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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 4, 2001
NEW YORK -- Big Easy, yes. Big Apple, no.
Accepting a $7.5-million payoff, the National Automobile Dealers Association officially agreed Wednesday to move its convention back a week, allowing the Super Bowl to be played at the Superdome on Feb. 3 and quashing any hopes New York had of staging the event as an alternate location.
The anticipated announcement means the NFL can retain a 16-game regular season plus a normal playoff schedule with six wild-card teams.
"We deeply appreciate the willingness of (NADA president) Phil Brady and America's new-car dealers to work with us," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said in a statement. "Thanks to their leadership, our fans and teams can look forward to a full complement of playoffs and to a great Super Bowl weekend in New Orleans."
As announced earlier, the regular season will end with the Jan. 5-6 weekend. The wild-card round will be played Jan. 12-13, the divisional playoffs Jan. 19-20, and the conference championships Jan. 27, the original date of the Super Bowl.
In addition to the $7.5-million payment, the NFL agreed to match NADA payments up to $500,000 to aid charities working on behalf of relief efforts following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The possibility of staging the game at Giants Stadium surfaced Sunday as a way of supporting the New York area's recovery. The movement, however, never got off the ground as negotiations with the car dealers kept progressing.
New Orleans' main problem now will be a conflict with the first week of Mardi Gras.
BILLS: Kicker Steve Christie, one of the last links to Buffalo's Super Bowl era, was waived. Christie's departure was expected after he refused to agree to an injury settlement, which could have allowed him to re-sign with the team after Week 10.
BROWNS: Wide receiver Dennis Northcutt (bruised shoulder) said he was cleared to practice. But he is listed as questionable for Sunday.
CHIEFS: Defensive tackle Dan Williams, hobbled by injuries throughout his career, was released. Williams, Denver's first-round pick in 1993, had been on the physically unable to perform list.
COWBOYS: Third-year receiver Wayne McGarity was waived, a move that owner Jerry Jones said sends a message that the team is doing anything it can to improve. The Cowboys are 0-3 for the first time since 1989. Jones indicated McGarity might not be the only change. Coach Dave Campo said first-year player Reggie Swinton will replace McGarity as a receiver and punt returner.
GIANTS: Running back Tiki Barber said his left hamstring strain has improved significantly since he sustained the injury Sunday. He hopes to play this weekend. To do so, however, he must convince coach Jim Fassel he is 100 percent.
JAGUARS: Linebacker Hardy Nickerson joined the long list of injured when he pinched a nerve in his neck during practice and had to be taken to the hospital.
Jacksonville listed left tackle Tony Boselli (shoulder) and quarterback Mark Brunell (concussion) as questionable on Wednesday's injury report. Nickerson will be added to the list once tests at the hospital were complete.
PANTHERS: Tshimanga Biakabutuka practiced with the first team. The running back had been benched because of fumbling problems. But coach George Seifert said he was unsure if Biakabutuka, who was inactive Sunday, will play this week.
REDSKINS: Coach Marty Schottenheimer said Wednesday he "made a mistake" in how he dealt with his players in training camp and early in the season and will deviate from his usual coaching methods for perhaps the first time in his 10-month tenure. .
Schottenheimer changed the players' work schedule and the defensive scheme.
The changes are minor, but players said they are a welcome departure from Schottenheimer's usually rigid approach.
"There was a communications lapse on my part," Schottenheimer said. "I readily admit that and accept that.
"There were some things I asked for and I didn't tell them why. That's not good."
SEAHAWKS: Ricky Watters has decided against having an operation on his injured right shoulder and will be lost to Seattle for six to eight weeks. A bone was cracked in a 38-14 loss Sunday in Oakland.