NFL owners "voted to increase the league's per-team
debt ceiling" to $100M from $75M, according to Curtis
Eichelberger of BLOOMBERG NEWS. The vote during meetings
this week in Dallas was 23-7, and "allows individual owners
to use the additional $25M for anything from stadium
remodeling projects to paying signing bonuses for draft
picks." Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen supported the measure,
saying, "When you have teams that are now $300 and $400
million dollars, $100 million is not a stretch." But Saints
Owner Tom Benson said, "I think our debt ceiling (was) high
enough. All we're going to do is what Denver, did sign
(running back Terrell Davis) to $50 million or something.
We're sounding like the NBA now" (BLOOMBERG, 7/30).
NFL: The American Bowl slated for August 15 between the
49ers and Seahawks in British Columbia "is a go" as an
understanding was reached yesterday between stadium workers
and operators of B.C. Place. The deal "stipulates there
will be no job action that will affect" the game (Toronto
GLOBE & MAIL, 7/30)....The San Diego City Council authorized
the city manager to begin negotiating with the NFL to host
Super Bowl XXXVI. San Diego is competing against New
Orleans (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/29).
