In his column in Sunday's BOSTON GLOBE, Will McDonough
writes that Seahawks Owner Ken Behring "has been working covertly
to get his team" to L.A. Behring reportedly told NFL owners of
his desire to move South during discussions about the Raiders'
deal in Hollywood Park. After Raiders Owner Al Davis told his
colleagues "the deal was so good for the league in the long run
that he would step aside and let any owner make it," Behring
reportedly "volunteered to take it." McDonough reports that "he
then told the owners he had been in Los Angeles scouting
locations for a new stadium." While Behring's Kingdome lease
does not expire in the near future, McDonough writes that
"Behring said he felt his lease had been breached, which would
make it possible for him to move anytime." McDonough reports
that if the Seahawks joined the Raiders, they would move to the
NFC, while the Rams, would move to the AFC (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/28).
BASELESS IN SEATTLE? Seahawks President David Behring, son
of Ken, denied the rumors, calling McDonough's story "truths,
half-truths and falsehoods." Behring said his father did
"verbally spar" with Davis, and told Davis that he got "a heck of
a deal." The younger Behring said if Davis leaves L.A., "there's
going to be seven or eight teams" looking to fill the void.
Behring also denied his family owned land in the L.A. area and
were looking at possible stadium sites there (Tacoma NEWS
TRIBUNE, 5/29).
REVENUE SHARING CONTROVERSY: The league's decision to limit
revenue sharing was a "another financial blow" to the Bengals'
chances of survival in Cincinnati, according to the Vito Stellino
of the Baltimore SUN. Stellino writes that the owners' decision
to limit revenue sharing to a pool of 40% of visiting club-
seating revenue -- combined with the Rams relocation fee -- has
Bengals President Mike Brown saying that he's "running out of
time." Brown: "A small market team without a grade A stadium is
not going to work in the NFL for very much longer" (Baltimore
SUN, 5/27). In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman reports that the new
revenue sharing plan will mean more income for the Vikings. Team
President Roger Headrick said that the addition of the two new
teams and the Rams' move puts the Vikings 24th in revenue, and
eligible for "additional income between $500,000 and $800,000
each season" (STAR-TRIBUNE, 5/28).
PHANTOM CBA TALKS? In Atlanta, Len Pasquarelli reports that
last week's reports that NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw and NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue were working to extend the current
CBA are untrue (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/28).
