The security arm of the NFL has recently been asked by
"at least two teams," the Bears and the Jaguars, "to
investigate a religious group with a growing membership of
N.F.L. players," including Bears' first-round pick Curtis
Enis, according to Mike Freeman of the N.Y. TIMES. Freeman
reported that the players "may be giving an inordinate
amount of money to the group, Champions for Christ," and
that there "is concern that players could be taken advantage
of financially." Bears execs "are worried that the group
recruited Enis as a way of raising money, something a
spokesman for Champions for Christ denied." The NFL had no
comment (Mike Freeman, N.Y. TIMES, 8/2).
NOTES: The NFL is planning to announce Australia as a
new venue in its American Bowl preseason series for '99.
The game will be held the first weekend of the preseason
(N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/2)....A non-sellout crowd at the 48,000-
seat Tokyo Dome watched the Packers defeat the Chiefs 27-24
Saturday at the American Bowl (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL,
8/1). Both the Packers and the Chiefs picked up two
Japanese players for the preseason match (K.C. STAR, 8/1).
...In Boston, Will McDonough reported that NFL officials
think the Cowboys-Patriots exhibition game in Mexico City
later this month "has a legitimate shot at being the most
watched ever." The Cowboys played the Oilers in front of
112,376 fans in Mexico four years ago (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/1).
