket basis the way they did in 2006 when they were last coming off a playoff season, the Jaguars sold enough to avoid television blackouts." But the Jaguars next season will be "viewed as a rebuilding team, the economy could be worse than it was this year and the home schedule won't be as attractive." If a "substantial number of fans don't renew their season tickets, the Jaguars could be looking at TV blackouts again" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 11/30).

LAKE EFFECT: In Cleveland, Terry Pluto writes since the Browns returned to the NFL in '99, this may be the "worst, most frustrating season for the fans," who "came into this season with reasonable expectations of watching a playoff contender." But the Browns are just 1-6 at home, and Pluto writes, "thank goodness they have only one home game left," because there were "about 20,000 empty seats" for yesterday's game against the Colts (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 12/1).

CALL OF THE WILD: In Detroit, Drew Sharp offered a four-step plan for the Lions that would "improve the franchise's falling competitive and public standing." The NFL must "assume temporary guardianship of this franchise," declare the team "intellectually bankrupt and remove the decision of finding" the team's next CEO from team Owner William Clay Ford Sr. Second, in hiring a new CEO, the Lions "require a sound vision more than they require a big name." Third, the team must "utilize another high draft pick on another young quarterback in 2009 due to the threat of a more restrictive rookie salary cap in 2010." And last, the Lions "must cut ticket prices a minimum of 10% in response to a bad economy and bad product" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/30).

CHANGE OF PLANS: On Long Island, Neil Best reported Jets season-ticket holders in their new Meadowlands stadium recently were "informed of a new policy that will apply to seats not attached" to PSLs, under which "rights to such seats no longer will be transferable, even to immediate family." Fans in the non-PSL seats, of which there are about 27,000, have until January 31 to "designate an official account-holder." Jets Exec VP/Stadium Development & Finance Thad Sheely said that the "idea in part is to 'differentiate' non-PSL seats from those that require PSLs and thus are transferable for the life of the stadium" (NEWSDAY, 11/28).

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