Stallworth now a Steelers owner

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1 Stallworth now a Steelers owner Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Stallworth now a Steelers owner Famed receiver, two others revealed as new investors in NFL franchise Tuesday, March 24, 2009 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Robin Rombach/Post-Gazette Former Steeler now part-owner John Stallworth DANA POINT, Calif. -- Hall of Fame wide receiver John Stallworth is among the three new partners in the Steelers who were approved yesterday by NFL owners. Mr. Stallworth, the president and CEO of Genesis II; Bruce V. Rauner, chairman of GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC; and the Varischetti family of Brockway, Jefferson County, bring to six the new partners the NFL has approved under the realignment of Steelers ownership under Dan and Art Rooney II. Mr. Rauner, Mr. Stallworth and the Varischetti family join James Haslam III, the Paul family and Thomas Tull as new partners to help maintain the Rooney family ownership of the Steelers. The agreement among the Rooney family for closing the transaction was originally set to take place before March 31, but with the addition of new investors the closing will be postponed until May. Two or three more partners could be added by then, team president Art Rooney II has said. The Steelers did not disclose the ownership interest of any of the investors. The latest deal will bring one of the members of the legendary 1970s Steelers teams back into the fold. Mr. Stallworth, 56, played for the Steelers for 14 years and in the Steelers' first four Super Bowl championships. He was president and CEO of Madison Research Corp., an engineering and information technology company based in Huntsville, Ala., before selling the company in He told Inc. magazine in He and a retired Army engineer he had met at his son's soccer game founded the company in 1986, and it grew into an operation valued at $62 million with 470 employees. Clients included the Army, Air Force and NASA. The Varischetti family has substantial involvement in many businesses, including Guardian Elder Care Holdings Inc., which has 23 nursing facilities mostly in Pennsylvania, and Varischetti and Sons Inc., which owns and manages commercial real estate in Pennsylvania and New York, according to a statement from the Steelers. The family's business history dates to the 1960s, when the late Frank Varischetti built his sanitation business into one of the largest independently-owned sanitation companies in the state, the statement said. "We've always been huge Steelers fans, so when this opportunity presented itself, it seemed like a dream come true," Peter

2 Stallworth now a Steelers owner Page 2 of 2 Varischetti, 39, said last night on behalf of his family. "There was an opportunity to be able to do something, and it made sense for our family. It was a good fit for the Rooneys and the Varischettis." Mr. Varischetti declined to say how much his family has invested in the team. Mr. Rauner, 53, is a native of Chicago and chairman of GTCR Golder Rauner, a venture capital and private equity firm. He told Crain's Chicago Business magazine in 2006 that he was interested in buying the Chicago Cubs, but the Tribune Co. is in the midst of negotiations with another bidder who offered $900 million for the Cubs in January. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College and holds an M.B.A. from Harvard University. His $5 million gift to Dartmouth College transformed Webster Hall, an antiquated theater with much history and tradition, into a modern special-collections library, where original Robert Frost and J.J. Audubon manuscripts are housed. The restructuring of the ownership has been in the works for a couple of years, since the NFL raised concerns about the franchise being out of accord with NFL rules on majority control and its prohibitions against gambling even as commissioner Roger Goodell let it be known he wanted the Rooneys to retain control of the Steelers. The NFL bans owners from being involved in gambling, even those forms sanctioned by government, and the family-owned tracks had expanded to include video game slots and/or poker rooms. Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr., a storied horse player who kept the franchise going in the Great Depression with his racetrack winnings, bought the Palm Beach Kennel Club in 1970 and purchased the Yonkers harness track in Each of the five Rooney brothers inherited a 16 percent stake in the Steelers when the Chief, who founded the franchise in 1933 for $2,500, died in The remaining 20 percent is owned by the McGinley family. But NFL rules require a controlling interest of at least 30 percent by one entity, in this case, Dan and his son. Twin brothers Timothy and Patrick Rooney will each sell their 16 percent ownership in the Steelers while staying in control of Empire City Gaming at Yonkers Raceway and the Palm Beach Kennel Club, one of the most successful greyhound tracks in the country. Art Jr. and John Rooney will sell parts of their stakes in the Steelers. After the sale price was set at $800 million in December, a 16 percent share works out to $128 million. Sadie Gurman contributed to this report. Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. First published on March 24, 2009 at 12:00 am Steelers Merchandise Wide Variety of Pittsburgh Steelers Merchandise. No Tax, Shop Online! Steelers NFL Champs Gear Shop Steelers Super Bowl Champions Apparel & More at NFL Shop Today!

