Rams Put Owners in Dilemma
No news was bad news for the Rams on Monday after a two-hour discussion among 29 NFL owners on their proposed move to St. Louis was halted when the commissioner declared them hopelessly undecided.
While owners are attempting to figure ways to make the move financially pleasing to everyone, a lawsuit was threatened and revelations were made that make the Rams situation ever more precarious.
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and John Shaw, Rams president, confirmed that by prior agreement, if no vote is taken this week, the move will be considered blocked.
League owners, who discussed the Rams’ situation after asking Georgia Frontiere and Shaw to leave the room, were advised in a letter by Jay Nixon, Missouri attorney general, that he will file an antitrust suit in federal court if the NFL fails to approve the proposed move to St. Louis.
“You mean another antitrust lawsuit against the NFL? Come on,” mocked Ralph Wilson, Buffalo Bills owner. “What we’re concerned about is what is in the best interests of the league. As of now the Rams do not meet the guidelines for relocation.”
Bud Adams, Houston Oilers owner and chairman of the NFL’s finance committee said, “For you to move in this league . . . one of the things is that you have to be losing money. Heck, the Rams make good money. They make more money than I do.”
Adams added, “That’s not counting what Georgia takes.”
During the afternoon sessions Cardinal owner Bill Bidwill talked about his move from St. Louis to Phoenix in 1988, and noted that he not only lost money in St. Louis, but paid a $7.5-million relocation fee.
The Rams do not intend to pay a relocation fee, and maintain they lost more than $6 million last season. They say they will be unable to remain competitive if forced to stay in Anaheim. They have struck a deal with St. Louis that will allow them to realize a $25-million annual profit.
“I’m sure this can be settled without going to court,” Frontiere said. “I feel justice will prevail within our league.”
Bear owner Ed McCaskey said, “I don’t think we’re anywhere near a decision.”
The NFL has indicated it wants a fair share of the $74 million raised in the sale of personal seat licenses. The Rams say it’s not their money to spend, and it belongs to St. Louis.
In fact, documents released Monday in St. Louis indicate that FANS will be responsible for paying any settlement fee with the league.
Tagliabue, while sounding pessimistic, left the door open for a settlement.
“My initial recommendation was on the terms presented to the membership,” Tagliabue said. “I couldn’t support the move, but that was just the beginning of the conversation.”
Tagliabue said the Rams’ move to St. Louis will present a realignment problem and will jeopardize the NFL’s relationship with Fox-TV. He said if the Rams move to St. Louis the NFC West Division will include four teams in the East.
“With the Rams in Los Angeles, Fox services markets which have about 58% of the TV households; with the Rams in St. Louis it comes out to about 52 1/2%. That’s a big swing. Do fans on the West Coast want to watch western division games between St. Louis, Carolina, New Orleans and Atlanta?”
The Rams believe the NFL urged Fox to express its unhappiness with the proposed move to further increase the pressure on the team. They believe the NFL will come calling in the next day or two with a demand for more money, and if agreeable, the promise of league approval.
“I would say we have tried to have a philosophy, certainly since I became commissioner, of keeping the focus of the game on the field and not in the courtroom,” Tagliabue said. “We have tried to avoid litigation and we’re trying to avoid litigation in this situation. And I think we will if we do a fair job in balancing the interests of everybody.”
