Forbes magazine published its annual ranking of the most valuable franchises in the NFL. Based on 2010 evaluations, the Patriots are worth $1.4 billion and rank third behind the Cowboys ($1.85 billion) and Redskins ($1.55 billion).
The Cowboys are second in the world to only the English soccer team Manchester United, valued at $1.9 billion.
In other news, former NFL defensive end Hugh Douglas did not hold back when criticizing Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio for his handling of the team's quarterback situation and alleged lack of trustworthiness. "If there was ever a head coach that needs to be punched in the face for not being truthful to his players, it has to be Jack Del Rio," Douglas said.
Wednesday's tragic plane crash in Russia claimed the lives of 36 members of the hockey team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, but the team's goalie coach, Jorma Valtonen, was told to stay behind and work with the organization's youth team. "I don’t know what to say. It seems I was lucky. But it’s horrible. Horrible," Valtonen said. "I’ve been answering emails and text messages from my friends asking if I am alive or not."
Read more about those stories and others, plus check out videos, trivia and more, at Thursday's Morning Mashup [1].
Links:
[1] http://leeinks.weei.com/sports/2011/09/08/thursdays-morning-mashup-patriots-third-most-valuable-in-forbes-nfl-rankings
[2] http://www.weei.com/category/boston/general