In DC, Jason Reid writes Redskins Exec VP & GM Bruce Allen "must provide something that has eluded the franchise since Daniel Snyder purchased it in 1999: stability." Allen used the firing of former coach Mike Shanahan "as a platform to announce he will have the final say in football matters." Under Shanahan, Allen "played a support role," but he now "figures to have a true partnership" with new coach Jay Gruden. Allen "plans to lean heavily" on Redskins Dir of Player Personnel Scott Campbell, Dir of Pro Personnel Morocco Brown and Senior Exec A.J. Smith. Now that Allen is "sitting at the head of the table, he needs as many allies as he can get" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/15).
N.Y. STATE OF MIND? SPORTSDIRECTNEWS.com's Ignatius Reilly reported EPL club Chelsea F Samuel Eto'o "has been identified ... as a transfer target" by MLS expansion team NYC FC. Though the team does not begin play until '15, Eto'o "is keeping his options open." But no approach will be made "until Eto'o has determined his future at Chelsea, because Manchester City -- who invested heavily in the New York project -- do not want to antagonise any Premier League title rivals by being associated with bids for existing squad members" (SPORTSDIRECTNEWS.com, 1/14).
BRING ON THE A-ROD CIRCUS: In N.Y., Ken Davidoff notes the Yankees' ticket sales are "down in spring training, just like the regular season" and as a result, they have "increased their billboard presence in Tampa to push their Grapefruit League contests." But if 3B Alex Rodriguez "actually played in a game, Steinbrenner Field would sell out." Davidoff: "So come on. Make this happen, Yankees. It will be better March Madness than the college basketball tournament" (N.Y. POST, 1/15).
RINGING THE LIBERTY BELL: In Philadelphia, Bob Ford writes teams that "enjoy sustained success, as the Phillies did during their run of five straight division championships, usually tether themselves financially to the players who provided that success." It then becomes a "matter of whether those contracts become lifelines to the next generation of winning or anchor ropes to the past." The Phillies' payroll is "going to be close" to $170M this season, with "much of it clumped among the small group of players." Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said, "There are only so many chances to be a champion, and I will never stop believing that if you have a chance, you take the opportunity" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 1/15).
