The NFL league meetings begin today in K.C., and the
owners "appeared to be wrestling with the most basic
question: Do we want to acknowledge at this time that we are
going to expand to 32 teams," according to T.J. Simers of
the L.A. TIMES. There "appears to be a strong movement"
among some owners to use Houston and L.A. "to extort better
deals in their own markets." Oilers Owner Bud Adams: "What
I'm saying is, there's not much leverage in a team to get
another stadium unless there are places like Houston and Los
Angeles to go to. I think every owner would like to get a
new stadium in his hometown, but if there are no alternative
solutions to it -- there's no other place to go -- he can be
told to get lost." Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones also said that
he "does not expect the NFL to pass any resolution at these
meetings calling for a 32nd team." Two L.A. groups and a
Houston group will make presentations today (L.A. TIMES,
10/27). ESPN's Chris Mortensen: "Believe it or not ...
there are some owners who don't want to commit to a 32nd
team [so] early" ("NFL Prime Monday," 10/26). In DC,
Leonard Shapiro writes that each group will give a 45-minute
presentation to the league delegation, and "at the moment,
Houston appears to be far ahead" because of its stadium plan
(WASHINGTON POST, 10/27). Bills Owner Ralph Wilson feels
the league should delay expansion until "it determines how
much the Cleveland team affects the talent pool." Wilson:
"We need to relax and take a big breath" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
10/27). USA TODAY's Chris Woodyard examines Michael Ovitz's
bid for Carson, CA. Joining the movie/athlete members of
Ovitz's group are Northwest Airlines Exec Gary Wilson, LBO
specialist Ted Forstmann, supermarket head Ron Burkle and
L.A. financier Gabriel Brenner (USA TODAY, 10/27).
CANADIAN BACON: In Toronto, Sun Media CEO Paul Godfrey,
who is leading NFL expansion efforts in that city, said he
would watch the proceedings: "There's no doubt, all things
being equal, that Los Angeles ... would be an obvious first
choice. They're formidable competition but I think the next
three cities into the league will be Los Angeles, Houston
and Toronto. I'm just not sure of the order" (TORONTO STAR,
10/27). Godfrey: "Under the present setup, the SkyDome is a
major stumbling block [for a bid]" (TORONTO SUN, 10/27).
OTHER ITEMS ON AGENDA: ESPN's Mortensen added that NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue "is basically going to tell the
owners they're going to put the Browns in the AFC Central
and they'll get to realignment when they add that 32nd
team." Meanwhile, Browns Owner Al Lerner and President
Carmen Policy "are really going to push again to modify the
tampering rules that would allow them to hire other team's
personnel, or at least permission to talk to them, because
they've got an expansion draft on February 9, they're going
to search for a coach in January" ("Prime Monday," 10/26).
