Topsy-Turvy Nfl Tries To Settle Down

After 8 hours of finger pointing, name calling, back scratching and chest thumping, two things at the National Football League fall meetings in Grapevine, Texas, became starkly clear Tuesday. The Cleveland Browns’ move to Baltimore eventually will be approved.

And the league’s future is growing more unsettled by the moment.

“This is all about one thing, and one thing only,” Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said, shaking his head. “Money.”

Art Modell, Browns owner, claimed he doesn’t have it.

Mike White, Cleveland mayor, called Modell a liar and said Modell ignored the city’s offers to give it to him.

Paul Tagliabue, NFL commissioner, said the league owners need more of it.

Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys owner, said owners can start printing it if they would just follow his plan.

That plan, by the way, is being challenged with a $300 million lawsuit by the league that is being countered with a $750 million lawsuit by Jones.

Lost in the rhetoric were several dozen Browns fans who flew from Cleveland to picket the airport hotel here with signs such as “Benedict Arthur.”

“I appear before you with a very, very heavy heart,” said one notable man. “I feel a profound sense of remorse, almost a despondency.”

That was not one of those fans.

That was Modell, who less than 36 hours earlier had taken guarantees of a new rent-free stadium and sprinted to Baltimore.

It was that kind of day.

“When the Rams moved without meeting the guidelines, it all went out the window,” Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson said. “Now, anything goes. Our rules mean nothing. Anybody can do what they want to do.”

One moment, Modell was making jokes about a possible change of heart and return to heartbroken Cleveland.

“That bridge is downed, burned, disappeared, there’s not even a canoe there for me,” Modell said with a big smile.

The next moment, Houston Oilers owner Bud Adams was reveling in the soon-to-be-announced move of his team to Nashville, Tenn., for $29 million.

The next moment, New York Giants co-owner Wellington Mara was warning that other teams will follow.

“There are more stadium problems in this league, and I don’t know what we’re going to do about it,” he said.

Then Jerry Richardson, owner of the Carolina Panthers, was presenting the owners with possible sites for a new stadium in Los Angeles.

Because the league is going to let Modell walk, it will have to offer the same opportunity to any team needing a new stadium deal.

With so many of those teams existing - the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Seahawks, the Minnesota Vikings, the Chicago Bears - the league will be hard-pressed to find homes for everyone.

Above the din, Tagliabue offered something less than a voice of strength.

He refused to commit himself to forcing teams to remain in communities with solid fan bases. He wouldn’t even comment on whether he personally approves of the Browns’ move.

“I don’t have a personal position. … I’m the commissioner,” Tagliabue said.

Cleveland tax passes

In what was widely seen as a last attempt to keep the Browns in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County voters overwhelmingly approved a measure to extend a tax on alcohol and tobacco to renovate the team’s aging stadium.

The passage was by a margin of 72 percent to 28 percent.

Supporters of the tax argued that improving the stadium is critical even if the Browns leave, because it would strengthen the city’s bid to attract another franchise.

Chargers scramble

With San Diego running back Natrone Means out 2-4 weeks with a groin injury, Chargers coach Bobby Ross will rotate the practice repetitions among Rodney Culver, Ronnie Harmon and rookies Terrell Fletcher and Aaron Hayden.

The Chargers play Sunday at home against AFC West leader Kansas City.

At 224 pounds, Culver is the closest in size to the Means’ 245 pounds. Culver started the season as Means’ backup, but missed six weeks with an ankle injury. Culver, who has carried only six times for 22 yards this year, was deactivated again Sunday night.

49ers focus on Johnson

The 49ers are hoping to sign former San Jose State and New York Jets running back Johnny Johnson to a contract by this morning, have him on the practice field this afternoon and a part of their game plan against the Cowboys on Sunday, a team source said.

Johnson, who priced himself out of 49ers’ range and made everyone in the organization angry with the way he handled himself in his last go-around with the team, is now the focal point of a last-minute shot at bolstering a battered offense that would seem out of its league against the Cowboys.

His agent, however, said the 49ers have to make a better offer to get the deal done.

If it is, it’s likely not the only last-minute change to the 49er roster in the final days before team heads to Dallas. Tony Zendejas, who butchered his only field-goal attempt in the humiliating loss to the Carolina Panthers last Sunday, appears to be on his way out.

The 49ers were trying to locate former Youngstown State kicker Jeff Wilkins, who kicked well in a tryout at Santa Clara before Zendejas was signed.

Panthers sign running back

The Carolina Panthers signed free-agent running back Blair Thomas and claimed running back Anthony Johnson off waivers from the Chicago Bears.

Running backs Randy Baldwin and Vince Workman were released.

Dempsey’s mark endures

Born without part of his right foot, Tom Dempsey wore an orthopedic shoe and kicked for the New Orleans Saints - an expansion team that won just 12 games in its first four years.

Of course, if Dempsey played for a better team he probably wouldn’t have made NFL history with a 63-yard, game-winning field goal - a record that still stands. Today marks the 25th anniversary of Dempsey’s feat.

The kick broke the mark of 56 yards set by Baltimore’s Bert Rechichar in 1953 and the Saints won the game 19-17.

“It’s like winning the Masters with a 390-yard hole-in-one on the last hole,” Lions coach Joe Schmidt said.