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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 19, 2002
WASHINGTON -- College and professional sports organizations have asked Congress to prohibit banner-toting planes from flying over their stadiums, citing fears of terrorist attacks.
The NFL, Major League Baseball and some Division I-A colleges say there is a credible threat. Al-Qaida's 11-volume Manual of Afghan Jihad suggested football stadiums as a possible attack site, and the FBI issued an alert in July warning that people with ties to terrorist groups were downloading images of U.S. stadiums from the Internet.
"We don't understand how the business interests of these pilots outweighs the safety of the tens of thousands of people in these stadiums," said Mike Waring, a lobbyist for the University of Michigan.
The Federal Aviation Administration banned flights over stadiums with more than 30,000 people after the Sept. 11 attacks. But the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration have granted 440 waivers to the rule for pilots who pass a background check, making the planes a common sight at major sporting events.
NEW YORK -- Any player thinking about copying Terrell Owens' autograph session should beware: The NFL has sent a memo to all 32 teams warning that carrying foreign objects will bring a 15-yard penalty and possible ejection from the game.
Owens created a stir Monday when, after his second touchdown catch in San Francisco's victory over Seattle, he pulled a pen from his sock, signed the ball and handed it to his financial adviser in the front row. Owens was warned, and the only punishment he received was a $5,000 fine for having his jersey untucked.
"We sent a memo to the clubs clarifying that a player possessing a foreign object -- an object not part of the uniform -- is subject to a 15-yard penalty," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "If the referee deems the object to be a safety hazard, the player will be ejected from the game. An object such as a pen will be considered a safety hazard."
Also, Owens softened his tone two days after claiming that black players are singled out for their on-field celebrations.
"This is not a racial issue. It's about perception," Owens said in a statement issued by the team. "I am a target because of who I am and what I have done in the past. It seems like everything I do is taken to another level."
BEARS: Defensive end Bryan Robinson was arrested for drunken driving and released on his own recognizance early Friday. He practiced, but it wasn't immediately certain if his arrest would keep him out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game at Detroit. ... Veteran Chris Chandler will start at quarterback, replacing Jim Miller (tendinitis).
BENGALS: Hamilton County officials are reviewing the team's stadium agreement to see if it has violated its lease by failing to field a competitive team.
BILLS: Reserve running back Shawn Bryson will miss the rest of the season with torn ligaments in his left knee. Starting cornerback Antoine Winfield won't play Sunday against Miami after being hurt during practice Thursday. He had arthroscopic knee surgery Friday.
BROWNS: Cornerback Anthony Henry will start for Daylon McCutcheon (bruised elbow).
CHARGERS: The team will make a game-time decision on whether Pro Bowl linebacker Junior Seau will play against the Raiders. Seau has been bothered by a sprained ankle since Sept. 22. REDSKINS: Contract negotiations with right tackle Jon Jansen intensified in recent days. Washington wants to reach an agreement on a multiyear extension that would keep him with the team beyond this season. Jansen likely wants a deal worth at least $5-million per season to bypass testing the free-agent market next offseason.