3 Stallworth will be among team's new owners - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 4 Stallworth will be among team's new owners By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Tuesday, March 24, 2009 DANA POINT, Calif. The Steelers added one of the most popular players in their storied history to the ownership group Monday. Hall of Fame receiver John Stallworth, Chicago venture capitalist Bruce V. Rauner and the Varischetti family of Brockway were unanimously approved at the NFL owners' meetings. They will join the group that chairman Dan Rooney and his son, team president Art II, have been putting together in their attempt to buy out other family members. The family received an extension from the NFL as it works to complete the sale that would consolidate control of the team in the hands of Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II. A March 31 deadline originally was set for completion of the sale, but that has been moved to May. Art Rooney II said last week that the Steelers were close to adding a "very recognizable" figure to the ownership group. Stallworth certainly qualifies. One of the stars on the team that dominated the 1970s, Stallworth helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls in six years, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in "That is outstanding," said Joe Greene, who was Stallworth's teammate and still works for the Steelers as a scout. "It's still in the family. I mean that's great that a former player could put himself in that position." "This is absolutely wonderful," said former Steelers safety Mike Wagner, a teammate of Stallworth's in the '70s. "I think it's a great thing for the Steelers and wonderful for John. He's a class guy, that's for sure." A Steelers spokesman said neither Dan Rooney nor Art Rooney II would comment on the new investors. The total investment stake of each owner was not disclosed. Stallworth, 56, sold an Alabama-based technology and government contracting corporation in 2006, and is a partner at Genesis II, a family investment firm. Joining him are Rauner, 53, chairman of an $8 billion private equity firm, and

4 Stallworth will be among team's new owners - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 4 the Varischetti family, whose business interests include nursing facilities and manufacturing firms. The family is involved in VSI Racing, which competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Peter Varischetti, 39, a former University of Pittsburgh football player and Steelers' season ticket holder, characterized his family's ownership stake as "minor." "The opportunity presented itself, and it's a lifetime opportunity. We feel very fortunate to be able to participate, especially knowing how the Rooneys run their operations. We now have the opportunity to be part of the No.1 franchise in all sports," he said. The NFL has approved six new investors in the Steelers' ownership group since approving the sale of the team in December. Four of the Rooney brothers are selling some or all of their shares in the restructuring that will separate the Steelers from the family's gambling interests. Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II are trying to buy enough shares that would give them control of 30 percent of the team and satisfy NFL rules regarding membership equity. Dan Rooney and his four brothers Art Jr., Pat, Tim and John each own 16 percent of the Steelers. The McGinley family controls the other 20 percent. Under the plan approved by the NFL, Pat and Tim Rooney, who are involved in the family race track business, will sell all of their shares. Art Jr. and John will sell some of their shares and retain limited stakes in the team. Art Rooney Jr., a former director of player personnel, was instrumental in the Steelers taking Stallworth in the fourth round of the 1974 draft. Four of the Steelers' first five picks that year made the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Art Rooney Jr. said yesterday that his father and Steelers' founder, Art, "would have been elated" to have Stallworth rejoin the organization as a limited partner. "Mr. Stallworth will be an excellent partner," he said. "He had a phenomenal work ethic. He's tremendously bright." Greene agreed. "You don't get to where he got to without some knowledge and experience," Greene said. INVESTORS A look at the three newest investors in the Steelers' restructured ownership group. They join James Haslam III, of Knoxville, Tenn.; Thomas Tull of Los

5 Stallworth will be among team's new owners - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 3 of 4 Angeles, and five members of Pittsburgh's Robert A. Paul family as minority investors: JOHN STALLWORTH Lives in Huntsville, Ala. Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame after playing 14 seasons with the Steelers and winning four Super Bowl titles. Appeared in four Pro Bowls. Partner of Genesis II, a family based investment group created in Chairman of the John Stallworth Foundation, which he founded in 1984 to provide scholarships to students attending his alma mater, Alabama A&M. President and CEO of Madison Research Corp., a technology and government contracting corporation, before selling the company in BRUCE V. RAUNER Lives in Chicago Chairman of GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC, a venture capital and private equity firm. Provided funding for construction of the Rauner Special Collections Library at Dartmouth College. Endowed and funded programs at Dartmouth, Morehouse College, University of Chicago, Harvard Business School and University of Illinois. VARISCHETTI FAMILY Operations headquartered in Brockway, Jefferson County. Holdings include Guardian Elder Care, Varischetti & Sons, Phoenix Sintered Metals, Apple Tractor. Community projects funded by Frank Varischetti Foundation, which serves Brockway and DuBois. Nursing care business has 23 facilities, including 20 in Pennsylvania. Patriarch Frank Varischetti built Varischetti Sanitation into one of Pennsylvania's largest independently owned sanitation companies in 1960s. Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.

