*Note: The graphic above should read Week 16.

I’ve been illin’ (and not the good kind) most of the week so this will be a very abbreviated version of my usual game previews. Apologies… 

A random thought came into my head as I was coughing up a lobe from my right lung Friday night.

“I wonder which Rams team will show up in Tampa Bay on Sunday.”

Even while I’m under the weather I’m thinking about the Rams. Or maybe it’s due to the fact that I get sick to my stomach thinking about the three games the Rams should have won: Week 1 at Detroit (23-27), Week 6 at Miami (14-17), and Week 10 at San Francisco (24-24 tie). The Rams should be 9-5 right now fighting for a wild card.

Then you have the Rams that tied and beat the almighty (?) 10-3 49ers. Yes, St. Louis seems to have San Francisco’s number. Not to mention the Rams (with one last game remaining in Seattle) are one of five teams (Green Bay, New England, Houston, and Denver) that are undefeated in their division. The irony though is that those four teams are their respective division leaders and in the playoffs. Dagger!

Reality hits though as the Rams are set to face a slumping (four straight losses coming into this week) but still dangerous team in the Buccaneers. Quarterback Josh Freeman has had his ups and downs this season which doesn’t bode well for his big time, big size receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams. I should know, V. Jackson is on my fantasy team. The other big Bucs threat, the player formerly known as The Muscle Hamster, running back Doug Martin. He’s on both my fantasy teams and he’s also had a seat on the roller coaster that’s the Tampa Bay offense.

Rams running back Steven Jackson needs 91 yards to reach the 1,000 yards rushing for the eighth consecutive season. The longest active streak in the NFL. I say he gets it done today despite the Bucs ranking number one against the run (83.3 yards per game) coming into Sunday. Jackson has seen tough rush defenses this season and has risen to the occasion, especially against the 49ers (101 and 48 yards).

The Bottom line (Nothing really new here, folks.)

The Rams need to tune out all the noise and concentrate on their game. The rest will fall into place.

Run the ball via Steven Jackson.

Protect quarterback Sam Bradford giving him time to find one of his young receivers. This might prove to be harder than expected with their staple offensive lineman Harvey Dahl being placed on IR after a biceps tear. Chris Williams is slated to take Dahl’s place and will be challenged by the Bucs defense.

Don’t commit idiotic self-inflicted penalties. Seriously, this has to stop.

Win the field position battle. i.e. the Rams rookie punter Johnny Hekker needs to be more consistent. Kicker Greg Zuerlein will be the difference in the game.

Rams squeak out a close one winning by a field goal, 23-20 and get back to .500 with one last game to go.

7-7-1.

Edward Jones Dome (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

Ignorance is bliss.  Not that Rams fans or the public have a choice in the matter.  For what it’s worth it’s probably a good thing.  Rams fans, who are used to the ups and downs that are associated with this team, would be taken on a motion sickness inducing roller coaster ride if we covered the play-by-play of the stadium negotiations.

The CVC and the Rams are doing the correct thing by keeping all this in house.

» Continue reading “Pigskin Cover 3: EDJ Lease, Brown To Jets And Eric LeGrand A Buc”

Rams Huddle

Ok, I know this is an old picture but it’s been the closest thing we’ve come to seeing a Rams offensive huddle – that is until yesterday.

As reported early Monday morning, the Rams conducted their first large team workout at Lindenwood University.

They tried to keep the location quiet but in reality you knew someone was going to find out and let the public know.

1) Camp St. Louis finally commences: The brain child of parents Ron Bartell and James Laurinitis, Camp St. Louis had their “opening ceremonies” yesterday.  Jim Thomas give us a complete break down on which players attended the practice.

Notably absent though were Steven Jackson and Rams first round pick, Robert Quinn.

I thought Steven Jackson was in town so it’s puzzling why he wasn’t there yesterday.  We’ll have to wait and see if he makes an appearance today as they continue their workouts at Lindenwood.

