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A16 sports
Friday 12 august 2022
Broncos sport NFL’s richest, most diverse ownership group

By ARNIE STAPLETON to see strong, Black women
AP Pro Football Writer in the ownership group, I
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — mean, what an inspiration
The Denver Broncos now for so many people,” said
sport the wealthiest owner Simmons, who is biracial.
in the NFL and the league’s “There’s little girls out here
most diverse ownership whose dads play on the
group. team and they can look
Four of the six members of up at the ownership of the
the Walton-Penner own- Broncos and they can see
ership group, which was someone that looks just like
welcomed into the NFL this them. I think that’s really
week, are either women or great.
minorities. “But I think the biggest thing
Walmart heir Rob Walton, on top of that is they didn’t
the oldest child of Walmart just do that to do that,”
co-founder Sam Walton, Simmons said. “I mean,
bought the Broncos along these are really powerful,
with his daughter, Carrie qualified individuals that
Walton Penner, and her deserve this, earned this,
husband, for $4.65 billion, a worked for this. And that to
global record for a profes- Gregory Penner, Condoleezza Rice, Rob Walton, Mellody Hobson and Carrie Walton Penner, from me is inspiring.”
left, of the ownership group that purchased the Denver Broncos, assemble for a group photograph
sional sports franchise. during a news conference at the NFL football team’s headquarters Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Hobson called it “such an
Walton said Wednesday Centennial, Colo. honor and a privilege to
that his son-in-law, Greg Associated Press be an owner of this remark-
Penner, will serve as CEO of able organization. ... The
the team. Penner said he’ll paid tribute to the late Pat chased the Broncos, the record there. moment is humbling and
soon hire a team president. Bowlen. He purchased the NFL’s wealthiest owner was “We’re big believers in it’s historical, and yet, I feel
Those roles had been held team in 1984 for $78 million Carolina’s David Tepper, bringing together different at home.”
by Joe Ellis, who is staying and died in 2019, a month whom Forbes estimates has perspectives and experi- Hobson said when she was
on this year as an advisor. shy of his induction into the a total net worth of $16.7 ences and backgrounds first approached about join-
Penner said he’ll be the Pro Football Hall of Fame. billion. Walton’s estimated and that we think will make ing the ownership group,
point person “but this is an “Pat Bowlen built a great net worth is $60 billion. us more successful.” she encouraged Walton
incredible group. We’re go- legacy and a record of win- “We wanted to add people All but Hamilton, who is still to also bring aboard her
ing to draw on all of them.” ning and championships,” that brought different per- in racing season, gathered friend Hamilton.
The ownership group in- Walton said. “We plan to spectives and experiences at team headquarters a “Lewis is my chosen little
cludes limited partners Mel- do everything we can to and certainly we have that day after NFL owners unan- brother,” she said. “As soon
lody Hobson, Condoleezza build on the champion- here,” Penner said. “Lewis, imously approved the sale as this opportunity came
Rice and Lewis Hamilton. ship tradition of this great being the G.O.A.T. (great- Tuesday in Minnesota. The up, I said, ‘You have to
Hobson is CEO of Starbucks, organization. ... Simply put, est of all time) Formula One Broncos new ownership have Lewis.’ I met Lewis in
Rice is a former U.S. Secre- it’s an honor to steward this driver, Dr. Rice with all of group met with staff and his rookie season as an F1
tary of State and Hamilton historic franchise. Our No. 1 her experience in politics players before practice, driver. We bonded over
is the winningest Formula priority is putting a winning and academics and world and star safety Justin Sim- time. As many of you know,
One driver in history. team on the field to win Su- affairs, Mellody, as a you mons said he was proud to he was knighted by Queen
Walton thanked Ellis for per Bowls.” know, an incredible busi- see so many faces of color. Elizabeth and I call him, ‘Sir
his 27 years of service and Before Walton’s group pur- nesswoman and her track “To see some diversity and Little Brother.’q

Tom Brady taking 11-day break from

Bucs for personal reasons

quarterback’s break from said after the Bucs con- something he can handle,”
practice was arranged be- cluded two days of con- Bowles said. “We trust him.
fore camp began, adding trolled scrimmages against We talked about it. It was
that Brady won’t return un- the Miami Dolphins. scheduled way before
til after the Bucs’ preseason Tampa Bay opens the training camp.”
game at Tennessee on preseason Saturday night Brady, who retired in Febru-
Aug. 20. against the Dolphins. The ary only to change his mind
“Tom has been excused to- Bucs will also travel to Nash- six weeks later, was also
day. ... He’s going to deal ville for two days of prac- excused from practice for
with some personal things. tice ahead of their game personal reasons last Friday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady puts on his This is something we talk- against the Titans. — two days after getting a
jersey during an NFL football training camp practice with the ed about before training Backup quarterbacks scheduled day off for his
Miami Dolphins Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. camp started. We allotted Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask 45th birthday.
Associated Press
this time because he want- and Ryan Griffin will share Bowles said his confidence
By FRED GOODALL Bay Buccaneers coach ed to get in and get chem- snaps during Brady’s ab- level is “pretty high” that
AP Sports Writer Todd Bowles said was a istry with the guys with two sence. “He didn’t want Brady will be in the lineup
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom planned, 11-day absence weeks of training camp, to take away reps from for next month’s regular-
Brady was excused from from the team to address knowing he wasn’t going Blaine, Kyle, as well as Griff, season opener at Dallas.
training camp on Thursday, “personal things.” to play the first two (pre- as far as going into these “Per our conversation, I’m
the first day of what Tampa Bowles said the 45-year-old season) games,” Bowles next two games. That’s not worried,” Bowles said.q