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7 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 1 Print Page TUESDAY MARCH 24, 2009 :: Last modified: Tuesday, March 24, :03 AM EDT Stallworth's hauls in biggest catch By The Associated Press PITTSBURGH Steelers Hall of Fame wide receiver John Stallworth was among three new partners added Monday to Pittsburgh chairman Dan Rooney s ownership group, one that may expand further before it is finalized in several months. Rooney and son Art Rooney II, the Steelers president, have added six partners to help them acquire all or part the shares held by Dan Rooney s four brothers. The three new partners were approved by NFL owners. The restructuring agreement was finalized several months before the Steelers won their record sixth Super Bowl last month and was required to meet NFL rules that a primary owner have at least a 30 percent stake in a team. The Rooney family agreement originally called for the transaction to take place by March 31, but that deadline was pushed back until May because of the possible addition of other investors. Stallworth, who starred on the Steelers four Super Bowl championship teams during the 1970s, is the most visible of the new partners. He has been a successful businessman since his retirement following the 1987 season and is currently the president and CEO of family based investment group Genesis II. Previously, he was involved in a successful technology company. Also added to the Rooney group were Bruce V. Rauner, chairman of GTCR Golder Rauner, a venture capital firm; and the Varischetti family of Brockway, Pa. The family is involved in numerous business ventures.

8 Stallworth joins Steelers' ownership group Page 1 of 2 Stallworth joins Steelers' ownership group By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer dlolley@observer-reporter.com NFL owners approved three new partners in the Steelers' ownership group on Monday, including one familiar name. Hall of Fame wide receiver John Stallworth is among the three partners added to the Steelers' ownership group, which now includes six new partners. Stallworth, who retired in 1987 after 14 seasons with the Steelers, ranks second in team history with 537 receptions, 8,723 yards and 63 touchdown catches. Since his retirement, the 56-year-old Stallworth has successfully run a number of businesses in the Huntsville, Ala. area. He serves as president and CEO of Genesis II, which was created in 2006 to enhance his philanthropic support efforts, investments and related business interests. In addition to Stallworth, also approved Monday were Bruce V. Rauner, Chairman of GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC; and the Varischetti family of Brockway. They join James Haslam III, the Paul family and Hollywood producer Thomas Tull as new partners with Dan and Art Rooney II to help maintain the Rooney family ownership. The Varischetti family's business interests include Guardian Elder Care Holdings, Inc.; Varischetti & Sons, Inc.; Phoenix Sintered Metals, Inc.; and Apple Tractor, Inc. Rauner, meanwhile, is chairman of GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC, a venture capital and private equity firm. The six partners are joining with Dan and Art Rooney II in an effort to purchase the shares owned by Dan Rooney's brothers - Tim, Pat, John and Art Jr. Under terms of the deal, which were agreed to late last year, Tim and Pat Rooney will sell their complete 16 percent stakes, while Steelers investors John and Art Rooney Jr. plan to retain at least some portion of their stake in the team, which is worth an estimated $1.2 billion. The Rooneys have owned the Steelers for all but a few months since founding the team in In other news, the league announced the Steelers will open the season Sept. 10 against the Tennessee Titans at Heinz Field. It has become tradition for the Super Bowl champion to begin the season with a nationally televised Thursday night contest and the Titans were chosen for the Steelers' opponent over Green Bay and Baltimore, which had requested not to be Pittsburgh's opponent in the opener. The league also announced its free agency compensatory draft picks, with the Steelers receiving a fifthround selection. The team lost guard Alan Faneca and linebacker Clark Haggans and signed running back Mewelde Moore and linebacker Keyaron Fox.