2) Are the Rams in the market for a used Cadillac? The most recent free agent buzz is hovering around the Tampa Bay Buccaneer RB Cadillac Williams.  He’s been sidelined with injuries off and on in his career with the Bucs but should still have a few solid years left in him.

In 2010, Williams rushed 125 times for 427 yards.  Averaging 3.5 yards per carry and only 2 TD’s.  He also put up 46 receptions for 355 yards, averaging 7.7 yards per reception and 1 TD.

Could Williams be the back up the Rams have been searching for?

3) A first look at the new recruits: Second round pick Lance Kendricks and fourth round pick Greg Salas were on hand yesterday for their very first “pro style” workout.

Great to hear Sam’s been coaching them the new McDaniels offense even prior to their gathering on Monday.  What a great display of maturity for a second year player.  I’d be willing to guess there aren’t very many second year guys would be able to step up to the plate like Sam has.  That $50M guaranteed wasn’t just paying for Sam’s arm.

Third round pick Austin Pettis is said to be heading to St. Louis to join the team for Tuesdays workouts.

People have criticized and doubted if these player organized workouts are doing any good but it has to be better than doing nothing.  Any exposure to the new playbook and new teammates is a good thing.  There’s no substitute for team chemistry and the only way to get that is to spend time together.

So lay off guys, at least the players are showing initiative and doing what they can to make the 2011 Rams better.

See if you can figure out which long standing rivalry extends even to our writer here at Aerys.  The video clip below will clue you in.

PattyRams: Okay, Q2) What team would you like to see on Hard Knocks this season?

Colleen (Bears): DA BEARS.

Melissa (Lions): Wouldn’t it be wrong to not say the Lions?

Amanda (Packers): And this is supposed to be unbiased?

Brenda (Broncos): True story, but months ago – like January – I told my boyfriend I thought the Bucs would be great for Hard Knocks.

Lauren (Packers): Q2: Packers. Duh. But bias aside, if you listen to their audio from Super Bowl, they are HILARIOUS. And intense. And honest. And LOVE the game.

Colleen (Bears): Really, I think we’ve got a bad rap with a lot of the country. I’d love for the rest of the world to see how we work.

Brenda (Broncos): Now, I’ve shifted my supports for the 49ers.

Colleen (Bears): We’re a blue-collar team with some brilliant, yet unorthodox coaches.

Lauren (Packers): But if I had to be realistic….. and don’t gasp in shock…. I’d *love* to see the Bears.

Colleen (Bears): Plus, Lance Briggs on my TV more? Yes, please.

Patty (Rams): I’d love to see the 49ers and Jim Harbaugh. Rah, rah, Stanford! I mean, 49ers!

Kristine (Jets): Insert obligatory mention of Jets here.

Lauren (Packers): I like the Bears coaching style.

Kristen (Patriots): Patriots, first. But that won’t happen. So I’d really like to see the Saints, Packers or Bears.

Colleen (Bears): *gasps in shock*

Kristine (Jets): Pats would never.

Melissa (Lions): Aside from the Lions, I’d like to see the Saints. It would be interesting to watch the whole Reggie Bush, Mark Ingram scenario play out.

Colleen (Bears): I doubt the McCaskey’s would let the Bears go on it, though.

Lauren (Packers): Same with Pack, Colleen. Teddy Boy and McCarthy would shut that down quick.

Melissa (Lions): And, let’s be honest. Who wouldn’t want to see them partying on Bourbon street on their days off?

Kristine (Jets): I would love to see the Bucs, but they have already declined. So Packers are my next choice.

Patty (Rams): The Bucs would have been my second choice, too.  Josh Freeman and Mike Williams are my dynamic duo.

Brenda (Broncos): New Orleans would be entertaining, and I agree with Melissa, the Lions would be a fantastic selection.

Emily (Steelers): As much as I’d love to see the Steelers, I’d really like to see the Pack.

Kristine (Jets): New Orleans also declined already, unfortunately.

