Gore lands in New York
Goodell unveils uniform baseline for all 32 teams
Le’Veon Bell has company in Jets backfield — rushing great Frank Gore.
While planning to play a full regular-season schedule, the NFL has formulated a ticket refund plan for canceled games or those held without fans.
In a memo sent to the 32 teams by commissioner Roger Goodell a uniform baseline for full refunds on any tickets purchased directly from the clubs was prepared.
Goodell wrote that “all clubs will have in place a policy under which, if a game is [canceled], or is played under conditions that prohibit fans from attending, anyone purchasing a ticket directly from the club (i.e., season tickets, group sales and/or partial season plans) will have the option of either receiving a full refund or applying the amount paid toward a future ticket purchase directly from the club.”
As for the secondary market, the league received pledges from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek to make full refunds available for all ticket sales within no more than 30 days of cancellation.
StubHub, however, will do so only where required by state law.
The NFL will reveal its 2020 regular-season schedule at 8 p.m. Thursday.
While it is discussing contingencies for alterations to the schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic, it currently is planning for a normal season.
Each team will communicate directly with its fans over the next few days with specific details on potential refunds.
Jets
Frank Gore’s likely run to Canton will go through the Big Apple for at least one season. The ageless running back, who turns 37 next Thursday, agreed to terms on a one-year contract with New York. Gore is third on the NFL’s career rushing list with 15,269 yards after passing Barry Sanders on the list last year while with Buffalo.
Ravens
Baltimore re-signed outside linebacker Pernell McPhee to a one-year deal, bolstering its depth at a position of need with a well-respected, if injury-hampered, veteran.
Giants
New York claimed former Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Cooper Rush on waivers. The Giants said the move is contingent on Rush passing a physical.
Elsewhere
NFL star Brett Favre allegedly received $1.1 million in Mississippi welfare money for speeches and promotional work he didn’t perform, according to an audit of welfare fraud in the state. The Hall of Fame quarterback, 50, was paid $500,000 in December 2017 and $600,000 in June 2018 through his company, Favre Enterprises, under a contract that called for three speaking engagements, one radio spot and one keynote address.