Giants worth $3.3B, third on Forbes list
The Giants are the third most-valuable NFL franchise worth $3.3 billion, per Forbes' 21st annual NFL team valuations released on Thursday. The Giants' value held steady from 2017, while the top-ranked Cowboys ($5 billion) increased by 4 percent and the Patriots ($3.8 billion) went up three percent.
The $493 million in revenues for co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch in the 2017 NFL season also ranked third behind the Cowboys' Jerry Jones ($864 million) and the Patriots' Robert Kraft ($593 million). And the Giants' $149 million operating income placed them fourth behind the Cowboys ($365 million), Patriots ($235 million) and ($161 million).
The Cowboys, who hold the top spot for the 12th straight year, are the first sports franchise to reach a value of $5 billion. The L.A. Rams ($3.2 billion) and Washington ($3.2 billion) round out the top five. The average NFL team is worth $2.57 billion, a 2% increase over last year.
This is the smallest increase since 2010, when values decreased an average of 2%.
“The reason for this year's small increase,” assistant managing editor Mike Ozanian said, “is the dearth of people who have the liquid wealth to buy 30% of an NFL team.” GETTY
APPLE & VERNON UPDATE
OLB Olivier Vernon (high ankle sprain) and CB Eli Apple (groin) sat out practice again Thursday and appear unlikely to play Sunday in Houston. Apple left last week's game in Dallas early and rode the bike on Thursday. Vernon has not played yet this season and continues to do side work.
OLB Connor Barwin (knee), who had sat out Wednesday's practice, was upgraded to limited participation on Thursday alongside tight end Evan Engram (ankle). Punt returner Kaelin Clay (ankle) was at full participation after being limited Wednesday.
TEXANS INJURY NEWS
Not a great development for the Giants offensive line: Texans pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney said Thursday that he is playing Sunday against the Giants after sitting out Week 2 and being limited in Wednesday's practice.
“I'm going to play,” Clowney said, per the Houston Chronicle. “I will play. It means a lot to me to be back out there with my teammates … It's very important because we need a win and (to) get this thing going.”
That is bad news for a Giants offensive line that gave up six sacks in Dallas last Sunday, adding Clowney to a pass rush led by star Texans lineman J.J. Watt, who missed 24 games due to injury the last two years but is healthy and hungry.