As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue one of their more impressive on-field performances in franchise history (given the crippling schedule and rash of crippled players), the family that has owned the franchise for its entire history is very close to working out a deal that will keep the team under the control of Dan Rooney and his son, Art II. To get there, however, the NFL will be expanding what we had believed to be a bright-line rule regarding franchise ownership. (More on that later.)
Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Dan Rooney and his four brothers have "virtually comes to terms" on a restructuring that will be presented to the NFL's finance committee next week.
Then, once 24 of 32 owners give their approval, the transaction will be finalized.
"I think the deal is as done as it can be," John Rooney said. "But until you see the money, I guess no deal is done."
For this deal to be done, the league will allow Dan Rooney and Art II to count as one person, in order to satisfy the rule that one person must own at least 30 percent of the franchise.
Bouchette also writes that one of the four Rooney brothers, Art Jr., will retain some ownership of the team. We assume that this will happen only if he sells any interest he has in gambling activities that violate league rules, since we've previously been told that no owner of a team, no matter how small his or her share, may own any interest in league-prohibited gambling enterprises. As one league source told us, a partial owner in an NFL team isn't permitted to own a single share of stock in a publicly-traded company that owns one or more casinos.
Then again, the revision to the 30-percent rule makes us wonder whether any other rules are being adjusted.
Currently, each of the five Rooney brothers (the sons of founder Art Rooney Sr.) own 16 percent of the team. A group of Rooney relatives own the remains 20 percent.
Prior to 2006, the Rooneys owned dog-racing and horse-racing tracks, which did not violate NFL rules. (And we still don't understand that at all, unless the league believes that an animal-racing establishment technically constitutes, you know, a zoo.) In 2006, slot machines were added to one or more of the tracks, putting the operations on the wrong side of league rules.
Some league insiders were perplexed by the NFL's failure to force the Rooneys to choose immediately between their interest in the team and their interest in league-prohibited gambling activities.
Though our guess is that the sale will easily muster the 24 votes, we wonder whether any teams will oppose the move due to discomfort with the notion of expanding the 30-percent rule to include two persons. Unless the rule is being formally revised, the move will serve only to heighten concerns that two sets of rules exist.
Will the Steelers also be allowed to declare Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark as one player, in effect allowing them a roster of 54?
This is hogwash. Rules are rules, although the Pat and Kevin Williams would argue that. If the league wants to allow less than 30% ownership then the rules should be changed. You don't make stupid concessions like saying that two people are one. Unless... They marry each other and in fact become one. Or maybe they could pioneer a reverse conjoined twin operation. There's several solutions out there. Saying that two people are one is stupid.
I don't understand why Dan doesn't just give his percentage of the team to his son Art II.
It's not like he needs it anymore, just hand it over and let Art run with the system.
I believe Dan, Art II, Art Jr and John have already divested their share of the tracks. John might have transferred his track shares to his siblings. The 2 who are selling all of their Steelers shares are, I think, the principle owners of the tracks.
Goodell will let anything slide for a buck.
I've said it before and i'll say it again, Goodell is doing more long-term damage to this league than anyone can imagine.
Jared Allen should be suspended, or at least fined HEAVILY for this crap!
hoW IS THIS IN ANYWAY GOING TO HURT THE LEAGUE LONG TERM? GIVE ME A BREAK. NEXT TOPIC?
http://kdka.com/steelers/Dan.Rooney.Steelers.2.815460.html
Near the bottom.
jbruder02 says:
December 4th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
hoW IS THIS IN ANYWAY GOING TO HURT THE LEAGUE LONG TERM? GIVE ME A BREAK. NEXT TOPIC?
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Instead of asking "Why not?" you should be asking "Why?" Why make exceptions for one team in one situation? I don't know if this will hurt the league in any way, but why have rules at all if you're just going to make assinine assumptions, like 2 men are in fact 1 man, to get around the rules?
