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Leagues and Governing Bodies

TAGLIABUE SAYS GOAL IS TEAMS IN CLEVELAND AND BALTIMORE

     Interviewed during halftime of NBC's NFL coverage yesterday,
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said the league's "challenge" is
to keep a team in Cleveland and get a team to Baltimore.
Tagliabue:  "The NFL has to be in those cities.  That is our
goal."  On rumors he would recommend against the Browns' move at
the January 17 owners' meeting:  "We haven't completed the
analysis we have to do.  Obviously, the fan loyalty, the fan
support [in Cleveland] is a given.  And it's very, very
important."  Asked by NBC's Will McDonough what their options are
considering Art Modell's "ironclad" deal with Baltimore and the
possibility a Cleveland judge could force the team to stay there.
Tagliabue:  "If they end up with a court order in Cleveland to
stay there, then I think the ironclad deal in Baltimore is not
going to be so ironclad."  Earlier, Tagliabue addressed overall
NFL fan relations:  "We can make some decisions in the next six
to twelve months that will be good for the fans in terms of this
[free agency] system, in terms of franchise stability.  Or we can
make some decisions that will start us in the wrong direction.
This is a critical point, and the fans are the key" ("NFL on
NBC," 12/10).
     ONE WAY OUT?  The N.Y. TIMES cites one unnamed NFL owner who
said he would be surprised if Modell could get half the owners to
approve his move right now.  As for a solution, Patriots Owner
Robert Kraft said, "It would be nice academically if we could do
a franchise transfer where Art could do what he has to do with
Baltimore and we could keep the same Browns team in Cleveland and
maintain that fan base" (Timothy Smith, N.Y. TIMES, 12/10).  In
Akron, Bart Hubbuch reports the idea of Bucs-to-Cleveland "didn't
sound too farfetched" to Vikings President Roger Headrick.
(Akron BEACON JOURNAL, 12/9).  Hubbuch writes, "What you no
longer hear coming from NFL circles is the idea of Cleveland
being left high and dry, without a team named the Browns and
without pro football until well after the turn of the century"
(Akron BEACON JOURNAL, 12/10).
     NOT GONNA HAPPEN:  In his Sunday column, Will McDonough
reports of a Bucs' move to Cleveland "are bogus" and that the
team has been talking to L.A. about a move there.  But  so far,
"no one in Los Angeles is offering up-front money the way
Baltimore has for the Browns" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/10).  James Brown
also reported Tampa "is leaning more toward Los Angeles than
Cleveland" ("Fox NFL Sunday," 12/10).
     BRACING IN BALTIMORE:  Modell told the Baltimore SUN he will
not consider a name change until all court action regarding the
team is cleared up.  At that point, the Browns would begin
surveys and market research taking into account the wishes of
Baltimore fans.  Modell said the team's name will not be a name
"forced on the city by the league" (Mike Preston, Baltimore SUN,
12/9).  In New York, Gary Myers reports if the courts force the
Browns to stay next year, the team plans to run operations out of
Baltimore and "show up for the games in Cleveland" (N.Y. DAILY
NEWS, 12/10).
     OTHER NFL NEWS & NOTES:  Headrick and other NFL owners and
execs meet in New York today where they will try to convince
Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones to drop his suit against the league and
remain an equal partner in NFL Properties (Minneapolis STAR
TRIBUNE, 12/10)....In Baltimore, columnist John Steadman urges a
ban on PSLs (Baltimore SUN, 12/10).

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