The first round of the bidding process for “the sale of all, some, or potentially none” of the Commanders closes at the end of the week, according to two sources cited by Jonathan Jones of CBSSPORTS. League sources have said that the full franchise would sell between $5.5-$6.5B, "far eclipsing the previous NFL record set by the Walton-Penner group” when it purchased the Broncos for $4.65B. Sources also said that wise bidders would “also need to have earmarked" another $500-900M to "help fund a new stadium that would surely come following new ownership.” Any sale of the team -- for “part or all” -- would need three quarters of all NFL owners to approve the sale. The NFL has “shown an interest recently in diversifying ownership groups.” The Walton-Penner group is led by Walmart heirs and execs “that needed no financial help” in purchasing the Broncos, but the group added “limited partners” including former Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice and Ariel Investments CEO Mellody Hobson (CBSSPORTS.com, 12/19)
TAYLOR MEMORIAL TWEAKS: In D.C., Matthew Paras noted the Commanders “made a series of tweaks” to a memorial dedicated to late S Sean Taylor at FedExField after the display “drew widespread backlash” at its unveiling last month. The changed display now includes an “accurate Reebok jersey instead of Nike, a taped facemask, taped ankles and updated socks.” The original version -- which fans "criticized for looking like a mannequin” was unveiled before the team's Nov. 27 home game against the Falcons. The first rendition “was dinged for a lack of details.” Fans wondered why the facemask "didn’t have small pieces of tape," which Taylor "used to wear on occasion.” The team also faced criticism for making the jersey a Nike brand, even though Nike “didn’t become the NFL’s official uniform provider until years after the late safety’s death” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/18).
