Noting the expected glut of stories this week on the various
plans to solve the NFL's Cleveland-Baltimore problem, Will
McDonough reports "there is no plan." He does add that NFL and
Cleveland officials will work toward a compromise with the NFL
reportedly saying they could have a proposal this week. The NFL
wants a resolution before the February 12 Cleveland trial date.
Bob Gries, the 43% owner of the Browns who opposes the move, said
the city should be talking to the "six or seven" owners looking
to move and asking, "Would you accept our proposal as presented
to the league this past week?" Gries: "If we get one of them to
say yes, the problem is solved" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/21).
ONE SCENARIO: According to a report in Saturday's
WASHINGTON POST, the NFL is considering a proposal to have Art
Modell give up his ownership in the Browns to the league and have
the team stay in Cleveland. In return, Modell would be awarded
an expansion franchise in Baltimore (Leonard Shapiro, WASHINGTON
POST, 1/20). Modell's attorney, Robert Weber: "Whoever is
putting that idea out there as a trial balloon ought to realize
that it's going to get shot down" (Leonard Shapiro, WASHINGTON
POST, 1/21). But Modell told the Baltimore SUN he would consider
giving the Browns up in exchange for expansion. Modell: "I
would consider anything that would get me to Baltimore. But I
want to be there in 1996" (Jon Morgan, Baltimore SUN, 1/20).
... AND ANOTHER: ESPN's Chris Mortensen: "While the
Buccaneers are rumored to be the team that will fill the
Cleveland Browns void, owners feel the most likely candidate is
the Cincinnati Bengals, who have a critical stadium tax
referendum March 19" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 1/20).
BROWNS NOTES: Vikings President Roger Headrick said Modell
convinced most NFL owners of his need to move at last week's
meeting (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/21)....In Baltimore, Vito
Stellino reported NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue hinted he may
not make a recommendation on the Browns situation but have the
Stadium and Finance Committees make one instead (Baltimore SUN,
1/21)....Court TV is considering coverage of the February 12
Cuyahoga County trial (Akron BEACON JOURNAL, 1/20)....Terry Pluto
reports Tagliabue told Cleveland Mayor Michael White to "cool it"
on his "No Team, No Peace" rhetoric -- with the advice that such
talk may scare other teams from considering relocation to
Cleveland (Akron BEACON JOURNAL, 1/21).
