Clancy may make presentation at Miami meeting next week
The NFL's finance committee is expected to hear best-selling author Tom Clancy's plan for buying the MinnesotaVikings at league meetings next week in Miami. It was unclear whether the owners would vote on the proposed sale at the meeting. Approval by at least 23 of the 30 NFL owners is
required. Clancy, adviser Marc Ganis and Clancy's attorney met for about two hours in New York Monday with Tagliabue and other NFL officials to ease concerns that the author would not be able
to raise $200 million to buy the team. Clancy told reporters that he opened his financial books and presented a list of co-investors. "If you make a presentation and nobody makes an objection, it's pretty encouraging," Clancy said. He also said he emphasized his interest in the game, "the usual, the stuff you say, 'cause I love football."

05/12/98
Clancy meets with Tagliabue to ease concerns over bid
Falcons sign free agent center Widell

Clancy meets with Tagliabue to ease concerns over bid
Best-selling author Tom Clancy met with top NFL officials Monday to ease concerns that he can raise $200 million to buy the Minnesota Vikings. A spokesman for NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said it is likely that Clancy will make a presentation to the league's finance committee during its meeting in Miami next week. It was uncertain whether the owners will take a formal
vote on the proposed sale at the meeting. Approval by at least 23 of the 30 NFL owners is required. Clancy, who was traveling Monday, was not immediately available for comment. The author, adviser Marc Ganis, and Clancy's attorney met for about two hours in New York with Tagliabue and other NFL officials.
    Ganis said about 20 investors are involved, and that the group's commitments might total a few million dollars beyond the purchase price. Clancy would put up about $60 million for 30 percent overall ownership in the team and all of the voting stock, Ganis said. The group of prospective investors includes Ganis, who owns a sports consulting business in Chicago; five current Vikings co-owners -- Wheelock Whitney, James Binger, John Skoglund, Philip Maas and Betty MacMillan -- and Cargill Inc. heir W. Duncan MacMillan. Actor Tom Selleck also might be among the investors, Ganis has said.

Falcons sign free agent center Widell
The Atlanta Falcons Monday added another veteran free agent to their offensive line by signing center Dave Widell. Widell, who played the last three seasons of his 10-year career with the
Jacksonville Jaguars, is the third free agent offensive lineman to sign with Atlanta in the offseason, joining tackle Corey Louchiey and guard Matt Elliott. The 32-year-old Widell started in 42 of 47 games during his three-year tenure in Jacksonville. Second-year player Michael Cheever had won the starting job from Widell last season, but was sidelined by back problems late in the year and Widell reclaimed the position. The 6-foot-7, 316-pound Widell has also played at guard and tackle and doubled as a long snapper in his NFL career.

05/11/98
Fresno police kill ex-49er in standoff
Tom Neville, a 350-pound former NFL lineman, was shot dead Saturday by Fresno, Calif., police, who say he escaped from a psychiatric hospital and barricaded himself in an apartment. Neville, 36, received about a dozen gunshot wounds, Fresno County Coroner David Hadden said. Neville played for the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers in a career that lasted from 1986-92. The standoff began after Neville escaped Cedar Vista Hospital Fresno on Friday night, police Lt. John Fries said. Neville broke into an apartment complex across the street and was found hiding in a supply closet at about 2 a.m. Saturday. According to Fries, Neville threw several officers aside when they tried to control him. Officers began firing after nine non-lethal bean bag shots failed to subdue Neville.
    Three officers sustained minor injuries. Neville had been hospitalized since Wednesday, when police received two complaints from a Fresno hotel that Neville, who was armed with a hunting rifle, was acting "bizarre" and "out of control," police said. Friends and family said Neville, who had been living with his wife and 20-month-old son in Fairbanks, Alaska, had been in Fresno for less than a week.

05/09/98
Elway defers bonus to give Broncos more salary-cap space
Rison wants Chiefs to extend his contract

Elway defers bonus to give Broncos more salary-cap space
In a move to give the Denver Broncos more space under the salary cap, John Elway deferred a March 1 roster bonus of $1.45 million, according to a published report. Elway's decision in late February allowed the Broncos to sign left guard Mark Schlereth and defensive end Neil Smith to new contracts. Elway was given an extra $155,000 for agreeing to postpone the payment and would have to be a member of the Broncos to get the $1.6 million payment in March 1999. Elway's  deferral, reported by the Rocky Mountain News on Friday, does not mean he will return for a 16th NFL season with the Broncos, according to an NFL source. Elway has said he will decide by June whether to return for another season. The Broncos had no comment on the News' report. It is the fourth time Elway has renegotiated his contract since signing a 5-year $28.56 million deal in 1996.

Rison wants Chiefs to extend his contract
Andre Rison, who had a stellar first year with the Kansas City Chiefs, wants a contract extension and the financial reward to go with his performance. "I wouldn't be happy," Rison said, if he doesn't get them. "I think everybody knows that." The wide receiver is headed into the second year of a two-year contract he signed last June. He was scheduled to receive a $200,000 roster bonus March 1 and a 1998 base salary of $900,000. Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer indicated the team would try to extend Rison's contract, but gave no timetable, The Kansas City Star said in Friday's editions. Rison was unchallenged last season as the Chiefs' offensive star, catching 72 passes -- second highest in the club's history.
    But several factors work against the Chiefs offering Rison a long-term contract. The first is his age, 31. The Chiefs also  exhausted a considerable portion of their salary cap allotment to  sign free agents Derrick Alexander, Chester McGlockton and Leslie O'Neal, and to retain James Hasty. They also have the tender offer of $2.88 million to unsigned franchise player Dan Williams counting against their cap. Rison's agent, Charles Tucker, said the Chiefs haven't given him a firm answer on his request to renegotiate Rison's contract. Rison, who played for five teams in the last four seasons, said a long-term contract is important to him in the final years of his career. "I would love for Andre Rison to be secure and know he has a home for the next five years," he said.