PHOENIX -- Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said last night that progress has been made in talks with Howard Milstein on his proposal to buy the Washington Redskins, but there is still no deal to present to the owners.

After the powerful finance committee delayed making a recommendation, Tagliabue said: "We really have made some substantial progress in the last 72 hours. We'll see if we can get something nailed down that we can present to the membership [at the annual owners' meeting this week]."

The finance committee, which already is scheduled to meet this morning with the stadium committee to discuss whether to recommend that the league expand to Los Angeles or Houston, will resume deliberations on the Milstein deal this afternoon.

Milstein, a New York real estate developer who owns the New York Islanders, has offered to split a $400 million loan that is a key part of the $800 million financing plan with his brother, Edward. But Milstein won't receive any documentation, which the league wants to see, on the change in his financing plans before tomorrow.

Another concern is that Milstein isn't putting up any cash and is using the team as collateral instead of his own assets. He contends the loans are such that the bank can't foreclose on the team.

The Milsteins and Washington businessman Daniel Snyder bid a record $800 million team for the team from the estate of Jack Kent Cooke. They outbid, among others, Cooke's son, John Kent Cooke. His father left his son only 10 per cent of the team and said the team had to be sold with the proceeds going to a foundation.

If the sale is rejected, Milstein is likely to sue the NFL on the grounds that the league has no right to deny the sale as long as the banks are willing to lend him the money.

Pub Date: 3/14/99