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Dan Synder gave some employees apples as a Christmas bonus, that's pretty bad. I had an employee that had our Christmas meal catered by Long John Silver. Come to think of it, I rather have an apple.
Every NFL owner ranked by likeability
With a handful of the NFL’s team owners in headlines lately for reasons ranging from stripper pictures to a hilariously stubborn defense of a slur, we thought a definitive and not at all arbitrary ranking of their likeability is needed.
The criteria for a high ranking is pretty simple: run a respectable NFL operation, and be someone who we’d like to share a beverage with at a local establishment. Preferably both.
The best facial hair among the league’s current owners leads things off.
(Quick note: the Bills were excluded because of the ongoing sale process, and the Broncos were too after Pat Bowlen recently stepped aside to deal with his Alzheimer’s.)
1. Shahid Khan: Jacksonville Jaguars owner since 2012
How did he get rich?: Truck bumpers. Well, sort of. Khan started Bumper Works, which is exactly what it sounds like: a company that makes bumpers. Then he bought Flex-N-Gate, an automotive manufacturing company, and paired it with Bumper Works. When the company grew enough to supply bumpers to America’s three main automakers, Khan was a happy mustachioed man.
Why to like him: Seriously, that mustache…
Why not to like him: He almost fed the Tebowmania machine, flirting with a trade that would have brought the former messiah from Denver to Jacksonville.
2. The Rooney family: Pittsburgh Steelers owners since 1933
How did they get rich?: The family fortune is rooted in, well, football and getting into the game on the ground floor (started from the bottom…). Like the champion he was, Art Rooney originally bought the team after scoring some sweet cash on a parlay at a horse racing track, or so the legend says.
Why to like them: So much loyalty. The Steelers have had all of three head coaches since 1969.
Why not to like them: You can hate the team, but not liking the Rooneys is challenging. Dan Rooney introduced the Rooney rule to the NFL, which brings diversity to head coach hiring (or at least attempts to). And any group of individuals who hired Chuck Noll is deserving of close to saint status.
3. Robert Kraft: New England Patriots owner since 1994
How did he get rich?: Like many rich, gracefully aging men, Kraft’s money now comes from several pots of sweetness. But it originated in the packaging industry, with the Rand-Whitley Group. He later founded International Forest Products and merged the two together.
Why to like him: Kraft was able to avoided a conflict between America and the great nation of Russia by “gifting†one of his Super Bowl rings to Vladimir Putin. What a nice man.
Why not to like him: His, um, immense acting talent. Actually, this is just another reason why Robert Kraft is the best.
4. Pretty much all of Green Bay: Packers owners since 1923
How did they get rich?: Umm…not applicable?
Why to like them: Because they’re awesomely crazy people who will line up for hours just to get a chance to shovel snow.
Why not to like them: There are limits to crazy. If you ever find yourself flipping through the Packers fans dating site late on a Friday night, you’ve crossed that rubicon to never return.
5. Steve Bisciotti: Baltimore Ravens owner since 2004
How did he get rich?: Bisciotti knows how to hustle. From a basement office he started Aerotek with his cousin, an aerospace and technology staffing company. That grew into the Allegis Group as dollars filled Bisciotti’s ample pockets.
Why to like him: He’s the second youngest NFL owner this side of San Fran’s Jed York, so Bisciotti is always rocking that really cool uncle vibe.
Why not to like him: While he’s provided solid leadership after football was brought back to Baltimore (yay!), Bisciotti is the ownership face of a franchise that was removed from Cleveland (scum?).
6. Arthur Blank: Atlanta Falcons owner since 2004
How did he get rich?: If you’ve ever spent a Saturday afternoon in Home Depot looking for the perfect shade of blue paint to match those shower curtains your wife just fell in love with, thank Blank. He co-founded the place.
Why to like him: Blank had the appropriate harsh words for Bobby Petrino after he bailed on the Falcons before even one season as the head coach, saying he felt a sense of betrayal. Even with both that mess in 2007 and Michael Vick’s sudden spiral, the Falcons still made the playoffs four out of the next five years.
