NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has called for a special
meeting of team owners for April 12 in Dallas to re-examine the
Rams proposed move to St. Louis. This comes amid reports that
Tagliabue and Rams President John Shaw are closer to a settlement
that would allow the team to move to St. Louis for the '95 season
(Mult., 3/30).
THEY CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW THE RAMS ARE GONE: If the league
approves the move, it will clear the "muddied future" of certain
teams, including the Bengals, and put the NFL in "position to
court the Bengals, or any other team dissatisfied with its
stadium, to fill the vacancy in Southern California." Yesterday,
Bengals President & GM Mike Brown wouldn't rule out a move to CA,
"although he maintained his preference is staying." Brown said
if the Rams do move, "there will be teams who'll take a look at
moving there." NFL Dir of Communications Greg Aiello said the
Bengals are not part of the emergency meeting: "That's a story
for a different day. Things are focused purely on the Rams"
(Geoff Hobson, CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 3/30). In Cleveland, Browns
Owner Art Modell, also in pursuit of a new facility for his team,
said if the city of Cleveland will not help fund a new stadium in
six months he will pursue other options. If the Rams move,
Modell's "new home could be Anaheim" (Gordon Forbes, USA TODAY,
3/30).
