Newsgroup: it.sport.americani
Titolo: infobeat fresco - NFL

Notizie buone... i Dolphins firmano 5 anni  Zach Thomas..........
Notizie tristi.... Warren Moon presumibilmente al capolinea
Notizie eccezionali.... a 8 anni dall'infortunio Mike Utley (ex guardia
dei Lions) sta ricominciando a camminare.
Buona lettura
          News and Notes
                NFL steps in, puts Cooke back in charge of Redskins
                Moon released by Seahawks
                Rowland, Kraft sign agreement to bring Pats to Hartford
                Saints will cut loose Collins
                Detmer may be heading to Browns
                Eagles' Mamula signs 4-year deal
                Zach Thomas to stay with Dolphins
                Steelers decline to make Lake franchise player
                Cardinals make Rob Moore franchise player
                NFL holds off Houston, L.A. once again
                Rhodes completes coaching staff
                With Dierdorf out, 'MNF' may go to a two-man booth
                Ricky Williams hires rapper Master P as agent
                Colts leaving Anderson University after 15 years
                Utley prepares for first unassisted steps since injury
                Pittsburgh begins leveling player tax
                                                  Return to Top
          NFL steps in, puts Cooke back in charge of Redskins
          (AP) - On the eve of free agency, NFL commissioner Paul
Tagliabue
          on Thursday night stepped into a power struggle involving the
          Washington Redskins and declared president John Kent Cooke in
          charge of the team. Tagliabue's move came after trustees of
the
          estate of Cooke's late father demanded final authority for any
          and all dealings, leaving general manager Charley Casserly and
          coach Norv Turner powerless and the team in danger of losing
          several key free agents. "Commissioner Tagliabue today
confirmed
          that current Redskin management retains full authority to
direct
          the operation of the team, including player and coach
employment
          until the sale of the Redskins is approved by NFL clubs," read
a
          statement from the league. "The commissioner acted after
learning
          that the special committee of the trustees for Jack Kent
Cooke's
          estate recently denied management the authority to re-sign
          certain players."
          Casserly, whose hands had been tied by the trustees at the
          bargaining table, immediately got on the phone and reopened
          negotiations with quarterback Trent Green and others. He also
cut
          disenchanted quarterback Gus Frerotte, saving the team a $1.25
          million roster bonus that would have been due at the end of
the
          month. "It means we have the go-ahead to operate," Casserly
said.
          "We've done that. We've talked to Trent Green's agent. We'll
be
          on the phone at 12:01 tonight talking to other free agents."
The
          Redskins' future remains in limbo, however, as NFL owners
          consider whether to approve the sale of the team to a group
          headed by brothers Howard and Edward Milstein and Daniel
Synder
          for a league-record $800 million. The trustees of the late
          Cooke's estate agreed to sell the team to the Milstein-Snyder
          group on Jan. 10. Three-fourths of the NFL team owners must
          approve.
          *** For the full story, see
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2558420855-426
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Moon released by Seahawks
          (AP) - If Warren Moon wants to keep playing football, it won't
be
          in Seattle. Mike Holmgren, the Seahawks new coach-general
          manager, announced Thursday that the team had released Moon,
          leaving Jon Kitna as the only quarterback on the Seahawks'
          roster. "I didn't want to insult him in any way," Holmgren
said.
          "He doesn't deserve that. He's been a starter his whole
career.
          Would he be real comfortable being a second-team player? It's
          something I had to think about." Moon, 42, a nine-time Pro
          Bowler, had said he only wanted to return if he could compete
for
          the starting job. Holmgren decided to go with Kitna, who
started
          the final five games of last season, and didn't want to pay $5
          million to a backup QB. Moon's release, along with those of QB
          John Friesz, DT Dan Saleaumua and RB Steve Broussard, put the
          Seahawks $350,000 under the NFL's salary cap before Friday's
          deadline.
