The NFL "could approve granting an expansion franchise
to Cleveland" at the owners meeting March 23-27 in Orlando,
according to Michael Weinreb of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL.
During a visit to Cleveland yesterday, NFL Commissioner Paul
Tagliabue confirmed that league "owners were leaning toward
expanding to 31 teams." A vote would require two-thirds of
the owners' approval. Tagliabue said that seven owners on
the league's finance committee "agreed that Cleveland should
be awarded an expansion franchise," and added that "there
will be a very strong consensus in support of expansion to
Cleveland" at the upcoming owner's meetings. Tagliabue and
Cleveland Mayor Michael White yesterday "cut the legs off a
report suggesting that the league would temporarily own" the
Cleveland franchise before selling it. Tagliabue: "It's a
remote possibility, and it's not likely to happen. I would
be against it." Both Indians Owner Dick Jacobs and former
Browns QB Bernie Kosar have contacted the league regarding
ownership of the future team (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 3/13).
Tagliabue added that no price tag has been set for the new
franchise "because ownership of the team is a more pressing
issue" (Ryan Cornell, Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER, 3/13).