Why not to like him: He signed off on a new stadium that looks like a modernized Death Star.
7. Jerry Jones: Dallas Cowboys owner since 1989
How did he get rich?: Oh, oil of course. You’re about to notice a pattern here: strike that black gold, invest in all things NFL before the league becomes wildly popular, then drink all the margaritas.
Why to like him: He’s a guy who talks about glory holes, and can do so in front of a microphone while keeping a (mostly) straight face.
Why not to like him: His looming, forever meddling presence.
8. John Mara and Steve Tisch: New York Giants co-owners since 2005
How did they get rich?: Mara is all about those deep Mara roots. His grandfather Tim founded the Giants in 1925, when he was a bookie at a hourse racing circuit. Tisch is a film and television producer.
Why to like them: Two championships since this partnership formed is pretty alright.
Why not to like them: It doesn’t seem fair to hold this against John Mara since he can’t control the career choices of his niece, Rooney. But Youth in Revolt really sucked.
9. Tom Benson: New Orleans Saints owner since 1985
How did he get rich?: Benson was a car czar, and he still owns several dealerships in and around New Orleans and San Antonio. He took the money made there and dumped it into local banks, and eventually funded Benson Financial.
Why to like him: The man knows how to make a strong beverage.
Why not to like him: Benson did what he could to shut down the Saints’ now notorious bounty scheme. Still, much like spygate in New England, for some that stain won’t fade.
10. Paul Allen: Seattle Seahawks owner since 1997
How did he get rich?: He’s the co-founder of something called Microsoft. You may have heard of it.
Why to like him: He saved the Seahawks from the clutches of California.
Why not to like them: Paul Allen is quite a likable, multi-talented, and rather rich man. But if you’re not into thumping guitar twangs, this is your dislike fuel.
11. The Glazer family: Tampa Bay Buccaneers owners since 1995
How did they get rich?: Malcolm Glazer, who recently passed away, built his fortune through various investments, starting with real estate and the management of mobile homes, and eventually three TV stations.
Why to like them: Prior to the Glazer’s ownership and money dumping, the Bucs were a consistent clown show, winning only 87 games over 19 seasons, and they hadn’t been to the playoffs for 12 straights years. Since? Tampa won the Super Bowl in 2002, and seven of the franchise’s 10 post-season appearances have come under the Glazer’s ownership.
Why not to like them: The Glazers also have ownership in the other football. Football diversity goes against core American values.
12. Jed York: San Francisco 49ers owner since 2008
How did he get rich?: Family gold is a wonderful thing. York is the nephew of former 49ers owner Eddie Debartolo Jr., and the son of John and Denise York, who transitioned him into the role of CEO late in the 2008 season.
Why to like him: He’s the sort of guy who will say his team is going to win their division, even when the 49ers’ record at the time of that bold statement in 2010 was 0-5.
Why not to like him: There’s always something inherently unlikable about someone born into a life of riches and leisure. I am a small, spiteful man.
13. Jeffrey Lurie: Philadelphia Eagles owner since 1994
How did he get rich?: Having ties to a once mighty chain of movie theaters, and then involvement in a film company puts a lot of dollars into a man’s pocket.
Why to like him: He can grow a next level, face encompassing grizzly bear beard
Why not to like him: For many the reason here is easy. Lurie is the NFL owner who gave Michael Vick employment after the former Falcon served his dogfighting time.
14. Woody Johnson: New York Jets owner since 2000
How did he get rich?: He’s an heir to the Johnson & Johnson company.
Why to like him: His team communication methods on important matters can be pretty
Why not to like him: He was at least partly responsible for feeding the Tebowmania beast.
15. Zygi Wilf: Minnesota Vikings owner since 2005
How did he get rich?: Wilf’s pockets began filling when he started to purchase and rent apartment units with his brother. Eventually that grew into a business that develops homes in 39 states.
Why to like him: His name is Zygi.
