LOS ANGELES - California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proved he is serious about bringing an NFL team back to Los Angeles, signing a bill Thursday to help boost the redevelopment of the Los Angeles Coliseum, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Schwarzenegger's willingness to sign the bill seems to give a fairly clear indication of his interest in bringing an NFL franchise back to Los Angeles, the nation's No. 2 media market.
"This special circumstance to attract an NFL franchise to California is extremely unique and important, and I would not consider this expansion of redevelopment authority under any other circumstance," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
The league, meanwhile, is reportedly exploring stadium projects at the Rose Bowl, Carson and Anaheim.
A nine-member group called the Coliseum Commission met Thursday to discuss the status of negotiations with the NFL, which started in May. The commission will meet again Wednesday to prepare for the NFL meetings Oct. 27-29 in Detroit.
L.A. councilman and commission president Bernard C. Parks seems to feel his group is getting closer to it's goal, and he compared the situation to a pro football team that is close to scoring a touchdown.
"In football terms, we're in the red zone," he said.
CHIEFS: The stitches came out of Dante Hall's infected lower lip and the Pro Bowl kick returner was back at practice Friday. Hall said he expected to be back to full speed in time for Monday night's game at Baltimore.
"People have been telling me not to give them any lip," Hall said with a laugh.
The swelling had subsided considerably after the seven stitches were removed. Hall hurt the lip early in last Sunday's game against Houston. When the Chiefs (0-3) returned to practice Thursday after taking two days off, the lip had become so swollen and infected it hurt just to run.
EAGLES: From unemployment to the starting lineup, it hasn't been a bad week for fullback Josh Parry.
Coach Andy Reid said that Parry likely will be the starting fullback against Chicago, filling the void created by Jon Ritchie's season-ending knee injury. It's the first career start for Parry, who has been cut twice this year by the Eagles.
"It's going to be exciting," Parry said. "I've got to control my emotions and not get too excited and do what I did in the preseason. It's going to be tough. It's a whole different level. It's going to be fun."
A four-year starter at San Jose State, Parry first signed with the Eagles as a free agent in 2001. He was cut that summer, re-signed later in the year and played with Frankfurt of NFL Europe. He again was released during training camp in 2002, but re-signed in 2003.
Parry caught five passes for 68 yards this preseason, but was among the final cuts on Sept. 1. He returned to the practice squad but was cut last week, only to come back Monday.
GIANTS: The NFL fined three defenders a total of $20,000 for illegal hits during last weekend's game with the Browns. Rookie safety Gibril Wilson and cornerback Terry Cousin were each fined $7,500 for helmet-to-helmet hits, and linebacker Barrett Green was docked $5,000 for hitting quarterback Jeff Garcia in the back with the crown of his helmet. The players have 10 days to appeal the fines to commissioner Paul Tagliabue. All three said they would.
JETS: Jason Fabini was downgraded to questionable Friday with a sore back, leaving his status in doubt for this weekend's game against the Dolphins. Fabini had been listed as probable, but he didn't practice all week. The seventh-year pro hasn't missed a game since 1999, when he sustained a season-ending knee injury in the ninth game of the season. If Fabini can't play or is limited, Brent Smith would see extended time. Smith started at guard last season, but can play both positions.
PACKERS: Pro Bowl center Mike Flanagan will undergo surgery on his left knee and miss the rest of the season.
Coach Mike Sherman made the announcement after practice Friday. The surgery to repair the patella tendon in Flanagan's left knee will be performed in the next week to 10 days, and the timetable for his recovery is about six months, Sherman said.
Flanagan has had patella tendinitis since an offseason minicamp in June. The ninth-year veteran missed all but the final week of the preseason and started the first three regular-season games, though he wasn't able to finish two.
TITANS: Steve McNair stretched and ran Friday, but he didn't throw any passes. Yet he looked healthy enough that coach Jeff Fisher won't rule him out Sunday. Fisher said McNair has "improved significantly."
"It's still hard to breathe, take a deep breath. That's my main concern. If I have to scramble, if I have to go out and come back, can I call the play? That's the main objective in running, trying to get the cardio back up," McNair said.
After the quarterback bruised his sternum in last week's 15-12 loss to the Jaguars, sending him to the hospital for two nights, Fisher said he didn't think McNair would be able to play against the Chargers.
