Why Roger Goodell Should Reinstate Eddie DeBartolo As Owner of the 49ers

With Roger Goodell flirting with the idea of reinstating convicted felon Michael Vick into the NFL—quite possibly giving Sarah McLachlan and everyone at PETA a nervous breakdown—he should make an even bolder move and reinstate Eddie DeBartolo as the owner of the San Francisco 49ers.

DeBartolo was involved in a corruption case with Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards concerning some riverboat gambling licenses. He pled guilty and cooperated with authorities.

He was only charged with failure to report a felony, and he paid fines in excess of one million dollars.

He lost control of the San Francisco 49ers in 2000 and turned the team over to his sister Denise DeBartolo-York.

How has the team done since then? You guessed it—horrible.

This is peanuts compared to what Michael Vick did.

Michael Vick mutilated dogs, destroyed the image of a franchise, and was involved in organized crime. He was and will always be known as a gangster.

If Goodell reinstated DeBartolo as owner, the NFL would hit a gold mine. San Francisco would be willing to negotiate a deal in getting a new stadium in San Francisco city limits.

This means more jobs, more fans, and marquee players that would want to play in San Francisco!

I went to Candlestick Park two years ago, and I felt like I was on the set of Mel Gibson's hit movie, Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome!

It is time to build a new stadium.

John York is trying to bluff the city of San Francisco by threatening to move to Santa Clara or even to L.A. This is not the way business should be done in getting a new stadium for a once elite franchise.

I am convinced that the 49ers will never get a stadium with the Yorks running the team. He and his wife Denise are despised in the Bay Area.

Dianne Feinstein is even standing defiant against the Yorks.

Bad move John.

Eddie DeBartolo is a businessman. I believe that the city and politicians would work with him. He is beloved in the city of San Francisco, and almost everyone that played for him said he was very generous and had the will to win.

The 49ers had the winningest decade in NFL history in the 1980s.

Bring back Eddie DeBartolo and his Consigliere (President and Chief Officer) Carmen Policy.

They will deliver.