Forbes says Redskins remain golden

Sure, the NFL still rules, but its power has weakened.

Forbes magazine reports the average value of a franchise has dropped – 2 percent -- for the first time in a dozen years. Forbes estimates the dip from 2010 at $1.04 billion to $1.02 billion

Now, a billion is a billion, but Forbes reports a negative impact has come from fewer suitors flush enough to afford teams, tight credit markets and the threat of a lockout next year, what Forbes called a “ticking time bomb.”

And yet, the study says the average NFL team dwarfs the average value of a big-league baseball team, $491 million. Forbes saw  trouble ahead, though, in the separation between the big and small dogs. The 10 least-valuable teams have slumped appreciably, low-lighted by the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars, whose presence in North Florida seems to grow more tenuous every year.

Forbes said the Jags lost 16 percent of value over the last year, although it says only Miami and Detroit actually lost money by operating. That said, Forbes reports that every team will make nearly $96 million in national TV money this year. Amazing.

So here are the top five and lowest five in value according to Forbes. My only surprises are I wasn’t aware the Houston Texans were such a plum, or that the Minnesota Vikings were so close to the rear at No. 30 out of 32.

Top 5: 1. Dallas Cowboys ($1.8 billion) 2. Washington Redskins ($1.55 billion) 3. New England Patriots ($1.37 billion) 4. New York Giants ($1.18 billion) 5. Houston Texans ($1.17 billion)

Lowest 5 28. Buffalo Bills (799 million) 29. St. Louis Rams ($779 million) 30. Minnesota Vikings ($774 million) 31. Oakland Raiders ($758 million) 32. Jacksonville Jaguars ($725 million)

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