          "I just didn't want to create a situation, particularly when
I'm
          just starting out new here, that would be the least bit
awkward
          or not real positive," Holmgren said. "Not that that would
happen
          necessarily. This way I think it's the cleanest way to go
where
          everyone has a chance to try to do their thing." Moon signed a
          two-year contract last August after the first holdout of his
          15-year NFL career. He could still return to Seattle with a
          reduced salary in a backup role. "I really enjoyed my two
years
          with the Seahawks and I want to thank (owner Paul Allen) for a
          wonderful opportunity," Moon said in a statement. "I remain
          optimistic that something can be worked out at a later date
but
          for now I'm going to consider my options as are the Seahawks.
I
          will, regardless of what happens in the future, maintain a
strong
          presence in this community."
          *** For the full story, see
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2558420728-a92
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Rowland, Kraft sign agreement to bring Pats to Hartford
          (AP) - Gov. John G. Rowland and New England Patriots owner
Robert
          Kraft signed the final agreement early Friday morning to bring
          the team to Hartford, Conn. The deal was signed at 1:10 ET
a.m.,
          after lawyers in Hartford and Boston pored over the document
for
          hours and communicated via conference calls. After the lawyers
          finished going over the document, one page was faxed to
Rowland
          and to Kraft for their signatures, said the governor's
spokesman,
          Dean Pagani. "It's a very complex agreement. It ties the state
          and the Patriots together for the next 30 years," Pagani said
of
          the $374 million stadium deal. Agreement was reached hours
before
          Rowland was scheduled to leave for Florida for a meeting of
the
          Republican Leadership Council. He was scheduled to return
Sunday
          night.
          Kraft, who had visited Hartford on Thursday, had returned to
          Massachusetts on Thursday night. This week was the third
deadline
          Rowland and Kraft had set for the agreement to be signed. The
          deal was first expected to be finalized Jan. 15. That deadline
          was extended to last Friday, but Rowland and Kraft pushed the
          signing back to sometime this week. Early Thursday evening,
about
          15 protesters gathered outside Rowland's residence to
criticize
          the deal and the secrecy of the process.
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Saints will cut loose Collins
          (AP) - The agent for New Orleans Saints quarterback Kerry
Collins
          was told by general manager Bill Kuharich that coach Mike
Ditka
          is not interested in re-signing the free agent. "He (Kuharich)
          just said that it was coach Ditka's decision, and that's the
way
          he felt it was going to go," Leigh Steinberg said Wednesday.
          Ditka confirmed that later Wednesday. "It is my decision,"
Ditka
          said. "They're all my decisions. I'm the coach." Ditka cited
the
          14 turnovers Collins committed in less than 24 quarters last
          season as the main factor in his decision not to re-sign the
          quarterback. Collins, 26, the fifth player selected in the
1995
          draft, threw 10 interceptions, fumbled eight times and lost
four,
          and the Saints were 2-5 with him as a starter. "(Turnovers)
that
          was the glaring thing," Ditka said. "That was what we were
trying
          to overcome."
          The Saints were 1-3 in the last four games, beating Dallas
          (22-3), then losing the final three to Atlanta (27-17),
Arizona
          (19-17) and Buffalo (45-33). Ditka said he reached the
decision
          not to re-sign Collins after reviewing videotape. Collins was
          arrested Nov. 2 for driving under the influence of alcohol in
          Charlotte, N.C. after the Saints had claimed him off waivers
from
          the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 14. Collins subsequently was
forced
          to undergo psychiatric counseling by the NFL. Before joining
the
          Saints, Collins was accused of being a racist and a heavy
drinker
          during his three-plus seasons with Carolina. Collins was
released
          by the Panthers after asking Coach Dom Capers to remove him
from
          the lineup following the team's 0-4 start last season.
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Detmer may be heading to Browns
          Ty (AP) - San Francisco quarterback Ty Detmer, who backed up
          Steve Young last season, could be on his way to Cleveland.
League
          rules prevent a trade from being formalized until Friday.
          However, the 49ers and Browns have talked about a possible
deal
          involving Detmer, who was signed by San Francisco before last
          season as a free agent after two years as a starter for
          Philadelphia. He also spent four years in Green Bay as Brett
          Favre's understudy. Cleveland, looking to stock its new team
with
          players, would give the 49ers draft picks in exchange for
Detmer.