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10 The Herald Standard - Sports Stallworth, 2 others added to ownership group Page 1 of 1 0 Stallworth, 2 others added to ownership group PITTSBURGH (AP) - Steelers Hall of Fame wide receiver John Stallworth was among three new partners added Monday to Pittsburgh chairman Dan Rooney's ownership group, one that may expand further before it is finalized in several months. Rooney and son Art Rooney II, the Steelers' president, have added six partners to help them acquire all or part the shares held by Dan Rooney's four brothers. The three new partners were approved by NFL owners. The restructuring agreement was finalized several months before the Steelers won their record sixth Super Bowl last month and was required to meet NFL rules that a primary owner have at least a 30 percent stake in a team. Advertisement The Rooney family agreement originally called for the transaction to take place by March 31, but that deadline was pushed back until May because of the possible addition of other investors. Stallworth, who starred on the Steelers' four Super Bowl championship teams during the 1970s, is the most visible of the new partners. He has been a successful businessman since his retirement following the 1987 season and is currently the president and CEO of family based investment group Genesis II. Previously, he was involved in a successful technology company. Also added to the Rooney group were Bruce V. Rauner, the chairman of GTCR Golder Rauner, a venture capital firm; and the Varischetti family of Brockway, Pa. The family is involved in numerous business, including a nursing home chain and a commercial real estate business, with a combined 2,000 employees. Previously, James Haslam III, Thomas Tull and the Pittsburgh-based Paul family were added as partners to help the Rooneys maintain family ownership of the team. The Rooneys have owned the Steelers for all but a few months since their founding in Copyright Associated Press 2009 The Herald Standard 2009

11 Tomlin: Greatness is all about drive Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Tomlin: Greatness is all about drive Tuesday, March 24, 2009 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana / Post-Gazette It's not hunger that drives coach Mike Tomlin in his quest for the Steelers' seventh Super Bowl title. DANA POINT, Calif. -- Different coach, different year, different players, even -- soon -- different ownership. Mike Tomlin knows all about how the Steelers fell flat on their face the previous time they entered the season as Super Bowl champions. He hopes for one more difference this time: The outcome. That 2006 season turned into one big Super Bowl hangover for the Steelers that began with one big headache for their quarterback and ended with an 8-8 record, no playoffs and the end of the road for coach Bill Cowher, who resigned after that season. None of that means much to Tomlin as he prepares his team to defend its sixth NFL championship. "It's not something that I'm going to attempt to avoid," Tomlin said yesterday at the NFL meetings. "I think if I attempt to avoid it, I may acknowledge the possibility of it happening exists. I'm not willing to do that. "We simply are just going to prepare and attack the challenges that lie ahead for us. We know that things that happened in the past are things that happened in the past, and it may affect how we're judged from a perception standpoint. But it's not going to dictate how we work or how we approach our business." Tomlin spoke at length publicly yesterday for the first time in seven weeks, or since he appeared the day after his team won Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla., at the winner's news conference Feb. 2. He has taken a low-key public approach since he and his players paraded through downtown Pittsburgh Feb. 3. "I'm a private person by nature," Tomlin explained. "This is what I do, it's not who I am. I understand that it's necessary that people get to know me. I have somewhat of a public job. I'd like to think that the longer I'm on my job, the more I'll simply be evaluated by the quality of my work, and the necessity to hear myself talk this time of the year when it doesn't matter will be less and less." He does not want his 2009 team to be hungry as much as driven, he said. "Hungry is a word that I've been analyzing here of late. It's not hunger that drives me, it's not hunger that needs to drive our football team. Hunger and thirst are things that can be quenched. We have to be a driven group, we have to seek greatness. I think driven is a more appropriate word, it's a word I tend to use with them as we prepare for '09." That preparation will change a bit in light of the Steelers having played games into February. Tomlin and Garrett Giemont, his conditioning coordinator, developed a plan to take the long season into account this year.

12 Tomlin: Greatness is all about drive Page 2 of 2 Every Playoff and SB DVD Full Length Games - Not Highlights! Every Super 7 QB & WR Academy Designed by Steve Clarkson QB's, WR's, RB's "In Bowl, order Full SB to I-XLIII be a on candidate DVD for a & championship-caliber TE's team you have to work hard, but within that we have to find a delicate balance of working smart," Tomlin said. "And we have to acknowledge what has happened to us here in the past few months in terms of what we have done to our bodies as a football team." So, young players who did not play much or at all last season are working at team headquarters now. Tomlin will stagger other players' starting dates based on the number of snaps they took last season. Tomlin likes his team, even if he has lost a few players to free agency such as Nate Washington and Bryant McFadden. The Steelers re-signed nine of their own free agents but no one else's over the past 3Â 1/2 weeks of the signing period. "I think, really, it's kind of in line the way we approach our business. I think it's consistent to what's happened here in the past and probably what's going to happen here in the future. "We value the growth and development of our guys, we're going to try to retain as many of those guys as we can. We understand what comes with being successful, that sometimes people are going to value your players and sometimes in the process you're going to lose some of them. That comes with the territory. I think we're all comfortable where we are right now in free agency." Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. First published on March 24, 2009 at 12:00 am