Lauren (Packers): With the Pack, though, you have to cover the city/fans/shareholders as much as the team. Because GB is just that.

Patty (Rams): Does anyone think Jerry World would work?

Kristine (Jets): Jerry would love it, I am sure.

Lauren (Packers): AHHHHH. No.

Kristen (Patriots): Cowboys did it a couple years ago.

Brenda (Broncos): I think the Broncos would be a sexy pick, with all the quarterback drama and return of John Elway. Lots of storylines for the Hard Knocks producers.

Lauren (Packers): DFW wouldn’t go for it.

Emily (Steelers): I wish they would go back and do the Bengals again. That would be such a wonderful train wreck.

Patty (Rams): But with Carson, T.O., and Ochocinco heading out I won’t have reason to get my popcorn ready.

Lauren (Packers): I lived there when the stadium was being built. He’s pretty hated.

Melissa (Lions): Haven’t the Cowboys done it twice already?

Colleen (Bears): I think we should make a swear jar for Aerys Huddle, but instead of swearing, anytime anyone says “shareholder” they put in a dollar.

Lauren (Packers): Love the Broncos idea. My boss is a HUGE broncos fan. So I’ve learned to love them by default.

Kristine (Jets): HAHAHA.

Patty (Rams): Did my own quick Hard Knocks poll and the Rams DE Chris Long writes back saying it’d be too much of a distraction.

Patty (Rams): For a young team like the Rams it’s probably best to keep things under wraps. Besides, I just can’t see Spagnuolo going for it.

Lauren (Packers): Even if they beat us in ’97. Tear.
Lauren (Packers): SHUT IT

Amanda (Packers): Cruel, Colleen.

Colleen (Bears): Hahaha.

Kristen (Patriots): Kind of cool to see the Giants (as much as I LOATHE them to my very core). They are a storied franchise with good ownership. Could be good t.v.

Patty (Rams): I had no idea the boys had already gone through it. My bad!

Brenda (Broncos): Denver would never go for it…at least that’s the word here. Still, an intriguing option.

Lauren (Packers): She’s just jealous because of this:

Kristine (Jets):

Amanda (Packers): Love Lauren!

Patty (Rams): Uh, dagger.

Kristine (Jets): According to this, Dallas has done it twice: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2011/05/which-team-would-you-like-to-see-on-hbos-hard-knocks/1

Colleen (Bears): Now that’s a low blow, stupid Raji.

Patty (Rams): You tell ‘em, Colleen!

Lauren (Packers): I do that dance when I score big at work.

Patty (Rams): I’ll have to go back and get the final tally but it sounds like Packers, Bears, Broncos, (Saints/Bucs declined), and 49ers?

Lauren (Packers): Like completing an awesome project.

Amanda (Packers): I am so going to try that next time.
Amanda (Packers): I usually just belt.

Patty (Rams): I hope we even HAVE a preseason for Hard Knocks…

Kristine (Jets): Umm…yeah…scary that we even have to hope for it

Which team is your front runner for Hard Knocks?  Please leave your vote in the comments section.

Aerys Huddle 3.3 – Free Agency is here.

Welcome to the third installment of the Aerys Huddle.  The Aerys NFL writers get together to discuss various hot topic that are going on in the league.

We have several teams represented here tonight and I’m sure we all have lots on our minds.  Q1: Lockout, Q2: Hard Knocks, and Q3: Free agent wish list.

So, let’s get right to it.

Patty (Rams): Q1) What should the players do after yesterday’s big blow?

Colleen (Bears): Sounds like they need to come up with a different reason for why the lockout should be lifted.

Melissa (Lions): I’m not really sure there’s much the players can do at this point. They can “appeal” again, but that will likely drag this out for months and cause a shortened season (if a season at all).

Kristen (Patriots): Players have to quit their mentality of “leaving the game better than we found it.”

Brenda (Broncos): All that momentum from Judge Susan Nelson’s ruling is all but kaput.

