GOODELL EXTENDED THRU '15, NCAA CONSIDERS EXTREME NEW RULE & BENGALS CONTINUE WALKING A TIGHTROPE
The NFL owners have extended the contract of commissioner Roger Goodell thru 2015. His compensation package will total $9.76 million per season. This is nearly a 20% reduction from his 2008 pay, a reduction Goodell agreed to last year. Before you start ranting about Goodell's income I have a few facts to pass on regarding CEO compensation in corporate America. Considering the NFL's worth & their income, Goodell is in the bottom 30% of pay for companies with a similar worth. There are also a number of NFL players who make more than Goodell, as well as most NFL owners. But he had better get this new collective bargaining agreement hammered out by next January. A work stoppage would be oh so unpopular with the fans, especially when everyone knows there's plenty of money to go around. The guy drawing the most ridiculous paycheck at 280 Park Avenue is former commissioner, Paul Tagliabue, a cool $3.3 million, for being a consultant. The only time I even hear this guy's name mentioned is when he fails to be selected as a finalist for the Hall of Fame.
The Minnesota Vikings have been trying to get the city or the state to provide the bulk of the funds needed for a new stadium. Minnesota, like so many other states, has a budget shortfall of $1.2 billion & has denied the Vikings a dime. State Representative Paul Kohls has proposed that the Metrodome be sold to the Vikings for $1, that's one-dollar for the Metrodome. The stadium was paid for long ago. Kohls said no one wants to see the Vikings leave Minnesota, but the economic downturn makes it impossible for the state to assist the Vikings in building a new home. The cities of Minneapolis & St. Paul told them long ago they wouldn't be able to help. But if the Vikings will play in the Metrodome for 2-3 more seasons, they could save a carload of cash which could be put aside for stadium construction.
The Carolina Panthers have said they will not use the franchise tag again on Julius Peppers. He will most certainly become an unrestricted free agent. The 30-year old defensive end made $16.2 million as Carolina's franchise player last season & to repeat this designation in 2010, his guaranteed salary would soar to over $21.8 million, that's $1.326 million per game. I understand the Panthers decision. Peppers will bring a big offer, maybe not as large as Albert Haynesworth brought last year, but in this uncapped year, someone will step up & offer the 5-time Pro Bowl defender an absurd amount of money.
The NCAA is flirting with disaster. They are considering a new rule that would take a touchdown away from a team that was penalized for taunting. This could be a monumental mistake, college officials already have too many 'judgment calls' to make. If a guy is offsides, everyone in the place can see it. If a tackle drags a defensive end to the ground it's a holding call everyone can see too. But there's a fine line between celebrating & taunting, one that could be misinterpreted & cost a team a victory. Let's just stay with a 15-yard penalty for now. I watch about 300 college games a year & I don't see this as being one of the top-20 problems the NCAA faces right now. I don't like taunting either, it's poor sportsmanship, something all sports could use more of, but this is overkill. Leave it alone.
Missouri announced Friday they had two new home & home contracts for out of conference play. They will travel to Arizona State in 2011 & the Sun Devils will play in Columbia in 2012. One that's further down the road is Memphis State. It will be Tiger vs. Tigers in 2015 & 2016. The first game will be in Memphis.
Talk about a tough place to play for a 17-year old. Ohio State announced they have added Adam Griffin to their 2010 signing class. The 5' 9" 185-pound running back from Columbus is the son of two-time Heisman Trophy winner, Archie Griffin. The only player to ever win 2 Heisman's played for the Buckeyes in the mid-70's. This kid has a lot to live up to playing at Ohio State, good luck to him.
