Dick Cass
Encyclopedia
Richard W. "Dick" Cass is the President of the NFL's
Baltimore Ravens
.
, where he represented Jerry Jones
in his acquisition of the club and Washington Redskins
, where he represented the Jack Kent Cooke estate
in that team's sale to Daniel Snyder
as well as the central NFL offices.
He was named Ravens President in April 2004, succeeding David Modell
, son of Ravens founder Art Modell
in that role. He helped Steve Bisciotti
in acquisition of the Ravens from Art Modell. In his role as team president of the Ravens, he oversees all aspects of the organization.
Pickering, and later became a partner of the D.C.-based law firm. He was also chairman of the firm’s Business Transactions Section and a
member of its Management Committee. Cass also had a general
corporate and securities practice, representing companies and
entrepreneurs in corporate partnership and securities
transactions. In 2002, Cass served as counsel to the owner of
the NBA's Charlotte Hornets
in the team’s relocation to New
Orleans. The next year, 2003, Cass served as Counsel to the
Independent Commission of the US Olympics Committee.
in the
acquisition of the team and Texas Stadium
. He also dvised
Jones on a variety of matters, including sponsorship
contracts, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and
salary cap, NFL broadcast arrangements, Internet policies,
stadium financing, estate planning, local broadcast
partnerships, and the NFL substance abuse programs.
From 1992 to 1993, Cass was retained by the NFL as an advisor
pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement with players.
In 1999, Cass represented the estate of the late Jack Kent Cooke
in the sale of the Redskins to Daniel Snyder. The very next year, In 2000, he represented Steve Bisciotti
in the purchase of the Ravens from the Modell family.
man, moved around the country with his parents, making stops in
Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, California, Washington, D.C.,
Florida and Massachusetts. Cass graduated from Mercersburg Academy
,where he was student body president and captain
of the football, basketball and baseball teams.
Cass graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton in 1968. Played
rugby as a junior and senior after a knee injury, resulting in
knee surgery, kept him from athletics his first two years. He
also graduated from Yale Law School in 1971 obtaining a degree.
Associates. She is also a graduate of Yale (School of
Architecture) and is a Fellow of the American Institute of
Architects. Their daughter, Courtney, is a Columbia graduate
who taught in New York City public schools for three years and
has since earned a law degree from the University of Virginia,
and is currently working with Teach for America. Their son,
Willy, is a graduate of St. Albans HS in Washington, D.C. and
a 2008 Yale University graduate with a degree in biomedical
engineering, and is currently working at Yale in a medical
lab.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
.
Biography
Prior to joining the Ravens, Cass worked as counsel for the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, where he represented Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones
Jerral "Jerry" Wayne Jones is the owner and general manager of the NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.-Early life:Jones was born in Los Angeles, California. His family moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas when he was an infant. Jones was a star running back at North Little Rock High School...
in his acquisition of the club and Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, where he represented the Jack Kent Cooke estate
Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke was a Canadian entrepreneur and former owner of the Washington Redskins , the Los Angeles Lakers , and the Los Angeles Kings , and built The Forum in Inglewood, California and FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.-Early career:Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Cooke moved with his family to...
in that team's sale to Daniel Snyder
Daniel Snyder
Daniel M. Snyder is the current owner of the Washington Redskins American football team, owner of the Dick Clark Productions television production company, and primary investor in Red Zebra Broadcasting, which is home to the Redskins Radio Network. Snyder has a net worth of $1.05 billion...
as well as the central NFL offices.
He was named Ravens President in April 2004, succeeding David Modell
David Modell
David Modell is an American business executive, attorney, and sports team owner who has served as President and CEO of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens...
, son of Ravens founder Art Modell
Art Modell
Arthur B. Modell is an American businessman, entrepreneur and former National Football League team owner. He owned the Cleveland Browns franchise from 1961–1995 and the Baltimore Ravens franchise from 1996–2004. Modell is the grandson of the late Morris Modell who founded the northeast...
in that role. He helped Steve Bisciotti
Steve Bisciotti
Stephen J. Bisciotti is the current majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League.-Background:...
in acquisition of the Ravens from Art Modell. In his role as team president of the Ravens, he oversees all aspects of the organization.
Legal career
From 1972 until 2003, Cass was employed with Wilmer, Cutler &Pickering, and later became a partner of the D.C.-based law firm. He was also chairman of the firm’s Business Transactions Section and a
member of its Management Committee. Cass also had a general
corporate and securities practice, representing companies and
entrepreneurs in corporate partnership and securities
transactions. In 2002, Cass served as counsel to the owner of
the NBA's Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (NBA)
The Charlotte Hornets was a professional American basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They played in the Atlantic, Midwest, and Central divisions of the National Basketball Association. The Hornets began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion franchise, along with the...
in the team’s relocation to New
Orleans. The next year, 2003, Cass served as Counsel to the
Independent Commission of the US Olympics Committee.
Legal work witin the NFL
In 1989, Cass represented Cowboys owner Jerry JonesJerry Jones
Jerral "Jerry" Wayne Jones is the owner and general manager of the NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.-Early life:Jones was born in Los Angeles, California. His family moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas when he was an infant. Jones was a star running back at North Little Rock High School...
in the
acquisition of the team and Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
. He also dvised
Jones on a variety of matters, including sponsorship
contracts, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and
salary cap, NFL broadcast arrangements, Internet policies,
stadium financing, estate planning, local broadcast
partnerships, and the NFL substance abuse programs.
From 1992 to 1993, Cass was retained by the NFL as an advisor
pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement with players.
In 1999, Cass represented the estate of the late Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke was a Canadian entrepreneur and former owner of the Washington Redskins , the Los Angeles Lakers , and the Los Angeles Kings , and built The Forum in Inglewood, California and FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.-Early career:Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Cooke moved with his family to...
in the sale of the Redskins to Daniel Snyder. The very next year, In 2000, he represented Steve Bisciotti
Steve Bisciotti
Stephen J. Bisciotti is the current majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League.-Background:...
in the purchase of the Ravens from the Modell family.
Early life and education
As a child, Cass, whose father was a career Coast Guard enlistedman, moved around the country with his parents, making stops in
Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, California, Washington, D.C.,
Florida and Massachusetts. Cass graduated from Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school for grades 9-12 located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's mission is:...
,where he was student body president and captain
of the football, basketball and baseball teams.
Cass graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton in 1968. Played
rugby as a junior and senior after a knee injury, resulting in
knee surgery, kept him from athletics his first two years. He
also graduated from Yale Law School in 1971 obtaining a degree.
Personal life and family
Cass’s wife, Heather, owns an architecture firm, Cass andAssociates. She is also a graduate of Yale (School of
Architecture) and is a Fellow of the American Institute of
Architects. Their daughter, Courtney, is a Columbia graduate
who taught in New York City public schools for three years and
has since earned a law degree from the University of Virginia,
and is currently working with Teach for America. Their son,
Willy, is a graduate of St. Albans HS in Washington, D.C. and
a 2008 Yale University graduate with a degree in biomedical
engineering, and is currently working at Yale in a medical
lab.