League Notes
NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reported while only two first-round NFL draft picks having signed contracts is "normal" for this time of year, what is "abnormal is you look at Rounds 3-7 and we're at about 80 guys being signed.” La Canfora: “At this point a year ago it was about 50. … Talking to people around the league, feeling it out, we talk about the economy all the time (because) it's a reality. The players would rather get this money in their pockets now rather than later and wait a few extra weeks.” Meanwhile, teams also are factoring the economy into negotiations. La Canfora: “Why not just spend that and get your kids signed and have that rookie take that roster spot sooner, spend the money on him rather than someone who's probably not going to make your team" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 6/26).
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Packers' Profit Appears To Hurt NFL
Owners' Argument For Opting Out Of CBA |
RUNNING WITH THE PACK: SI.com’s Ross Tucker wrote the Packers’ recent announcement that they had an operating profit of more than $20M last year “appears to hurt the owners' argument that opting out of the latest [CBA] with the players was necessary.” Tucker: “If a franchise in a miniscule market can turn a profit during a historically down economy, what does that say about big money owners like Dan Snyder and Robert Kraft? … In light of the Packers finances, the supposed plight of the owners' is much less convincing. I'm sure the NFL Players Association is taking notes” (SI.com, 6/26).
WEATHER OR NOT: USGA Exec Dir David Fay addressed the question of whether golf courses on the West Coast are “looking better” for future sites of the U.S. Open after rain plagued the event two weeks ago on Long Island. Fay: “While you may not deal with rain and thunderstorms on the West Coast, fog can gum things up. And there’s that little thing called earthquakes.” He added, “I like the idea of the Open and all our championships being movable feasts” (N.Y. TIMES, 6/28).
MINOR LEAGUE, MAJOR RESULTS: Goldklang Group President Mike Veeck said minor league baseball is succeeding despite the down economy because “people are in desperate need, not just of economic relief in terms of being able to afford, but I think there’s a need like I haven’t seen for a long time for the balm of one another’s company.” Veeck said his teams have taken "hits in the corporate support," but attendance “across the board is up” (“Outside The Lines,” ESPN, 6/28).
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