With the Bears getting their new stadium deal, the number of NFL teams begging for new facilities dwindles to two–the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers.
To be sure, there are other owners standing in line for improvements or better deals, none yet as desperate as the Vikings and 49ers say they are or the Bears said they were.
With the addition of the Houston Texans and their new retractable-roof stadium for the 2002 season, there will be 32 teams in the NFL, most of them competing on financial playing fields made somewhat level by stadium revenue that does not have to be shared with other teams.
Bears President Ted Phillips said the team is currently “26th or 27th” in revenue. It used to be in the top 10.
“This won’t get us back to where we once were, but it will put us above average,” Phillips said.
The 49ers started playing in Candlestick (now 3Com) Park in 1971 after it was expanded in 1969. The stadium opened for baseball in 1960 and would replace Soldier Field, Green Bay’s Lambeau Field and Arizona’s Sun Devil Stadium as the oldest existing NFL venue. The Bears, Packers, and Cardinals all got funding approved this fall for new stadiums. The 49ers thought they had a deal until a switch in club ownership put it on hold. Minnesota’s Metrodome opened in 1982 and the Vikings have an entire page in their media guide addressing the “facility challenge that threatens the ability to survive.”
Texas Stadium opened in 1971 and features 381 luxury suites–almost three times as many as the new Soldier Field will have–but Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is talking about a renovation that will allow him to hold the 2007 Super Bowl.
The Indianapolis Colts got a new lease in the RCA Dome, but owner Jim Irsay said his goal is a new stadium by 2006, when he has a buyout.
“First and foremost, you want to stay up with the others in the league who have generated this stadium revenue,” Irsay said. “It gives you a chance to win. It doesn’t guarantee you anything.”
The New Orleans Saints also want improvements in the Superdome, a frequent Super Bowl site.
The Oakland Raiders first played in Oakland Coliseum in 1966. It underwent a major renovation in 1995, but permanent seat licenses have not been sold at the expected rate and club boss Al Davis has said he sees no future in the city.
Bears Chairman Michael McCaskey, a member of the NFL’s stadium committee, said: “We’re not done by any means, but it’s really quite extraordinary when you look back at the last seven or eight years the number of cities and states that have figured out how to get new stadiums built. Thank goodness for a very strong economy.”
Family party: Phillips said the new stadium deal will give the McCaskey family “the ability to continue to own the team for the next 30 to 50 years.”
The McCaskeys, including Virginia Halas McCaskey, honored Phillips with a luncheon Friday at Halas Hall for accomplishing what no one in the Halas or McCaskey family could accomplish in more than 30 years of trying.
“He did a tremendous job,” said Ed McCaskey, board chairman emeritus. “Everybody here is thrilled. There is real electricity going through the whole place.”
Michael McCaskey and others spoke. At the end of the luncheon, ticket director George McCaskey tossed a Gatorade jug of shredded paper over Phillips, providing a private ticker-tape parade.
Lost history: The Raiders and Steelers will play at Three Rivers Stadium for the final time Sunday and not many people involved remember the “Immaculate Reception” pass in their divisional playoff game on Dec. 23, 1972. Oakland led 7-6 when the Steelers lined up for their final play on fourth-and-10 at their own 40-yard line.
Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw the ball down the middle toward running back Frenchy Fuqua. The ball, Fuqua and Oakland safety Jack Tatum all converged and the ball bounced back toward the line of scrimmage. Steelers fullback Franco Harris scooped it up before it hit the ground and ran 60 yards down the left sideline, scoring with just five seconds remaining.
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It’s a controversy to this day whether the ball bounced off Fuqua or Tatum. Under the rules at the time, it would have been no catch had it hit Harris’ teammate, Fuqua.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden said he remembers the game, even though he was only 9 at the time.
The two teams have not met at Three Rivers since the Raiders beat the defending Super Bowl champs 45-34 in 1980. The teams have split their six meetings since then, all on the West Coast.
Mr. Brown: Lou “the Toe” Groza played longer than Otto Graham and Jim Brown combined and lived in Cleveland longer. When he died Wednesday, he left no doubt about his legacy with the Browns.
“I don’t know if he’s the greatest Cleveland Brown, but he is the Cleveland Brown,” said Doug Dieken, who played 14 seasons at left tackle, the position where Groza started for 11 of his 21 years with the Browns. “He exemplified what you want in a football player. Lou always had time for everybody. I’m sure every kid who sent a football card to Lou Groza got a Lou Groza card signed and sent back. He was just a big, lovable guy.”
