NFL | H. Wayne Huizenga to sell half of Dolphins

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga said Friday he is selling half the team to real-estate developer Stephen Ross of New York and Palm Beach, Fla.

Huizenga will remain the managing general partner, but Ross will have a chance to buy the rest of the franchise in the future.

"My heart does not want me to do this, but my head says it's the right thing to do at this time," said Huizenga, 70, adding he made the deal with his age and estate planning in mind.

The deal includes the team that was 1-15 last season, Dolphin Stadium and surrounding land, with a total value of $1.1 billion, Huizenga said during a news conference.

Huizenga's net worth is $2.5 billion, putting him in a tie for 165th place on Forbes' list last year of the 400 richest Americans. Ross, 67, was tied for 68th on Forbes' list, with a net worth of $4.5 billion.

Huizenga bought the Dolphins from the Robbie family in 1994 for $138 million.

In 2000, he considered selling a minority stake but eventually abandoned the idea.

Word spread in December that Huizenga was negotiating to sell the team to Ross, but talks cooled after Huizenga hired Bill Parcells to run the franchise's football operations. Before agreeing to come to Miami, Parcells insisted Huizenga retain control of the team for at least the length of Parcells' four-year contract.

Ross, who grew up in South Florida, said in a statement: "Dolphins football has been a lifetime passion for me. I am energized by this opportunity and look forward to being able to once again watch the Dolphins win a Super Bowl alongside all the other loyal Dolphin fans."

The deal needs approval from the league and at least 24 of the 32 team owners.

Notes

• League commissioner Roger Goodell warned three weeks ago that he could give suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones more time to understand what was expected of him.

Jones' agent and attorney, Manny Arora, confirmed he had received a letter from the league telling him Jones cannot use the Tennessee Titans' facility for workouts and remains suspended.

• The Detroit Lions are 31-81 since Matt Millen, team president, took control of the team in 2001 — a record Millen described as "beyond awful" during a rare interview with Detroit-area media. Millen said he understands fan frustration with him and the team.

"That's part of my job, is to get blamed," he said. "I'm OK with that. But it's also part of my job to win. We haven't done that."

• The Philadelphia Eagles signed receiver Bam Childress to a two-year contract. He spent last season on New England's practice squad.

• Philadelphia defensive tackle Mike Patterson has been charged with marijuana possession after a police officer allegedly found the drug in his car after a minor accident Feb. 16 in Evesham, N.J.

• There is speculation the New York Giants are interested in dealing for Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Hall, who has one year left on his contract with Atlanta, said he will not return to the Falcons after general manager Thomas Dimitroff told him the team would consider trade offers for him.

• Atlanta won a coin toss for draft position, meaning it will pick third in the April 26 draft with Oakland fourth and Kansas City fifth. All three teams finished at 4-12.

• Goodell met Thursday with the eight-man competition committee and explained all of the components to "Spygate," the taping of sideline signals by the New England Patriots.

He told committee members that the first illegal taping occurred in 2000 during an exhibition game against Tampa Bay.