Imagine Derek Jeter as the owner of an NFL team? Well, that almost became a reality during his final season in New York Yankee pinstripes. The former shortstop "explored" the idea of purchasing a team that was for sale in 2014.
That team was the Buffalo Bills. Two sources have informed Tim Graham of The Buffalo News that Jeter did indeed explore the venture after Ralph Wilson's estate put the team up for sale after the owner passed away, but it's unknown to what capacity. Jeter previously said he was interested in owning a Major League Baseball club, but he never mentioned anything about an NFL team.
Terry Pegula and his wife, the owners of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, eventually purchased the Bills after beating out ownership groups led by Jon Bon Jovi and Donald Trump. The rest of the NFL owners approved the sale unanimously.
"Uncertain is whether Jeter wanted to lead a group or be a minority partner. But given the Bills eventual, record-breaking sale price of $1.4 billion, he likely would have needed to settle for shareholder status," writes Graham.
"The Pegulas were not aware of Jeter's prior interest, have not been approached by Jeter and have not considered selling a portion of their team to him, a highly placed Bills source said."
But perhaps he was exploring the idea in order to understand how acquiring majority ownership or even becoming a shareholder of a major sports franchise works. He mentioned last year that he plans to reach out to team owners and discuss such involvement in a baseball team once his career came to an end. That process may have begun with the Miami Marlins.
Jeter reportedly visited Marlins Park in December, and it's speculated the trip to Miami was because he's interested in purchasing the team, not because he lives in Florida.
"The Marlins said Jeter simply stopped by because he happened to be in town, and maybe that's all it was - for now," writes Ken Davidoff of the New York Post. "Jeter figures to approach his goal smoothly and deliberately, and there's only upside by spending some time with Marlins owner (and huge Yankees fan and George Steinbrenner admirer) Jeffrey Loria."
According to Forbes.com, the Marlins franchise is worth $500 million as of March 2014, which is well within Jeter's budget compared to the Bill's $1.4 billion price tag. If owning an MLB is a true goal of Jeter's, the up-and-coming Marlins, which are located in the future Hall of Famer's home state, would be a good bet.