Patty (Rams): The 8^th Circuit Court’s Judges Colloton and Benton were not kind to Judge Susan Nelson at all.  They slammed her ruling and then some.  Momentum has definitely shifted back to the owners.

Melissa (Lions): So, if they want to play football (and get paid), they are going to have to, in a sense, succumb to the owners.

Lauren (Packers): Someone should give DeMaurice Smith some PR tips. He is really doing a disservice to the NFLPA with fans.

Patty (Rams): I just fear that it’s become a personal vendetta for DeMaurice Smith.  HE has to win.  You have to wonder if he still has all the players’ best interests in mind.

Colleen (Bears): Or, to be super corny, they need to call an audible.

Kristine (Jets): I say this being selfish about my own needs but I think they need to accept that they aren’t going to be able to accomplish everything they want.

Kristen (Patriots): They’re too “big think” and it’s costing them getting a deal done right now.

Kristine (Jets): Yes.

Melissa (Lions): Which sucks, because they shouldn’t have to. I couldn’t be anymore on the side of the players than I already am. The owners are making me angrier and angrier by the day.

Colleen (Bears): Neither side is going to accomplish everything they want, unfortunately, I don’t see the owners budging as easily/quickly as the players.

Lauren (Packers): Agreed with Kristen on the “big think.” I think so much of the media drama is influencing and spurning on unnecessary direction.

Melissa (Lions): Lauren, I thought what he said was hilarious. Though, you’re right, not very appropriate.

» Continue reading “Aerys Huddle 3.1 – Lockout”

What NOT to Do: Malcolm Glazer Edition

I’ve been asked why was I so obsessed with what Malcolm Glazer (Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Manchester United) was doing in last month’s post.  It wasn’t his tailored suits, interesting facial hair or his receeding hairline.  I had a simple answer.

I was hoping the Glazer family would have a good blueprint to follow.  As you’ve read in Part 1, they had a blue print, all right – of what not to do.

• Do NOT attempt a hostile takeover of a team. -> As LA Lakers Andrew Bynum would say, #TrustIssues.  Glazer’s burnt important bridges and many in the UK don’t trust him for it.

• Do NOT borrow money against the team the you’re purchasing to fund said hostile takeover. -> He’s taken ManU and it’s holding company into great debt.

• Do NOT tick off the loyal fans who come to the matches. -> Oh, I don’t know.  Maybe raising ManU ticket prices over 50% since your takeover in 2005 wasn’t such a good idea???

• Do NOT underspend on your players’ salaries -> In an uncapped/no minimum salary year (2010) Bucs spent ($84.4M) roughly 30% LESS than the next highest salary bill (Panthers spent $113M) in their division.

Heed those red flags, Mr. Kroenke.

Looks like he took some notes.  Then again…

They do share similarities: both have real estate businesses and own NFL/EPL teams.  But there are definite differences in their business styles and practices.  Does this mean some good news for the Rams?

1) Instead of a hostile takeover, Kroenke earned the trust of Arsenal’s Board of Directors over the years as a minority owner.  He has their respect and has cultivated relationships.  He’s been declared a “safe custodian.”

I like the way Kroenke took the slower approach in taking over Arsenal.  Earning the trust of the board and learning about the club from the ground up.  Even Spags would be happy the bossman is standing by the 4 Pillars principle.

But from the Rams’ perspective it means he was spending lots of time going back and forth to the UK, fostering those relationships.  That doesn’t leave a whole lot of time to be focusing on the team in St. Louis.

How involved has he been in the ongoing NFL labor negotiations?  Do we have any idea where he stands?  (Although I’m sure most of us could take a guess.)  What about the looming isssues with the Edward Jones Dome?  Don’t you think he should start addressing that?

2) Kroenke has repeatedly said he will not fund the purchase of Arsenal FC with loans.

