Malcolm Glazer, the Florida-based investor who once sought to bring an NFL expansion team to Baltimore, may submit a bid next week to buy the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and keep them in Florida.
Glazer met yesterday with the trustees operating the team and reassured them he would keep the team local despite his past flirtation with Baltimore.
If he follows through on a bid, he would be in competition with an offer being prepared by Orioles owner Peter Angelos, who intends to move the Bucs to Baltimore.
"He [Glazer] indicated to us that he has no ties to Baltimore and his involvement in that expansion effort was solely linked to his desire to own an NFL franchise," said Bucs trustee Steve Story in a written statement.
"The impression we received from the Glazers is that they have a high level of interest in the Buccaneers. We anticipate that they will submit an offer for the team sometime next week," Story said.
Glazer, a corporate investor who amassed a fortune in deals ranging from real estate to Harley-Davidson motorcycles, became a familiar figure to Baltimoreans a year ago as the leader of one of three groups vying to own an expansion team here.
ADuring the process, he expressed an affection for the city and at one point purchased new instruments for the Baltimore Colts' Band.
Baltimore lost out in the competition, and Glazer has since launched unsuccessful attempts for other sports franchises, including the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and New England Patriots.
Glazer lives in West Palm Beach, Fla., and his sons, Joel of Bethesda and Bryan of Chicago, both grew up as Miami Dolphins fans.
The Bucs trustees already reported one offer for the team, from a group of investors including top executives of Outback Steakhouses. The amount of that offer, which was made verbally on Monday, was not disclosed, but a source familiar with the discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it could be valued as high as $154 million.
That is considerably less than the $200 million that Angelos offered earlier this year on the condition that the team first be moved to Baltimore.
Angelos has been deep in negotiations with the team, and Story said Tuesday that he expects a formal offer from Angelos this week.
Angelos confirmed that last night, saying, "It is very likely that an offer will be made to the trustees on behalf of the Baltimore group this week. We are preparing our bid."
Story said he also expects to receive bids next week from groups represented by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and pencil magnate Gino Pala.
Story said he also held a preliminary, social meeting yesterday with another potential bidder who asked that his name not be released. That person does not appear to be interested in buying, Story said.
Meanwhile, in an appearance on WBAL Radio's "Sports Line" last night, Angelos said he was trying to "turn a new page" in the strained relations between Baltimore and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
"I think at this juncture we should be nice and courteous. It's always easy to be nasty and bare your teeth. But if necessary one can take other steps later," Angelos said.
He also said he probably would not be able to change the team's name if it came here, and suggested the league would not be able to reject him simply because he wants to move the team.
"You can't be arbitrary about turning people down just because you think they may want to try to move the franchise. That just wouldn't be proper," he said.
NFL PLAYOFFS
SATURDAY
* Detroit at Green Bay, 12:30 p.m., chs. 13, 7
* Kansas City at Miami, 4 p.m., chs. 13, 7
SUNDAY
* New England at Cleveland, 12:30 p.m., chs. 2, 4
* Chicago at Minnesota, 4 p.m., chs. 45, 5
JAN. 7
* at Pittsburgh, 12:30 p.m., chs. 11, 4
* at San Francisco, 4 p.m., chs. 45, 5
JAN. 8
* at Dallas, 12:30 p.m., chs. 45, 5
* at San Diego, 4 p.m., chs. 11, 4
JAN. 15
* AFC championship, chs. 11, 4
* NFC championship, chs. 45, 5
JAN. 29
* Super Bowl, at Miami, 6 p.m., chs. 2, 7