PAT BOWLEN TALKS NEXT TV DEAL WITH USA TODAY'S GORDON FORBES

          NFL TV Committee Chair Pat Bowlen told USA TODAY's
     Gordon Forbes that the league will not see a 100% increase
     in its next TV contract.  Bowlen: "In my mind, that is
     unachievable.  Fox paid $400 million a year the last time
     around, and I can't imagine Fox paying $800 million this
     time."  Bowlen added that, in regards to the length of
     season and game schedule, the league will likely "stick with
     its present format."  He also expects a new TV deal by late
     December, possibly earlier (USA TODAY, 9/23).
          TO-DO LIST: In Miami, Greg Cote offered suggestions to
     "improve the NFL."  Among them: "Fight the corporate-cold,
     No Fun League rap by encouraging, not restraining, free-
     spiritedness;" "Tighten and enforce the salary cap so it
     isn't the joke it has become;" End the 72-hour blackout rule
     for more games on local TV; and start "Monday Night
     Football" at 8:00pm ET, not 9:00pm ET (MIAMI HERALD, 9/21).