BLOOMBERG NEWS' Scott Soshnick reported 76ers and Devils co-Owner Josh Harris "completed his purchase" of EPL club Crystal Palace, "ending more than a year of negotiations to acquire a controlling stake." Harris, 76ers and Devils co-owner David Blitzer and Crystal Palace co-Chair Steve Parish "will control the club in a general partnership." Harris "becomes the latest person to own a major U.S. sports franchise and an EPL team." Harris joins Red Sox Owner John Henry, who owns Liverpool; Buccaneers Owner the Glazer family, which owns Manchester United; and Rams Owner Stan Kroenke, who owns Arsenal. Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan owns Fulham, which is in England's second division (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 12/18).
FRONT-OFFICE TURMOIL: In Buffalo, Jerry Sullivan notes Bills Owners Kim and Terry Pegula's son, Matthew, yesterday "tweeted this sarcastic gem while the defense was getting steamrolled in the first half" of its 35-25 loss to the Redskins. The tweet read, “Good job D. Really just playing great today.” The tweet "was quickly deleted." But it is time fans "heard from another, more prominent Pegula -- Terry." Bills fans "don’t need tweets from the children, they demand and deserve answers." The "most urgent one involves" GM Doug Whaley, who "has not been given assurances that his contract, which has one year remaining, will be extended." Terry Pegula "has to figure out a way to resolve whatever division exists between his personnel department and his coaching staff" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 12/21).
TIME FOR A CHANGE? CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora cited sources as saying that Falcons Owner Arthur Blank is "seriously considering major changes in his personnel department." Blank is "likely to move on" from GM Thomas Dimitroff and much of his staff, with the team "again in a sustained tailspin." Sources added that Seahawks co-Dir of Pro Personnel Trent Kirchner, who worked closely with Falcons coach Dan Quinn during their stint together with the Seahawks, and Vikings Assistant GM George Paton, who was with Quinn with the Dolphins a decade ago, are "very strong options to replace Dimitroff" (CBSSPORTS.com, 12/20).
