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NFL briefs

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 1, 2000

Offers reportedly plentiful for Dolphins

MIAMI -- Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga has received numerous offers for the team, including a proposal worth about $800-million from an undisclosed buyer, the Associated Press reported Thursday. There have been a multitude of offers to buy the whole deal, according to AP. Huizenga, 62, announced in June he wanted to sell a minority stake for estate purposes. He has received no serious offers from prospective minority partners, AP reported.

The $800-million offer was first reported by ESPN.com, which said the bid came from a businessman who made his fortune in a dot.com company. Huizenga and his aides have doubts about whether the bid is serious, AP reported.

A sale of the franchise likely would include Pro Player Stadium, which Huizenga also owns.

Huizenga could not be reached for comment. Dolphins president Eddie Jones reiterated that Huizenga wants to sell only a minority interest.

"I'm telling you what Mr. Huizenga told me. He said he has entertained no offers to sell the team in its entirety," Jones said.

Study rates stadiums' crime risks

PHILADELPHIA -- A CAP Index Inc. study found Atlanta's Georgia Dome to be in the highest-risk neighborhood, while New England's Foxboro Stadium is in the lowest-risk location. According to the study, two-thirds of the 31 NFL stadiums are located in neighborhoods at high risk of serious crime. Tampa Bay's Raymond James Stadium is in the upper-half of that group.

CAP Index used a 1-to-10 rating range, with 1 meaning the vulnerability to crime is less than one-fifth the national average and 10 indicating a crime vulnerability of 10 or more times the national average. Raymond James Stadium received a 9, which is five to less than 10 times the national average.

CAP Index Inc., based outside Philadelphia in Exton, is the only source of precise, site-specific, objective crime-risk forecasts for the United States and Canada. Visit http//:www.capindex.com for the study.

UMP CAM: The league will allow TV networks to outfit an umpire's hat with a miniature camera in regular-season and post-season games. The league allowed networks to experiment with the tiny camera during nine preseason games, giving fans a close-up view of the action in the middle of the field.

Networks also will be allowed to interview a player in addition to coaches at halftime.

"We'll use it sparingly, and when it makes sense, four or five times a game," CBS executive producer Terry Ewert said. "We found it's useful showing the toughness of the game because you see blocking, plus the size and power of running backs coming right at you."

CFL-XFL TALK PLAYER SHARING: The CFL has approached the XFL about allowing players under contract with Canadian teams to also suit up with franchises in the fledgling spring league. No decision has been reached, but CFL general managers and the league's board of governors will discuss it when they meet Sept. 18 in Calgary.

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