NFL Rumors: Sale of Seahawks Would Be Step Backward for Franchise

A bombshell of sorts has hit the Emerald City, as rumors have circulated that billionaire Paul Allen, who has owned the Seattle Seahawks since 1997 and helped keep the team in the Pacific Northwest, may be interested in selling the club.

Dwight Jaynes of Comcast SportsNet reported the story Sunday, claiming that there is "a persistent rumor that all of Allen's sports properties are available" including the Seahawks and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers.

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I was told by two separate sources that the total asking price for the Trail Blazers, the Rose Garden and his NFL Seahawks would be $2 billion -- which is too high, particularly now with the values of NFL teams in something of a turmoil due to pending lawsuits from concussed former players.

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Before I go one word farther it's important to note that NBA Commissioner David Stern has denied that the Trail Blazers are for sale, and Allen went so far as to pen an open letter to Trail Blazers' fans to the same effect.

So, it may well be that Mr. Jaynes' story is nothing more than another rumor that gains traction easily during slow news days, although, Jaynes also claims that there's more to the story that he can't reveal for legal reasons.

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This is a difficult story for me to fully comment on because of promises I've made to people involved in the situation. Some of what I know I cannot write at this time. People involved in things like this sign some pretty heavy non-disclosure agreements and I'm not going to be a party to them breaking those nasty things.

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However, if there's even an ounce of truth to these rumors and the former Microsoft bigwig really is interested in divesting himself of his sports properties then dark days could be ahead for the Seahawks. Any potential new ownership would all but certainly be a significant downgrade for the franchise.

Allen took control of the team in 1997, largely due to the fact that the previous owners threatened to move the team to Southern California. Since that time, the team has compiled a better than .500 overall record, made seven playoff appearances (prior to 1997 the team had four in franchise history) and Allen was at the helm when the Seahawks were robbed in Super Bowl XL.

Granted, Allen didn't throw a pass or run for a touchdown, so it's hard to give him too much credit. That said he deserves his due, and Allen was also instrumental in the construction of CenturyLink Field, including chipping in $130 million of his own money and intentionally having the stadium designed to be as loud as possible.

Sure, it's possible that a new owner or group could come in that's every bit as dedicated as Allen has always appeared to be about bringing the Lombardi Trophy to Seattle.

It's also just as possible that the team could find itself with an owner who is more concerned with the bottom line than the win/loss column, as the rabid Seattle fan base will fill the seats (and ownerships' coffers) win or lose, at least for a while.

The Seahawks had fallen on hard times the past few years, but appeared to be on the verge of turning the corner in 2012 after a strong finish last year and fairly successful offseason.

However, unless this rumor is squashed quickly this is just the sort of distraction that NFL teams don't need as training camp begins, and if Paul Allen were ever to part ways with the Seahawks, it will be a sad day for the team and the city.

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