Why not to like him: He became the latest owner to fleece the public for a new stadium, dumping a nearly $500 million bill on Minnesota.
16. Clark Hunt: Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO since 2006
How did he get rich?: Clark took over in 2006 after the passing of his father Lamar, another one of the AFL’s founding members. He’s the grandson of H.L. Hunt, who turned Texas oil into his personal money mountain.
Why to like him: Anyone whose father gave us the title “Super Bowl†is a friend of mine.
Why not to like him: Go ahead and let the jealousy of the golden spoon upbringing fill your soul again here.
17. Mark Davis: Oakland Raiders principal owner since 2011
How did he get rich?: The legendary Al Davis gradually climbed from Raiders coach, to general manager, to owner. Then Mark and his mother Carol inherited the team in 2011 after Al’s passing.
Why to like him: Unlike his father, Mark leaves his hands well away from the football side of his football team. That’s wise, because although he was an NFL pioneer too, Al often didn’t play well with others.
Why not to like him: The man has the rare orange mushroom cut. We’re getting a little superficial here, yes. But I just can’t look at anything else.
18. Dean Spanos: San Diego Chargers president and CEO since 1994, family has owned team since 1984
How did he get rich?: The Spanos family collected their cash through real estate, and plopping a whole late of apartment complexes around the United States.
Why to like him: Just before Dean Spanos took over the Chargers had finished a stretch with a mighty stench, missing the playoffs in nine straight seasons. Then they got to the Super Bowl during his first year.
Why not to like him: The eight years of losing that followed the 1995 season. Oh, and Ryan Leaf. That was not wise.
19. The estate of Bud Adams (his daughters Susie and Amy, and son Kenneth IV): Family has owned the Tennessee Titans since 1960
How did he get rich?: Oil. So much oil.
Why to like them: Adams is a football pioneer, and played a core role in establishing the AFL, which merged with the NFL in 1966.
Why not to like them: We’re slowly coming up on the one-year anniversary of Adams’ death, and there’s no speaking ill of the dead allowed around here. I don’t really know a reason why you would anyway, unless you weren’t fond of his, er, standard greeting technique.
20. Virginia Halas McCaskey: Chicago Bears owner since 1983
How did she get rich?: Her father George Halas did damn near everything, hence the nickname “Mr. Everythingâ€. He basically took a starch company’s rec-league team and turned them into the Bears.
Why to like her: She ousted her son from football operations, and he was evil enough to fire Mike Ditka.
Why not to like her: Again, if resenting lucky life circumstances is your thing, then you have another target for that angst here. But good luck with that: most of the NFL is a family business, and will stay that way.
21. Martha Ford: Detroit Lions owner for five months
How did she get rich?: The Lions’ ownership was passed along to Martha Ford after the passing of Williams Clay Ford Sr., who died of pneumonia just before his 89th birthday. The Ford family is a pretty big deal in the auto industry.
Why to like her: Because hating on a nice elderly lady is mean.
Why not to like her: No really, don’t hate on a nice elderly lady.
22. Robert McNair: Houston Texans owner since 1999
How did he get rich?: Owned a power plant company and cashed in by selling it to Enron, a company that went on to a pleasant, thriving future.
Why to like him: McNair and Texans general manager Rick Smith made the right decision this past May by passing on Johnny Manziel, addressing the more glaring need by selecting Jadeveon Clowney.
Why not to like him: The other time he was part of a decision at the top of the draft, and it ended with David Carr.
23. Bill Bidwill: Arizona Cardinals owner since 1972
How did he get rich?: More of that sweet family cash. Bill inherited the team from his father Charles, who was a wealthy Chicago lawyer.
Why to like him: He signed off of on a stadium with a pretty high swag-factor, complete with a rollout field.
Why not to like him: Under Bill Bidwell the Cardinals have played postseason football only six times. That’s six times over 42 years.
24. Jim Irsay: Indianapolis Colts owner since 1997
How did he get rich?: Assumed ownership after his father’s passing, who made his many dollars through a heating and air-conditioning business.
