Wayne Huizenga left the NFL owners meetings in Palm
Desert, CA, after a "day-long pitch amid animated
discussion" trying to convince fellow NFL owners to change
the league policy prohibiting cross-ownership, according to
Armando Salguero of the MIAMI HERALD. But Huizenga "had not
closed this deal," and left "one vote short." Huizenga said
he had to leave to attend a business meeting in South FL
today. NFL owners are discussing a proposal in which an NFL
owner can own another franchise in the same market, or own
an NFL team in one market and another pro franchise in a
non-NFL city. The proposal "gained momentum Monday, with
New Orleans and Pittsburgh -- two former opponents of dual
ownership -- pledging support for the change." Salguero
adds that the "most militant dissenters are Buffalo,
Detroit, Washington, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, Carolina,
Minnesota and Chicago. The Bengals' Mike Brown was nearly
yelling as he discussed the issue." But "several ownership
groups, led by San Francisco's," are attempting to convince
teams to change their minds. Salguero: "If there is no vote
today, it will be a signal that the Dolphins and Seahawks
could not sway that final voter. Huizenga has until June 1
to be in compliance with the NFL ownership policy ... or he
must divest of either the Dolphins or Marlins and Panthers"
(MIAMI HERALD, 3/11). Ravens Owner Art Modell: "Some
people, not all, some people believe that engaging in other
professional sports could be ... injurious to the NFL."
Modell, on the outcome: "I think it's a very, very close
call right now" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/10).
TV TIME-OUT: Commissioner Tagliabue said that the
salary cap "likely will remain flat" in '98. In Dallas,
Rick Gosselin: "Some NFL owners had been expecting a sizable
increase in the salary cap in 1998 when a new television
contract is negotiated" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/11).
Patriots Owner Robert Kraft was named to the league's
broadcast committee, replacing Vikings Chair Roger Headrick
(BOSTON GLOBE, 3/11). The N.Y. TIMES' Richard Sandomir
writes on the next NFL TV deal. Sandomir: "This will be a
game defined by how much of a premium networks place on
being in the NFL." Although the NFL could resign its
incumbent TV partners by October 1, the NFL "would seem to
be too smart to blow the leverage offered by CBS and not
check out its cash wad" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/11).
WARM THOUGHTS: Tagliabue gave a presentation on how
teams should handle the salary cap. Tagliabue: "There were
some examples given today of people who've done foolish
kinds of contracts. ... People who thought they could
outsmart the system, I think you are learning you can't"
(Vito Stellino, Baltimore SUN, 3/11)....In Toronto, Gary
Picknell writes on the league's expansion plans under the
header, "NFL Hasn't Given Up On Toronto" (TORONTO SUN,
3/11)....In L.A., T.J. Simers writes on the meetings under
the header, "Lots Of Talk, Little Substance." Simers notes
replay back on the agenda, the return of Dick Vermeil and
Mike Ditka to coaching and no "mention of football
returning" to L.A. Simers: "Instead of moving forward as
suggested, the NFL is regressing" (L.A. TIMES, 3/11).
...Cleveland football fans sent bouquets of flowers to all
team owners and Tagliabue in Palm Desert (AKRON BEACON
JOURNAL, 3/11)....The NFL had a total paid attendance for
the entire '96 season of 18,648,981, down from last season's
19,202,757. It marks the second-highest paid attendance in
the 77-year history of the league (NFL)....Tagliabue, asked
if he was "embarrassed" that no minorities were hired as
head coaches: "I'm not embarrassed. We're working on it. We
are looking at some institutional issues, including
postseason tampering rules" (Baltimore SUN, 3/11).
