Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez add Brian Urlacher to '$1.7billion bid' to buy Mets

In their ongoing effort to buy Major League Baseball’s Mets, New York power couple Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have added several investors to their $1.7 billion offer, including retired NFL legends Brian Urlacher, Joe Thomas, DeMarco Murray, and two-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal.

As reported by ESPN, Lopez and Rodriguez had already submitted their offer, but are continuing to add partners while awaiting a response. The entertainer and her retired MLB player fiance have reportedly included $300 million, personally, in that $1.7 billion offer.

A spokesman for Rodriguez did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment.

The A-Rod-J-Lo stable of investors – including Florida Panthers owner Vinny Viola – made a bid that was comparable to one made by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, owners of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils. Viola reportedly contributed $200 million to the Rodriguez-Lopez led group.

The A-Rod-J-Lo stable of investors – including Florida Panthers owner Vinny Viola – made a bid that was comparable to one made by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, owners of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils. Viola reportedly contributed $200 million to the Rodriguez-Lopez led group. 

Billionaire Steve Cohen also reportedly submitted another $2 billion bid after walking away from his $2.6 billion bid earlier this year, according to the New York Post.   

But the Post reports Cohen would have to outbid his nearest competitor by more than $250 million due to friction between himself and the Wilpon family, which owns the team. Further, Cohen could face a difficult challenge being approved by three-quarters of baseball owners, according to the report. 

Cohen’s bid fell apart back in February amid reported disagreements over the five-year transfer of the club and the future role of Jeff Wilpon, the team’s current COO and co-owner. 

Rodriguez was a three-time Most Valuable Player and 14-time All-Star in a 22-year major league career that included stints with the Seattle Mariners (1994-2000), Texas Rangers (2001-03) and New York Yankees (2004-13). His career accomplishments were tarnished by his admitted use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Lopez has enjoyed success as both a movie star and a singer. Fox Business reported in February that her net worth is between $225 million and $400 million, with Rodriguez’s net worth estimated at $300 million to $350 million.

The Wilpon family, owners of the Mets, will now review the bids and decide how many suitors to invite to a second round, the Post reported.

Urlacher, a star linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 2000 until 2012, earned over $80 million in salary over his NFL career, not including endorsements. Meanwhile Thomas, a legendary left tackle for the Cleveland Browns, earned a whopping $122 million. Murray, a running back for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tennessee Titans, earned $25 million, according to spotrac.com.

‘Being a former athlete and having a chance to be a part of a group trying to purchase a professional team, it’s pretty cool,’ Urlacher told ESPN on Monday. ‘It’s especially cool to be involved with Alex. Alex is the man. You’ve got Kelce, Joe Thomas, DeMarco Murray. It’s great to be in a group with them.’

Travis Kecle, a star tight end currently playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, will earn an $8 million base salary in 2020, which would give him $48 million for his career.

‘This is a crazy opportunity,’ Kelce told ESPN. ‘I had a chance to meet Alex Rodriguez a couple years ago and just told him how much of a fan I was as a kid of him. I’m very thankful for the success that I’ve had in the NFL, to have an opportunity like this come across the table. I couldn’t think of a more unique set of people to be in charge of this.

‘Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez are a star-studded couple that have gotten to where they are because they work their tails off. And they’re good human beings. I thank them for letting me be a part of this.’

The heavyweight of the new investors appears to be Beal, a Washington Wizards shooting guard who has already earned $117 million and is still owed another $100 million over the next three seasons.

Denver Nuggets center Mason Plumlee, a former member of the nearby Brooklyn Nets, is also reportedly an investor. He’s earned over $47 million for his career, and like Beal, is represented by famous NBA agent Mark Bartelstein.