In Green Bay, Richard Ryman noted the NFL will play four games in London in '19, but there is "no word" on whether the Packers "finally will be in one of them." The Packers and Panthers are the "only two teams that have not played" outside the U.S. since the NFL began its Int'l Series in '07. Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy has said that the team is "willing to play internationally, but they will not give up a home game to do so." The NFL is "expected to announce the London schedule by the end of the season" (GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.com, 11/1).
UNDER BUDGET: Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner said that he "does not regret" the decision to fall under the $197M luxury tax this past season while the Red Sox finished the season with MLB's "largest payroll." Steinbrenner also said that his "belief system remains as it has been the past few years: that a team can win without exceeding" $200M in payroll. In N.Y., Joel Sherman notes if Steinbrenner "thinks the team needs more money added to vie for a title," then the $206M '19 tax threshold "will not contain the Yankees." Steinbrenner said, "There are going to be some changes and additions, there always is. We need to win the division. I don’t want to go through another wild-card game” (N.Y. POST, 11/2).
SEEING RED: In Newark, Matt Arco notes New Jersey Gov. and NWSL Sky Blue FC Owner Phil Murphy "took a half-a-million dollar financial hit" from the team in '17, reporting "about $500,000 in losses." The financial hit from Sky Blue "carried over from previous years exceeded" $6M. The club "made headlines earlier this year after a pair of published reports described bleak living and working conditions at Sky Blue" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 11/2).
