NFL Notebook: President Obama weighs in on Tim Tebow trade - Florida Times-Union

President Barack Obama, a guest Thursday on sports station 97.1 WBNS-FM in Columbus, Ohio, questioned the Tim Tebow trade and wondered if it will cause problems in the New York Jets’ locker room.

“I don’t like the idea of a quarterback controversy at the start of a season,” Obama told the station. “So if I was a Jets fan, I’d be pretty nervous.”

Obama, who was asked about a variety of sports topics during an eight-minute interview, praised Mark Sanchez.

“Mark Sanchez is not Tom Brady yet, but he led them to the playoffs two years in a row,” he said, adding:

“I think Tim Tebow seems to be a wonderful young man and he’s got just a great, winning attitude. He really steps up when things count, but there’s going to be a lot of tension in that situation. So it will be interesting to see how it plays itself out.”

Sale of Browns to become official

Here’s one to make Cleveland fans shake their heads: A partial owner of the hated Pittsburgh Steelers is buying the Browns.

Randy Lerner has reached a deal to sell the club to Tennessee truck-stop magnate Jimmy Haslam III â€" a minority stockholder in the rival Steelers.

Lerner will sell 70 percent of the Browns to Haslam now, with the other 30 percent reverting to him four years after the closing date, a person with knowledge of the sale said. A formal announcement is scheduled for Friday.

“This is a very exciting time for my family and me,” Haslam said through the team.

ESPN reported the sale price was more than $1 billion.

Eagles, Colts in defensive swap

The Philadelphia Eagles traded linebackers Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd to the Indianapolis Colts for cornerback Kevin Thomas and a conditional seven-round pick in 2013.

Thomas, a third-round pick in 2010, played in nine games last season with the Colts, starting five. He had 33 tackles and three knockdowns. Thomas spent his rookie season on injured reserve because of a knee injury.

Fokou started 22 games in three seasons with the Eagles. Lloyd spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad last year and was inactive for the last five games. Fokou and Lloyd were both seventh-round picks by Philadelphia.

Elsewhere

Houston Texans’ defensive end J.J. Watt has dislocated his left elbow and will miss some practice time, but the team doesn’t believe the injury is serious. Coach Gary Kubiak said “all the tests came back good” and they expect Watts to be OK in time for the team’s opener Sept. 9 against Miami. ... The Panthers terminated the contract of the offensive tackle Jeff Otah, a former first-round draft pick, after he failed a physical. A previous trade to the Jets was rescinded after Otah failed his physical. ... Saints starting cornerback Jabari Greer will have sports hernia surgery after pulling his groin during practice this week. He’s expected to return in time for the regular season. ... The Patriots signed rookie free agent offensive lineman Derek Dennis, released last week by Miami.