13 Steelers Notebook: NFL's '09 opener has Titans at Heinz Field Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers Notebook: NFL's '09 opener has Titans at Heinz Field Tuesday, March 24, 2009 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette DANA POINT, Calif. -- The Steelers will play the AFC championship game that never was when the Tennessee Titans kick off the 2009 NFL season Sept. 10 at Heinz Field on a Thursday night. To the winner of the Super Bowl goes the spoils, which is why the Steelers will get to open the NFL season at home for the second time in the past four years, and all the hoopla that surrounds that game. It's a tradition the NFL started in Kickoff is 8:30 p.m. on NBC. The Titans, champions of the AFC South Division last season, earned the conference's No. 1 seed in the playoffs with a 13-3 record. But they were upset at home by Baltimore, sending the AFC championship game to the No. 2-seeded Steelers at Heinz Field against the Ravens. Tennessee is a former member of the old AFC Central Division with the Steelers. The Titans beat the Steelers, 31-14, Dec, 21 in Nashville to earn the top seed in the second-last game of the season. The Sept. 10 game also will mark the return of former Steelers receiver Nate Washington, who signed this month as a free agent with Tennessee. "I'm excited about getting things started in '09," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said yesterday after he learned of the opening matchup. "My philosophy or approach hasn't changed. It's less about who we play; I'm more concerned about how we prepare and how we play. "Playing a quality opponent such as those guys makes preparation easier from my standpoint. I know it's going to be an exciting atmosphere and environment for our fans. That's what I'm most excited about." Among the reasons the NFL scheduled Tennessee for the opener is the fact the Ravens, who lost all three games they played against the Steelers last season, asked the NFL not to schedule them for that game or any night games in Heinz Field, according to the Baltimore Sun. The Ravens made their case to the league, according to the report, that they've played nationally televised games in Heinz Field three of the past four seasons and the Steelers have not played one in Baltimore since "I thought it was interesting, you know," Tomlin said of the Ravens' request. "But to each his own. "Personally, I don't care when we have to play people or where we play them. That's out of our control, so I don't focus on that." As Super Bowl champions, the Steelers are likely to again have the maximum of five night games on their 2009 schedule, for the second season in a row. The rest of that schedule will be announced sometime in April. Tomlin said he welcomes the attention that goes with prime-time games. "I do. I take it as a challenge. I also take it as a compliment. I think the league views those games as exciting games, marketable games. It's an honor to represent the NFL in that way." Besides the opening game at Heinz Field, the NFL yesterday announced the rest of its kickoff weekend of nationally televised games. Chicago will play at Green Bay Sunday night and their will be two games Monday night on ESPN: Buffalo at New England and San Diego at Oakland.

14 Steelers Notebook: NFL's '09 opener has Titans at Heinz Field Page 2 of 2 The league also revealed its Thanksgiving Day tripleheader of Green Bay at Detroit, Oakland at Dallas and the New York Giants at Denver. Fifth-round pick added The Steelers received and extra draft pick yesterday, but not the one they hoped to get. The NFL issued a fifth-round pick to the Steelers as one of 32 compensatory choices the league awarded to 16 teams. Privately, the Steelers expected a third-round pick. The extra draft choice for the Steelers will be the 33rd in the fifth round or No. 169 overall. "I'll take whatever they want to give us," coach Mike Tomlin said simply. The NFL uses a complicated system to determine compensatory draft picks. The Steelers were awarded their extra choice based on losing two unrestricted free agents last year, Alan Faneca and Clark Haggans, and signing one, Mewelde Moore. The Steelers have nine picks in the draft next month, one in each of the seven rounds, and additional picks in the fifth and seventh rounds. They have the final pick in the first round, No. 32. Tomlin said he prefers that choice over No. 1. "I would rather pick at the bottom of the first round than the top because what it takes to get to the top to pick is miserable." The Detroit Lions, based on their 0-16 record last season, pick first. First published on March 24, 2009 at 12:00 am Steelers Merchandise Great Prices on Officially Licensed Steelers Merchandise. Shop Online! Steelers NFL Champs Gear Shop Steelers Super Bowl Champions Apparel & More at NFL Shop Today!