“The offer will not be funded by way of any debt finance for which the payment of interest on, repayment of or security for any liability will depend on the business of Arsenal,” said a note in the document released by KSE, UK Inc, the company used by Kroenke to buy the club.

The good news is he’s not taking out loans to buy Arsenal.

The bad news is no one really knows where he’s getting the £290M he’s going to need to buy out the remaining shares.  He has yet to disclose where those funds are coming from.  I’d like to take him at his word but it would be very reassuring to know the exact origins of the millions.

Anyone else wonder what the Rams could be doing with all that cash?  Especially if the league decides to go back to an uncapped salary year.  Do you think Nnamdi Asomugha would come to STL?  What about Reggie Bush?  I could easily furnish him with a list of free agents that could potentially come to STL.

3) Arsenal fans are up in arms because the Arsenal FC board is proposing a 6.5% increase in ticket prices.  -> At least it’s not 50% more, right?  Here’s Arsenal’s manager, Arsene Wenger, doing his best to explain the increases:

We try in every single way to increase our income to fight with the other clubs, but the resources will always be down to three different incomes – media, sponsorship and gate receipts.

We tried to keep the [ticket] increase as low as possible, and we spoke about that at the board meeting. Unfortunately the expenses always go up. We do not master the expenses because the expenses are dictated by our opponents.

That is why the [UEFA] financial fair play [rules] are so important because we are pushed into a situation that we do not master because if our opponents do not respect the financial fair play, our expenses will always go up and we can only reflect that as low as possible on the ticket prices.

Sounds an awful lot like Wenger is just saying things to support the boss.  Can’t really bite the hand that signs your paychecks, I guess.

(Which leads me to ask, why is it that all sports teams/owners say prices are being driven up due to various costs yet ultimately flip the bill to the fans by raising ticket prices, concessions, and merchandising???  Why don’t they take some of the burden?  But I digress…)

4) According to Gregg Rosenthal of ProFootballTalk the Rams’ 2010 salary cap numbers ranked 24th in the league at $109.1M and 3rd in the NFC West.

Other division teams: Seahawks come in at #5 with $138.8M, the 49ers at #14 at $125.9M, and the Cardinals at #29 at $97.8M.

Guess which two teams came in at the top?  Redskins come in at #1 with a whopping $178.2M and the Cowboys not too far behind at $166.5M.  And in the basement you’ll find the Chiefs at $84.5 million and the Buccaneers at $80.8 million (No surprise there).

The Rams are in the 3rd quartile in salary spending – not great but not bad either.  I can’t say I’m a fan of going Hogette wild like the Redskins but don’t I don’t want to scrape the bottom like the Bucs either.  Then again, Kroenke is a firm believer of building a team through the draft.  So this team will have to find that right balance.

Recent reactions from Gooners

Two days ago Arsenal lost a critical match to Aston Villa 1-2.  But it wasn’t what happened on the field that had the fans reacting.  From The Sun:

They gave a massive thumbs down to chief executive Gazidis and booed Wenger’s men at the interval and at full-time. … Gooners will have to cough up between £60 and £100 more for the pleasure of golden mediocrity at the Emirates next season.

The Arsenal fans voiced their outrage at the proposed 6.5% ticket price increase despite a profitable season and not reinvesting those profits back into the club.  The article accuses the two men of caring more about the profits than the number of trophies.  But if you build a good team and win the trophies/titles won’t the profits naturally follow?

Does this sound eerily familiar?  Locking out the players so that the owners can leverage more money for themselves.   Maybe the Gooners should have seen this coming after all.

Is Stan still The Man?

I had lots of optimism at the beginning of this but now I’m not all that impressed with Stan Kroenke.  Right now he looks likes the typical “bottom line” boss.  He started out doing things the right way but now that he seemingly has control of Arsenal he’s being more of a businessman than a true team owner.

As a Rams fan I’m keeping a very watchful eye on the situation across the pond.  I’m… watching…  you, Mr. Kroenke.

