Nfl Owners

In a dramatic, fourth-quarter substitution, Gov. William Donald Schaefer yesterday endorsed a Cleveland-based multimillionaire with strong football connections to be the owner of a potential Baltimore NFL expansion franchise.Mr. Schaefer said he hoped the new face -- Alfred Lerner -- and new strategy would make the difference for Baltimore Nov. 30, when NFL owners will meet near Chicago and vote on which of the four finalists will be awarded the league's 30th team."It's a whole new ballgame.

The drumbeat of an NFL labor resolution grew louder Tuesday as rumblings of a deal -- or at least the framework of one -- could be reached within the next month. That would avert the disastrous possibility of games being canceled for the first time since 1987. The league and players continued their talks before a mediator Tuesday and Wednesday in an undisclosed location in Maryland, just outside of Washington, and signs are that the sides have gotten past the rhetoric and are gaining traction on real progress.

Now that he has a little free time on his hands, Chad Ochocinco will attempt to make the jump from pro football to pro futbol. Next week, the outspoken and locked-out Bengals wide receiver will get a four-day tryout with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer. I'm not sure who's more desperate for attention: Ochocinco or the MLS team formely known as the Kansas City Wizards. "We're always searching for players who can help our team and bringing in new talent," K.C. manager Peter Vermes told the Associated Press . "We know that Chad is an exceptional athlete and that he loves the sport of soccer, and he did play a lot when he was younger.

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Baltimore gave it its best shot yesterday, and it still wasn't good enough for the NFL owners.That's the stark reality the city is facing in the wake of the owners' decision to grant Charlotte, N.C., a franchise and defer a decision on the second team to Nov. 30.It was a jolt to the Baltimore group, which couldn't have been more optimistic after its presentation."

People are confused. They're angry. They're getting disgusted with the whole thing.After a long holiday weekend of charges, counter-charges and internal bickering over the NAACP's support of Charlotte, N.C., for an NFL expansion franchise, people here are wondering if this episode is going to cost Baltimore the pro football team it dearly wants.One person who remains undaunted is Ernie Accorsi.This veteran of 23 years in the NFL has spent the last three months as special adviser to the effort to "Give Baltimore the Ball."

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- What Gov. William Donald Schaefer had to say to the NFL owners in what could be termed his "state of the franchise" speech left his listeners impressed.Applause is never appropriate at presentations of this kind, but one owner, Al Davis of the Los Angeles Raiders, came to his feet and said he wished he had recorded the speech so governors all over America could hear it.It took Schaefer only one minute and 15 seconds to put Baltimore's bid in perspective with a minimum of words that offered clarity and conviction.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Will H. Wayne Huizenga open the door to the NFL for Peter G. Angelos?That could turn out to be a result of the attempt by Huizenga, the owner of the Florida Panthers and Marlins, to buy the Miami Dolphins from the Robbie family.To approve the sale of the Dolphins to Huizenga, the NFL owners must pass resolution G-3, which would allow an owner to own more than one major-league team in the same city. NFL owners currently aren't allowed to own teams in other sports.It just happens that the team sponsoring the resolution is the Los Angeles Rams.

If you study the history of American business, one thing you quickly learn is that billionaires don't typically amass their wealth and power by innovation alone. They often do it by imposing their will and flexing their financial might. Negotiating deals worth billions of dollars is not for the timid, and it also doesn't require that both sides play nice. That's why it wasn't a surprise to see the NFL owners attempt a savvy bit of public relations Thursday night when they tried to pressure the NFL Players Association into signing a new 10-year labor agreement.

NFL owners and players have tentatively agreed to a plan that would allow for the players' executive committee to vote Monday to recommend accepting the collective bargaining agreement and end the league's 4-month-old lockout, according to multiple reports. After an emotional few days which spurred confusion and frustration, the sides made major progress in closing the gaps on the few remaining issues Saturday, all of which should bring the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987 to an end. A source told ESPN that the 11-member NFLPA executive board — which includes Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth — will meet in Washington on Monday to endorse the 10-year CBA and recertify as a union.

ATLANTA -- Cleveland Mayor Michael White continued to battle in the court of public opinion yesterday while Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell presented his case before NFL owners.Mr. White continued his very public campaign to convince NFL owners to block Mr. Modell's proposed move of the Browns to Baltimore while Mr. Modell launched his behind-the-scenes battle to persuade the owners to approve the move.Mr. White orchestrated several high-profile events, including the presentation of 2.2 million signatures on petitions to the league at the NFL owners meetings, while Mr. Modell did not make a public appearance before making a presentation to two committees.