Packers take stock

THE GREEN BAY Packers have raised $67 million the last 6 weeks by selling shares of stock for $250 apiece.

When the Packers decided to upgrade Lambeau Field - a $143 million effort to add 6,700 additional seats, high-definition video screens and a new entrance by next year - they resolved not to ask for a single taxpayer dime. Instead, they reverted back to the same strategy that has helped keep the Packers afloat several times in team history - a stock sale. The latest offering wrapped up Wednesday. More than 268,000 shares were sold.

The stock has no cash value, but it does grant shareholders the official privilege of calling themselves owners of the NFL's only publicly owned team.

"This was an opportunity that we were not going to pass up," said Connie Overmier, 60, a Packers fan and Wisconsin native who lives in Ossian, Ind. "It's the Packers. I want to be an owner. I want to be a part of them."

The Packers now have more than 360,000 part-owners.

"I was really pleased with the way our fans responded," said Mark Murphy, the team's president and CEO. "I was a little surprised, to be honest, but on the other hand I'm never surprised by the passion and loyalty of our fans."

Buyers get a piece of paper declaring them a team owner and conferring rights to attend and vote at the annual stockholder meeting, which is held at Lambeau Field each summer before training camp. They also get access to a special line of shareholder apparel.

In other NFL news:

* San Diego's Kris Dielman, 30, a four-time Pro Bowl guard, announced his retirement due to a concussion he suffered last season.

* Cincinnati receiver Jerome Simpson could receive a 60-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to a drug-related felony charge as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

* The St. Louis Rams have rejected the initial proposal to upgrade the Edward Jones Dome and will submit their own improvement plan.

* Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders are detailing a new proposal to build a $975 million stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. The proposal would put the new stadium nearly on top of the current Metrodome site in Minneapolis.

Davis Love III made a hole-in-one on the 197-yard fifth hole, birdied three straight holes and tied the course record with a 6-under 64 for a two-shot lead after one round of the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

* Female boxers at the London Olympics will be allowed to wear either a skirt or shorts under a new amendment to amateur boxing rules.

* American Joshua Farris won the short program at the world junior figure skating championships in Minsk, Belarus.