Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. became the highest-paid player at his position in the league with a five-year, $95M deal, and on Long Island, Bob Glauber writes Beckham must now "earn the continued trust of the Giants' organization and -- just as importantly -- the fans." That means "no more nonsense" and "no more pretending to be a dog in the end zone." It also means "no more putting himself in compromising positions the way he did when he appeared in a tasteless video in the offseason." It is time that Beckham "conducts himself the way a franchise player should" (NEWSDAY, 8/28).
FINDING SUCCESSION: In Cleveland, Kevin Kleps notes Browns Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam "want to be part of the Browns 'for a long time.'" However, they have also "made a move that many experts say is a must -- establishing a clear succession plan." James Wood Johnson III -- a son-in-law of the Haslams -- joined the club July 1 on a full-time basis, which signaled the Haslams "had a succession plan in place." The owners "took care of another critical piece of business when they officially brought Johnson into the fold." Johnson is married to Pilot Flying J Chief Experience Officer Whitney Haslam Johnson, the oldest of the Haslams' two daughters (CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS, 8/27 issue).
TICKET TIME: StubHub said that it "sees an increase" of nearly 200% in ticket sales "over the average NFL game when the Packers are the visiting team." StubHub said that the "most in-demand season-opening game" is the Cowboys-Panthers. For the fifth consecutive year, the Cowboys are the "most in-demand team, increasing sales" by 300% when they are the visiting team. StubHub said that "demand for the NFL London series" is up 40% from last year and up 333% over the last five years (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 8/28).
