Why is the sale of the team taking so long?

[Woodie]

11 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

It's reasonable. The story about him being the front runner did, after all, come from NFL.com

Tepper is already "in the club" so to speak, and given how much money he brings to the table it's reasonable to believe that the NFL wants him to have a bigger stake.

Someone else pointed out that the 5% stake Tepper has in the Steelers was bought from Jimmy Haslam, who basically followed the same path.  I suppose you could get fairly tinfoil hattish with that if you wanted to.

I just think he fits the profile perfectly for the league.  He's already a club member, is likely on friendly terms with several owners, has the funds that would put him at the grown-up table, and he is a skilled and cut-throat negotiator (which would come in very handy with the upcoming CBA negotiations).  He just makes too much sense.  I'm not a tinfoil hat guy, but I can easily see a scenario where the league is trying to steer this franchise toward Tepper.

[arbnranger]

[Mr. Scot]

10 minutes ago, Woodie said:

I just think he fits the profile perfectly for the league.  He's already a club member, is likely on friendly terms with several owners, has the funds that would put him at the grown-up table, and he is a skilled and cut-throat negotiator (which would come in very handy with the upcoming CBA negotiations).  He just makes too much sense.  I'm not a tinfoil hat guy, but I can easily see a scenario where the league is trying to steer this franchise toward Tepper.

Which brings up another question...

Does Richardson having to sell the team under a cloud of scandal make it easier for the NFL to nudge the sale toward their preferred guy?

[Woodie]

2 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Which brings up another question...

Does Richardson having to sell the team under a cloud of scandal make it easier for the NFL to nudge the sale toward their preferred guy?

I don't know if it makes it easier, but it might give JR a greater sense of urgency to find a buyer rather than wait on someone that fits his ideals better.  I do think he is loyal to the league, and won't want to put it through the ringer while waiting on his preferred group to figure out a way to get enough capital to justify selling it to them over Tepper.   

[Jangler]

 

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, Woodie said:

I don't know if it makes it easier, but it might give JR a greater sense of urgency to find a buyer rather than wait on someone that fits his ideals better.  I do think he is loyal to the league, and won't want to put it through the ringer while waiting on his preferred group to figure out a way to get enough capital to justify selling it to them over Tepper.   

Do you believe he's still loyal to the league even though they declined to drop the investigation?

Word was the league was trying to pressure Richardson into hiring someone other than Hurney as GM, but he did it anyway.  I kinda doubt he's got enough power to keep the league from imposing their will on this front, though.

[Woodie]

I do.  I think it's ingrained in his DNA at this point.  I also think he understands the league is in a tough position with this.  The Metoo! stuff along with the negative press from the domestic violence issue pushed the NFL to at least give the appearance of taking it seriously and investigating the accusations.  But I do believe he thinks this is all a dog and pony show, and nothing will come of it.  And he's probably right as long as no one picks it up as their agenda (like the NFLPA is trying to do).   

And I don't think we know for a fact that the league was trying to pressure JR to hire someone other than Marty.  I think it was just a rumor/unsubstantiated report.  But even if they did, we don't know how much pressure, or if it was presented as a big deal or just a suggestion.  Either way, I don't think he made the hire to flaunt it in the league's faces, I think he genuinely believes Hurney is the best person for the job right now...and I also think it was another case of him rewarding loyalty.

[Mr. Scot]

6 minutes ago, Woodie said:

I do.  I think it's ingrained in his DNA at this point.  I also think he understands the league is in a tough position with this.  The Metoo! stuff along with the negative press from the domestic violence issue pushed the NFL to at least give the appearance of taking it seriously and investigating the accusations.  But I do believe he thinks this is all a dog and pony show, and nothing will come of it.  And he's probably right as long as no one picks it up as their agenda (like the NFLPA is trying to do).   

And I don't think we know for a fact that the league was trying to pressure JR to hire someone other than Marty.  I think it was just a rumor/unsubstantiated report.  But even if they did, we don't know how much pressure, or if it was presented as a big deal or just a suggestion.  Either way, I don't think he made the hire to flaunt it in the league's faces, I think he genuinely believes Hurney is the best person for the job right now...and I also think it was another case of him rewarding loyalty.

I've gone back and forth on how I think this all ends.

There are times when I think maybe the old boys club would be willing to do him one last favor and let him ride off into the sunset.  But then I think about the backlash from the #metoos and others and I have to wonder whether the NFL would be willing to weather something like that just to save Jerry Richardson some embarrassment.

No idea how this story ends, honestly.

[Woodie]

2 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I've gone back and forth on how I think this all ends.

