UNDER NEW IDEA, BUCS COULD AVOID SUIT BY COOPERATING

     Under a plan being considered by Tampa officials, the city
"would not sue the Bucs for moving if the drive for a new stadium
fails."  According to this morning's TAMPA TRIBUNE, that depends
on the team working with stadium planners in an effort to gain
approval from the Legislature for taxes to help pay for the $168M
facility.  If the Bucs were to cooperate and still no deal is
reached, the team would be allowed to leave Tampa "without any
legal reprisals."  Thus far, the plan "has not been formally
offered to the Bucs" and legislators continue to debate its
merits.  Hillsborough County Attorney Emeline Acton questioned
the plan:  "If all we'd be giving up is the right to sue to keep
them here, that's one thing.  If we give up our rights under
contracts already in place, however, that's another."  The Bucs'
current deal with the Tampa Stadium Authority lasts four more
seasons with a buyout clause allowing the team to pay $1.5M
annually through the duration of the lease (Joe Henderson, TAMPA
TRIBUNE, 2/5).