          Other San Francisco players that could be included in the swap
          are defensive end Roy Barker and tight end Irv Smith,
according
          to unidentified sources cited by the Oakland Tribune and
Contra
          Costa Times on Thursday.
          In his only start last season, Detmer offset three
interceptions
          by throwing for three scores in San Francisco's 25-23 win over
          Carolina. The 49ers are in need of draft picks after last
April's
          trade with Denver in which they sent their 1999 second-round
          selection to Denver in exchange for tackle Jamie Brown, who
          proved to be a bust and was released earlier this week. San
          Francisco also is trying to slash its bloated player payroll.
          Teams must be in compliance with the cap by Friday. The
expansion
          Browns are believed to want Detmer, a seven-year pro, as a
          potential starter while a young quarterback, perhaps rookie
Tim
          Couch, is groomed for the job. Cleveland is considering taking
          Couch, a star at Kentucky, with the first pick in the NFL
draft.
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Eagles' Mamula signs 4-year deal
          (AP) - The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed defensive end Mike
          Mamula to a four-year contract worth between $11 million and
$12
          million plus incentives. Mamula, 25, missed all of last season
          after injuring his knee in the second exhibition game. He was
the
          seventh pick of the 1995 draft but never recorded more than
eight
          sacks in a season. But Tom Modrak, the Eagles' director of
          football operations, said Thursday that the team looked at all
          the available pass-rushing ends, "and Mike has as much ability
as
          any of the guys who are in that group." Mamula started 45
games
          during his first three NFL seasons before suffering a torn
          anterior cruciate ligament and torn cartilage in his right
knee
          during the Eagles' second preseason game against Pittsburgh.
          Modrak said Mamula will be ready in time for training camp
this
          summer.
          "His progress, his rehabilitation, has been very positive. ...
          He's been great, he's worked extremely hard. He seems to have
a
          better appreciation of what football means to him. Mike's
          hungry," Modrak said. Mamula, who was scheduled to become an
          unrestricted free agent on Friday, said he's gratified that
the
          team has offered him another chance. "It let's me know this
          organization wants me to be here. And I want to be here. This
is
          my home. I'm getting married in June and want to start a
family
          here," Mamula said. Mamula will be paired with defensive end
Hugh
          Douglas, who had 12 1/2 sacks last season and was one of the
few
          bright spots on an otherwise dismal team. The Eagles also
          announced the signing of fourth-year linebacker Dana Howard.
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Zach Thomas to stay with Dolphins
          (AP) - All-Pro linebacker Zach Thomas has agreed to a
five-year
          contract with the Miami Dolphins likely to make him one of the
          game's highest paid at his position, The Associated Press
learned
          Thursday. A source close to the negotiations between the
Dolphins
          and their leading tackler said the deal was expected to be
signed
          Friday. Team officials had no comment. "We don't have anything
to
          announce," spokesman Harvey Greene said Thursday night.
Thomas, a
          restricted free agent, had received a $1.268 million tender
from
          the Dolphins that protected their rights to the three-year
          veteran. Miami could have matched any offer or receive first-
and
          third-round draft choices as compensation if Thomas signed
with
          another team.
          Agent Drew Rosenhaus had been seeking a deal worth around $5
          million per season, saying at least three teams were prepared
to
          make a sizable offer to Thomas. That would put Thomas' pay at
a
          level comparable to Pittsburgh's Levon Kirkland, New England's
          Ted Johnson, San Diego's Junior Seau and Baltimore's Ray
Lewis.
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Steelers decline to make Lake franchise player
          (AP) - Rod Woodson. Chad Brown. Kevin Greene. Neil O'Donnell.
          Yancey Thigpen. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a history of
letting
          star players leave via free agency. The next to go might be
          Carnell Lake. The Steelers declined Thursday to name Lake as
          their franchise player, a decision that allows the four-time
Pro
          Bowl defensive back to negotiate with any other NFL team.
