PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AFC : Oilers Won’t Be Moving Soon

Despite agreeing to a 70-day exclusive negotiating period with Nashville, Tenn., the Houston Oilers will remain in the Astrodome at least through the 1997 season.

Oiler owner Bud Adams and Nashville officials last week agreed to an exclusive negotiating period until Oct. 20 to discuss terms for possibly moving the NFL team to Nashville by 1996.

But Houston city officials threatened legal action if Adams broke a lease agreement with the Astrodome that runs through the 1997 season.

In the negotiating period, the Oilers are prevented from talking with Houston city officials about possible efforts to keep the team in Houston, and Nashville officials are prohibited from talking with other NFL teams.

The Oilers have not been able to secure funding from Houston Mayor Bob Lanier for a new domed stadium. The estimated cost of a domed stadium for the Oilers is $235 million.

Lanier has said repeatedly that the city of Houston does not have the money to help build the dome. He urged Adams to begin negotiations with Harris County Judge Robert Eckels and Drayton McLane Jr., the owner of the baseball Astros and manager of the county-owned Astrodome.

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The NFL has fined linebacker Greg Lloyd of the Pittsburgh Steelers $12,000 for a hit on Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Lloyd decked Favre just after the quarterback delivered a pass in the second quarter of the Packers’ 36-13 victory Sunday. Referee Gordon McCarter said the hit, which left Favre with a mild concussion, was legal.

But Packer General Manager Ron Wolf complained to the league on Monday. Packer Coach Mike Holmgren said the hit was on the borderline of being a dirty play.

The Post-Gazette quoted an unidentified NFL source as saying Lloyd was fined so quickly because the league is taking extra steps to protect quarterbacks this season.