What started out as a “let’s get to know Rams owner Stan Kroenke” article spun into a revealing look into the take over of the Manchester United Football Club, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization, and the man who owns them both, Malcolm Glazer.

I’ll be covering this story in two parts.  I think Part 1 will shed some light on why some NFL owners are so reluctant about opening their books.  Part 2 will talk about what all this may mean for the Rams and Stan Kroenke.

Malcolm Glazer and Manchester United

Malcolm Glazer is an American businessman and the current owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United.  I knew he had one foot planted in Tampa Bay but had no idea he had his other foot in the UK.  Makes you think of another NFL owner, right?  Our Rams’ very own Mr. Stan Kroenke.

In 2003, Glazer started his bid to take over ownership of famous English Premiere League team and by 2005 he took full control of the club for a total purchase price of £800 million.  There was a great deal of opposition from the fans mainly worried about how the purchase was being financed.

Why?  Because the majority of the funds he used to purchase ManU were in the form of loans. In 2006, the club announced plans to refinance and restructure its £660 million debt with loans in the amount of £256 million borrowed against the assets of the team. Just in interest alone they would pay over £60 million a year.  The remainder was covered by ManU’s parent holding company, Malcolm Glazer’s Red Football Joint Venture (RFJV) which is based in the UK.  RFJV took out PIK loans which were later sold to American hedge funds.

But the controversy was just beginning to brew. Despite the financial restructuring ManU was unable to pay down any of the PIK loans in the first 5 years while still accruing millions in interest.  All the while Glazers raised ManU ticket prices by an average of 42% since the take over in an attempt to balance the growing debt.

In, January of 2010, when reports of RFJV’s debt had increased to £716.5 million ($1.17B) surfaced, ManU successfully passed a bond issue to pay off £504 million of the £509 million owed to international banks. Through this new bond, the club would be looking at £45 million a year in interest and fewer restrictions than imposed on them by previous lenders.  Angry anti-Glazer ManU fans (Manchester United Supporters’ Trust) were up in arms demanding a cut in ticket prices (as Glazer did for the Bucs fans) and working on their own take over of the club.  The Glazers have made it clear they have no intentions of putting the club up for sale.  Meanwhile, the “Red Knights” patiently wait for the right opportunity.

Now fast forward to February of 2011. The Glazers announced that they would be moving the ownership of the club from the UK to the US – more specifically to the state of Delaware.  Apparently, Delaware is the place to go if you want to obscure business transactions.

Paul Kelso of The Telegraph writes:

The most pressing issue concerning Manchester United’s highly-mobilised fan base is how the Glazers managed to clear £249.1 million of payment-in-kind (PIK) loans that had been incurring interest at more than 16 per cent before it was abruptly paid off in November last year.

Delaware’s secrecy rules mean that the directors, officers and shareholders of the new company are unknown, as is the source of the money used to repay the PIKs.

The PIKs were controversial because they were secured against the Glazer family’s shares in United’s holding company, meaning that ultimately the club could have been passed to the hedge-fund lenders in the event of default.

The Glazers have declined to say how they paid off the PIK loans, and whether any debt incurred to do so is still secured against the family’s shareholding in the club or related entities.

Malcolm Glazer and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

As stated earlier, Malcolm Glazer purchased the Buccaneers in 1995 for a then modest figure of $192M after the death of the previous owner, Hugh Culverhouse. They saw some early success during Tony Dungy’s tenure (1996-2001) making several playoff appearances and won a Super Bowl XXXVII (2002-2003 season) under new head coach Jon Gruden.

However, since the purchase of ManU many Bucs fans will tell you that they have gotten the short end of the stick.  Underinvestment in the team, rising costs, and a sagging national and local economy have forced some Bucs fans to watch games on their couch.  Last season marked the first time since 1997 ALL pre-season and regular season games were blacked out.  (Previous years black outs were avoided by the team buying out the remaining unsold tickets at 30 cents to the dollar.)

