ARIZONA: The Cardinals are the "best bet" to fill the now
vacant Cleveland market, according to several NFL observers. In
Atlanta, Len Pasquarelli notes Cards Owner Bill Bidwill's lease
in Phoenix runs out in two years and that the city of Cleveland's
deal with the NFL stipulates that the replacement for the Browns
must be a team with no lawsuits pending against it (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 2/11). BOSTON: Patriots Owner Robert Kraft
"feels the Browns' settlement will enhance his chances of getting
a new stadium for the Patriots in downtown Boston," according to
Will McDonough of the BOSTON GLOBE. Kraft, noting the State of
MD will pay 100% of the new Baltimore stadium and Cleveland will
pay 80% for its facility: "When our plan is finalized (and
announced soon) we will pay 100 percent of the cost of a new
stadium. No one has ever done that before in this league. I
hope it's enough" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/10).
CINCINNATI: Len Pasquarelli writes to "forget" the Bengals
as a replacement in Cleveland since Cleveland Mayor Michael White
"has U.S. Senate aspirations and isn't about to steal another
Ohio team" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/11).
TAMPA BAY: Bucs VP Joel Glazer, asked if the Bucs could end
up in Cleveland under the deal to have a stadium there by '99:
"I don't know if it's more of an option or less of an option"
(Pat Yasinskas, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 2/10). Weighing the Bucs' options
with the team-imposed March 1 deadline looming, Yasinskas calls
Cleveland the "best bet" if the team leaves, with Central FL's
Osceola County as "next best" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 2/11). In Orlando,
Charean Williams notes the Bucs likely would not consider
Cleveland "viable" if they couldn't sell PSLs to cover
construction costs. The team faces a $35M fee to the trust of
late owner Hugh Culverhouse if they leave FL (ORLANDO SENTINEL,
2/10).
