NFL Keeps Rams Twisting in Wind
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 some owners are attempting to figure ways to make the move financially pleasing to everyone, a lawsuit was threatened and it became clear that the Rams’ situation has become ever more precarious.
Both Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Ram President John Shaw 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 by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, in a letter, 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, owner of the Buffalo Bills. “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, owner of the Houston Oilers 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, Bill Bidwill, owner of the Arizona Cardinals, talked about his move to Phoenix in 1988, noting that not only did he lose money in St. Louis, but he paid a $7.5-million relocation fee.
The Rams do not intend to pay a relocation fee, and maintain that they lost more than $6 million last season. Saying that they will be unable to remain competitive if forced to stay in Anaheim, they have struck a deal with St. Louis that would 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.”
Ed McCaskey, owner of the Chicago Bears, 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 its not their money but belongs to St. Louis.
Documents released in St. Louis Monday indicate that FANS Inc. will be responsible for paying any settlement fee with the league.
Tagliabue, while sounding pessimistic, left the door ajar.
“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 would present a realignment problem, with four Eastern teams in the NFC West, and would jeopardize the NFL’s relationship with Fox-TV.
“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%,” Tagliabue said. “That’s a big swing. . . .
“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. 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.”
The NFL agreed earlier with the Rams that it would not seek a favorable venue and file a suit to block the move before March 31. The Rams are under no such limitation, and Shaw hinted that he might also file a sex discrimination suit on behalf of Frontiere.
“I just know some of the comments that have been made in the commissioner’s report seem punitive to us,” Shaw said. “There was an implication in the report that the solution to the Rams’ problem was that Georgia would have to sell. I would view that to be punitive, because she has no intention to sell.”