Other
          Steelers who became free agents at midnight were wide receiver
          Charles Johnson, defensive lineman Oliver Gibson, linebacker
          Donta Jones, running back Fred McAfee, kicker Norm Johnson,
          fullback Tim Lester and strong safety Lee Flowers. Lake has
been
          the Steelers' franchise player since 1995, but the Steelers
chose
          not to give any player that designation before the 4 p.m. ET
          deadline Thursday.
          They considered putting the tag on tight end Mark Bruener
until
          reaching terms with him late Tuesday on a $10 million,
four-year
          contract. As with most Steelers' offseason personnel moves,
money
          was a determining factor in the Lake decision. Because Lake
          started all 16 games at cornerback last season, the Steelers
had
          to pay him a salary comparable to the five highest-paid
players
          at his position -- or about $4.5 million -- to retain him as
          their franchise player. However, the Steelers want Lake back
only
          as a safety, the position he played for most of his career.
Lake
          made midseason moves to cornerback in 1995 and 1997 and played
          there full-time in 1998 after Chad Scott badly injured a knee
in
          a preseason workout and sat out the entire season. "We would
love
          to have him back, and he has said he would love to stay here,"
          Steelers director of football operations Tom Donahoe said.
          *** For the full story, see
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2558423904-79d
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Cardinals make Rob Moore franchise player
          (AP) - The Arizona Cardinals didn't want to let Jamir Miller
get
          away. They also didn't want to drive him off. So they made
wide
          receiver Rob Moore their franchise player on the eve of free
          agency and gambled on being able to re-sign Miller. The
Cardinals
          believe the 6-foot-5, 260-pound outside linebacker wants to
          return to the team that drafted him in the first round in
1994.
          "The Cardinals have a very good thing going," agent Steve
Baker
          said Thursday. "You're talking about a team that has more
young
          defensive talent than any team in the league. You're talking a
          grass field. It's a very exciting situation. If Jamir wasn't a
          Cardinal, it would be a team he'd seriously look at." Moore is
          guaranteed the average salary of the top five players at his
          position ($3.53 million).
          Miller's cost would have been $3.48 million, but the long-term
          effects of limiting his salary could have been serious. "All
that
          would have done is delay him being signed until late summer.
Now
          hopefully we'll get the deal done very quickly," Baker said.
          Miller played for $710,000 last season and led the Cardinals
with
          a career-high 150 tackles despite having a dislocated wrist
most
          of the time. For that kind of grit, he expects something
similar
          to the $6.5 million average over three years that the
Baltimore
          Ravens gave Ray Lewis. Giving Moore, who played for $2.95
million
          last year, the franchise tag was less risky. He likely will
          settle in the $4 million to $5 million a year range to stay in
an
          offense that got better all season as he and Frank Sanders got
          used to second-year quarterback Jake Plummer. Moore had 67
          catches for 982 yards one year after setting career marks for
          catches (97) and yardage (1,584).
          *** For the full story, see
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2558423908-090
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          NFL holds off Houston, L.A. once again
          (AP) - NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue told potential NFL
          franchise hopefuls in Houston and Los Angeles not to attend a
          meeting in Atlanta next week to discuss which city will get
the
          league's 32nd franchise. Houston businessman Bob McNair and
two
          Los Angeles groups were scheduled to be at the owners' meeting
to
          make presentations but Tagliabue told all three groups Tuesday
          the owners had decided that the session in Atlanta would be
for
          discussion only and no final decisions would be made. McNair
was
          not discouraged by the notice. "I think it's a reflection of
the
          challenge that the commissioner has in trying to develop a
          consensus to go ahead and expand," McNair said Wednesday. "He
          told me at the Super Bowl his No. 1 priority was to develop
that
          consensus and at that point in time he didn't have more than
          one-third of the members ready to move and do anything."
          All three groups made presentations at the Super Bowl. A
decision
          could be reached at the NFL meetings in Phoenix next month.
          Although Los Angeles is considered the favorite over Houston
          because of its large media market, McNair said the delays in
          reaching a decision meant Houston still was in the running.