I think it's exceedingly stupid and it sets a bad precedent - that NFL ownership rules can be skirted with a 2/3 majority vote.
Bottom line. It's good for the league to have to Rooney's in Pittsburgh.
I believe that the Rooney's have a plan to get in compliance with league ownership rules. It will not happen with this transaction, more likely compliance will occur when Dan Ronney's shares are inherited by Art Rooney II. I also believe that the other brothers are isolating themselves from gambling interests. In some time frame that nobody knows, the Steeler's ownership will be in full compliance will league ownership rules. The league will likely grant them some latitude in timing to get in compliance.
Haven't they been in violation of the 30% rules since Art Rooney Sr. passed away? Five sons have 16% each and the remaining 20% is split up somehow. No one has had 30%.
The NFL and rules. Not what it used to be.
Dan Rooney blows a gasket if anyone hires a Head Coach without following the Rooney Rule. Yet it was OK by him for years that his brothers to be deeply invested in Casinos. Even now they will be allowed to retain some interest in the Steelers?
The owners all talk about integrity and integrity of the game yet do not want people looking in their closets.
"We don't want the criminal element in the game!"
"Wait it is OK if the criminal plays for My Team because we will keep him on the straight and narrow!"
It does not which team - they all do, it all the time!
We all bitch and moan about Al Davis, Jerry Jones, Kraft, Bowlen and the rest. Yet, when it comes to the Rooneys and a couple of others they seem to get a free pass. Why? Are they really any different than Al and Jerry? I do not think so.
Goodell?
Is not Good for the league.
Goodell is more of joke every day.
Yet the sports writers think he is the best thing since sliced bread.
As long as I am on a rant. What Plaxico did was beyond stupid and arrogant. Yet the more stuff that comes out it looks more and more like the Giants were at the very least aware of it from almost the moment the bullet went through his leg. And they had something to do with the whole mess that looks like a cover up.
The NFL and Integrity do not belong in the same sentence at present.
As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue one of their more impressive on-field performances in franchise history (given the crippling schedule and rash of crippled players)
Somehow a dimwitted "Stiller" fan will say that"It's obvious Florio has a bias against the Steelers" And then call you an idiot.
Wow the NFL bending more rules for its favored teams. Im shocked. You think this rule would be bent for the Cardinals, Raiders, Browns, Chargers, etc, etc? Nope.
Does the word integrity belong in the same sentence with ANY big business these days?
This is nothing but a tax dodge. Everybody knows that Art II will inherit the Steelers from Dan. By "selling" these shares to Dan and Art II jointly, Art II will avoid paying millions of dollars in estate taxes and likely avoid being forced to sell the team like the sons of Jack Kent Cooke were forced to do which left the league with Dan Snyder in control of one of the league's marquee franchises.
The Rooneys have run a consistently succesful franchise in a small market for the past 40 years. Dan Rooney, specifically, has done more to improve the NFL as a league than any other owner outside of the Mara's. From the "Rooney Rule", to helping small market teams compete with the big dogs, to NFL charitable efforts, Dan Rooney has been a central figure.
For anyone to suggest that the NFL shouldn't make every effort possible to keep Dan Rooney in control of the Steelers, it's absolutely mind-boggling. Without the Rooneys and the other good ownership teams throughout the league, the NFL could easily be in the same situation as major league baseball.
The NFL needs smart, experienced team ownership. Especially now when the league is about to enter a turbulent labor situation.
I think that if Adrian Peterson would have just left his "helmut" on, none of this would have ever happened.
Uhhh who cares?
The NFL has already bent the rules for Green Bay, so there is precedent.
Being one of the last remaining "founding families" of the NFL does and SHOULD count for at least a little leniency in regards to compliance with a rule that is only marginally significant (30%).
