NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Rams President John Shaw
reached agreement Tuesday on the "sharing of funds from a seat
license campaign in St. Louis," according to Michele Himmelberg
in this morning's ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. The sharing of PSL
revenue was a key sticking point when owners rejected the Rams
relocation to St. Louis on March 15. Shaw said they "have agreed
to share those funds with some exclusions," which in turn must be
negotiated with the NFLPA. Shaw also said the two sides agreed
that the Rams will pay the NFL "over the life of the seat
licenses," rather than up front, which the league had requested.
Himmelberg reports the sides "made no progress" on the other
issues preventing the move -- a payment to the Fox as a rebate
for leaving the No. 2 media market, and contributions to a NFL-
proposed stadium renovation fund. The two sides also extended
their "standstill agreement" on legal action, as the Rams had the
right to sue first if they filed by Friday. The agreement was
pushed back to April 17, and Shaw said they would continue to
negotiate with Tagliabue rather than "hurrying into court"
(ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/29). ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported
last night on "SportsCenter" that "most league officials and
owners concede that the Rams will eventually get their way"
("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/28).
HOW MUCH? Save the Rams, the civic group in the L.A. area
trying to keep the team, has kicked off a membership drive to
attract local fans and businesses. The group is asking for a $50
membership fee and hopes to gain over 5,000 members (ORANGE
COUNTY REGISTER, 3/29).
