In Indianapolis, Scott Horner noted Kalen Irsay Jackson represented the Colts at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando and later joined the “Pat McAfee Show” to offer a “health update” on her father, team owner Jim Irsay. Though not offering specifics, she said, "He is a tough dude. It's going to be a long road for him, but he's getting better every day." Horner noted Irsay is recovering from a health event Dec. 8 at his home where he was "found unresponsive." He has been "out of the public eye since," but has "occasionally posted on social media" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/26).
TRYING TO STEER CLEAR: In Chicago, Patrick Finley noted the Bears are one of 10 teams never to appear on HBO's “Hard Knocks," and Bears Chair George McCaskey “wants it to stay that way.” McCaskey said the team was told there is “some interest in other teams being on the program” and "we welcome that interest.” Finley noted McCaskey has "long opposed the Bears being on the show," but this year, the NFL “can compel the Bears to participate if another team doesn’t volunteer.” The Bears still “might not be in the clear,” as the in-season version of “Hard Knocks” will “focus on a division, not a team" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/26).
EARNING A W: In Pittsburgh, Mark Belko reported that Arbitrator Gary Caruso has sided with the Steelers in a "long-running battle with the Sports & Exhibition Authority over who was responsible for paying for improvements to the main scoreboard at Acrisure Stadium before the 2018 season.” Caruso capped the damages the football team is entitled to at $964,015 -- nearly $236,000 "less than it originally had sought" -- and ruled "against a request for pre-judgment interest" totaling nearly $300,000 more. The dispute involved $3M improvements made by the Steelers, through affiliate PSSI Stadium LLC, to the scoreboard at the south end of the stadium. In a 12-page opinion and order, Caruso found that the expansion “constituted a capital repair under the Steelers’ lease,” meaning that the SEA, as the stadium owner, was “on the hook for the improvement because it is required to cover the cost of capital repairs” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/26).
