Last week's trade of Deion Sanders from the Reds to the
Giants has prompted some to note the controversy a Reds trade
with the Marlins, who were interested in Sanders, could have
created. In Denver, Tracy Ringolsby writes that Wayne Huizenga's
courting of Sanders "might wind up costing" him when he looks for
final approval to buy the Dolphins. "Several NFL owners were
concerned Huizenga could have lured Sanders to the Dolphins" by
giving him a better baseball deal and keeping Sanders' football
contract smaller for cap purposes (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/30).
In Baltimore, Vito Stellino reports that Huizenga said: "We
can't play games. (Commissioner Paul) Tagliabue is a smart guy.
He wouldn't let that happen for three seconds. There's no way.
Not only that, if we could we wouldn't. We've got to be at arm's
length on this deal." Stellino notes that Huizenga, who is
awaiting an NFL ruling on his cross-ownership, now has until '97
after Tagliabue pushed back the deadline on dealing with the
issue. But, Stellino notes, because "the NFL often ignores its
own rules, nobody expects Huizenga to be forced out" (Baltimore
SUN, 7/30).
OTHER NFL NEWS: In Atlanta, Len Pasquarelli reports that
Tagliabue "is telling close confidants that expansion isn't in
the league's near future." Pasquarelli: "Can you say Los Angeles
Seahawks?" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/30).... The 49ers-Broncos
American Bowl Game next Sunday in Tokyo falls on the 50th
Anniversary of the Atomic Bomb drop on Nagasaki, and some players
and team officials are worried about security. 49ers Security
Manager Rick Sandoval: "It makes you wonder. Why do it on this
date?" The NFL, which will handle security for the teams, will
provide extra manpower. Joe Ellis, NFL Dir of Club Relations and
Stadium Management: "The concern in Japan is quite minimal.
They gave us every bit of confidence to play the game on this
day, and we don't want to cause Japan any undue disrespect" (SAN
JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 7/31).
