As the NFL owners prepare to meet in Dallas this week,
rumors persist about the future of football in the L.A. market.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen on the Rams move: "I think this move is
going to get approved, if not this week, sometime in the next
month" ("Sunday Sportsday," ESPN, 4/9). In Boston, Will
McDonough reports, "There is some feeling among owners that they
would be better off to let the Rams move rather than battle it
out in court over the next 2-3 years." McDonough adds that Rams
Owner Georgia Frontiere "is so disliked in Anaheim that there is
no way she could stay there and be successful" (BOSTON GLOBE,
4/9). In Baltimore, Vito Stellino reports that NFL Commissioner
Paul Tagliabue originally wanted $70M-$80M from the Rams, but
"now has to decide whether to recommend the owners take the $40
million or spend a lot of time on the witness stand." Stellino
adds that Tagliabue "would have a difficult time in court
defending the league's so-called moving guidelines, which are now
in tatters" (Baltimore SUN, 4/9).
RAIDER RUMORS: McDonough also reports that "rumors persist
that Al Davis will take the Raiders back to Oakland." McDonough
writes that Davis "feels he is at a dead end" in L.A. and that
"the city is not going to live up to the promises it made him,"
while Oakland is putting together a financial package "it hopes
will bring the team back" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/9).
LEGAL FIGHT IN BALTIMORE: Maryland Stadium Authority Chair
John Moag "is moving ahead" with plans to sue the league for
illegally trying to keep a team from moving to Baltimore.
Stellino reports that former NFLPA Lawyer Jim Quinn feels that
"Baltimore probably has a better case in court than St. Louis
does" (Baltimore SUN, 4/9).