15 Steelers will meet Titans in NFL opener - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Steelers will meet Titans in NFL opener By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Tuesday, March 24, 2009 DANA POINT, Calif. NBC almost had a dream matchup for the 2009 NFL season opener. The network didn't get a bad consolation prize when the league announced Monday that the Steelers will host the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 10 at Heinz Field. Since 2004, the Super Bowl champion has played on the Thursday that precedes the first weekend of the regular season. And the 8:30 p.m. game between the Steelers and the Titans pits the team that won the Super Bowl against the team that had the NFL's best regular-season record (13-3) in The Titans beat the Steelers, 31-14, last December in Nashville, handing them their final loss of the season. "You want to play the best," Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said at the NFL owners meetings, "they're pretty good." The NFL had coveted the Ravens for the opener against the Steelers, but Baltimore reportedly did not want to play another night game in Pittsburgh. The Ravens have visited the Steelers for prime-time games in each of the past two years. "I thought it was interesting," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of the Ravens' desire not to play in the Sept. 10 game, "but to each their own. I don't care when we play people or where we play them. That's out of our control, so I don't worry about it." TAKING IT SLOWLY The Steelers may have started offseason workouts last week, but Tomlin is easing veterans, particularly established ones, back into the grind. "We kind of are approaching our offseason program, or the beginnings of the '09 season, based on the number of snaps that the men played (last season)," Tomlin said. Tomlin said players who didn't see much action last season or were on the

16 Steelers will meet Titans in NFL opener - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 practice squad will get the bulk of the work early in offseason workouts. Veterans will be worked into the mix, Tomlin, based on how much they played last season and how much their bodies still need to recover following the Steelers' Super Bowl run. Tomlin said he and strength coach Garrett Giemont put together the plan after "painstaking hours of research." "I think it's going to be an awesome thing," Tomlin said. "I think it allows us to have devoted time (for) maybe the guys who need it the most this time of year - young guys, developing guys, guys who didn't play a bunch. They're the only guys who are in the building right now." Well, not the only ones. Outside linebacker James Harrison has been taking part in the workouts that are geared for the younger and inexperienced players even though he is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Asked to explain that, Tomlin smiled and said Harrison still carries himself as the player who got cut three times before sticking in the NFL. "That's what makes him, him," Tomlin said. "That's a shining example to guys who are where he's been right now." TAKING THE FIFTH The Steelers picked up an extra fifth-round pick in April's NFL Draft when the NFL's Management Council awarded teams compensatory draft picks based on free-agent losses in The Steelers, who lost guard Alan Faneca and linebacker Clark Haggans to free agency last year while signing running back Mewelde Moore, were given the first compensatory pick in the fifth round (169th overall). Compensatory picks are made at the end of rounds three through seven. The Steelers were hopeful they would get a third-round compensatory pick given the caliber of player they lost in Faneca, who signed with the New York Jets last March. The team has nine picks in the draft, with extra choices in the fifth and seventh rounds. Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

17 Titans-Steelers, Bills-Patriots to highlight NFL's opening weekend - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 2 Powered by Titans-Steelers, Bills-Patriots to highlight NFL's opening weekend DANA POINT, Calif. (AP) The Steelers get their opening-night showcase as Super Bowl champions. The oldest rivalry in football has a first-week renewal in prime time. An old AFL-style doubleheader closes out the weekend. Advertisement That's how the NFL will begin the 2009 season, starting with as juicy a matchup as possible: Pittsburgh hosting the Tennessee Titans, who merely had the league's best record in 2008 and who beat the Steelers in the 15th game of the season. Opening kickoff is Thursday night, Sept. 10 on NBC, which also gets the 178th meeting between the Bears and Packers, in Green Bay on Sunday night, Sept. 13. ROGER GOODELL: NFL doesn't expect uncapped year in 2010 For those surprised that the Cowboys, who open their palatial new stadium this season, are not featured in a night game in Week 1, well, baseball got in the way. So Dallas, the NFL's biggest TV draw, which is moving to Arlington, Texas, near the Rangers' ballpark the Rangers are home that weekend will have to wait until the second week, when the Cowboys are expected to host the Sunday nighter. "We have the chance to get on the national game the second weekend with not being able to get on the first weekend," Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said Monday at the owners meetings. "We're having to work with the league on some things." The Cowboys and Lions get to keep their traditional Thanksgiving hosting slots. The Lions go back to meeting the Packers that day, a matchup that occurred every year from and will happen for the 19th time. The Raiders will be at the Cowboys following that, and the NFL Network night game will feature the New York Giants at Denver. "The Thanksgiving game is a tradition and we're proud to have it and to continue it in the new stadium," Jones said. "It's very important to us." Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged there continues to be discussions about rotating the Thanksgiving afternoon contests. "We did not feel it was appropriate at this time," he said, adding the league's competition and broadcast committees were looking into the matter. The Monday night doubleheader on ESPN on Sept. 14 will feature Buffalo, with Terrell Owens, at New England, with, the Patriots hope, a returning Tom Brady. That game will be followed by San Diego at Oakland all original AFL franchises. While the AFL began play in 1960 and is not 50 years old until 2010, the NFL has chosen to observe the 50th season of play by those franchises. The celebration of that league, which merged with the NFL in 1966 and began play as one entity in 1970, begins with the Sept. 14 doubleheader. Goodell said he was hopeful a proposal for an expansion of the regular season to either 17 or 18 games could be presented to the owners at the May league meetings in Fort Lauderdale. The league is considering dropping one or two preseason games and extending the regular

