NFL owners meetings opened in Orlando yesterday, and
the Management Council's Exec Committee voted to approve the
extension of the CBA, according to USA TODAY's Larry
Weisman. The full group of owners "considers" the CBA today
and it needs 23 of 30 votes in favor to pass. The NFLPA's
Board of Player Reps ratified the deal unanimously in HI on
Friday. If the owners vote against the deal, the NFLPA
"says it will not renegotiate and will let the current labor
deal expire after the 2000 season" (USA TODAY, 3/23).
WELLINGTON'S BEEF? Giants co-Owner Wellington Mara,
"one of the most respected men" in the NFL, may speak out on
the proposed CBA this week in Orlando, according to Mike
Freeman of the N.Y. TIMES. One owner: "Wellington is
strongly opposed to one part of this agreement and in turn,
the entire thing. When Wellington talks, people listen. He
will swing votes, and a week from now we could be back at
the negotiating table with the union." Agreement supporters
fear Mara could give a "passionate plea on why the
guaranteed contract provision" of the deal is "a truly bad
idea." But Freeman added that the deal "will most likely be
approved by only a slim margin" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/22). Mara
dismissed the N.Y. Times report and said he would not urge
owners to vote against the deal: "Not me. You've got the
wrong guy" (Paul Needell, Newark STAR-LEDGER, 3/23).
OTHER NEWS: In Baltimore, Vito Stellino wrote that
instant replay, which is also on the agenda at the meetings,
"faces an uphill fight" to be approved (Balt. SUN, 3/22).
