Rooney: NFL Not Moving on Expansion

Not since 1976, when its house was in order, a time when the franchise owners respected their own constitution and bylaws, has the National Football League focused on the topic of expansion. But instead of an orderly progression of new cities being added, the signals drastically changed. Suddenly, Oakland and Baltimore were summarily violated, the Raiders heading for Los Angeles and the Colts to Indianapolis.

The motives were pure selfishness and greed, accompanied by a mixture of avarice and a lack of consideration for the loyal citizens who had given so much of themselves to create enthusiasm for the fulfilled acceptance of what had once been a struggling sport across North America. It’s all history now, an occurrence neither the commissioner nor the highest courts in the land could prevent or correct.

So Oakland and Baltimore have gotten in line--hopefully at the front end--to await the NFL’s next expansion movement. But when will it happen? Meanwhile, St. Louis, following Oakland and Baltimore, lost its team to Phoenix, but the NFL, in this instance, gave approval to the transfer because the guidelines were established and properly followed.

Now there are reports the Raiders, who didn’t receive the spectacular reception they anticipated in Los Angeles, will return to Oakland but the machinations have taken on the overtones of an expensive auction. But what has happened to this figment of the NFL’s imagination known as expansion? Dan Rooney, president of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a man of impeccable character who was chairman of the search committee 13 years ago when Tampa Bay and Seattle were selected, doesn’t offer much optimism on the subject.

“All I can suggest is Baltimore keep working and be prepared to go up against the other contestants,” he said. “Baltimore has always been a great city and I can understand why the fans feel they are entitled to consideration because of the way the team was pulled away from them. But it’s no sure thing. You’re in competition. I think it helps to understand that.”

How can Baltimore strengthen its position as a city-in-waiting? “Just do everything you can do,” Rooney answered. “Be prepared. Put your best foot forward. My belief is the franchises will be awarded to those places the NFL believes will be the most advantageous.”

So what Rooney is saying quite conceivably reflects the thinking among the present 28 owners. He remembers when the NFL was a 12-club circuit and the members were much like a fraternity. But with growth has come a different kind of an owner--business-oriented and, to an extent, attention-getters rather than being the type of individuals who had a deep passion for the game.

Such a feeling no longer exists, except in too few instances. So Baltimore must stay on the offensive, project itself with the proper kind of presentation and bring Gov. William Donald Schaefer to the fore at the most propitious moment to close the deal. As of today, Rooney admits that even though the media drums for expansion there is little conversation among the owners devoted to it.

When, though, could it transpire? “It’s at a standstill,” explained Rooney. “We don’t have a commissioner and that is the first item that must be settled. Pete Rozelle (the retiring commissioner) said expansion wouldn’t happen until we had a contract with the players association. How close we are to a labor agreement, I don’t know and can’t guess. Maybe three months, six months or a year.”

The antitrust aspects of the situation are aligned in the courts. But if a collective bargaining deal is somehow resolved, instead of keeping it a legal issue, which seems doubtful, it would put a quick end to the case and allow expansion to be addressed. “Nothing is happening on expansion now,” reiterated Rooney. “There were some owners who desired to see an expansion committee appointed and the research and interviewing process started, even before the matter with the players was cleared up, but the overall attitude is to wait.”

So the jockeying for positions is under way. There’s a chance Jacksonville and Orlando will attempt to vie for a territorial franchise in Northern Florida, possibly alternating home games in the Gator Bowl and Citrus Bowl. The same with Charlotte for North Carolina and South Carolina. Then there are Memphis, Sacramento, San Antonio and Portland interested in gaining NFL identity.

“Baltimore is viable,” concluded Rooney. “It has done everything for the NFL it was ever asked to do.” But what happened in the past, including the harm dealt to Baltimore when the Colts were pulled away after 35 years, isn’t going to count for much. The city, like a salesman with a new company, is going to have to sell itself all over again.

This is not what Baltimore wants to hear, but it’s a fact of football life.