At the NFL owners meetings in West Palm Beach, FL, the
league will vote today whether to "implement a system of
fines" for planned celebrations by multiple players,
according to USA TODAY's Larry Weisman, who notes that 24 of
31 owners must approve to implement the ban, which could
"trigger fines for the participants." Weisman: "An impetus
for the rule: A tape viewed by the [competition] committee
showing high school players copying antics of NFL players"
(USA TODAY, 3/29). Celebrations such as the Packers'
"Lambeau Leap" will be permitted, "provided only one player
is doing it." Vikings coach and NFL Competition Committee
co-Chair Dennis Green: "This gets to the 10 guys who make a
circle to do something" (AP, 3/28). In St. Louis, Jim Thomas
writes that the rule proposal also "makes 'sexually
suggestive' actions as well as actions that are
'unsportsmanlike toward officials' offenses that are subject
to a fine." Thomas, on the proposal: "The No Fun League is
about to strike again" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/29). In
Chicago, Don Pierson: "Unsure of how to control criminal
player behavior off the field, the NFL keeps trying to
control player behavior on the field. If there is a
connection, no one is suggesting it out loud" (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 3/29). In Akron, Patrick McManamon: "The NFL
continues to take umbrage at the goofiest things" (AKRON
BEACON JOURNAL, 3/29). In Boston, Michael Felger writes,
"The 'No Fun League' lived up to its reputation yesterday."
But Green defended the proposal: "Three or four guys want to
celebrate and many times it's to the demise of the other
team. That can lead to retaliation" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/29).
Bucs GM and NFL Competition Committee co-Chair Rich McKay
adds, "We don't want to give the impression that this is the
No Fun League. The best way to get this under control is
through fines, not penalties" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/29). In
L.A., T.J. Simers writes that the NFL's "get-tough policy
... does not cover off-field criminal behavior, which can
continue unchecked." Simers adds, "The Chargers obviously
do not have to worry about this move to curtail
entertainment because they don't score, but it could result
in lawsuits elsewhere." Rams Minority Owner Stan Kroenke:
"We intend to block the ban on the 'Bob 'n' Weave.' It's
just a bunch of guys having fun." NFL Senior VP/Football
Operations George Young: "Fun. That's (nonsense). These
moves are premeditated" (L.A. TIMES, 3/29).
DAMAGE CONTROL: In a USA TODAY Cover Story, Jarrett
Bell writes that the NFL, which "has maintained that its
problems only mirror society's, appears ready to address
violence off the field." Bucs coach Tony Dungy: "Our
integrity and popularity is the biggest thing we have to
sell. We can't afford to lose that." NFL Commissioner Paul
Tagliabue said, "We're trying to reassess our entire policy"
(USA TODAY, 3/29). USA TODAY's Jon Saraceno writes, "At
last, maybe the [NFL] gets it. Nine weeks ago, the league
was in denial. Today, it pulls its head from the sand and
acknowledges what we know: the troubling trend of off-the-
field player violence. It is welcomed -- and late" (USA
TODAY, 3/29). FSN's Tony Cox reported, "The league's goal
is to keep the momentum going and to get football off the
crime report and back on the sports pages" ("Last Word,"
FSN, 3/28). But NEWSDAY's Bob Glauber writes that while the
league has recognized that there is a problem, the "more
complex issue is what to do about [player violence]. And,
more importantly, how to prevent it. That's where it gets
complicated." An NFC team official, on Panthers WR Rae
Carruth, who faces murder charges: "What do you do about a
Rae Carruth? ... He had a good family background, he was
intelligent, so what the hell can you do about that? It all
sounds good paying lip service to the problem, but tell me:
How do you predict that?" (NEWSDAY, 3/29).
SUPER BOWL MOTORING INTO NEW STADIUM? In Detroit, Mike
O'Hara writes that Detroit "has a clear path" to host the
2006 Super Bowl at Ford Field. O'Hara writes that "no other
city is bidding" for the game and a "preliminary 20-minute
presentation Tuesday exposed no significant shortcomings" to
the city's bid. NFL owners will vote on the 2004, '05 and
'06 Super Bowls in October. Houston "made a presentation"
for the 2004 Super Bowl yesterday, while Miami and Atlanta
"are expected to bid" for the 2005 event (DETROIT NEWS,
3/29). Also in Detroit, Curt Sylvester writes that it
"looks overwhelmingly probable" Detroit will host the 2006
game (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/29). Houston team Owner Bob
McNair, on his presentation to host the 2004 game: "It went
well. I'm not going to say we're a lock, but I don't
foresee anything that'll keep us from getting it, but the
owners still have to vote" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/29).
EXTRA POINTS: In S.F., Ira Miller writes that Saints
Owner Tom Benson and Bills Owner Ralph Wilson "are calling
for the league to come down hard on the 49ers for salary-cap
violations." Benson: "I think we were ready to do something
because it's very sensitive that a guy cheats on his
partners. That's not accepted very well" (S.F. CHRONICLE,
3/29)....In Boston, Will McDonough writes that owners "might
vote on a proposal today that is sure to drive the assistant
coaches in the league crazy." McDonough: "What is being
discussed is a motion that would eliminate all coaching
titles, and prevent any assistant from going to another team
unless it is to be a head coach. In other words, an
assistant who coached only a position could not leave to be
an offensive coordinator" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/29)....Cardinals
Owner Bill Bidwill, on yesterday's report in the L.A. Times
about the Cardinals possibly relocating to L.A.: "We have
not shopped the team. We have not made move one. ... We get
calls from time to time from people interested in getting
involved. We tell them we have no plans to sell full, part
or any interest in the team" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/29).
