NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue yesterday summoned Seahawks
President David Behring to New York for a Friday meeting after
the team began off-season workouts in Anaheim. Seahawks attorney
William Temko released a statement saying the workouts were "in
the best interests of the team," and that they wished to conduct
workouts "away from the media circus" if they remained in
Seattle. Tagliabue called the Anaheim workouts "pre-emptive and
supportive" of the February 2 move announcement. Tagliabue:
"The Kingdome safety issues raised by the Seahawks have no
relationship to the club's ability to conduct training programs
in its Kirkland facilities" (Boren & Farnsworth, SEATTLE P-I,
3/19). In L.A., Steve Springer reports the team will not conduct
draft activities in Anaheim, as previously planned, "to not
further offend the league" (L.A. TIMES, 3/19).
MOVING EXPENSES: Meanwhile, the club's undetermined status
for next season is costing owner Ken Behring plenty. The SEATTLE
P-I reports the team is down $6M it normally would have from
season ticket deposits, while Behring still must pay $275,000 to
lease the Anaheim training complex and more than $12,500 a week
to house players in a CA hotel. Behring insisted yesterday the
team was not for sale, though the P-I reports "he would listen"
if offered enough money (Farnsworth & Boren, SEATTLE P-I, 3/19).
The TACOMA NEWS-TRIBUNE reports that Microsoft Co-Founder Paul
Allen is reportedly weighing the "emotional value" of owning a
team in his hometown. Allen's representative Bob Whitsitt said
he expects no action in the near future while Allen decides
(Clayton & Foster, TACOMA NEWS-TRIBUNE, 3/18).