Why to like him: Irsay seems to have settled down with the random, disjointed, and ranting song lyric tweets, which is a damn shame. He was once pretty dedicated to his crazy.
Why not to like them: Substance abuse is never a good or fun thing for anyone. Worse is being in denial for years, and then rock bottom is an NFL owner getting pulled over and given the mugshot treatment.
25. Stan Kroenke: St. Louis Rams owner since 2010
How did he get rich?: Basically by being a real estate tycoon, but the Wal-Mart stake he inherited that’s worth over $6 billion certainly helped matters.
Why to like him: He doesn’t talk much, and has earned the nickname “silent Sam†because he rarely gives interviews. In an era of sports ownership that includes pictures with strippers and comics sans screeds, there’s great value in silence
Why not to like them: He is also a majority stakeholder in Arsenal, the English Premier League football club. Again, mixing football with futbol is unAmerican, and as London keeps blowing sweet kisses to the NFL, Kroenke’s Rams remain a prime pond-jump candidate due to his connections.
26. Stephen Ross: Miami Dolphins owner since 2008
How did he get rich?: I can’t confirm or deny this, but I’ve been told that in private Ross actually spits money when he talks, an ailment he manages to control in public. A real estate tycoon with massive projects sprawled around New York, his net worth is an estimated $5.6 billion.
Why to like him: The man is a fan of education. Each year, a chunk of his most recently acquired fortune goes to his alma mater, the University of Michigan. He’s donated $313 million, making him the most generous money dumper in school history.
Why not to like him: The amount of time he kept both Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano under his employment is pretty remarkable when you look back on it. For many years, the Dolphins have done jusssst enough to be average.
27. Mike Brown: Cincinnati Bengals owner since 1991
How did he get rich?: Inherited the team from his father, the famed football coach turned owner who founded the Bengals in 1968.
Why to like him: He had the bravery to speak candidly about quarterback contracts recently, and why their sudden ballooning often leads to an incredibly difficult decision.
Why not to like him: A stubborn refusal to name a general manager, overseeing on-field operations himself despite clear incompetence that’s now led to the Bengals still searching for their first playoff win since 1991.
28. Jerry Richardson: Carolina Panthers owner since 1993
How did he get rich?: He’s co-founded of Spartan Foods, and then became the CEO of Flagstar, which ran every Dennys in the nation.
Why to like him: Richardson is the rare owner who could actually play football and was pretty good at it, catching a touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in the 1959 championship game.
Why not to like him: His redefining of what it is to be a crusty curmudgeon, most notably his hate for any body ink whatsoever.
29. Jimmy Haslam: Cleveland Browns owner since 2012
How did he get rich?: The Haslam family founded Pilot Flying J.
Why to like him: Yeah, I got nothing.
Why not to like him: Fraud is pretty gross, especially when it’s worth $92 million in a settlement, the fee Haslam had to pay after his company cheated customers out of rebates and discounts.
30. Dan Snyder: Washington Redskins owner since 1999
How did he get rich?: Though it’s understandable to assume that Snyder turned eating the souls of puppies into a profitable business venture, that’s not the case. Instead his sorcery is responsible for many of the advertisements that attack you in public spaces. Snyder started a wildly successful wallboard advertising company, Snyder Communications LP. At 32 years old, Snyder was the youngest CEO of a New York Stock Exchange listed company
Why to like him: Nope, nothing to see here.
Why not to like him: Let’s start with his stubborn support of team name that’s a racist slur and is considered derogatory by a large group of people. Then there’s his purchase and control of the Washington media so that only the most supportive Snyder brand messages are broadcasted over the airwaves and digitally on the Internet. Or hey, how about that time Snyder gave some of his employees apples as a Christmas bonus. There’s also the five gallons of vanilla ice cream he sent to former defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s office in an attempt to illustrate his play calling is, in fact, vanilla. Dan Snyder is the absolute worst.
http://bloguin.com/thisgivensunday/2014-articles/every-nfl-owner-ranked-by-likeability.html
Every NFL owner ranked by likeability
With a handful of the NFL’s team owners in headlines lately for reasons ranging from stripper pictures to a hilariously stubborn defense of a slur, we thought a definitive and not at all arbitrary ranking of their likeability is needed.
