In Houston, Jerome Solomon cited two NFL agent sources as saying that the Texans "aren't interested in any players who participated in pregame kneel-downs." There is "no directive within the organization, but it is considered to be understood that as desperate as the Texans are to bring in talent, the pool of potential signees and draftees will not include anyone who has participated in protests or are likely to." The Texans are "risking turning away players who could help them win a Super Bowl." Solomon: "That would be a mistake." If the Texans have "decided players who have or will participate in peaceful protests of injustice are bad guys, they will miss out on some good football players" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/4).
COMING TOGETHER: In L.A., Vincent Bonsignore wrote while the Rams and Chargers bide their time over the next two seasons at the Coliseum and StubHub Center, respectively, "real and tangible momentum is building on their eventual new home." Suite sales have been "brisk since hitting the market seven months ago, and within a week or so the two teams will roll out pricing plans for 13,000 premium seats with club and premium area availability." The club seating "features access to 380,000 square feet of premium space, 250,000 square feet of club space, 20 total premium experiences, 12 clubs, four distinct VIP entrances and on-site parking" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 3/4).
LOYAL TO THE CHEESE: In Green Bay, Richard Ryman noted Packers season-ticket holders are "annoyed by yearly price increases, but not enough to give up their seats." The Packers last week announced $7-per-seat increases for regular-season games and $2-per-seat increases for preseason games, which means an "increase of $44 per year for each Green package seat and $16 a year for the Gold package." The Packers have a "season-ticket waiting list of 133,000 and about 38,000 ticket accounts for 81,441-seat Lambeau Field." The team said that the renewal rate is more than 99%, which means ticket prices have "not reached a tipping point and may be a long way from it." Ryman noted "none of the ticket holders interviewed indicated any interest in abandoning their seats, but there are warning signs" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 3/3).
TIME TO GO: In San Jose, Dieter Kurtenbach notes Raiders DE Aldon Smith "'fled the scene' of an alleged domestic violence incident Saturday night." Smith is "considered the main suspect in the case." The Raiders "shouldn’t hesitate to release Smith from their roster." It becomes "impossible to rationalize why the Raiders would want to continue to be actively associated" with him (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 3/5).
