Cowboys world’s most valuable franchise
Timmons’ future with Dolphins is in doubt
The Dallas Cowboys not only are the NFL’s most valuable franchise for the 11th straight year, they are the topvalued team in the world.
According to Forbes magazine, their worth increased 14 percent in the last year, reaching $4.8 billion. That’s more than $1 billion ahead of the Patriots ($3.7 billion).
Rounding out the NFL’s top five are the Giants ($3.3 billion), Redskins ($3.1 billion) and 49ers ($3.05 billion).
On average, an NFL franchise is worth $2.52 billion, an increase of 8 percent since 2016. Much of that can be attributed to rights fees and new stadiums or stadium renovations.
Every team is worth at least a billion, with the Buffalo Bills last at $1.6 billion. Forbes reported earlier this year that the average baseball franchise is worth $1.54 billion.
Globally, according to Forbes’ rankings of July, the Cowboys are followed
by baseball’s New York Yankees at $3.7 billion, a figure the Patriots have now tied. Next in those rankings are three European soccer giants: Manchester United at $3.69 billion, FC Barcelona at $3.64 billion and Real Madrid at $3.58 billion.
DOLPHINS: Coach Adam Gase declined Monday to discuss linebacker Lawrence Timmons’ future with the team, which may be brief.
Timmons went AWOL Saturday, the day before the Dolphins’ season opener at the Los Angeles Chargers. The Dolphins later made contact, but he wasn’t with them at the game and didn’t fly back to South Florida on the team plane after Miami’s 19-17 win.
BRONCOS: First-round draft pick Garett Bolles’ left leg injury isn’t as serious as first feared and the left tackle ditched his walking boot Monday as he used only crutches to get around team headquarters and get treatment.
BROWNS: Wide receiver Corey Coleman broke his right hand again during Sunday’s loss in Baltimore and underwent surgery. It’s the second year in a row Coleman has broken his right hand. While he fractured a different bone this time, Coleman’s occurred almost exactly a year after he broke it during practice on Sept. 21.
VIKINGS: Coach Mike Zimmer says Sam Bradford’s left knee is “feeling better” a day after the quarterback missed Minnesota’s game against Pittsburgh. But Zimmer is unsure when Bradford will play again.
BEARS: Mike Glennon remains the starting quarterback for now. Coach John Fox says Glennon will start against Pittsburgh despite a rough outing at Tampa Bay that fueled more calls for No. 2 overall draft pick Mitchell Trubisky. PANTHERS: Tight end Greg Olsen had surgery Monday to repair a broken right foot. The 32-year-old said on Sunday that he expected to miss several weeks.
ELLIOTT: A federal judge in Texas has denied the NFL’s request to suspend his injunction that blocked a sixgame suspension for Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott. The NFL had already moved on to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans with the same request.