NFL owners meetings continue today in Baltimore, and
USA TODAY's Gordon Forbes reports that NFL Commissioner Paul
Tagliabue "will hear a proposal" from Bills Owner Ralph
Wilson that "suggests" Tagliabue "needs help" running the
league (see THE DAILY, 5/23). Wilson wants the owners to
appoint an outside consulting firm to meet with each team
exec and "solicit ideas on improving" the league's day-to-
day operation. Wilson: "A lot of things come out of the
league where we're just told things, you know? So I think a
consensus of what the owners feel would be good. It's a big
operation. Any outside advice might be helpful. Maybe it
won't, but it's worth a try." As a counter to Wilson's
plan, Tagliabue wants an owners committee appointed by him
to survey team owners. Wilson said his "suggestion" is
aimed "to help improve the communication for the league and
the owners." Forbes concludes, "Tagliabue runs a highly
profitable game, driven by a remarkable TV contract, bigger
than anyone ever imagined. The commissioner surely needs
help to run this monster of a sport" (USA TODAY, 5/24).
NEW PROGRAM: The AP's David Ginsburg writes that NFL
owners yesterday approved a program that "refines and
expands" the league policy on player conduct. Among the
changes: The leaguewide screening process of players will be
expanded to include "testing, interviewing and evaluation"
at the annual scouting combine; and a mandatory intervention
process to "support and counsel at-risk" players identified
by the league will be implemented (AP, 5/24). In DC, David
Elfin writes that the player conduct policy was "altered" to
also cover nonviolent crimes such as racketeering, money
laundering and car theft. The league is asking its teams to
hire full-time directors of security and career counseling.
NFL Exec VP/Labor Relations Harold Henderson said that about
six teams have "first-rate" player assistance programs, 17
have "solid" operations, and eight are "not there yet"
(WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/24).
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: NBC News' Anne Thompson profiled how
"sports heroes are getting plenty of court time, but the
wrong kind," including Packers TE Mark Chmura for alleged
sexual assault and Panthers WR Rae Carruth and Ravens LB Ray
Lewis facing murder charges. Burns Sports President Bob
Williams states that as a result of these off the field
issues, "moral clauses today are standard fare in contracts
for athletes" ("Upfront Tonight," 5/23). Steelers President
Dan Rooney, noting the murder charges facing Lewis, said:
"[The NFL is] not going to bury our heads in the sand.
Serious things happen, but I don't think things have gotten
worse. We're part of society. Is society getting worse? I
don't think it is" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/24).
DONE DEAL: In S.F., Nancy Gay notes that NFL owners
formally and unanimously approved the transfer of the 49ers'
ownership from Eddie DeBartolo to his sister, Denise
DeBartolo York and her husband John York. John York: "Now
we can act as true owners. Gay writes that John York
"certainly has been well-received" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/24).
PLAYOFF EXPANSION? In DC, Leonard Shapiro reports that
when the Houston franchise begins play in 2002, NFL owners
"are very much in favor of adding" two more playoff teams,
boosting the number to 14 (WASHINGTON POST, 5/24).
