King County officials met with NFL Commissioner Paul
Tagliabue yesterday in New York, while in CA, Seahawks Owner Ken
Behring met over lunch with a representative of Paul Allen, the
team's most prominent suitor.
FROM THE EAST COAST: King County Executive Gary Locke and
Councilman Pete von Reichbauer expressed optimism after their
meeting with Tagliabue, according to Farnsworth & Thiel in this
morning's SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. The two were "buoyed by
what they described as the prospect of a partnership" with the
NFL to keep the Seahawks in Seattle. Locke said the NFL would
"take action over the next two weeks," but "would not elaborate."
Tagliabue suggested that he would prefer that the dispute be
"handled locally" before any action is taken by the league
(SEATTLE P-I, 2/29). Former Seahawks Owner John Nordstrom, a
friend of Tagliabue's, joined Locke and von Reichbauer in New
York for the meeting (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 2/28).
RED BEHRING? Over lunch with Blazers President Bob
Whitsitt, representing Allen, Ken Behring reiterated that the
team is not for sale. However, team operations were discussed.
The P-I's Farnsworth and Thiel note, "If Allen decides to make an
offer for the Seahawks, Whitsitt figures to be a primary
negotiator" (SEATTLE P-I, 2/29).
