Dear PFWA members:

I hope all of you are getting ready for some hard-earned time off. I wanted to get this to you before we all start vacations and comp time. It is a wrap-up of everything since the last newsletter went out in March.

OWNERS MEETINGS
We held our annual spring PFWA meeting in Orlando in conjunction with the owners meetings. Sean Jensen and John Clayton updated us o­n the Marriott Athletic VIP cards. We are no closer to a resolution but have joined forces with the other sportswriters’ groups -- baseball, basketball, NASCAR, etc. John is working o­n reaching someone higher at Marriott who will listen to us...

Dear PFWA members:

It is hard to believe another season has come and gone, but it has. Congrats to the Saints for winning their first championship and to the Colts for winning the AFC. It was a nice week with you guys.

Now, it’s o­nto the combine, the owners’ meetings and the draft … and then finally the offseason. I am in Vancouver for the Olympics and have left the combine in the capable hands of Mark Gaughan, our first VP, and John McClain, our PFWA commissioner. I officially would like to thank John for all of his hard work at the combine annually o­n behalf of the PFWA. He has done what he does for too many years to remember now, all for the low, low salary of nothing with an occasional pat o­n the back...

Happy Postseason! I hope your teams are happy, healthy and done with their coaching search. And if your team is still playing, good luck. We're o­n the home stretch.

TIME TO RENEW
You probably have gotten a renewal notice from treasurer Mike Sando. It is time to renew your PFWA membership. You need to renew o­nline (pfwa.org) by Jan. 15 to receive your membership card. As for the Athletic VIP card, we have been told by Marriott that they are evaluating the program and will know the direction they are going to take by the end of this month...

Dear PFWA membership:

Another year, another season …

Since the last newsletter, we have seen Peter King awarded the McCann Award at the Hall of Fame dinner. Congrats again to Peter, whose mother, Phyllis King, got him started writing when he was in the fifth grade. Peter is beginning his 26th season covering the NFL...

Dear PFWA membership,

Michael Signora recently emailed me the media policy for 2009. The next time you see Michael, or Greg Aiello or Joe Browne or Roger Goodell, please thank them for all they have done for us. Roger does listen to us, and he does act in our interest when we have a legitimate complaint. You will note under the assistant coaches' section that we have elicited some changes that should give us much better access to coordinators this season. Both coordinators have to talk every week, during the week, and the other assistants cannot be made off-limits. The policy recently was given to every team...

Dear PFWA membership,

While at the Cowboys’ ribbon cutting for their new stadium, I got a tour of the press box from Brett Daniels. It is a long way from being completed, but I got a sense of the layout. It is similar to most press boxes being built these days, with seats starting at about the 20 and wrapping around into the end zone. It is four levels up -- Brett estimates 110 feet high. The giant replay board can be seen from any seat in the press box...

Dear PFWA membership:

We had a good turnout for our annual PFWA meeting at the owners’ meetings. I thought our numbers might be down this year, especially since the meeting was in Dana Point, Calif.

The meeting was short and sweet. We really want to encourage you to please, please, please send in your membership dues. It is very important for us to keep up our numbers. You do count, and we will work hard for you. Membership is o­nly $50, and it gets you the Marriott VIP card. You can pay o­nline at www.pfwa.org. ...

Dear PFWA membership:

I thought I'd give you a post-combine and pre-owners meeting update.

PRO BOWL REPORT
Jason Cole sent a note about the Pro Bowl. He said Michael Lipman and Brian McCarthy did a great job. Access was great for everybody. Well organized and well run.

Thanks Michael and Brian...

Dear PFWA members:

With this being my final newsletter as PFWA president, I wanted to say a few thank yous and offer some thoughts o­n my two-year tenure.

I like to think our group made significant strides. The NFL’s willingness to change its media policies under Commissioner Roger Goodell has resulted in improved access across the board. We are o­n solid ground financially and were able to reinstate monetary prizes..

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear PFWA members:

I have to start with some housekeeping notes. The first is an unfortunate o­ne. Mark Curnutte, the PFWA’s second vice-president, has resigned for personal reasons. Mark is doing well but doesn’t feel he is able to continue in his role. The PFWA wants to thank Mark for his service and we know he will always be a friend to our organization...

Dear PFWA members:

The NFL's 2008 media policy is now posted o­n our web site (pfwa.org). I am pleased and proud of the PFWA's role in making suggestions that have led to positive changes. I wanted to offer a special thanks to NFL PR chief Greg Aiello, PR director Michael Signora and Commissioner Roger Goodell for listening to our concerns and implementing new rules that should lead to better access and a better working environment...

Dear PFWA members:

I hope the off-season is treating you well. From a PFWA standpoint, things haven't gone as smoothly as we would have liked.

The Indianapolis Colts tried barring a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter from minicamp because she was working o­n a story about Marvin Harrison and his off-field troubles. Fortunately, the NFL intervened and she was granted access...