"League Insiders" ...who could that be...someone with an Ax to grind about unfair/preferential treatment of ownership...hmm...what owner thinks he is treated unfairly....hmm...the one...the only...Al Davis...PFT makes much more sense now...All the Steelers ownership obsession...Lane Kiffin Bashing...all the Monte Kiffin positioning about the Bucs not letting him out of his contract...the anti Lombardi bias...perhaps we should check the Al Davis press conference transcript for possible plagarism!!! LOL/JK don't sue me :)...oh but the discovery...that might be very interesting!
why does the league keep bending over backwards to accomodate the Rooneys? I don't mind the team, but the ownership has violated rules for awhile now. When will the league take action instead of changing the rules to accomodate them? Either sell the gambling interests or sell the team.... and since they can't decide on who will own the team, just sell the damn team. They should have sold to Druckenmiller a month ago...
hey did anyone consider, that maybe, just maybe, Dan and Art Jr. incorporated? Maybe then they are legally considered one.
But lets not consider that, lets hate the steelers, the NFL, and Goodell! YEAH!
If you can't see that two sets of rules exsist for the Steelers and the rest of the league, you're blind.
freedomispopular
You add or include Politicians to the list of those without integrity.
the nfl is a joke with regards to it's "rules". if your name is jerry jones rules don't apply, if your name is rooney rules don't apply, if your name is bellycheck, rules don't apply. so who do the "rules" actually apply to? it's like barry switzer ( i think it was him) said years ago about "rules", " no i don't enforce rules, one of my star players might break one and i would be forced to punish him". same with this league, we don't enforce the "rules" cause might make someone mad. freakin idiots
Maybe PFT should update the logo and add an eye patch! The color scheme is already there. Go Raydah's!
PS - Mike, did you write Al's will? Better yet, are you angling to get in his will? LOL...JK...it's all in fun and the PS is just a joke! Unless it happens to be true, then I want credit!
This is the same two-sided, blind rulebook that allows that cheater Adrian Peterson to play each week.
BAN ADRIAN PETERSON!
Nothing like a good ole Steelers post to stir up 75-100 comments.
Was the "league source" who had enough time on thier hands to figure out the Landry-Lombardi (seeing those two names together, my how times have changed)plagarism thing hoping it was Lombardi's operation not Landry? cough cough Herrera...cough cough Al Davis!!!
It's a Steelers world.........you're all just living in it.
there you go florio.. feels good to say something nice about the steelers doesnt it?
Could someone,anyone tell us why it is so important to have the Rooney's in the NFL?
Why?
Are we saying, that no one else would or could be better??
If you are you also mean, Jerry Jones is bad for the league? Robert Kraft? Huizinga/Ross?,Ziggy Wolf? Glazier's?? etc..sometimes change is good.
superfan99 says:
December 4th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
The Rooneys have run a consistently succesful franchise in a small market for the past 40 years. Dan Rooney, specifically, has done more to improve the NFL as a league than any other owner outside of the Mara’s. From the “Rooney Rule”, to helping small market teams compete with the big dogs, to NFL charitable efforts, Dan Rooney has been a central figure.
For anyone to suggest that the NFL shouldn’t make every effort possible to keep Dan Rooney in control of the Steelers, it’s absolutely mind-boggling. Without the Rooneys and the other good ownership teams throughout the league, the NFL could easily be in the same situation as major league baseball.
The NFL needs smart, experienced team ownership. Especially now when the league is about to enter a turbulent labor situation.
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He's been good for the NFL so he's above the rules?
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Ntrikit says:
December 4th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I think that if Adrian Peterson would have just left his “helmut” on, none of this would have ever happened.
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We really need to be able to rate a post with a zero. One is just too much.
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joe6606 says:
December 4th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Uhhh who cares?
The NFL has already bent the rules for Green Bay, so there is precedent.
Being one of the last remaining “founding families” of the NFL does and SHOULD count for at least a little leniency in regards to compliance with a rule that is only marginally significant (30%).
