The NFL owners "were given an hour to vent" their
opinions regarding expansion yesterday, but failed to come
up with a recommendation for the site of the league's 32nd
franchise, according to T.J. Simers of the L.A. TIMES, who
writes that it is now up to NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
to "unify opinion today with a strong recommendation" for
L.A. While the NFL discussed league realignment, giving
L.A. six months to "marshal its efforts" and providing
stadium funds, all in an "effort to swing votes" toward that
city, some owners "question if it's time now to consider"
Houston. League officials "believe" they can get unanimous
support from the 14-member Expansion Committee today on a
recommendation, which "should lay the groundwork" for
gaining the 24 required votes for expanding to either L.A.
or Houston. But NFL Expansion Committee Chair & Panthers
Owner Jerry Richardson: "We don't have 24 votes for anything
right now" (L.A. TIMES, 3/16). ESPN's Chris Mortensen
reported that Houston bid leader Bob McNair "has been so
effective presenting his side that he has at least 10 owners
favoring Houston over Los Angeles, meaning there's no 24-
vote consensus for either city. And then there's the
faction that says they don't even want to talk about
expansion unless its tied to major realignment" (ESPN,
3/16). Browns Owner Al Lerner said that there are "some
considerations for how much" L.A. wants a team, compared to
the "enthusiasm" in Houston. Lerner, on the split in ranks:
"From what I heard today, if we can get from this range of
thought to a resolution, they ought to go to work on Bosnia
and handle a few things" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 3/16). In
Long Beach, Bob Keisser writes the combination of support
for Houston and the NFL's suggested L.A. plans has "created
a stalemate." Houston's Bob McNair: "No one ever comes up
and says 'we'll vote for you,' but based on what they say, I
think I have a majority." While some owners suggest that
L.A. may need "more public money," New Coliseum Partners' Ed
Roski said that his group "has been very clear on this, Los
Angeles does not have the ability to do any (more public
financing) than it has. And what they've done is
significant" (Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM, 3/16).
QUOTEBOARD: The SportsBusiness Journal's Liz Mullen
reports in THE DAILY that agent Leigh Steinberg said that
L.A. "will get 24 votes," but "to get 24 votes, it will be a
severely watered down mandate (for Los Angeles)" (THE
DAILY). Bob McNair: "I'd be delighted if they would tell
Los Angeles, 'you've got the deal, just come back ... and
prove you can do the deal.' I think I'd go put a shovel in
the ground" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/16). Among those
reportedly supporting the Houston bid are Chargers Owner
Alex Spanos, who said that "Houston's ready. What has L.A.
done to deserve us going back there?" (L.A. TIMES, 3/16).
In DC, Leonard Shapiro writes that owners "remained divided"
whether "expansion is necessary." Vikings Owner Red
McCombs: "I haven't been convinced yet that it's imperative
that we expand to anywhere" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/16).
BYE BYE OVITZ: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Carl DiOrio
writes that Michael Ovitz left the owners' meetings in AZ,
and when Tagliabue was asked if Ovitz's absence "sent him a
message," he responded, "No, but I sent him a message --
there's no need to come (back)." Roski and McNair both
remained in AZ (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/16).
SUPER BOWL SHUFFLE: In Oakland, Kevin Lynch writes that
the NFL said that the 2003 Super Bowl will be moved from San
Francisco, since it "apparently feels it can no longer
depend" on the 49ers and the DeBartolo Corporation "building
a stadium in time for the game" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 3/16). In
S.F., Matier & Ross report that S.F. Mayor Willie Brown "is
preparing to pull the plug" on the game himself, with the
hope that "by voluntarily withdrawing ... San Francisco will
walk away with a promise of a future Super Bowl" (S.F.
CHRONICLE, 3/16). In Atlanta, Len Pasquarelli writes that
the 2003 Super Bowl "is expected" to be moved to San Diego
(ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/16). In Phoenix, Schoenfeld &
Sherwood write that the NFL "voted unanimously" to award
Mesa, AZ, either the 2004, 2005 or 2006 Super Bowl if local
voters approve the proposed $497M stadium and convention
center project. The vote on the quarter-cent tax increase
to fund the facility is May 18 (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/16).
FORD BEING DRIVEN FROM TRADITION? Lions Chair Bill Ford
Jr. said he is "having trouble" with the NFL and notes its
stance on rotating the Thanksgiving Day among all 31 teams.
Ford: "I could look the chairman of General Motors or Toyota
in the eye and if they shake your hand and they give you
their word, it's good. Here it's not the case. There's
always a hidden agenda" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/16). Ford
said that he thinks the sentiment for rotating the game
"seems to be anti-Dallas" and he doesn't "appreciate the
fact that we're caught in the crossfire." More Ford: "I
think Jerry's success has a lot of people jealous of him.
... What I'm hearing around the league is that people want
to take a shot at the Cowboys. I don't think that's right."
In Dallas, Rick Gosselin reports that reps from the big
three automakers, GM, Ford and Chrysler, all sent letters to
Tagliabue with the message: "Don't mess with Thanksgiving
football in Detroit" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/16).
