CLEVELAND LEANS ON LERNER FOR $$; BROWN BACKERS GET COURT OK

          Several Cleveland City Council members yesterday
     "prodded" Browns Owner Al Lerner to commit to paying for
     overruns on the new stadium if the price exceeds $293M,
     according to Alison Grant of the Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER. 
     But Lerner and team President Carmen Policy "rebuffed the
     request, noting the Browns have signed an agreement with the
     city that firmly fixes the amount Lerner will contribute." 
     Policy: "I don't think it's fair to ask.  I think you're
     straining our relationship at a time when we're really
     trying to get off on the right foot."  Lerner has agreed to
     split any overruns if the project "balloons beyond" the
     $283M projected price to as high as $293M.  Lerner has
     agreed to lend the city money to finish the stadium if costs
     exceed $293M.  But City Council member Michael Polenske said
     it "was unpalatable" to consider Cleveland going into debt
     to the MBNA Corp. chair (Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER, 12/17).