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Leagues and Governing Bodies

DECISION DAY IN NEW YORK: DID NFL DRAFT ALMOST GET HELD-UP?

          The NFL Draft "came close to not happening," according
     to Will McDonough of the BOSTON GLOBE.  The Colts "were
     ready to go to court" on Friday to seek an injunction that
     would have held up the Draft, but "were dissuaded" by NFL
     Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.  The Colts "were irate" over
     what they perceived to be "a special deal made to allow" the
     Raiders DT Chester McGlockton to sign a deal with the
     Chiefs.  As part of the deal, the league gave the Raiders a
     compensatory pick at the start of the second round -- the
     31st pick -- previously held by the Colts, in addition to
     the Chiefs' second-round pick.  Colts GM Bill Polian: "This
     deal is one of the worst things I have ever seen in
     football."  McDonough reported the deal was reached between
     the Raiders, the NFL's Harold Henderson and NFLPA Exec Dir
     Gene Upshaw (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/18).  Colts Owner Jim Irsay:
     "I'm a supporter of the league and a supporter of
     Commissioner Tagliabue.  Paul and I talked at length Friday
     and I felt better after that conversation" (Bal. SUN, 4/19).
          TAGLIABUE TALKS: Commissioner Tagliabue was interviewed
     by ESPN's Chris Berman during the NFL Draft.  On the Browns,
     Tagliabue said the league "will hopefully reach a decision
     on the owner in the upcoming months by midsummer."  On
     having an odd number of teams: "It's not ideal, but as you
     know we've had odd numbers of teams in the past.  But I
     think the key thing now is we have a window of opportunity
     to expand to a 32nd team.  We're working with people in Los
     Angeles and Houston -- those would be our priority cities --
     and hopefully we can get something done in the next couple
     of years" ("NFL Draft," ESPN, 4/18).
          PEYTON'S PLACE: Irsay said that drafting QB Peyton
     Manning with the first pick was "further indication" -- 
     after the extension of their lease in Indianapolis and the
     hiring of Bill Polian and Jim Mora -- "of the commitment the
     franchise has made to put together a winning team" (THE
     DAILY)....The league noted that 29 of its 31 teams were
     represented by merchandise worn by fans attending the Draft. 
     Only the Bills and Panthers were not represented (NFL)....At
     the Draft, DirecTV and NFL Enterprises presented Manning,
     Ryan Leaf, Charles Woodson and Curtis Enis -- the four
     players present at the Draft -- with a RCA-brand DSS system
     and a free one-year DirecTV and NFL Sunday Ticket
     subscription.  All the other 26 first round picks will also
     receive a complimentary system and subscription (NFL). 
          FULL AGENT LISTING: Starting tomorrow with the first
     round, THE DAILY will list the agents of players picked in
     the first three rounds of this weekend's NFL Draft.  

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