NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue told Seahawks Owner Ken
Behring he would be subject to "sizeable fines" -- "at least
$500,000" -- unless he returns his team to Seattle, according to
this morning's SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. The P-I's Farnsworth
& Boren report the two met in West Palm Beach, FL, yesterday,
where the NFL Finance Committee is also meeting. Neither would
comment on the meeting, but one unnamed Seattle official
confirmed the encounter. Still, Behring "is showing no outward
signs of retreating from his intention to relocate" (POST-
INTELLIGENCER, 2/22). Bengals President Mike Brown said
Behring's disregard of the NFL's "hands-off-L.A." resolution
would be "a factor" when the league votes on the move (Craig
Smith, SEATTLE TIMES, 2/21). SAME PARK, DIFFERENT SPECIES?
Behring has reportedly "agreed in principle" to a one-year lease
with Anaheim to use the former Rams Park training facility. In
Seattle, Angelo Bruscas reports the agreement with officials from
the Magnolia School District, which owns the facility, would not
be stopped by potential legal action by King County. Bret
Colson, Anaheim's Public Information Officer, said the Seahawks
have agreed to "pick up all the costs of renovating the facility"
(SEATTLE P-I, 2/22). Seahawks President David Behring has sent
team employees a memo telling them "to prepare to move into Rams
Park in Anaheim at the end of March" (Farnsworth & Boren, SEATTLE
P-I, 2/22).
SMELLS LIKE ROSES: The city of Pasadena is preparing for
the possibility of the Seahawks playing in the Rose Bowl next
season. Officials have informally met with community groups and
officials from UCLA and the Tournament of Roses about attracting
the NFL. "Formal discussions" are "on hold" due to looming legal
action (SEATTLE P-I, 2/22).
