Bill Bowlen, the brother of Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen, said that he "doesn’t want the NFL involved" as an arbitrator in the family's ownership dispute because he believes it is a "family matter," according to Nicki Jhabvala of THE ATHLETIC. Bowlen said his complaint is "not against any of the beneficiaries," rather it is "against the trustees and the way they’re handling" the estate of his brother. Bill Bowlen: "You have to ask yourself, ‘Why do they not want to address my complaint?'" Jahbvala noted the Broncos' ownership dispute has "escalated rapidly since May," when Pat's daughter, Beth Bowlen Wallace, "declared her interest in becoming controlling owner." The trustees "immediately deemed Wallace, 48, 'not capable or qualified at this time.'" Broncos President & CEO Joe Ellis, one of the three trustees, later "insinuated their plan is to wait for Brittany Bowlen, 28, to become qualified or to sell the team." Bill Bowlen prior to filing his complaint said that he "tried to arrange a meeting with the NFL, himself and his attorney, and the trustees, but that the trustees wanted to send only their attorneys to the meeting." So he "nixed it" and "filed his petition five days after Brittany for the first time publicly stated her interest in eventually becoming controlling owner." Bill Bowlen said that Wallace and Amie Klemmer, 49, Pat’s oldest daughter, "attempted to seek mediation with the NFL earlier in the year, but the trustees declined." Bill Bowlen said that he and his attorney have "spoken to the league about the dispute in recent months, but doesn’t believe it will want to preside over the issue, despite the trustees’ request for arbitration" (THEATHLETIC.com, 11/26).
