Franchise/Player Question????

[NY8123]

Obviously this question centers around Peyton Manning and if for nothing more it is fun to figure out.

1) Can an active player own a portion of an NFL franchise?
2) Can a minority owner play for the franchise?

Now before we go all nutsy here this is more of a curiosity question on my end so maybe it is as simple as - no.

What stops a willing owner from entering a business venture with an active NFL player? Is it covered by the CBA? Obviously this would be a huge loop hole in the salary cap with regard to a player/owner compensation venture.

I honestly have no idea which is why I am asking the board, to me it would seem this type of transaction would be covered and be taboo but weirder **** has transpired in professional sports.

 

[NY8123]

So no one has an answer to this??? Or is my question that ****ing stupid lol???

 

[Zounds]

I cant answer your question directly, but a good model to look at would be the Packers who have a publicly owned franchise - meaning anyone from the public can buy shares (stock) of the franchise. I dont believe players are barred from buying them, so maybe it is possible you can be a minority owner or have a non-voting interest in a franchise? Not sure. but you would have to be able to read the bylaws of NFL.

 

[Zounds]

Ok I found the answe you are looking for in the NFL bylaws: http://bizoffootball.com/docs/NFLConstitutionandBylaws-2006.pdf

Check out page 42, paragraph D

 

[NY8123]

So if I read that right there is nothing stopping an owner and player working out an agreement for team ownership revenue as long as said player only plays for the team which he owns rights too. So basically you could give a player minority stock but that player couldn't be traded or play for any other team until his interest in the team he owns is absolved or sold off.

Interesting.