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NFL briefs

By SHARON GINN, Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 1, 2001

NYC area now among the sites for Super Bowl

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The NFL is considering Giants Stadium for the Super Bowl as a way to help New York recover from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said, however, he hopes to keep the championship game in New Orleans while playing a full season and that East Rutherford is one of several options. The NFL also is looking at Tampa, Miami and Los Angeles.

Tagliabue spent much of last week negotiating with the National Association of Auto Dealers, trying to switch dates with the group that is scheduled to meet in New Orleans on Feb. 3. The Super Bowl had been scheduled for Jan. 27 in New Orleans, but the NFL wants to delay the playoffs a week because of the week it took off after the attacks.

The idea of holding the title game at Giants Stadium on Feb. 3 was proposed by New York Sen. Charles Schumer.

"It would be one way to help rebuild the city," Tagliabue said Sunday.

Schumer said the move would represent a "symbol of triumph over terrorism."

New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said it would be "terrific" if the Super Bowl were at Giants Stadium.

"They should just decree that the Giants and the Jets are going to be in it and stop all this nonsense with all these other teams," he said.

FOX CUTS COSTS: As a way to cut costs amid declining advertising revenues, Fox has dropped the popular first-down line from its NFL broadcasts. A network spokesman says there is no timetable for its return.

Sunday's games were the first affected by the decision, which "is the result of the current economic climate," Fox director of communications Dan Bell said. CBS, ESPN and ABC are continuing to use the line, which has been lauded repeatedly as one of the most popular technological innovations in sports television history.

Terms of the contract with Sportvision, which provides the first-down line to Fox, were not disclosed, but the reported cost to Fox per game ranges from $20,000 to $30,000.

BILLS: Left tackle Kris Farris broke his right leg, further depleting the offensive line. Farris, starting in place of John Fina, was blocking at the line when running back Travis Henry fell helmetfirst into the back of Farris' leg.

JAGUARS: Left tackle Tony Boselli was deactivated against Cleveland because of a shoulder injury.

PANTHERS: Linebacker Dan Morgan will miss 4-6 weeks after breaking his left leg against the Packers. Morgan, a first-round draft pick out of Miami, was injured as he tried to tackle Brett Favre in the second quarter. The quarterback was scrambling and used a stiff arm to knock the rookie to the ground.

RAIDERS: Linebacker Elijah Alexander was ejected against Seattle after he made a helmet-to-helmet hit on Seahawks quarterback Trent Dilfer. Dilfer, who entered the game two plays earlier after starter Matt Hasselbeck was benched, lay motionless and facedown on the field for several moments before getting up.

SEAHAWKS: Running back Ricky Watters left the game against the Raiders in the first quarter with a sprained right shoulder.

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