NFL President & COO NEIL AUSTRIAN resigned yesterday to
pursue other business opportunities, effective at the end of
the '99 season. Austrian: "With our television contracts
going through the 2005 season and our labor agreements in
place for at least four more years, the timing of my
departure works well for the League and for me personally"
(NFL). BLOOMBERG's Curtis Eichelberger reported on
Austrian's resignation and noted that he was recently named
Chair of start-up Web portal iWon.com (BLOOMBERG, 10/26).
In DC, Leonard Shapiro reports that Austrian "informed" NFL
officials several months ago that he was "planning to
leave." Shapiro cites three sources as saying that Austrian
"has had discussions with at least one major network."
Meanwhile, Shapiro cites several network execs as saying
that they were "surprised to hear" of Austrian's involvement
with iWon.com, "mostly because of its tie" to CBS, which
purchased the company last month. Shapiro writes that the
NFL generally frowns upon league execs aligning with its
business partners. But Austrian said that he was "simply an
investor, providing seed money," and "had no role" in CBS'
acquisition of the company (WASHINGTON POST, 10/27). In
N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports that Austrian's position at
the NFL "will not be filled." Austrian, on NFL Commissioner
PAUL TAGLIABUE: "Paul wants to give more responsibility to a
lot more people and see who breaks out of the pack."
Austrian: "I never intended to stay for nine years but this
is a good time to go, with the labor deal, TV deal and
DirecTV deal done. There is no crisis" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/27).
