Street responds to Eagles: There was no deal

The Philadelphia Eagles and the city continue to battle over several million dollars. Former mayor John Street denies his administration cut a secret deal with the football team to settle an ongoing financial dispute. But Eagles owners say was part of the negotiations to build a new stadium.

The Philadelphia Eagles and the city continue to battle over several million dollars. Former mayor John Street denies his administration cut a secret deal with the football team to settle an ongoing financial dispute. But Eagles owners say was part of the negotiations to build a new stadium.

Transcript:
First came a lawsuit by the city seeking $8 million  from the Eagles for past due rent on sky boxes. Then came a countersuit by the Eagles over faulty Astroturf. Now the team says the Street administration authorized two people to cut a deal for less than $1 million and they have the sworn affidavits to prove it. But former mayor John Street says it never happened.

Street: “It’s almost ludicrous that a mayor would tell two private citizens, ‘you go out and make a deal, that binds the city of Philadelphia.’ There’s not going to be any writing of any kind, and somehow the city is going to be bound by that?”

Eagles attorney Tom Leonard says John Street authorized his representatives to commit to a verbal agreement that, he says, Mayor Nutter needs to honor.

Leonard: “To say that because they weren’t present they’re not going to honor the agreement is just inconsistent with the law and its not a reasonable position.”

The Nutter administration says any deal would have had to be in writing
and reviewed by the Law Department.

Listen:
Click on the play button below or right click on this link and choose “Save Link As” to download. [audio: reports20090402eagles.mp3]