BALTIMORE: New stadium to open with August 8 preseason game vs. Chicago Bears……Extended contract of OZZIE NEWSOME, vice president of personnel, for three years……Owner and president ART MODELL and family were named Maryland Sales and Marketing Executives of Year by Maryland Sales and Marketing Executive Club in February.

BUFFALO: Promoted linebackers coach TED COTTRELL to defensive coordinator……Director of Public and Community Relations DENNY LYNCH received Cleveland Touchdown Club’s first annual "NFL Spirit Award" at club’s 50th anniversary banquet in February. Cleveland Touchdown Club will honor yearly an NFL club executive who personifies team spirit.

CINCINNATI: Demolition has begun to clear riverfront location for Paul Brown Stadium, scheduled to open in August 2000. Groundbreaking is tentatively scheduled for this late April……Former tackle ANTHONY MUNOZ, who will become first Bengals player inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, will be honored at the Anthony Munoz Pro Football Hall of Fame Tribute and Benefit on March 28 in Mason, Ohio.

CLEVELAND: Cleveland mayor MICHAEL WHITE unveiled model of new Browns stadium on March 3. Model of 72,000-seat stadium, complete with end zone "Dawg Pound," will be on display in Cleveland city hall until March 31.

DENVER: Represented by President/CEO PAT BOWLEN, quarterback JOHN ELWAY and running back TERRELL DAVIS, Broncos were named "Team of Year" at ESPN’s ESPY Awards in February……Superior, Colorado hosted ALFRED WILLIAMS Day March 10 in honor of Broncos defensive end who has lived in city since his U. of Colorado days.

INDIANAPOLIS: Completed 10-year RCA Dome lease renegotiation with city last month……Signed Pittsburgh Steelers guard TOM MYSLINSKI and Buffalo Bills cornerback JEFF BURRIS.

JACKSONVILLE: Linebacker KEVIN HARDY and wide receiver KEENAN MC CARDELL were among the best-dressed male athletes named by fashion expert Mr. Blackwell in the March issue of Sport magazine……Jaguars are running art contest for local children with winning drawings to appear on team’s 1998 game tickets.

KANSAS CITY: Promoted running backs coach JIMMY RAYE to offensive coordinator……Center TIM GRUNHARD worked as public relations intern early this year at Daytona (Florida) International Speedway as part of NFL Career Internship Program. Grunhard, who hopes to land position in auto racing following his playing career, did a little of everything. "I stuffed envelopes, answered phones and interviewed some of the drivers," he said.

MIAMI: Promoted running backs coach KIPPY BROWN to offensive coordinator……Quarterback DAN MARINO dropped green flag to start Daytona 500 last month. Marino and driver BILL ELLIOTT formed Elliott-Marino Motorsports team which had the No. 13 car (Marino’s number) in Dolphins colors in race. Entry, driven by JERRY NADEAU, finished 21st.

NEW ENGLAND: Patriots founder WILLIAM H. SULLIVAN, JR. passed away in February. "Billy Sullivan was the father of professional football in New England," said Patriots owner ROBERT KRAFT……DON LOWERY was named vice president of player development and community affairs and will head up team’s player programs efforts.

NEW YORK JETS: Introduced new "back to the future" logo and uniform featuring design used from 1963-77…… Competing for Northern Iowa in his final year of track eligibility, Jets wide receiver-kick returner DEDRIC WARD clocked a 6.40 to place second -- .03 behind leader -- in 55-meter dash in Missouri Valley Conference’s Indoor Track & Field Championships last month. Ward helped Northern Iowa to second-place finish.

OAKLAND: Hired Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator JON GRUDEN as head coach and New Orleans Saints defensive backs coach WILLIE SHAW as defensive coordinator……Led AFC with six players allocated to NFL Europe League.

PITTSBURGH: Tapped Minnesota Vikings quarterback coach RAY SHERMAN as offensive coordinator. "He was a blessing for me," said Vikes quarterback BRAD JOHNSON, who won 13 of 21 starts and threw for 37 touchdowns under Sherman’s tutelage past two seasons. "I hate to lose him, but I know it's a great opportunity for him."

SAN DIEGO: Signed running back NATRONE MEANS (Jacksonville), who set Chargers record with 1,350 rushing yards in their 1994 Super Bowl season…..Coaches FRANK NOVAK and OLLIE WILSON will join running back TERRELL FLETCHER and guard TONY BERTI to teach "NFL 101 for Women" on April 21. Chargers will also hold a more advanced "NFL 201 for Women" in June.

SEATTLE: Announced three-year agreement to continue holding training camp at Eastern Washington University in Cheney. "We had great fan reaction last summer," said Football Northwest President BOB WHITSITT……Signed Arizona Cardinals punter JEFF FEAGLES; Detroit Lions center KEVIN GLOVER, a 1998 Pro Bowler; Denver Broncos guard BRIAN HABIB, and Philadelphia Eagles running back RICKY WATTERS.

TENNESSEE: Signed Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl wide receiver YANCEY THIGPEN on Valentine’s Day, which is also quarterback STEVE MC NAIR’s birthday. "I’ve got a hell of a present for you," general manager FLOYD REESE told McNair in a phone call after the signing……Signed an agreement to play its 1998 regular-season home games at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.