The criteria for a high ranking is pretty simple: run a respectable NFL operation, and be someone who we’d like to share a beverage with at a local establishment. Preferably both.
The best facial hair among the league’s current owners leads things off.
(Quick note: the Bills were excluded because of the ongoing sale process, and the Broncos were too after Pat Bowlen recently stepped aside to deal with his Alzheimer’s.)
1. Shahid Khan: Jacksonville Jaguars owner since 2012
How did he get rich?: Truck bumpers. Well, sort of. Khan started Bumper Works, which is exactly what it sounds like: a company that makes bumpers. Then he bought Flex-N-Gate, an automotive manufacturing company, and paired it with Bumper Works. When the company grew enough to supply bumpers to America’s three main automakers, Khan was a happy mustachioed man.
Why to like him: Seriously, that mustache…
Why not to like him: He almost fed the Tebowmania machine, flirting with a trade that would have brought the former messiah from Denver to Jacksonville.
2. The Rooney family: Pittsburgh Steelers owners since 1933
How did they get rich?: The family fortune is rooted in, well, football and getting into the game on the ground floor (started from the bottom…). Like the champion he was, Art Rooney originally bought the team after scoring some sweet cash on a parlay at a horse racing track, or so the legend says.
Why to like them: So much loyalty. The Steelers have had all of three head coaches since 1969.
Why not to like them: You can hate the team, but not liking the Rooneys is challenging. Dan Rooney introduced the Rooney rule to the NFL, which brings diversity to head coach hiring (or at least attempts to). And any group of individuals who hired Chuck Noll is deserving of close to saint status.
3. Robert Kraft: New England Patriots owner since 1994
How did he get rich?: Like many rich, gracefully aging men, Kraft’s money now comes from several pots of sweetness. But it originated in the packaging industry, with the Rand-Whitley Group. He later founded International Forest Products and merged the two together.
Why to like him: Kraft was able to avoided a conflict between America and the great nation of Russia by “gifting†one of his Super Bowl rings to Vladimir Putin. What a nice man.
Why not to like him: His, um, immense acting talent. Actually, this is just another reason why Robert Kraft is the best.
4. Pretty much all of Green Bay: Packers owners since 1923
How did they get rich?: Umm…not applicable?
Why to like them: Because they’re awesomely crazy people who will line up for hours just to get a chance to shovel snow.
Why not to like them: There are limits to crazy. If you ever find yourself flipping through the Packers fans dating site late on a Friday night, you’ve crossed that rubicon to never return.
5. Steve Bisciotti: Baltimore Ravens owner since 2004
How did he get rich?: Bisciotti knows how to hustle. From a basement office he started Aerotek with his cousin, an aerospace and technology staffing company. That grew into the Allegis Group as dollars filled Bisciotti’s ample pockets.
Why to like him: He’s the second youngest NFL owner this side of San Fran’s Jed York, so Bisciotti is always rocking that really cool uncle vibe.
Why not to like him: While he’s provided solid leadership after football was brought back to Baltimore (yay!), Bisciotti is the ownership face of a franchise that was removed from Cleveland (scum?).
6. Arthur Blank: Atlanta Falcons owner since 2004
How did he get rich?: If you’ve ever spent a Saturday afternoon in Home Depot looking for the perfect shade of blue paint to match those shower curtains your wife just fell in love with, thank Blank. He co-founded the place.
Why to like him: Blank had the appropriate harsh words for Bobby Petrino after he bailed on the Falcons before even one season as the head coach, saying he felt a sense of betrayal. Even with both that mess in 2007 and Michael Vick’s sudden spiral, the Falcons still made the playoffs four out of the next five years.