There are times when I think maybe the old boys club would be willing to do him one last favor and let him ride off into the sunset.  But then I think about the backlash from the #metoos and others and I have to wonder whether the NFL would be willing to weather something like that just to save Jerry Richardson some embarrassment.

No idea how this story ends, honestly.

I think when the team is sold the league will do whatever they can to make this go away.  More than anything they don't want to embarrass themselves and add another black eye, and substantiating these harassment claims would be embarrassing for everyone, but also could open the floodgates to other franchises. 

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if once the sale is concluded, everyone moves on without actually closing the investigation...at least for a while.  That way the league can say they are still investigating until everyone forgets, then they could quietly close it down without any official word.   

[Mr. Scot]

8 minutes ago, Woodie said:

I think when the team is sold the league will do whatever they can to make this go away.  More than anything they don't want to embarrass themselves and add another black eye, and substantiating these harassment claims would be embarrassing for everyone, but also could open the floodgates to other franchises. 

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if once the sale is concluded, everyone moves on without actually closing the investigation...at least for a while.  That way the league can say they are still investigating until everyone forgets, then they could quietly close it down without any official word.   

I could see that, but I'm not sure the Players Association would sit quietly by and let that happen. They're not exactly Jerry Richardson's biggest fans. Honestly with the Sports Illustrated report already out there, it might be difficult to do regardless.

Obviously, the NFL wants to get this story out of the public consciousness. I just question whether they can actually do that now in a #metoo world.

[Woodie]

22 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I could see that, but I'm not sure the Players Association would sit quietly by and let that happen. They're not exactly Jerry Richardson's biggest fans. Honestly with the Sports Illustrated report already out there, it might be difficult to do regardless.

Obviously, the NFL wants to get this story out of the public consciousness. I just question whether they can actually do that now in a #metoo world.

The one thing the NFL has going for it right now is "metoo" fatigue.  I think people are starting to get worn out by all the accusations and reports, so are starting to not pay as much attention as they had been.  You're still going to have groups trying to make it an issue, but I don't think there are as many people listening as there were a month or two ago.  Add that with the fact that any investigation likely will not conclude until after the sale of the team, and you'll likely get a bunch of "so what's." 

And since the players association really doesn't have much authority here, I don't think their agenda will gain much traction.  I think it's more just a volley at the NFL that they are watching anyway.  I also don't think they'll want to waste any power they have on an issue in which most of the principles involved no longer have any affiliation with the NFL.  

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, Woodie said:

The one thing the NFL has going for it right now is "metoo" fatigue.  I think people are starting to get worn out by all the accusations and reports, so are starting to not pay as much attention as they had been.  You're still going to have groups trying to make it an issue, but I don't think there are as many people listening as there were a month or two ago.  Add that with the fact that any investigation likely will not conclude until after the sale of the team, and you'll likely get a bunch of "so what's." 

And since the players association really doesn't have much authority here, I don't think their agenda will gain much traction.  I think it's more just a volley at the NFL that they are watching anyway.  I also don't think they'll want to waste any power they have on an issue in which most of the principles involved no longer have any affiliation with the NFL.  

All of which would explain why they want to see the investigation conclude before the team is sold.

It does occur to me they could also hope to take a parting shot at an old nemesis. They might believe a scandal could potentially knock some of the value off the team and cost Richardson some money.

I don't really believe any potential revelations will affect the team's value on the field at all, but I could see where someone might.

[Woodie]

22 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

All of which would explain why they want to see the investigation conclude before the team is sold.

It does occur to me they could also hope to take a parting shot at an old nemesis. They might believe a scandal could potentially knock some of the value off the team and cost Richardson some money.

I don't really believe any potential revelations will affect the team's value on the field at all, but I could see where someone might.

Honestly, I think everyone just wants this to go away.  It's not good for the league, the team, or even the players association.  In fact, the only benefit for the NFLPA is to gain leverage for future dealings with players.  It wouldn't be in their best interest to blow this up publicly. 

The only people it really benefits are those who are trying to bring light to the issue, but they already have all they need to keep the fire burning with what's going on in Hollywood.  So, I can't see them pushing their agenda like those fighting against domestic violence did.  

[Mr. Scot]

3 minutes ago, Woodie said:

Honestly, I think everyone just wants this to go away.  It's not good for the league, the team, or even the players association.  In fact, the only benefit for the NFLPA is to gain leverage for future dealings with players.  It wouldn't be in their best interest to blow this up publicly. 

The only people it really benefits are those who are trying to bring light to the issue, but they already have all they need to keep the fire burning with what's going on in Hollywood.  So, I can't see them pushing their agenda like those fighting against domestic violence did.  

Perhaps, except maybe the lawyers.

(billable hours and such)