The NFL and Hollywood Park reached an agreement in principle yesterday on a deal that would keep the Raiders in Los Angeles, the Boston Globe reported today.
But that doesn't mean it's a done deal, because Raiders owner Al Davis also must make a deal with Hollywood Park.
The Globe's report came after former coach John Madden, who is close to Davis, reportedly said on a show on KNBR in San Francisco that the team would return to Oakland.
"I'll say this, since the Raiders have left Oakland, now they're closer to coming back to Oakland than they ever have been," Madden said on the air.
About the same time, the NFL's special negotiating committee verbally
closed a deal with the ownership of Hollywood Park, the Globe reported. The paper said the deal included a promise of two Super Bowls and 10,000 seats for each to Hollywood Park, a race track that would become the site of a 68,000- seat stadium.
Another option is for the Raiders to move into Anaheim Stadium, vacant since the Rams moved to St. Louis.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Coliseum commission - which controls the facility where the Raiders play and probably would have to stay until a new stadium is finished - adopted a budget requiring the NFL tenant to pay $788,000 in rent this year. The Raiders played rent-free in the Coliseum last year and paid $250,000 per game in expenses.
Davis reportedly will decide in 48 hours whether to stay in Los Angeles or go to Oakland.
Davis said nothing upon emerging from a meeting with Hollywood Park chairman and CEO R.D. Hubbard, who said, "Nothing's changed. The deal is still on."
In other news:
BENGALS: BROWN IN BALTIMORE
Cincinnati Bengals general manager Mike Brown flew to Baltimore to talk with a group trying to persuade the team to move.
Baltimore is considering whether to build a $200 million home for the Bengals or some other NFL team.
Brown reportedly will meet today with Ohio Senate president Stanley Aronoff, who wants the Bengals to stay in Cincinnati.
BILLS: SIGN KARL WILSON
The Buffalo Bills signed journeyman defensive end Karl Wilson to a free- agent contract.
STEELERS: 7TH-ROUNDER SIGNED
Wide receiver and kick returner Henry Bailey, the Pittsburgh Steelers' seventh-round draft selection, signed a contract. No terms were disclosed.
