Fran Notes

Franchise Notes

Published June 26, 2012

In New Jersey, John Brennan notes the NFL Giants and Jets “faced a barrage of criticism Monday over their lawsuit seeking to prevent a revival of the American Dream Meadowlands complex.” Triple Five spokesperson Alan Marcus, the developer for the proposed project, said, “It is an assault on the taxpayers of New Jersey who would benefit from the revenue to be generated by this complex.” Bergen County (New Jersey) Exec Kathleen Donovan “pointed to a 40 percent unemployment rate in the area’s building trades.” She added the NFL teams “have put Bergen County’s economic growth at risk” (Bergen RECORD, 6/26).

SCHEDULE TWEAKS: In Baltimore, Matt Vensel noted the Ravens are “examining the sleep patterns of their players this offseason and cross-checking the results with sleep studies conducted by the United States military to see if they can benefit from tweaking their schedules.” Team officials are “hoping to determine that they can gain a competitive advantage by gaining a little extra sleep in the morning.” The Ravens said that they are “considering adjusting their weekly practice schedule” based on the results (Baltimore SUN, 6/22).

GETTING THEIR KICKS: A Chicago franchise will join the Major Indoor Soccer League this season and the team is expected to play at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. The new team is led by Owners Armando Gamboa and Dave Mokry, who will act as CEO and COO, respectively. No name has been announced yet (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 6/23).

BLANK SLATE: In Arizona, Adam Green wrote the Suns are “heading into an uncertain offseason and, what most believe, an underwhelming future.” It is “worth wondering how the Suns went from the best team we had to the one that no one believes in going forward.” There is no "title or bust" mentality, “no belief that the team is one piece away from a ring.” But what there is “is a somewhat blank slate, from which” President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby, GM Lance Blanks and Managing Partner Robert Sarver “can build a team they believe can compete for a championship” (ARIZONASPORTS.com, 6/22).