Tagliabue tours rebuilt Superdome
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue toured the hurricane-damaged Superdome on Tuesday with Saints owner Tom Benson and Gov. Kathleen Blanco, and was encouraged with the progress that has been made.
Though repairs are ongoing, Tagliabue was impressed. He had said during earlier visits he had concerns about how long it would take to get the facility reopened.
“I think there are some terrific features in the renovation,” he said, describing an overhaul of the Superdome’s concession areas and luxury suites. “There’s a feeling of openness, freshness.”
Blanco described the transformation as “nothing short of a miracle” and a symbol not only of tragedy, but rebirth.
Still, Superdome officials hope to find a large corporation to buy naming rights to the facility before the Saints open at home against Atlanta on Sept. 25.
Doug Thornton, the regional vice president of SMG, the company that manages the Superdome, said Tuesday that he is optimistic a sponsor could be lined up before that game.
“We’re working hard with the business community,” Tagliabue said. “It’s a great opportunity for large businesses.”
More than 18,000 of the city’s residents sweltered in the Superdome for days following Hurricane Katrina.
The facility’s 9.7-acre roof had to be replaced and 4,000 tons of trash and debris removed, along with 1.6 million square feet of carpeting, 650,000 square feet of wall board and 500,000 square feet of ceiling tiles.
Law says he’s ready
Anyone who might have thought new Chiefs cornerback Ty Law was out of shape should have attended his introductory news conference at Arrowhead Stadium.
Looking fit and trim, Law said he was completely recovered from a severe foot injury that has plagued him the last two years.
“I’m 110 percent better than what I was last year, physically, mentally,” said the 32-year-old Law, a five-time Pro Bowl cornerback. “I’m ready to go.”
Law, who initially hurt his foot with the Patriots in 2004, said he was still hobbled by the injury last season with the Jets. But he managed to intercept a league-high 10 passes for then-coach Herm Edwards.
Now he’s back with Edwards, Kansas City’s new head coach, and armed with a five-year, $30 million contract.
“I’m kind of speechless. Everything is happening so fast,” he said. “I really didn’t know I was going to be able to get something done before training camp. I thought it would be two to three weeks from now when it actually happened.”
He was also courted by the New England Patriots, the team he helped to three Super Bowl championships.
Browns facing suit
A TV station sued the Cleveland Browns after the team said it would break the station’s contract to broadcast preseason games and other programming.
The Browns are upset because the station aired a 911 call involving the team owner’s relatives.
WOIO-TV aired the call placed by owner Randy Lerner’s sister, Nancy Fisher, after she found her 6-year-old daughter drowned in a creek on family property July 9.
Recordings of 911 calls are public records and are routinely made available to the media. One of the city’s three other TV stations also aired a portion of the recording.
Browns vice president Michael Keenan sent a letter to Bill Applegate, WOIO’s vice president and general manager, on July 13 informing him the team was terminating the contract, citing what he called irresponsible journalism.
WOIO, a CBS affiliate, is seeking to keep the contract and to collect damages exceeding $25,000.
Rams sign draft picks
The St. Louis Rams signed three draft picks, defensive end Victor Adeyanju, offensive guard Tony Palmer and linebacker Tim McGarigle.
“In a move to secure Carson Palmer’s blind side, the Cincinnati Bengals offered left tackle Levi Jones a six-year, $40 million contract extension.