SAN DIEGO >> Workman's compensation. Struggling marketplaces. No product in the second largest media market in the country. Minority hiring issues. Tagliabue all business
in state of the NFL address
NFL appeals to youth
By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comThe state of the NFL union, as described by its commissioner yesterday, is definitely one of big business. It reflects the current climate of the country, from tighter security to lack of corporate support for tomorrow's Super Bowl XXXVII at Qualcomm Stadium.
Paul Tagliabue tackled some tough questions during yesterday's news conference at the San Diego Convention Center. The commissioner also juked his way out of some hard answers, particularly when it came to moving a franchise to Los Angeles, a city that saw both the Rams and the Raiders leave due to stadium issues.
"There is no timetable for expansion because we don't anticipate any expansion," said Tagliabue, in his 13th year as head of the NFL. "However, if there is an opportunity to put a team in the Los Angeles area, in a state-of-the-art stadium, then the owners might consider that.
"After our last expansion (to 32 teams), it was decided to wait a few years and look at the situation. But some of the owners have said that if moving a team was the best way to re-establish the NFL in Los Angeles then they'd consider it."
The remarks hit home in regards to the San Diego Chargers, a team that just celebrated its 40th season in America's Finest City. Qualcomm is hosting its second Super Bowl in six years but is ancient -- completed in 1967 -- when compared with the new stadiums built in Houston, Jacksonville and Detroit.
Those cities will host the next three Super Bowls. When asked when San Diego would host another Super Bowl, Tagliabue candidly replied, "I'm surprised that we're here THIS week."
"I don't think the outlook is promising. I don't vote on where the Super Bowl is played. The competition is fierce to host and if it wasn't for (Chargers owner) Alex Spanos being very persuasive, I don't think San Diego would have been at the top of the list when it did get the game again."
However, the weather here has been perfect this week, reaching into the low 70s during the day. When looking at the sub-freezing temperatures back east, consideration of New York and Washington, D.C., for host cities seems out of the question.
"But if we base it on the weather today, we'd have a tough time awarding it to Jacksonville," said Tagliabue, noting the sub-freezing temperatures in the Florida city this week. "The important things we need to guarantee at a site is that the playing field is in excellent shape and that the fans are comfortable. That requires a state-of-the-art stadium.
"It also requires a sensible mindset when attending the game. If the game is in Minnesota, don't go in shorts looking for Mai Tais. You have to dress as if you were going to the Winter Olympics."
Several questions elicited chilly responses from the commissioner. One was regarding the officiating snafu during the playoff game between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers: "We had the mechanics in place to make sure this kind of oversight didn't happen and it still did."
The other dealt with the vocal involvement of lawyer Johnnie Cochran and other high-profile African Americans over the hiring of coach Bill Parcells by the Dallas Cowboys: "The principle of fair hiring is that employers should not pass over those more qualified. We want colorblind hiring practices, but also merit-based ones."
Tagliabue is certain that the current overtime procedure will be changed when the league meetings take place in March. He said that studies have shown that more than 80 percent of the time the first team to receive the ball wins.
He also said that, while the NFL will play preseason games outside the U.S., it would be an iffy proposition for a regular-season game to be held at an international site.
Tagliabue's talk was not without humor. When addressing obesity in the NFL, he said he has the same feeling about the lawsuits against fast-food places for causing people to become overweight.
"I don't feel responsible for overweight lineman any more than (NBA commissioner) David Stern is responsible for Yao Ming's height," Tagliabue said. "We inherit these players when they come into the league.
"We do feel a responsibility to address the situation, especially whether the blocking rules and tactics encourage certain types of players at certain positions."
NFL and NFL Players Association officials are working on health issues, including overweight players and sleep apnea.
Tagliabue also spoke about the satisfaction with the current playoff system and did not see the need to add more teams. The risk would be having teams in the playoffs with losing records.
He said the league has had discussions with officials in Pasadena, Calif., about renovating the Rose Bowl. Tagliabue said he was encouraged by the effort in Pasadena to make it a state-of-the-art stadium while also preserving the historical elements.
The Rose Bowl hosted the Super Bowl in 1977, 1980, 1983, 1987 and 1993. Also being evaluated as a potential site is the Oakland Coliseum.
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