49ers co-Owner Eddie DeBartolo "reached a leniency deal
with federal prosecutors yesterday that will keep him out of
jail -- but sources say he will have to pay a fine and
testify against his longtime friend," former LA Gov. Edwin
Edwards, according to Matier & Ross in a front-page story in
the S.F. CHRONICLE. DeBartolo, who was summoned to appear
before a LA grand jury yesterday, "alleged that Edwards had
coerced him into paying $400,000 in cash to help DeBartolo
land a riverboat gaming license." Sources told Matier &
Ross that in exchange for his testimony, the government will
allow DeBartolo to plead guilty to a "'minor' -- and still
unspecified -- offense that would include 'some monetary
penalty' but 'no incarceration'" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/25).
The New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE also reports that DeBartolo
has reached a leniency deal (TIMES-PICAYUNE, 9/25).
ROLE WITH TEAM IN QUESTION: While the deal would keep
DeBartolo out of prison, it "leaves unresolved his family's
ownership fight" over the 49ers and the future of its new
stadium at Candlestick Point. DeBartolo's attorney, Aubrey
Harwell, "said he wasn't in a position to speculate about
the ownership issue, but added, "I don't think he would be
forced out of football once these facts go public." One
source "close to the team" said that "he doubted the league
would sign off quickly, given DeBartolo's own apparent
admissions of wrongdoing in Louisiana. Not to mention that
DeBartolo will now in all likelihood have to testify at
Edwards' trial. That could be at least a year away" (S.F.
CHRONICLE, 9/25). NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue issued a
statement saying, "We are aware that Mr. DeBartolo appeared
before a federal grand jury in Louisiana, but we have no
knowledge of the nature of his testimony." Tagliabue said
the league will "continue to monitor developments" in
Louisiana (Richard Weiner, USA TODAY, 9/25).
RETURNED POLICY: In S.F., Ira Miller reports that "it
turns out" the 49ers were "trying to hire a new president
several months before Carmen Policy resigned to head the
expansion franchise in Cleveland." Univ. of MI AD Tom Goss
was offered the job and turned it down in the spring. That
was "just after the point when Policy and Eddie DeBartolo
stopped speaking to one another" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/25).
PEACE IN OUR TIME: In San Jose, Clark Judge reports
that the Raiders and 49ers have agreed to meet in a '99
exhibition game at Oakland Coliseum. The game will be the
first preseason meeting between the teams since '93. Clark
Judge: "The cold war is over" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/25).
