When NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced last
evening that the new Browns franchise will enter the league
in '99 as an expansion team, the decision "caught many
attending the league meetings by surprise," according to
Tony Grossi of the Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER. It "followed
roughly one hour of discussion on the subject" by team
owners and "concluded a down-and-up day that began with
Cleveland officials fearing a delay." Speculation had the
league "unprepared to commit to expansion this week," but
the owners "retreated to their meeting room, and everything
seemed to change." Finally, "no vote was taken, but no
owner dissented" on the expansion decision. Tagliabue
credited Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson for "leading the
discussion on expanding and swaying owners." Steelers
President Dan Rooney said Ravens Owner Art Modell also
"played a prominent role." Grossi notes "two other
surprises" in the announcement: The Browns' debut will come
at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton against the
Cowboys in August of '99; and Joe Mack, former Assistant GM
of the Panthers, will be the Browns' Player Personnel
Director (Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER, 3/24). While no expansion
fee has been finalized, some NFL owners "have already"
floated a $350-$500M fee (Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER, 3/24).
BURIED LEGACY: In Akron, David Adams writes the
expansion decision ends "the chance of Cleveland getting a
relocated team" and also "helps bury the painful legacy left
behind by the abrupt 1995 decision by Art Modell to move his
team to Baltimore." Modell: "I was one of the people who
wanted to get this done" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 3/24).
WHO WILL BE 32? Tagliabue said that the owners will
hold talks today concerning the next round of expansion,
mentioning L.A., Houston and Toronto as cities vying to be
the 32nd team. In Toronto, Mike Zeisberger says Toronto's
inclusion "caught everyone ... off-guard" as its chances
"never had been put forward in this manner by Tagliabue"
(TORONTO SUN, 3/24). In Houston, John Williams calls the
decision "good news" for that city's bid, as had the league
moved an existing team to Cleveland, "it was possible that
league owners would not expand at all," as it would mean
sharing TV revenues (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/24). Saints Owner
Tom Benson, on future expansion: "Oh, man. You're looking
at a few more years for those teams" (USA TODAY, 3/24).
