NFL | League debt at $9 billion
Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:55:53 -0700
The Pittsburgh Business Times reports the NFL and its 32 teams are carrying more than $9 billion in debt. This is according to a report by the SportsBusiness Journal. According to the report, the debt load is a lot higher than that carried by other professional sports leagues. The MLB and its teams are carrying a $3.1 billion debt. Jeffrey Kessler, outside counsel of the NFL Players Association, said he is not concerned by the debt level due to the league's huge cash flow. The union, however, has filed a collusion complaint against the league over the NFL's plan to reduce the debt load.
NFL | Owners will consider length of hair from helmets
Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:51:40 -0700
The Associated Press reports NFL owners will discuss in their meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., whether to ban players from having hair flow from their helmets below their names on the back of their jerseys. The rule banning long hair from the field was proposed by the Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh Steelers S Troy Polamalu was dragged down by his hair after an interception against the Chiefs by RB Larry Johnson. The rule would not require players to cut their hair but would make them tuck their hair into their helmets.
NFL | Competition committee proposing rule changes
Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:06:54 -0700
Kevin Seifert, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reports the NFL competition committee will vote next week to change current NFL rules. If the vote is passed, receivers will have to get both feet in bounds and have possession of the ball to get credit for the catch, even if they are pushed by a defender. The committee will also vote on issues that include allowing replays on field goals, changing seeding procedures for the playoffs, changing the coin toss procedures and eliminating the five-yard facemask penalty.
NFL | League to consider defensive headsets again
Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:48:15 -0700 Sam Farmer, of the Los Angeles Times, reports the
NFL is looking into the possibility of allowing a designated defensive player to wear a radio earpiece similar to the one the quarterback wears. Teams are expected to vote on the proposal next week at the annual league meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. The proposal needs 24 votes to pass and fell two votes short last year. The revised proposal would allow a second player to have a speaker in his headset but wouldn't be allowed on the field the same time as the guy with the headset.