Groza died of a heart attack at age 76, his number. The street in front of the Browns’ training facility is Lou Groza Boulevard. The address is 76.
DB disaster: The Detroit Lions suffered a devastating loss Thursday night in Minnesota when cornerback Bryant Westbrook went down for the season with a torn left Achilles’ tendon. Westbrook, who was tied for third in the NFL with six interceptions, was having a Pro Bowl season. Safety Kurt Schulz, who shares the league lead with seven interceptions, missed the game with an ankle injury and quarterback Charlie Batch left in the first quarter after aggravating a rib injury, but Westbrook’s absence changes Detroit’s outlook for the playoffs.
Send the bill: After the Buffalo Bills lost to the Tennessee Titans in the playoffs on the “Home Run Throwback” trick kickoff return play, the Bills fired special-teams coach Bruce DeHaven and hired Ronnie Jones, a former Buddy Ryan assistant.
The Bills rank 31st in punt-return average, 31st in kickoff-return average, 31st in opponent’s average drive start after kickoffs and 31st in net punting average. They’re 21st in opponents’ average punt return and gave up a 73-yarder for a touchdown in Tampa last week, the deciding score.
Sapp story: Referee Ed Hochuli’s reputation for calling a tight game grew last week in the Buffalo-Tampa Bay game in Tampa. When Bills quarterback Rob Johnson was hurt, Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp decided to get a drink of water from the ballboys on the Buffalo sideline. But Bills players and coaches screamed at the ballboys not to give Sapp a drink.
“So I look over and there’s this table full of about 90 waters and nobody wants any, so I say, `You know what, I’m just going to go get me a drink,'” Sapp said. “I walk over and (Bills nose tackle) Ted Washington jumps off the bench: `Nope, no water for you.’
“The referee is right there…. he’s about 5 feet from me. The referee says to him move out of his way, so he moves.”
But after Sapp started drinking the water, Bills quarterback Doug Flutie protested to Hochuli, who flagged Sapp for taunting. Sapp said Hochuli told him he was inciting a riot.
“So I said, `You can honestly tell me that’s in the rule book?’ He looks at me like, `I called it,'” Sapp said. “I told him …. `You’ll never get another drink in this stadium, I don’t care if it’s 120 degrees. I really don’t care, you’ll never ever drink any more Buccaneer water if I have anything to do it. If my people come onto the field and you walk into my huddle and ask for water, you must leave. You can’t have any.’ I told him this and I will enforce this rule as long as I’m a Buccaneer.”
For taunting, Sapp was fined $2,500, a record for buying water.
DON PIERSON’S NFL RANKINGS
1. Vikings–Full speed ahead, first into playoffs.
2. Raiders–Remember the last Vikings-Raiders Super Bowl?
3. Dolphins–Wannstedt still leading tight AFC East.
4. Ravens–This team is losing dark-horse status.
5. Titans–Del Greco has cost them two big games.
6. Eagles–Huge statement win in Washington.
7. Rams–Warner is back, but is it too late?
8. Jets–Nobody believes they’re still in it.
9. Saints–Aaron Brooks led club’s biggest win ever.
10. Colts–Big Three needs one more to make a play.
11. Buccaneers–Still hoping to get on a win streak.
12. Lions–Injuries could end up killing them.
13. Giants–Another chance to brag in Washington.
14. Bills–Cowart, too many others gone for year.
15. Broncos–Shanahan working overtime again.
16. Redskins–Awful loss to Philly reveals flaws.
17. Steelers–Rejuvenated Kordell must keep flinging.
18. Jaguars–At least they beat the Titans.
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19. Panthers–Maybe they can beat the Rams twice.
20. Chiefs–As up-and-down as coach’s personality.
21. Packers–Cold and tired and no place to rest.
22. Seahawks–Quarterbacks must be born, not made.
23. 49ers–Jerry Rice wants the ball more. Again.
24. BEARS–A new stadium will change everything.
25. Cowboys–It’s getting painful to watch these guys.
26. Falcons–Doug Johnson takes over at quarterback.
27. Cardinals–A new stadium will change everything.
28. Browns–Trying to honor Lou “the Toe” Groza.
29. Patriots–Calling Pete Carroll; all is forgiven.
30. Bengals–Mike Brown won’t fire himself as boss.
31. Chargers–Pressure’s off. Mission accomplished.Don Pie