Why not to like him: He signed off on a new stadium that looks like a modernized Death Star.
7. Jerry Jones: Dallas Cowboys owner since 1989
How did he get rich?: Oh, oil of course. You’re about to notice a pattern here: strike that black gold, invest in all things NFL before the league becomes wildly popular, then drink all the margaritas.
Why to like him: He’s a guy who talks about glory holes, and can do so in front of a microphone while keeping a (mostly) straight face.
Why not to like him: His looming, forever meddling presence.
8. John Mara and Steve Tisch: New York Giants co-owners since 2005
How did they get rich?: Mara is all about those deep Mara roots. His grandfather Tim founded the Giants in 1925, when he was a bookie at a hourse racing circuit. Tisch is a film and television producer.
Why to like them: Two championships since this partnership formed is pretty alright.
Why not to like them: It doesn’t seem fair to hold this against John Mara since he can’t control the career choices of his niece, Rooney. But Youth in Revolt really sucked.
9. Tom Benson: New Orleans Saints owner since 1985
How did he get rich?: Benson was a car czar, and he still owns several dealerships in and around New Orleans and San Antonio. He took the money made there and dumped it into local banks, and eventually funded Benson Financial.
Why to like him: The man knows how to make a strong beverage.
Why not to like him: Benson did what he could to shut down the Saints’ now notorious bounty scheme. Still, much like spygate in New England, for some that stain won’t fade.
10. Paul Allen: Seattle Seahawks owner since 1997
How did he get rich?: He’s the co-founder of something called Microsoft. You may have heard of it.
Why to like him: He saved the Seahawks from the clutches of California.
Why not to like them: Paul Allen is quite a likable, multi-talented, and rather rich man. But if you’re not into thumping guitar twangs, this is your dislike fuel.
11. The Glazer family: Tampa Bay Buccaneers owners since 1995
How did they get rich?: Malcolm Glazer, who recently passed away, built his fortune through various investments, starting with real estate and the management of mobile homes, and eventually three TV stations.
Why to like them: Prior to the Glazer’s ownership and money dumping, the Bucs were a consistent clown show, winning only 87 games over 19 seasons, and they hadn’t been to the playoffs for 12 straights years. Since? Tampa won the Super Bowl in 2002, and seven of the franchise’s 10 post-season appearances have come under the Glazer’s ownership.
Why not to like them: The Glazers also have ownership in the other football. Football diversity goes against core American values.
12. Jed York: San Francisco 49ers owner since 2008
How did he get rich?: Family gold is a wonderful thing. York is the nephew of former 49ers owner Eddie Debartolo Jr., and the son of John and Denise York, who transitioned him into the role of CEO late in the 2008 season.
Why to like him: He’s the sort of guy who will say his team is going to win their division, even when the 49ers’ record at the time of that bold statement in 2010 was 0-5.
Why not to like him: There’s always something inherently unlikable about someone born into a life of riches and leisure. I am a small, spiteful man.
13. Jeffrey Lurie: Philadelphia Eagles owner since 1994
How did he get rich?: Having ties to a once mighty chain of movie theaters, and then involvement in a film company puts a lot of dollars into a man’s pocket.
Why to like him: He can grow a next level, face encompassing grizzly bear beard
Why not to like him: For many the reason here is easy. Lurie is the NFL owner who gave Michael Vick employment after the former Falcon served his dogfighting time.
14. Woody Johnson: New York Jets owner since 2000
How did he get rich?: He’s an heir to the Johnson & Johnson company.
Why to like him: His team communication methods on important matters can be pretty
Why not to like him: He was at least partly responsible for feeding the Tebowmania beast.
15. Zygi Wilf: Minnesota Vikings owner since 2005
How did he get rich?: Wilf’s pockets began filling when he started to purchase and rent apartment units with his brother. Eventually that grew into a business that develops homes in 39 states.
Why to like him: His name is Zygi.
Why not to like him: He became the latest owner to fleece the public for a new stadium, dumping a nearly $500 million bill on Minnesota.
