Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson still "expects to get" $3B from the upcoming sale of the team, according to ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. There are "three really highly motivated, deep-pocketed bidders that are in play here," meaning the sale price could approach "the number Jerry Richardson expects to get ... as bidding continues." ESPN's David Newton cited sources as saying that it is "far less than that right now, maybe in the low $2 billion range." Newton: "Still a lot of money and still could set a record." However, there are "not the kind of numbers of bidders that the NFL probably would like right now." ESPN's Bob Ley noted the Panthers' sale price is the "ultimate barometer of how well" the league is doing. Van Natta said, "I had an owner tell me last month that the main reason Roger Goodell was re-upped was because of the team valuations and how they've skyrocketed." He noted the Titans, Saints and Broncos could be on the market in the near future following the Panthers' sale, and the NFL is "really hoping to bring in fresh blood." Van Natta: "They're never going to have an ownership that reflects the youth and maybe even the sensibilities of the NBA. But the (current) power brokers are in their 70's and even some in their 80's" ("OTL," ESPN, 3/22).
DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME: In S.F., Connor Letourneau reports Warriors G Stephen Curry on Thursday "reiterated his desire" to have an ownership stake in the Panthers. Curry said of the interest in his hometown team, "Definitely something I’m working on. ... Trying to figure out the right moves and the right partners. You’ll hear stuff when I’m ready to make that be known all the way around, but it’s still ongoing" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/23).
