Franchise Notes
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Titans Believe Redskins Had Contact With
Haynesworth Before He Became A Free Agent |
In Nashville, Jim Wyatt cites sources as saying that the Titans have "asked the NFL to look into tampering charges against" the Redskins in the signing of DT Albert Haynesworth. The Titans "recently turned in what they considered to be evidence that the Redskins had contact with Haynesworth before he became a free agent in February." The Titans "did not file a formal grievance with the NFL," but instead "turned in newspaper articles and audio" from a DC-area radio station in which a Redskins official "made what the Titans felt were incriminating comments." A source indicated that the "information was sent to" NFL Exec VP & General Counsel Jeff Pash (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 4/2).
PRIDE OF THE YANKEES: In N.Y., Jack Curry reports agent Paul Doherty, who is friends with Yankees PA announcer Bob Sheppard, said that Sheppard's son Paul "told him Wednesday that Sheppard was planning to retire." However, Sheppard "declined to say that he was retiring." When asked if he was officially leaving the position, Sheppard said, "I never said it." Curry notes Sheppard, who has been in his position since '51, missed the '08 season with a bronchial infection and "will not work the exhibition games at the Stadium on Friday and Saturday or the home opener April 16" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/2).
JUST FOR KICKS: FC New York will join the USL First Division as an expansion team for the '10 season, brining the league's top tier to 13 teams. The ownership group is led by N.Y.-based business execs Jo-Ellen Treiber and Doug Petersen (USL). In N.Y., Brendan Brosh reports the franchise is "looking to build a soccer-specific stadium" in Queens in the next five years. F.C. New York will "play its first game in April 2010 at Hofstra University." Officials said that Hofstra "will be the home turf, with occasional games at Columbia University's Baker Field until a new home is built." The team recently met with Queens Borough President Helen Marshall to "discuss building a 9,000-seat stadium" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/2).
TIES THAT BIND: In Rochester, Jay Gallagher noted while the state of New York has had to "raise taxes on everything from utility bills to car registrations and cut money for health care and education to balance the state budget, a payment of almost $3[M] to the Buffalo Bills will be made as usual." New York Budget Division spokesperson Jeffrey Gordon said that the state is "obligated to make the payment." Gordon said that as part of a $90M deal made in '98 to "help pay for improvements" to Ralph Wilson Stadium, the state "agreed to pay the club about $3[M] annually from 2003 to 2013 to be used for operating expenses." Gordon said that if the state did not make the payments, the Bills "would be free to leave the area" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 4/1).
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