16. Clark Hunt: Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO since 2006
How did he get rich?: Clark took over in 2006 after the passing of his father Lamar, another one of the AFL’s founding members. He’s the grandson of H.L. Hunt, who turned Texas oil into his personal money mountain.
Why to like him: Anyone whose father gave us the title “Super Bowl†is a friend of mine.
Why not to like him: Go ahead and let the jealousy of the golden spoon upbringing fill your soul again here.
17. Mark Davis: Oakland Raiders principal owner since 2011
How did he get rich?: The legendary Al Davis gradually climbed from Raiders coach, to general manager, to owner. Then Mark and his mother Carol inherited the team in 2011 after Al’s passing.
Why to like him: Unlike his father, Mark leaves his hands well away from the football side of his football team. That’s wise, because although he was an NFL pioneer too, Al often didn’t play well with others.
Why not to like him: The man has the rare orange mushroom cut. We’re getting a little superficial here, yes. But I just can’t look at anything else.
18. Dean Spanos: San Diego Chargers president and CEO since 1994, family has owned team since 1984
How did he get rich?: The Spanos family collected their cash through real estate, and plopping a whole late of apartment complexes around the United States.
Why to like him: Just before Dean Spanos took over the Chargers had finished a stretch with a mighty stench, missing the playoffs in nine straight seasons. Then they got to the Super Bowl during his first year.
Why not to like him: The eight years of losing that followed the 1995 season. Oh, and Ryan Leaf. That was not wise.
19. The estate of Bud Adams (his daughters Susie and Amy, and son Kenneth IV): Family has owned the Tennessee Titans since 1960
How did he get rich?: Oil. So much oil.
Why to like them: Adams is a football pioneer, and played a core role in establishing the AFL, which merged with the NFL in 1966.
Why not to like them: We’re slowly coming up on the one-year anniversary of Adams’ death, and there’s no speaking ill of the dead allowed around here. I don’t really know a reason why you would anyway, unless you weren’t fond of his, er, standard greeting technique.
20. Virginia Halas McCaskey: Chicago Bears owner since 1983
How did she get rich?: Her father George Halas did damn near everything, hence the nickname “Mr. Everythingâ€. He basically took a starch company’s rec-league team and turned them into the Bears.
Why to like her: She ousted her son from football operations, and he was evil enough to fire Mike Ditka.
Why not to like her: Again, if resenting lucky life circumstances is your thing, then you have another target for that angst here. But good luck with that: most of the NFL is a family business, and will stay that way.
21. Martha Ford: Detroit Lions owner for five months
How did she get rich?: The Lions’ ownership was passed along to Martha Ford after the passing of Williams Clay Ford Sr., who died of pneumonia just before his 89th birthday. The Ford family is a pretty big deal in the auto industry.
Why to like her: Because hating on a nice elderly lady is mean.
Why not to like her: No really, don’t hate on a nice elderly lady.
22. Robert McNair: Houston Texans owner since 1999
How did he get rich?: Owned a power plant company and cashed in by selling it to Enron, a company that went on to a pleasant, thriving future.
Why to like him: McNair and Texans general manager Rick Smith made the right decision this past May by passing on Johnny Manziel, addressing the more glaring need by selecting Jadeveon Clowney.
Why not to like him: The other time he was part of a decision at the top of the draft, and it ended with David Carr.
23. Bill Bidwill: Arizona Cardinals owner since 1972
How did he get rich?: More of that sweet family cash. Bill inherited the team from his father Charles, who was a wealthy Chicago lawyer.
Why to like him: He signed off of on a stadium with a pretty high swag-factor, complete with a rollout field.
Why not to like him: Under Bill Bidwell the Cardinals have played postseason football only six times. That’s six times over 42 years.
24. Jim Irsay: Indianapolis Colts owner since 1997
How did he get rich?: Assumed ownership after his father’s passing, who made his many dollars through a heating and air-conditioning business.
