NFL Notes: Buccaneers’ fate in hands of voters

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

The season opener was a debacle. Now, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hoping to avoid a second defeat that could be even more damaging.

Hillsborough County voters go to the polls today to decide the fate of a half-cent sales tax proposal that would build the $168 million stadium that owner Malcolm Gla zer says he needs to keep the NFL's losingest franchise of the past two decades in town.

Passage of the proposal locks the Bucs into a 30-year lease, while a "no" vote probably will send the team packing - most likely to nearby Osceola County, outside Orlando, or possibly Cleveland, where the NFL plans to replace the Browns by 1999.

"I'd like to see it pass because I think it's going to be a real good situation for the city of Tampa and county - not even talking about us and the stadium, but just in general what we need for our community," coach Tony Dungy said Monday.

"I'd also like to see it pass because we want to stay here, want to deliver some good ball for the Tampa Bay fans. We can deal with the distractions if it doesn't pass, but we're all hopeful that it will."

Backers of the so-called "Community Investment Tax," point out it would also benefit schools and provide money for roads, sewers and public safety equipment over the next 30 years, while committing just under 12 percent of the $2.7 billion raised to the proposed stadium.

Opponents counter that the team made money for years while presenting an inferior product and that it's about time communities start taking a stand against greedy owners of sports franchises who want to line their pockets at the expense of taxpayers.

Voter surveys on the issue are so close no one's predicting the outcome.

"What I can say is this thing is not about Malcolm Glazer, and people ought to understand that," said Tampa Sports Authority member Steve Anderson. "I feel a negative sentiment out there. Hopefully those people won't carry the day, but I'm worried about it."

The Bucs have the league's second-lowest season ticket base (just under 25,000), and a large portion of the crowd of 54,102 for Sunday's home opener were Green Bay fans who traveled to Florida for the Labor Day weekend.

* VIKINGS: Brad Johnson got demoted the last time an injury kept Warren Moon out of Minnesota's starting lineup. That won't happen this time. Moon's status for the Vikings' game at Atlanta on Sunday is uncertain as he tries to recuperate from injuries to both legs. That makes Johnson, in his third year as Moon's backup, next in line. "If it's my time to play, then I will," Johnson said. "But if Warren's ready to play, then I'll go back to being the No. 2 guy."

* COLTS: Jim Harbaugh's swollen, black-and-blue right arm looks a lot worse than it feels. The deep bruise to the forearm was painful enough to sideline him for part of Sunday's 20-13 victory over Arizona, but it's not expected to keep him off the field when the Colts play at the New York Jets on Sunday. "It feels fine," Harbaugh said after a light workout on Monday. "I could throw today if I had to. You can see, it's all discolored right in there, and my hand's swollen down here. But if I had to throw today, I could," said Harbaugh, who wore a tight bandage over almost his entire arm for the brief session of stretching and running." X-rays of the arm were negative.

* STEELERS: Jim Miller's stay as the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback might be the shortest in club history: One week and out. With one of the NFL's best defenses ravaged by injuries and the offense still looking for its first touchdown, the Steelers will switch quarterbacks just one week into the season. In for Sunday's game against Baltimore: Mike Tomczak, who has thrown one touchdown pass and 10 interceptions the last two seasons. Out: Miller, the first-year starter who won the QBIII competition in training camp with Tomczak and Kordell Stewart almost by default.