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There's a difference here. One involves an ownership situation that happened long before today's rules and the other involves a vote among the good ol' boys to violate, if temporarily, established ownership rules. The Packers are grandfathered in with their public ownership. This is a case of the Steelers asking everyone to look the other way for a little while.
Lets take a look at the reason why this is all happening. The NFL wants the Rooneys to distance themselves from gambling. Are you freaking kidding me???!?!?!?!? Football and gambling go hand in hand! Whether its betting on ponies or dogs or pulling a lever. How can that make an NFL owner look bad or turn cast a long shadow over the league.
The NFL has enough problems than this.
Crippling schedule?
There opponents are 97-92-1. 51% winning percentage. That makes a hard schedule but by no means crippling.
"the league will allow Dan Rooney and Art II to count as one person"
Hilarious.
"if your name is jerry jones rules don’t apply"
Why do you say that, vincelombardi?
This Steelers ownership mess has gone on for far too long now. The league is really dropping the ball on this one. I guarantee that if the league gave them are hard dead line and told them point blank that the rules are the rules and that they must be in compliance by a certain date no exceptions that they would have been a long time ago. This entire situation is about money and its sad that the other 31 owners have to play by a different set of rules than the Rooneys do. I'm sure if you gave Jerry Jones a few years with Casino interests he would be able to double his fortune. One of the idiot Rooney brothers can't even scrape up enough cash to own 30% of a small market team.
I say make them sell the franchise to someone who can afford it and comply with the rules like everyone else has had to. This had gone on for too long now and its total BS!
For all of the complainers, do you understand the point of the 30% rule? Not the technicality, but the underlying purpose? Dan and Art II maintaining control of the team together is consistent with the underlying purpose. Really, what is the basis for your objections? In what way does this specifically hurt the NFL?
"There’s a difference here. One involves an ownership situation that happened long before today’s rules and the other involves a vote among the good ol’ boys to violate, if temporarily, established ownership rules. The Packers are grandfathered in with their public ownership"
Huh?
Perhaps you start using facts to support your BS responses.
The key question here is when exactly was the 30% rule implemented? The Steelers have had their current ownership situation since Art died in 1988..20 yrs ago. As far as I can tell, the rule existed at least as far back as 1998. So:
(1) Assuming the rule as in place prior to 1988, Steelers have been in violation for 20 yrs...so why the uproar now?
(2) Assuming the rule was not in place until after 1988, shouldnt the Steelers also be grandfathered ala Green Bay?
Either way, the application of the rule to the current situation is flat out stupid. There are good reasons for the 30% rule, but here, where the parties are close family, it's down right retarded to force exact compliance.
Dan is a savvy businessman. Goodell was promised Mr. Rooney would to take advantage of 2009's one-year no estate tax loophole.
What are you guys planning on buying a couple of NFL franchise's and giving them away as Christmas gifts or what? Talk about a bunch of bitches who complain for the sake of complaining. Seriously, are you going to lose sleep tonight worrying about the steelers ownership situtation? Who the hell would care and why....
The Rooneys have been good NFL citizens and have done a lot to help the league as a whole. The NFL is working with them to transition the ownership into compliance with the rules. There is no need for speed because there is no trouble with the franchise. The Rooneys have earned so much good will that the NFL is being patient.
The league does not want some Daniel Snyder type to pry loose one of the family franchises like what happened to the Cook family and the Redskin franchise.
There isn't anything exciting or mysterious about the situation other than decades of building a good reputation is worth it and other owners should learn from the example.
Oh yeah, the Rooney Rule, that's a great thing.
Let's bring in a black guy and go through a pretend interview when we already know who we want. We'll waste his time and use him, but it will look good.
Why is this really a story? It's two family members who will jointly own ~80% of the team. You can argue that they will each beneficially own 40% each. The media has to learn to not make every technicality into a story.
There is no story. The Steelers haters are just bitter that their favorite team will never be even half the storied franchise Pittsburgh is and that their front offices will never be half as important or half as influential as the Rooneys.