"What
          this shows is that in spite of all the talk of Los Angeles
being
          the second largest media market and they have a lock on the
          franchise, this shows they don't," McNair said. "It's not a
          decision for LA. The reason is we probably have more votes
than
          they (Los Angeles) do. The NFL wants to be in both cities, Los
          Angeles and Houston, but those who thought LA would steamroll
          Houston, they've got another thought coming. It ain't going to
          happen." Houston has proposed a $310 million retractable-roof
          stadium. Taxpayers would provide $195 million.
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Rhodes completes coaching staff
          (AP) - Ray Rhodes has completed his coaching staff in Green
Bay
          with the hiring of quarterbacks coach Mike McCarthy, receivers
          coach Charlie Baggett and former player Lionel Washington as
          assistant secondary coach. McCarthy, 35, was quarterbacks
coach
          for the Kansas City Chiefs for the last four years and helped
          offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye in the team's game plans. He
          began his coaching career as a linebackers coach at Fort Hayes
          State in Kansas in 1987-88 before becoming an assistant at
          Southern Cal from 1989-92. Baggett, 46, spent 14 seasons at
          Michigan State, his alma mater, including a 10-year tenure
under
          George Perles from 1983-92 and the last four seasons under
Nick
          Saban, making nine trips to bowl games along the way.
          Under Perles, Baggett coached receivers and running backs.
After
          spending two years as receivers coach with the NFL's Houston
          Oilers from 1993-94, Baggett returned to Michigan State in
1995,
          becoming associate head coach while continuing to work with
the
          wide receivers. Also, general manager Ron Wolf confirmed the
          signings of receiver Bill Schroeder and defensive lineman
Billy
          Lyon. The Packers also have signed linebacker Antonio London,
who
          tore a knee ligament at practice Sept. 10 and missed the rest
of
          the season.
          *** For the full story, see
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2558418641-8ce
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          With Dierdorf out, 'MNF' may go to a two-man booth
          (AP) - With Dan Dierdorf's departure from "Monday Night
          Football," one of the most prominent broadcasting jobs is
vacant.
          It may not be filled. ABC may return to a two-man booth on MNF
          for the first time in 13 years, back when Al Michaels teamed
with
          Frank Gifford. "Most booths in the NFL are two-man," said Jim
          Nantz, CBS' "NFL Today" host. "It's not that unusual. We've
come
          to be accustomed to the three-man booth in prime time, but
it's
          the exception and not the rule." Michaels and Gifford each
were
          established veterans when they were paired. Boomer Esiason
just
          completed his rookie stint after replacing Gifford, to mixed
          reviews. "Maybe ABC came to the conclusion that this three-man
          booth wasn't working and another one would be a risk, and Al
          Michaels and Boomer Esiason would be a better two-man," said
Neal
          Pilson, the former president of CBS Sports.
          Fred Fried, Esiason's agent, said the ex-quarterback has
fielded
          inquiries from several teams about returning to the field. But
          Esiason wants to stay upstairs. If ABC does go with a third
man
          in the booth, the leading candidates are: Paul Maguire is the
          ideal -- and safe -- choice. He has been an analyst for two
Super
          Bowls with NBC, he adds humor and is insightful. Maguire
          Currently works Sunday night games; Sterling Sharpe has been
          grabbing most of the headlines, but he has been a studio
analyst
          for three years and pairing him with Esiason would put far too
          much inexperience in the booth. It would be a major risk for
          NFL's biggest showcase; Joe Theismann is knowledgeable, but he
          and Esiason would battle for airtime -- much as Boomer and
          Dierdorf did; Tom Jackson is more of a football guy and is the
          favorite to replace Gifford as the co-host of the pregame
show.
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Ricky Williams hires rapper Master P as agent
          (AP) - The "haters" whispered in his ear repeatedly that he
          should avoid hiring rap king Master P as his agent, said
Heisman
          Trophy winner Ricky Williams. But the Texas running back came
to
          Master P's new hometown of Baton Rouge, La. anyway and
announced
          Thursday he has signed with the celebrity's firm. Williams,
          expected to be one of the top two picks in the NFL draft, said
he
          was besieged by people warning him against Master P. Some of
them
          were other agents. "They were saying don't do it," Williams
said.
