A partial power outage during this year’s Super Bowl occurred because a relay device with a design defect malfunctioned, an outside expert confirmed Thursday.
Entergy, which supplies electricity to the Superdome, and the stadium’s management company hired forensic engineer John Palmer to perform an independent analysis of the Feb. 3 outage. Palmer is president of Palmer Engineering & Forensics in Kaysville, Utah.Entergy has said it believed the outage was caused by an electrical relay device that it installed specifically to prevent a power failure at the dome.Palmer’s report says the primary cause of the disruption was a malfunction or “misoperation” of the relay.The report also notes the relay had a design defect, and under testing it did not perform entirely as its instruction manual said it was supposed to. Briefly • Giants: Quarterback Eli Manning said he was open to discussing a restructure of his contract to help the team make room for a new deal with restricted free agent receiver Victor Cruz who has 26 touchdowns and more than 2,500 receiving yards the past two seasons. ... Former No. 1 overall pick David Carr was re-signed to back up Eli Manning, who has started 135 consecutive regular-season games. • Cardinals: Defensive end Frostee Rucker was signed to a one-year contract. Rucker started all 16 games with the Cleveland Browns last season. • Jaguars: Receiver Jordan Shipley, a former third-round pick out of Texas, was re-signed for two years and $1.315 million. Shipley played in the final six games for Jacksonville last season. • Panthers: Receiver and kick returner Ted Ginn Jr., formerly of the 49ers, signed a one-year deal. • Bears: Fullback Evan Rodriguez faces charges after he allegedly refused to cooperate with Miami Beach officers when a car he was riding in crashed. • Titans: Safety Bernard Pollard, formerly of the world champion Ravens, has signed a one-year contract with Tennessee. • Chiefs: Left tackle Branden Albert signed his franchise tender and will make $9.828 million under the one-year contract. • 49ers: Free agent safety and special teams standout Darcel McBath signed a one-year contract, adding depth to the secondary. • Bills: Buffalo’s 10-year, $271 million lease agreement has received unanimous approval from Erie County lawmakers. The lease includes $130 million in renovations to Ralph Wilson Stadium, which are scheduled to begin this year. State and county taxpayers would be on the hook for $226.8 million. • Jurisprudence: Former Dolphins receiver Mark Duper was arrested and charged with child abuse for hitting, body slamming and choking his 17-year-old son, according to Jacksonville (Fla.) police.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
