Owners Considering Several Realignment Options

A group of NFL realignment models discussed Tuesday at the league meetings included a few likely to stir fans’ emotions, but a consensus is building behind a plan that preserves the league’s most traditional rivalries.

Most proposals call for the Seattle Seahawks to move from the AFC to the NFC West, and for such rivals as the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins to remain in the same division when the NFL realigns into eight four-team divisions in 2002.

The old black-and-blue division of the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings would stay together as the new NFC North, and the core of the NFC East, the AFC East and the AFC West would also remain the same.

Neither the San Francisco 49ers nor Oakland Raiders would change divisions under any of the seven examples.

Though there are two plans under which the San Diego Chargers would move to the NFC West instead of the Seahawks, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue all but dismissed the possibility, saying the league does not want to separate the old American Football League grouping of the Raiders, Chargers, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.

“That sentiment has been quite strong, but people are trying not to be closed-minded,” Tagliabue said.

Probably the most frivolous proposal had the Cowboys joining the NFC West, but Tagliabue called it a longshot and Cowboy vice president Stephen Jones seemed merely amused.

“I just think it’s something obviously the networks would have a lot of issues with as well,” Jones said. “I think the league and the owners just want to give everybody a chance to have an opinion. We feel very strongly we should stay in the East.”

Tagliabue also is clearly committed to keeping the Cowboys in the NFC East as well as keeping the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East, though a token proposal had the Dolphins moving to the new AFC South.

“If you start moving Dallas and Miami, everything becomes chaotic,” Tagliabue said.

The plan some owners and executives point to as most likely to be approved when a vote is taken at meetings in Chicago in late May has few changes likely to meet much resistance.

The NFC East would consist of the Cowboys, Redskins, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

The new NFC South would be the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The North would be the core of the old NFC Central, and the NFC West would be the Arizona Cardinals--in a logical geographical move from the East--St. Louis Rams, 49ers and Seahawks, the lone team asked to change conferences.

In the AFC, the Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots and New York Jets would form the East, with the Indianapolis Colts moving to the new AFC South with the expansion Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.

The Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers would form the AFC North, with the Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders and Chargers in the West.

The remaining decisions focus largely on which teams will be in the AFC North and South--with the Ravens, Colts, Texans and Titans in the mix for either.

“Most discussion is on the NFC West and South and the AFC North and South,” said Tagliabue, who holds four proxy votes in the matter, which must be decided by a three-quarter majority of the 32 teams.

Twelve teams will make the playoffs as before--but with four division winners and only two wild cards from each conference.

Although a decision is due by June 1, the vote is expected in May.