THE QWEST FOR MORE TELECOM DEALS: NFL CLOSE TO NEW PARTNER?

          CO-based telecom company Qwest is "close to becoming"
     the NFL's "first long-distance sponsor since Sprint's three-
     year deal expired a year ago," according to sources of Terry
     Lefton of BRANDWEEK, who notes that Qwest "ranks as the No.
     4 U.S. long-distance provider after its pending" $35B merger
     with US West.  While NFL execs "insist that Qwest is only
     one of a number of possible telecom sponsors, ... sources
     assert" that the company and the league have "been in the
     huddle for some time, with Qwest execs already exploring"
     team deals, including one with the NFL Giants.  Lefton adds
     that Bell Atlantic, MCI Worldcom and SBC Communications are
     "other telecom brands still in the running."  Meanwhile,
     Qwest "may be eyeing NFL Internet rights as well," as ESPN
     Internet Group's three-year content deal with NFL.com
     expires after next season (BRANDWEEK, 3/20 issue).