Professional football eyes New York or Washington as site for 2007 Super Bowl

Monday, December 17th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ The head of the National Football League has asked that New York and Washington be considered sites for the 2007 Super Bowl in an effort to honor the cities after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

In a letter to the league's Super Bowl policy committee, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue asked that it reconsider the league's policy on requiring Super Bowls to be held at indoor stadiums held in the North.

The league will spend the next two months examining the possibility of playing outdoor games at Giants Stadium in New Jersey or FedEx Field in Maryland.

The league's bylaws state that no city with a median temperature below 50 degrees can be considered a Super Bowl site unless the game can be played in an indoor stadium.

The awarding of Super Bowls is subject to the approval of three-fourths of the NFL's 32 owners. League spokesman Greg Aiello said he expected a decision no earlier than the fall of 2002.

``Interest has come from both the New York area and Washington business and political leaders who believe the economic and intangible impact the Super Bowl brings would help establish either or both cities as attractive tourist sites,'' Aiello said.

The commissioner's request concerning the 2007 Super Bowl was first reported Sunday by CBS Sports. The sites of all Super Bowls through 2006 have already been determined.