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Glazers Garner Praise From Fellow Owners

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By IRA KAUFMAN

ikaufman@tampatrib.com

Published: January 29, 2009

TAMPA - In 14 years of ownership, the Glazers have built a reputation as astute businessmen who might have saved a franchise.

Fellow NFL owners credit the Glazer family for keeping the Buccaneers in Tampa, and some point to Sunday's Super Bowl as an indication of the respect fellow owners have for Malcolm Glazer and his sons.

"The Glazer family has done a remarkable job of representing that franchise," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "Their commitment to winning and putting a great product on the field is evident. They're not outgoing, but they have strong views. I will often reach out for them because they are very smart and have a good perspective on league issues."

While Malcolm Glazer remains incapacitated by two strokes suffered in 2006, three of his sons - co-chairmen Joel, Bryan and Ed - have assumed added responsibilities in running the franchise.

"The boys are terrific," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. "They're people who get it quickly. You don't have to explain things to them. I tell you, if they came to me and said invest with me, I'd be there. I miss not seeing Malcolm around and I have affection for him. Fans of the Tampa Bay community should be very happy they have people like that owning the franchise."

Atlanta owner Arthur Blank praised an NFC South rival that welcomed him into the NFL seven years ago.

"In many ways, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a model franchise," Blank said. "The first phone call I ever received as an NFL owner was from Malcolm. I'll never forget that."

Longtime Packers executive Bob Harlan remembers Tampa Bay's long stretch of misery under previous owner Hugh Culverhouse.

"We were in their division NFC Central for a long time, and before the Glazers took over, that stadium would have been empty if you took away our Green Bay fans," he said. "They are private people, but that's fine because they get the job done. The Bucs came close to leaving Tampa before those people basically resurrected a franchise."

Bryan Glazer played a prominent role in landing the 2009 Super Bowl. Atlanta was considered the front-runner in the spring of 2005 before owners voted in the nation's capital. After Glazer's short, to-the-point presentation, owners awarded Tampa Bay its fourth Super Bowl.

"Think about it: Tampa's not really one of the league's big markets but the Glazers have been great partners," Kraft said. "Because of that and the kind of people they are, we had an obligation to grant the next available Super Bowl to the city of Tampa. I wish everyone in all NFL cities ran their franchise the way the Glazers do because they are one of the top performers in every part of the business."

In 2005, Malcolm Glazer completed the purchase of Manchester United, the Premier League soccer powerhouse. The $1.5 billion transaction prompted concern among some NFL owners that the Glazers would be left in a financial bind.

"The Manchester deal is looked upon very positively now around the NFL," Goodell said, "because it's another example of the family's commitment to sports. The Glazers recognize a great brand ... and they're very successful in building those brands. My hat's off to them and I think most of our ownership feels the same way."

Reporter Ira Kaufman can be reached at (813) 259-7833.

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