18 Titans-Steelers, Bills-Patriots to highlight NFL's opening weekend - USATODAY.com Page 2 of 2 schedule, but remaining within the current 20-game format, although not likely before To do so will involve discussions with the players union and the league's media partners. Of course, the collective bargaining agreement with the players expires after the 2010 season, so a longer schedule is just one of many issues in getting a deal done with the NFLPA. "I haven't made a decision on whether we'll have a 17-game or 18-game season. We'll have a good feeling on it when we come out of these meetings," Goodell said. "We have to sit down with our partners and go through negotiations. We think our content continues to be more valuable to our partners." Goodell also mentioned possibly creating a developmental league: "I would like to explore that in the next negotiations." He noted that nearly three-quarters of the teams did not raise ticket prices this year, and that the NFL has been hit by the economic downturn. The league trimmed its staff by 15% and many teams have laid off employees even as free agents reap millions in guaranteed salary. " It's definitely hitting us on our revenue side," he said of the economy. "The risk become greater in that kind of a climate and your revenues become challenged. There's a lot of uncertainty out there." Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Find this article at: Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

19 N.F.L. Owners Will Vote to Lengthen Season - NYTimes.com Page 1 of 2 This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers here or use the "Reprints" tool that appears next to any article. Visit for samples and additional information. Order a reprint of this article now. March 24, 2009 N.F.L. Owners Will Vote to Lengthen Season, Goodell Says By JUDY BATTISTA DANA POINT, Calif. National Football League owners could vote in May on plans to lengthen the regular season to 17 or 18 games. The longer regular season, however, is unlikely to begin any earlier than 2011, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday at the N.F.L. s annual meeting. Adding at least one regular-season game while reducing the preseason schedule is a critical component of what Goodell called increasing value the league s attempt to find new revenue while remaining attractive to fans in the challenging economic climate. There is almost no chance that the regular season will remain at 16 games. But teams are still grappling with changes that will be required for a longer season, among them the possibility of larger rosters. Additional games would have to be negotiated with television networks that broadcast games and with the players union. Owners must decide soon how long the season will be because it is expected to be included in coming negotiations with players on a new collective bargaining agreement. During his opening address to owners and team executives Monday morning, Goodell emphasized that the N.F.L. is facing trying times. We have to recognize that after this, things might not be the way they were before, said the Houston Texans owner, Robert McNair. People, their habits in the future might not be the same as in the past, their spending. We have the strongest brand going but we have to protect it. People were overleveraged. Businesses were overleveraged. Going forward, they re going to not be spending as much money, saving more. That s going to impact a lot of us. It is difficult to tell whether the N.F.L. s hand-wringing is because the league is suffering or because it is beginning the posturing that will take place during negotiations with the players. Goodell said owners talked about their priorities for negotiations, and while he did not offer specifics, Goodell said one of the issues was that the players needed to recognize how the costs of operating franchises have increased. Owners, though, continue to decline to open their books for the union s review. And in a deal announced Monday, DirecTV will pay about $1 billion a year to extend its rights to carry NFL Sunday Ticket broadcasts through the 2014 season. Still, ticket sales have lagged in other sports and Goodell conceded that he expected season ticket renewals for 2009 to suffer in some markets. That will lead to television blackouts in cities like Detroit, where the economy has been hard hit and where there were blackouts last season. Goodell said the N.F.L. would not

