The NFL has asked federal authorities to look into the
activities of two former heads of NFL Properties, according to a
report in N.Y. NEWSDAY. John Flood, fired as NFL Properties
president in March, and his predecessor, John Bello, who resigned
in September, 1993, are reportedly being probed for their
involvement with a trading card company licenced by the league.
Although the possible offenses are not entirely clear, Flood and
Bello -- "in an apparent conflict of interest -- reportedly made
as much as a million dollars each in dealing with the card
company, ProSet." Flood was fired by NFL Commissioner Paul
Tagliabue immediately after his involvement with ProSet was
revealed. At the same time, Tagliabue created an owners
committee to check on NFL Properties. When he was fired, Flood
"told friends and associates he believed his investment was
proper and he did nothing to undermine NFL Properties." NFL
officials would only confirm that information has been turned
over to federal authorities. Retail sales associated with NFL
properties generated nearly $3B in 1993. The football card
market had total sales of about $15.3M, "but reportedly suffered
a net loss of $7 million last year." One NFL owner familiar with
the special owners' committee: "This [probe] only concerns the
two former Properties employees and no one else concerned with
the league in any way" (Manny Topol, N.Y. NEWSDAY, 12/18).