          "He's not an agent, he's a businessman. I told Master P.
Master P
          told me to ask them how much money they made last year. ...
          Master P came from nowhere and has gone to the top. We're on
the
          same wave length."
          Master P, born in New Orleans' as Percy Miller, parlayed his
rap
          records into a flourishing business with his own label, No
Limit
          Records, and a financial interest in a professional sports
agent
          business, No Limit Sports. Forbes Magazine lists Master P
among
          the top 10 entertainers in terms of annual salary, at $56
          million. As Williams fielded questions at a news conference in
a
          casino, Master P stayed in the background, watching. An
aspiring
          athlete, Master P was recently cut by the NBA's Charlotte
Hornets
          after being invited to training camp. Williams said he thinks
he
          deserves to be the first pick in the draft but has met
Kentucky
          quarterback Tim Couch. "I wouldn't feel bad if a quarterback
went
          in front of me," he said. "I met him and he's a nice guy." The
          new Cleveland franchise has the first choice and apparently is
          deciding between the two.
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Colts leaving Anderson University after 15 years
          (AP) - The Indianapolis Colts are moving their training camp
          after 15 years of workouts at Anderson University. Club
president
          Bill Polian said Thursday that Anderson is not one of the
final
          sites he is considering for the team's training camp. "We're
          getting closer to the decision," Polian said. "My marching
orders
          are to stay in state, if possible. We're probably down to
three
          possibilities at this point with two of them very real." He
said
          at least one of the finalists is a location outside Indiana,
but
          did not identify the sites being considered. The Colts have
had
          discussions with officials at Rose-Hulman in Terre Haute,
Earlham
          in Richmond, DePauw in Greencastle and St. Francis in Fort
Wayne
          about locating their training camp on their campus.
Rose-Hulman
          could be the front-runner in Indiana.
          Rose-Hulman recently opened a $20 million multi-use indoor
          Athletics and Recreation Center that offers a new swimming
pool,
          state-of-the-art fitness facilities and locker rooms.
Rose-Hulman
          also has upgraded football and track facilities and an indoor
          track facility that could be used during bad weather. Polian
has
          declined to identify which cities he was considering. A story
in
          The Courier-Journal in Louisville last year said officials
from
          the city and the University of Louisville were considering an
          attempt to lure the Colts to Kentucky. Another possibility is
the
          University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where the Jacksonville
          Jaguars have been training. The Jaguars set up training camp
at
          their headquarters in Florida. Three other NFL teams held
their
          training camps in Wisconsin last year -- New Orleans
(LaCrosse),
          Kansas City (River Falls) and Chicago (Platteville).
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Utley prepares for first unassisted steps since injury
          (AP) - One small step is a big deal for former Detroit Lions
          offensive guard Mike Utley. He'll take it Monday -- his first
          step in public since a debilitating injury more than seven
years
          ago. While he was moving to block another player in a game at
the
          Pontiac Silverdome on Nov. 17, 1991, Utley lost his balance,
          sending his 6-foot-6, 315-pound body down on his head and
neck,
          crushing his sixth and seventh vertebrae. Utley, 33, is
expected
          to take his first public steps Monday in Phoenix, flanked by
two
          friends -- Lions linebacker Rob Fredrickson and former NFL
center
          Bill Lewis -- with a handful of reporters as witnesses. "My
job
          now has been to work hard to get back on my feet again," Utley
          said Thursday in a statement. "Just recently, I have
accomplished
          what some doctors told me was impossible. I stood up and took
a
          few steps. This injury does change you if you let it. I won't
let
          it."
          And although Utley was told he probably would never walk
again,
          he never quit trying. He learned to move in a wheelchair and
with
          crutches. He learned to drive a specially equipped car, to ski
          and to skydive. He lifted weights to keep his upper body
strong.
