FELINE GROOVY: PUMA ADDS FLUTIE TO GROWING NFL ROSTER

          Puma has inked Bills QB Doug Flutie to a shoe and
     apparel endorsement deal, "adding another marquee" player to
     its NFL roster that includes Cowboys QB Troy Aikman and
     Saints RB Ricky Williams, according to Terry Lefton of
     BRANDWEEK.  Lefton writes that the deal "gives Puma the most
     visible player on one of the 13 NFL teams for which it will
     supply uniforms," and it also "prevents a possible assault
     by Nike, which had Flutie under contract until now."  Flutie
     will appear in print and TV ads, but "cannot wear Puma-
     branded shoes on NFL fields until" the 2000 season, when
     Puma becomes an NFL footwear supplier (BRANDWEEK, 7/19).