Strike would hurt. A strike or lockout would cost NFL owners $1.5 billion in non- recoverable expenses, an attorney representing the players' union said.
NFL owners voted unanimously in May to opt out of the league's labor contract after the 2010 season, clearing the way for a possible strike or lockout in 2011.
Players' union attorney Jeffrey Kessler said that would cost the 32 owners $700 million in expenses such as debt service and salaries, and $800 million in operating income.
Richard Berthelsen, acting executive director of the NFL Players Association, said the union commissioned a study that shows the operating income and capital appreciation of teams is typically more than $100 million a year.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined to comment.
The union's study, by University of Chicago professors Kevin Murphy and Robert Topel, said the average team earned about $25 million last year and more than quadrupled in value between 1998 and 2008 - from $288 million to $1.04 billion.
Jurisprudence. The Massachusetts man accused of being the mastermind behind a jewelry heist involving stolen New York Giants Super Bowl rings was ordered held on $3 million cash bail.
Sean Murphy pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering, larceny and possession of burglar's tools in Attleboro District Court. Police said he was the leader of a $2 million break-in at E.A. Dion Inc., an Attleboro jewelry manufacturer, in June.
Murphy had pleaded not guilty on Monday in Lynn District Court on related charges of receiving stolen property. Police said they found a stolen Super Bowl ring in Murphy's bedroom and 27 other rings in a safe deposit belonging to a woman authorities believe is his girlfriend.
Murphy's attorney, Neal Steingold, could not be immediately reached for comment.
Bucs. Three weeks after being dismissed by Boston College for pursuing an NFL head coaching job, Jeff Jagodzinski was hired by Tampa Bay as their offensive coordinator.
The Bucs also announced the hiring of Pete Mangurian as offensive line coach.
Noteworthy. Fired as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs last Friday, former Eagle Herm Edwards joined ESPN as an analyst, the network announced. . . . New St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo named Andre Curtis a defensive assistant and Bruce Warwick an assistant for football operations. . . . Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch was named to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for Tennessee's Chris Johnson.