          And he vowed someday to walk. Because Utley suffered what is
          considered an incomplete injury, he has been able to regain
some
          feeling in his extremities and to a certain extent some use of
          his legs. "In view of that and in view of the fact Mike has
been
          busting his butt in the gym seven days a week for the last
          several years, he's to the point where he's regaining some
          movement," Utley's publicist, Allison Ward, told the Detroit
Free
          Press on Thursday. "This is really just a story of gritting it
          out. He has never given up, and he is one of the most
physically
          healthy guys out there who has been injured in the game."
          *** For the full story, see
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2558423529-91f
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Pittsburgh begins leveling player tax
          (AP) - Pittsburgh has joined at least 20 other cities in
leveling
          a wage tax on non-resident pro athletes, money that will
          partially fund the city's two new sports stadiums. The tax
will
          cover 1 percent of an anthlete's one day's wages. Mayor Tom
          Murphy's administration had hoped to use the $1.01 million the
          tax is expected to raise annually to help fund new stadiums
for
          baseball's Pirates and football's Steelers and an expanded
          convention center. But under a compromise worked out between
          Murphy and City Council, any amount above $750,000 a year will
be
          placed into a special fund for youth programs. The fund will
be
          administered by the city Parks Department.
          The tax is applicable to nonresident athletes coming into the
          city to play; athletes who reside locally are subject to the
          taxes of their local municipality. "Morally, I can't think of
          anything better than having a ballplayer contribute to
something
          like this," city Councilman Jim Ferlo said. "This is one time
I
          want to have millionaire ballplayers. The more they make, the
          better we do." Because player salaries continue to climb in
the
          NFL, NHL and major league baseball, the Murphy administration
          estimates that revenue from the tax could climb to $1.7
million
          annually by 2008. The city will commit approximately $7
million
          of the tax collected over 30 years to the stadiums and
convention
          center.
                                            Return to Top | News and
Notes Index
          Transactions
          ARIZONA CARDINALS-Designated WR Rob Moore as the team's
franchise
          player.
          CINCINNATI BENGALS-Sign LB Tom Tumulty to a two-year contract.
          CLEVELAND BROWNS-Named Jerry Butler wide receivers coach and
Mark
          Michaels quality control coach for special teams.
          DALLAS COWBOYS-Released LB Fred Strickland.
          DETROIT LIONS-Re-signed LB Stephen Boyd to a six-year contract
          and S Ron Rice to a five-year contract.
          GREEN BAY PACKERS-Named Mike McCarthy quarterbacks coach,
Charlie
          Baggett receivers coach and Lionel Washington assistant
secondary
          coach. Signed WR Bill Schroeder and DL Billy Lyon to multiyear
          contracts.
          INDIANAPOLIS COLTS-Signed WR Lake Dawson to a two-year
contract.
          Agreed to terms with LB Michael Barber and DE Mark Thomas.
          KANSAS CITY CHIEFS-Named Kurt Schottenheimer defensive
          coordinator.
          NEW YORK GIANTS-Terminated the contracts of CB Carlton Gray
and
          G-T Jerry Reynolds.
          OAKLAND RAIDERS-Released DE Aundray Bruce.
          PHILADELPHIA EAGLES-Re-signed DE Mike Mamula to a four-year
          contract. Signed LB Dana Howard.
          SAN DIEGO CHARGERS-Released TE Frank Hartley.
          SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS-Waived T Frank Pollack, DB Cory Hill and
WR
          Karl Lerum. Designated WR Terrell Owens as the team's
franchise
          player.
          SEATTLE SEAHAWKS-Released QB Warren Moon.
          TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS-Designated DE Chidi Ahanotu as team's
          franchise player. Released K Michael Husted, S Charles Mincy,
FB
          Lorenzo Neal and CB Anthony Parker.

          Ricky Williams hires rapper Master P as agent
E che c'azzecca questo? Non comincerà mica a rovinarsi anche lui?

Ciao
Charlie Brown
G O   D O L P H I N S ! ! !
mail to: 
chNOS...@excite.com
better remove NOSPAM when replying....

Magari al caldo sole della California??? ;-)
Uhm... chissa' perche' mi fischiano le orecchie! :-)
Chissa' che non fischino anche a qualcuno laggiu' in California...
Saluti.
Diego
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