Why to like him: Irsay seems to have settled down with the random, disjointed, and ranting song lyric tweets, which is a damn shame. He was once pretty dedicated to his crazy.
Why not to like them: Substance abuse is never a good or fun thing for anyone. Worse is being in denial for years, and then rock bottom is an NFL owner getting pulled over and given the mugshot treatment.
25. Stan Kroenke: St. Louis Rams owner since 2010
How did he get rich?: Basically by being a real estate tycoon, but the Wal-Mart stake he inherited that’s worth over $6 billion certainly helped matters.
Why to like him: He doesn’t talk much, and has earned the nickname “silent Sam†because he rarely gives interviews. In an era of sports ownership that includes pictures with strippers and comics sans screeds, there’s great value in silence
Why not to like them: He is also a majority stakeholder in Arsenal, the English Premier League football club. Again, mixing football with futbol is unAmerican, and as London keeps blowing sweet kisses to the NFL, Kroenke’s Rams remain a prime pond-jump candidate due to his connections.
26. Stephen Ross: Miami Dolphins owner since 2008
How did he get rich?: I can’t confirm or deny this, but I’ve been told that in private Ross actually spits money when he talks, an ailment he manages to control in public. A real estate tycoon with massive projects sprawled around New York, his net worth is an estimated $5.6 billion.
Why to like him: The man is a fan of education. Each year, a chunk of his most recently acquired fortune goes to his alma mater, the University of Michigan. He’s donated $313 million, making him the most generous money dumper in school history.
Why not to like him: The amount of time he kept both Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano under his employment is pretty remarkable when you look back on it. For many years, the Dolphins have done jusssst enough to be average.
27. Mike Brown: Cincinnati Bengals owner since 1991
How did he get rich?: Inherited the team from his father, the famed football coach turned owner who founded the Bengals in 1968.
Why to like him: He had the bravery to speak candidly about quarterback contracts recently, and why their sudden ballooning often leads to an incredibly difficult decision.
Why not to like him: A stubborn refusal to name a general manager, overseeing on-field operations himself despite clear incompetence that’s now led to the Bengals still searching for their first playoff win since 1991.
28. Jerry Richardson: Carolina Panthers owner since 1993
How did he get rich?: He’s co-founded of Spartan Foods, and then became the CEO of Flagstar, which ran every Dennys in the nation.
Why to like him: Richardson is the rare owner who could actually play football and was pretty good at it, catching a touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in the 1959 championship game.
Why not to like him: His redefining of what it is to be a crusty curmudgeon, most notably his hate for any body ink whatsoever.
29. Jimmy Haslam: Cleveland Browns owner since 2012
How did he get rich?: The Haslam family founded Pilot Flying J.
Why to like him: Yeah, I got nothing.
Why not to like him: Fraud is pretty gross, especially when it’s worth $92 million in a settlement, the fee Haslam had to pay after his company cheated customers out of rebates and discounts.
30. Dan Snyder: Washington Redskins owner since 1999
How did he get rich?: Though it’s understandable to assume that Snyder turned eating the souls of puppies into a profitable business venture, that’s not the case. Instead his sorcery is responsible for many of the advertisements that attack you in public spaces. Snyder started a wildly successful wallboard advertising company, Snyder Communications LP. At 32 years old, Snyder was the youngest CEO of a New York Stock Exchange listed company
Why to like him: Nope, nothing to see here.
Why not to like him: Let’s start with his stubborn support of team name that’s a racist slur and is considered derogatory by a large group of people. Then there’s his purchase and control of the Washington media so that only the most supportive Snyder brand messages are broadcasted over the airwaves and digitally on the Internet. Or hey, how about that time Snyder gave some of his employees apples as a Christmas bonus. There’s also the five gallons of vanilla ice cream he sent to former defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s office in an attempt to illustrate his play calling is, in fact, vanilla. Dan Snyder is the absolute worst.
http://bloguin.com/thisgivensunday/2014-articles/every-nfl-owner-ranked-by-likeability.html
