Pro Football Spotlight : IN THE LAME DUCK BOWL, OILERS 37, BROWNS 10

In a typically busy day in the MFL--Mobile Football League--the entry from Cleveland, now known as the Browns but headed for Baltimore, was crushed, 37-10, by the team from Houston, now known as the Oilers, but negotiating with Nashville, Tenn.

Brown owner Art Modell didn’t show up because of death threats. The stadium was searched for bombs and late in the game, unruly fans tangled with police and security personnel.

Modell didn’t miss much. Rookie quarterback Eric Zeier threw three interceptions, one of which was returned 62 yards for a touchdown. Last week after Zeier won his first start, Modell said the youngster would “captivate this town,” but everyone thought he was talking about Cleveland.

Jim Brown, the Hall of Famer who is now a Brown consultant, said the only time he felt sadder on a football field was in 1963 “when [John F.] Kennedy got killed.”

“It was sort of like a dream out there,” Brown said. “The fans cheered the team when they came out. It was almost sad to hear them cheer and say ‘We love you.’ It’s a terrible feeling.”

The Browns are known for their loyal fans. They had five crowds of more than 73,000 last season and have three of the top 10 attendance seasons in NFL history.

Cleveland has seen new stadiums go up for its baseball and basketball teams, and will vote Tuesday on extending an alcohol and cigarette tax to renovate the 65-year-old football stadium.

Modell’s move will have to be approved by two-thirds of the other owners, but early returns don’t look good.

Patriot owner Bob Kraft said, “I just don’t think it is right. This team has had great support over the years. The team is loved in that region. The television ratings there are at the top of the league.”

Said Bill owner Ralph Wilson, a friend of Modell: “Fans across the country used to believe that our league stood for something. Stability. Doing things the right way. What do we have now? The Rams move in the spring. The Raiders move a few months later. Now the Browns wants to move to Baltimore. It’s all crazy.”

GENTLEMEN, PACK YOUR CARPETBAGS

Modell reportedly announced his move during the season to keep Tampa Bay from beating him to it.

Tampa voters recently rejected a tax referendum for use in schools and law enforcement, suggesting they aren’t in the mood to build anyone a free football stadium. Owner Malcolm Glazer has said he wants a commitment on a new 64,000-seat stadium by Dec. 1--and team officials went to Orlando to look around last week.

Owners in Chicago, Phoenix, Cincinnati, Boston and Seattle are also negotiating for new stadiums, as Modell was until he suddenly changed course last week.

“The general perception of the public is that if you fill the stadium you’ll be doing just fine,” said Seahawk President David Behring, son of owner Ken Behring.

“And that is no longer the case. Everything has changed with the new concept of stadium economics.”

Municipalities are increasingly required to guarantee ticket sales [Baltimore is reportedly guaranteeing Modell 10 years of sellouts], but the paying public is gagging at the prices.

The Carolina Panthers’ biggest crowd in their first four games in a 76,000-seat stadium, was 55,484. The Raiders are now playing in the second-smallest stadium in the league but their last two home games failed to sell out in time and were blacked out in the Bay Area.

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TOP PERFORMANCES

PASSING

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Player, Team Att. Cmp. Yds. TD JEFF GEORGE, Falcons 40 31 362 1 NEIL O’DONNELL, Steelers 52 34 341 2 ELVIS GRBAC, 49ers 37 26 327 0 SCOTT MITCHELL, Lions 50 23 321 2 DAVE BROWN, Giants 41 20 299 2 DAN MARINO, Dolphins 39 25 291 2 ERIC ZEIER, Browns 54 28 273 1 S. HUMPHRIES, Chargers 28 19 258 1 JOHN ELWAY, Broncos 21 16 256 3 RICK MIRER, Seahawks 31 17 253 2

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RECEIVING

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Player, Team Rec. Yds. TD HERMAN MOORE, Lions 9 176 0 BRIAN BLADES, Seahawks 6 153 2 ISAAC BRUCE, Rams 8 135 1 MIKE SHERRARD, Giants 6 128 1 TONY MARTIN, Chargers 7 121 1 ROBERT BROOKS, Packers 9 120 0 JEFF GRAHAM, Bears 5 111 0 JERRY RICE, 49ers 8 111 0

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RUSHING

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Player, Team Car. Yds. TD CURTIS MARTIN, Patriots 34 170 2 TERRELL DAVIS, Broncos 22 135 1 HARVEY WILLIAMS, Raiders 24 134 1 RODNEY THOMAS, Oilers 17 108 0 MARIO BATES, Saints 22 106 0

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--Compiled by Bob Cuomo and Mark Heisler