NFL MEETINGS: L.A STADIUM PROPOSALS NOT YET HEARD BY OWNERS.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

CHICAGO - There was a laundry list of items that were discussed at the first day of the NFL owners' fall meeting Wednesday. There was the commissioner's midseason report, questions about how to deal with testing for the new steroid THG, and several finance committee reports during the eight-hour session.

Any talk of the league's progress toward a new stadium in Los Angeles never made it to the floor.

That could happen today. Or perhaps not.

``If we have time,'' commissioner Paul Tagliabue said of what is expected to be a brief presentation on the progress of the three sites: the Rose Bowl, Coliseum and Carson.

If the Los Angeles issue is lacking a sense of urgency, it's not suffering from a lack of interest.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he's been contacted in recent months by three groups - either owners or potential owners - who have inquired about putting a team in Los Angeles.

``I have people that contact me from time to time who visit with me who are interested in owning a team in the NFL or getting involved with the NFL and invariably the L.A. situation comes up,'' Jones said. ``I think it's a very attractive situation. Now how you get there, we all know it may be a circuitous route.

``But the bottom line is there are owners in the NFL that recognize that opportunity out there that have teams and there are people interested in coming into the NFL, buying teams and looking at that opportunity.''

Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney is one of five members of the L.A. Working Group committee who were briefed on the progress of all three sites on a conference call two weeks ago.

``We've made progress getting information,'' Rooney said. ``But I don't think everything's covered.''

Tagliabue said each of the three sites has a different timeline for presenting a finished proposal because of differences in the way they're being constructed. He expects to have a decision made in 5-12 months.

``By our March meeting, there may be an opportunity to make a decision, but that's not certain,'' Tagliabue said. ``It may be May. It may be October next year.''

Billy Witz, [phone]

billy.witz(at)dailynews.com