20 N.F.L. Owners Will Vote to Lengthen Season - NYTimes.com Page 2 of 2 change its blackout policy, which requires teams to sell out home games 72 hours before kickoff to avoid a blackout, although teams frequently receive extensions. Extensions were needed to sell out some playoff games in January. And in what could be the clearest sign of hamstrung corporate spending, two of the most high-profile stadiums in the league, the Cowboys new stadium that will open this season and the new Giants/Jets stadium that is scheduled to open in 2010, have not sold their naming rights. Those rights are an especially important revenue stream for teams that are building new stadiums without municipal financing. The risk is entirely on the clubs, Goodell said. In this environment, people are very cautious about how they spend their money. I do think it s going to have an impact on naming rights. EXTRA POINTS Three new investors in the Pittsburgh Steelers were approved by owners Monday, including the Hall of Fame receiver and former Steeler John Stallworth. Six partners have been approved by owners as part of the reorganization that allows Dan Rooney and his son Art Rooney II to maintain ownership of the team.... Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will make his return from knee surgery on the season opener of Monday Night Football, on Sept. 14 against Terrell Owens and the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers open the regular season Thursday, Sept. 10, against the Tennessee Titans. On Thanksgiving, Detroit will host Green Bay, Dallas will host Oakland, and Denver will host the Giants in the night game. Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company Privacy Policy Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map

21 Goodell: NFL doesn't expect uncapped season in USATODAY.com Page 1 of 2 Powered by Goodell: NFL doesn't expect uncapped season in 2010 By Sean Leahy, USA TODAY Advertisement NFL owners are formulating a strategy to begin negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the players' union, but commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday he expects a new deal will be in place before next March, when the salary cap is set to expire. "I don't believe that will be the case," Goodell said when asked about the possibilities in an uncapped season in Owners opted out of the current CBA last year, which will trigger the end of the salary cap if no new deal is reached before next March. Owners' priorities in the negotiations will include having the costs for building and operating stadiums recognized by the players and instituting a salary cap for rookies, Goodell said in a news conference at the NFL's annual meeting in Dana Point, Calif. There is no timetable yet for when negotiations on a new CBA will begin. Goodell met with new NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith Friday for the first time. The economy is hurting the league's revenue streams, and Goodell said the ramifications will have an effect on the negotiations. Money from sponsorships and licensing is down, and the league is concerned about the possibility for reduced ticket sales in "The challenging times make it even more difficult," Goodell said. "But all that has done is accentuate the negatives of the current agreement. "It's definitely hitting us on the revenue side, and meanwhile costs are going up." The league is not going to consider lifting TV blackouts for games that do not sell out, said Goodell, who added that is a longstanding NFL policy he will not give up. But the league realizes fans and sponsors have less disposable income and will find ways to "create more value" for consumers. "We're going to have to work harder, be more creative and respond to our fans' needs," Goodell said. "Not only this year but for a considerable time." Among other topics Goodell addressed: A proposal to play more than one Bills home game per season in Toronto has not crossed the commissioner's desk. "That's something that would have to be approved by the membership," Goodell said. "It has not been presented to me." The owners discussed a potential change to a 17- or 18-game regular season on Monday, but Goodell said the earliest a new schedule would arrive would be Such a change would require modified contracts with the league's television partners and the approval of the players' association. Goodell reiterated that the NFL will not open up its financial records for inspection during the collective bargaining process. The players are familiar with the owners' revenues and most of their expenditures, including player costs that approach $4.5 billion, Goodell said. "I think they have a pretty good understanding of our economics," the commissioner said of the players' union. "But that's not the issue. The issue is trying to get an agreement that works and continues to grow the game."

22 Goodell: NFL doesn't expect uncapped season in USATODAY.com Page 2 of 2 The NFL Network is not losing money, Goodell said, despite not being carried to a widespread audience by TV providers such as Comcast. Goodell said the league would wait out the stalemate with the cable TV giant and would not accept the network being placed on a subscription sports tier. "We are going to be patient and determined," Goodell said, "and we're going to make sure it gets the broadest possible exposure." Find this article at: Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

23 ESPN.com - Receiver Patten rejoins Browns Page 1 of 1 ESPN.com: NFL [Print without images] Monday, March 23, 2009 Receiver Patten rejoins Browns Associated Press CLEVELAND -- Wide receiver David Patten has rejoined the Cleveland Browns, signing a free-agent deal with his former team. Patten, who played for the Browns in 2000, spent the past two seasons with New Orleans. The signing Monday of the 34-year-old Patten gives the Browns a veteran presence, and he could be insurance pending toxicology reports on wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who struck and killed a pedestrian with his Bentley in Miami Beach on March 14. Patten has also played for the New York Giants, New England, and Washington. He won two Super Bowl titles with the Patriots. He has 324 catches for 4,715 yards and four touchdowns in 147 regularseason games in 12 NFL seasons. ESPN.com: Help PR Media Kit Sales Media Kit Report a Bug Corrections Contact Us Site Map Mobile ESPN Shop Jobs at ESPN Supplier Information 2009 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. All rights reserved.