NFL owners begin their two-day spring meetings in Charlotte
today and the agenda is expected to be "light on big news and
heavy on tying up loose ends," according to the CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER. Among the topics expected to be covered: Franchise
free agency, new stadium development, instant replay, and team
ownership policy. With three teams having moved in the past year
and a fourth move approved, owners are still trying to find the
best way to avoid rampant relocation. The NFL Stadium Committee,
chaired by Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson, will update owners on
stadium developments in Cleveland and L.A. Owners are also
scheduled to find out how the instant replay system will be used
in exhibition games this summer. Finally, the league is in the
process of addressing the issue of cross-ownership of other pro
teams. For years, NFL owners were not allowed to own teams in
other sports, but a new policy is now needed to accommodate
Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga, who also owns the Marlins and
Panthers, and Paul Allen, who owns the Blazers. A new policy is
expected to permit cross-ownership within the same geographic
region (Charles Chandler, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/21). In Tampa,
Nick Pugliese notes the league's tampering policies could be
changed under two proposals submitted by the Redskins. One
proposal would delay all coaching interviews until after the
Super Bowl. Current policies allow NFL assistants to be
interviewed once their teams are eliminated from the playoffs.
The second proposal would prevent teams from hiring scouts from
other teams until after June 1 (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 5/21).