The Cincinnati Bengals continue to baffle me with their personnel moves. The Bengals have had repeated problems with players getting into trouble, arrested, suspended, even killed, in the case of the late Chris Henry. When they drafted Rey Maualuga last April there were questions about alcohol use & two arrests from his USC days. After a DUI in January, Maualuga is going to check into the Betty Ford Clinic later this month to begin alcohol rehab. They signed ex-Chief PITA Larry Johnson late last season but their actions this week really a lot shocked people around the league. They signed Matt Jones, formerly suspended for cocaine use & out of the league for nearly a year & a half. They brought Adam 'Pacman' Jones in for a workout, he of multiple arrests & suspensions. He was involved in a Las Vegas strip club shooting in 2007 that left a club security guard paralyzed. Now several of their players are courting Terrell Owens, who will become an unrestricted free agent this month. They might set a league record for most suspensions on one roster. Talk about a bunch of high maintenance players, wow.
The Minnesota Vikings have been trying to get the city or the state to provide the bulk of the funds needed for a new stadium. Minnesota, like so many other states, has a budget shortfall of $1.2 billion & has denied the Vikings a dime. State Representative Paul Kohls has proposed that the Metrodome be sold to the Vikings for $1, that's one-dollar for the Metrodome. The stadium was paid for long ago. Kohls said no one wants to see the Vikings leave Minnesota, but the economic downturn makes it impossible for the state to assist the Vikings in building a new home. The cities of Minneapolis & St. Paul told them long ago they wouldn't be able to help. But if the Vikings will play in the Metrodome for 2-3 more seasons, they could save a carload of cash which could be put aside for stadium construction.
The Carolina Panthers have said they will not use the franchise tag again on Julius Peppers. He will most certainly become an unrestricted free agent. The 30-year old defensive end made $16.2 million as Carolina's franchise player last season & to repeat this designation in 2010, his guaranteed salary would soar to over $21.8 million, that's $1.326 million per game. I understand the Panthers decision. Peppers will bring a big offer, maybe not as large as Albert Haynesworth brought last year, but in this uncapped year, someone will step up & offer the 5-time Pro Bowl defender an absurd amount of money.
The NCAA is flirting with disaster. They are considering a new rule that would take a touchdown away from a team that was penalized for taunting. This could be a monumental mistake, college officials already have too many 'judgment calls' to make. If a guy is offsides, everyone in the place can see it. If a tackle drags a defensive end to the ground it's a holding call everyone can see too. But there's a fine line between celebrating & taunting, one that could be misinterpreted & cost a team a victory. Let's just stay with a 15-yard penalty for now. I watch about 300 college games a year & I don't see this as being one of the top-20 problems the NCAA faces right now. I don't like taunting either, it's poor sportsmanship, something all sports could use more of, but this is overkill. Leave it alone.
Missouri announced Friday they had two new home & home contracts for out of conference play. They will travel to Arizona State in 2011 & the Sun Devils will play in Columbia in 2012. One that's further down the road is Memphis State. It will be Tiger vs. Tigers in 2015 & 2016. The first game will be in Memphis.
Talk about a tough place to play for a 17-year old. Ohio State announced they have added Adam Griffin to their 2010 signing class. The 5' 9" 185-pound running back from Columbus is the son of two-time Heisman Trophy winner, Archie Griffin. The only player to ever win 2 Heisman's played for the Buckeyes in the mid-70's. This kid has a lot to live up to playing at Ohio State, good luck to him.
The Cincinnati Bengals continue to baffle me with their personnel moves. The Bengals have had repeated problems with players getting into trouble, arrested, suspended, even killed, in the case of the late Chris Henry. When they drafted Rey Maualuga last April there were questions about alcohol use & two arrests from his USC days. After a DUI in January, Maualuga is going to check into the Betty Ford Clinic later this month to begin alcohol rehab. They signed ex-Chief PITA Larry Johnson late last season but their actions this week really a lot shocked people around the league. They signed Matt Jones, formerly suspended for cocaine use & out of the league for nearly a year & a half. They brought Adam 'Pacman' Jones in for a workout, he of multiple arrests & suspensions. He was involved in a Las Vegas strip club shooting in 2007 that left a club security guard paralyzed. Now several of their players are courting Terrell Owens, who will become an unrestricted free agent this month. They might set a league record for most suspensions on one roster. Talk about a bunch of high maintenance players, wow.
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