From a fan’s perspective we would like to see the team be active in free agency and getting the best players they can to make their team more competitive.  But despite the 2010 -2011 season was an uncapped year the Tampa Bay Buccaneers only spent $84.4M on players’ salaries.  Guess what the league average was?  $124M.

David Conn of the Guardian writes:

According to wage spending figures filed with the NFL players’ union, which the Guardian has seen. They show that despite booming NFL TV income of $3.3bn a year, which is shared equally between all franchises, the Bucs are spending $84.4m on players’ salaries, the NFL’s lowest, dramatically less than their competitors.

The figures show the Bucs spending way below their competitors in the National Football Conference South: the New Orleans Saints, the highest spenders, have a $148m salary bill; the Atlanta Falcons are paying $120m, and the Carolina Panthers’ $113m is still $29m, 34%, more than the Bucs.

Let’s do a quick review.  Each NFL team EQUALLY share revenues and yet the Bucs spend the least.  This did not sit well with Peter Schaffer a principal of All Pro Sports & Entertainment, which represents NFL players.

“That is their (The Glazers) choice, but US sports fans are mostly blue-collar workers, who will vote with their wallets if they feel owners aren’t giving the team a chance to compete.”

Where is all this extra money they’re saving if the Glazers are not putting it back into players’ salaries?  Is anyone else wondering if it was used to pay off the high interest PIK loans?  Or maybe the cash is being funneled into other businesses.  Miami’s Richard Luscombe points out that no one really knows for sure.

There are few clues about the exact status of the family’s fortunes from public documents. Privately held businesses are not required to report their profits and losses in the US and the notoriously secretive Glazers are not about to open their company’s books to public scrutiny any time soon.

But it is clear that they suffered greatly in the recession, and accompanying crash in property values. First Allied Corporation, the Glazers’ New York-registered holding firm, owns 6.7 million square feet in retail space at 64 shopping centres and malls across the US, but appears not to have made any new acquisitions for almost four years.

Additionally, at least five of the malls owned by First Allied across the US defaulted on their mortgages in the previous six months, and are facing foreclosure, suggesting that these are still turbulent times for the family’s core business.

Analysts have suggested that annual revenues from the entire portfolio are little more that $9 million (£5.6 million), hardly enough to support an empire the size of that built by Malcolm Glazer and his sons.

If I were the Glazers I’m not sure I’d want to open my books either.  I have a headache just from writing this story let alone trying to live and manage it. Although they have a healthy incoming revenue from the NFL they are losing money in other ventures.  Which makes me ask, how are they still maintaining their businesses?  Luscombe continues:

They are assisted greatly by the profits from some shrewd property moves and other business dealings, the ship remains afloat. For example, in 2009 the family quickly raised almost $100 million (£62 million) by selling off the exclusive La Bellucia mansion in Palm Beach for $24 million, Florida’s biggest real estate transaction of the year, and disposing of its majority stake in the investment firm Zapata for another $74 million.

But you have to understand this $100M infusion is a one time deal.  I can only imagine what their finances going to look like NEXT year at this current rate.  They are going to have to come up with something more than creative restructuring of loans, raising ManU ticket prices and new endorsement deals to cover that amount in the years to come.

Unfortunately for the Glazers we didn’t have to wait a whole year for news about how they’re doing.  Rumblings from across the pond are not encouraging.  AP in London is reported last month that ManU’s holding company RFJV suffered a NET LOSS of $171.5M last season.

The Glazers own two major sports franchises and seem to be very involved in the operations of each team.  I’m not sure that’s such a good thing judging from their history so far.  They’ve managed to sink the top valued sports franchise (ManU) into heavy debt, alienate fans who pay to see their teams play and don’t care much about what these fans think.  I’m not a finance expert or a PR person but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out this is not going to end well.  ManU may have a world wide fan base serious enough to take on ownership of the club if needed but I doubt the Bucs will be as forunate.

Hey, I hear LA is looking for team.