In Detroit, Dave Birkett wrote two weeks after Lions Owner William Clay Ford Sr. died, his son, Bill Ford Jr., said that “there won’t be any radical changes in how the organization goes about business.” Ford Jr. said, “I’ve never felt that a terribly hands-on model fit our organization well.” He added, “Nothing’s really changed. (The franchise is) still in our family. My mother is the primary owner now, and I’m vice chairman and it’s all pretty much the same as it always was. I’m here to help out however I can” (FREEP.com, 3/24).
ONE DAY AT A TIME: In Milwaukee, Tom Silverstein notes the NFL yesterday “passed a rule that prohibits teams from selling playoff tickets until each game is confirmed.” A “‘pay as we play' approach would allow” teams to “charge a credit card once each playoff game is set, but season-ticket holders could also apply game by game.” Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy said, “The technology is there now. It was really antiquated (before). You didn't have this pay as we play policy in place. I think it's a really good move for the league.” Murphy said that the Packers were “also exploring variable pricing where preseason games would cost less than regular-season games." He said that six teams "already employ it.” The Packers will “see how it goes for those teams before considering it” in ‘15. Murphy added that the Packers were “looking at ways to improve cellphone signals and Wi-Fi inside Lambeau Field because so many people bring mobile devices to games” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/25).
STAYING PUT: In N.Y., Manish Mehta noted the Jets will “return to SUNY-Cortland for training camp this summer after exploring other options during the past several months.” The Jets announced in January that they would “review alternate sites during what amounted to an option year for the club.” The Jets have held camp in Cortland every year since coach Rex Ryan took over in ‘09 “except for the lockout season when they stayed home in New Jersey” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/24).
