Lawyers are taking depositions from various NFL owners
to prepare for the relocation-fee lawsuit stemming from the
Rams move to St. Louis, according to Vito Stellino of the
Baltimore SUN. The case is likely to come to trial next
summer and the Rams are contending that since the Raiders
didn't pay a relocation fee to move to Oakland, they
shouldn't be required to pay one either. Stellino notes
that Ravens Owner Art Modell is taking a "surprising stand,"
as he is testifying for the league, even though he won't
have to pay a relocation fee from his move if St. Louis wins
its suit. Modell said he's backing the league because "he
believes a deal is a deal" (Baltimore SUN, 12/8).
NFL NOTES: In New York, Gary Myers looks at league-wide
attendance and notes if figures "hold up," it would be the
lowest attendance since '89 (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/9)....In
Boston, WHDH-TV's Fran Charles reported Sunday the Patriots,
along with the Seahawks, Bengals and Cardinals, are teams
the league is considering moving to Cleveland. Charles said
Pats Owner Bob Kraft didn't provide the tip for the story,
adding, "I have several sources" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/10).
