The Associated Press

PHOENIX - NFL Europe is starting as planned, despite the war in Iraq.

The developmental league's players and coaches will leave for Germany, Spain, Netherlands and Scotland this week after the 32 NFL owners decided overwhelmingly Monday to proceed as usual.

"We're an American business in Europe," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "Like other American businesses, we have to continue on."

The decision came on the first day of the NFL's annual meeting, which is expected to focus on proposals to change the overtime system and expand the playoffs from 12 teams to 14.

The competition committee, which recommends rules changes, split 4-4 on a move to change overtime and allow each team at least one possession. The committee was against the proposal by New England and Kansas City to expand the playoffs.

Tampa Bay general manager Rich McKay, co-chairman of the committee, favored the change in overtime and opposed the expansion of the playoffs. He noted that the league had agreed when it expanded to eight divisions for last season that teams would give the format at least two years.

The vote on those issues is expected today or Wednesday - after plenty of debate.

But there wasn't much argument about NFL Europe, which starts play April 4. Its season ends in June.

The NFL had already discussed the situation with the six teams, which have been practicing in Florida, and were told that neither players nor coaches were too apprehensive about playing.

Three of the teams are based in Germany: the Frankfurt Galaxy, Rhein Fire and Berlin Thunder. The other three are the Barcelona Dragons, Amsterdam Admirals and Scottish Claymores.

Tagliabue said there was relatively little concern about the safety of Americans playing in those four countries.

"We've had the same security procedures in effect as we had for the NFL after Sept. 11," he said, referring to searches of fans entering stadiums and increased police presence. "There was a strong consensus that we play the season."

The meetings began with Tagliabue's state of the league speech to the owners. He emphasized the importance of racial diversity in the league's hirings, including a new policy requiring every team to interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a head coach.

It was unlikely there would be a decision at these meetings on what action to take against the Detroit Lions. They hired Steve Mariucci after saying that five black candidates declined interviews because they believed the team already had decided to hire the former San Francisco coach.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: The Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers will visit Philadelphia again on the opening Monday night of the 2003 NFL season in a rematch of last season's NFC championship game, won by Tampa Bay 27-10 at Veterans Stadium.

The game is one of four announced by the NFL on Monday for the opening weekend of the season. The overall opening game - the New York Jets at Washington on Sept. 4 - was announced earlier.

The Bucs-Eagles game, to be played Sept. 8, will open the Eagles' new stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, which is across the street from the old Vet.

Also, Oakland will play at Tennessee, a rematch of the AFC title game. The Raiders won that game in Oakland 41-24.

Other featured games the first week include Atlanta at Dallas in Bill Parcells' first game as the Cowboys' coach and Indianapolis at Cleveland, a meeting of two playoff teams.

The full schedule will be made public in the next few weeks.

LIONS: Restricted free-agent linebacker Na'il Diggs, a former Ohio State star, has signed an offer sheet to leave Green Bay and join Detroit.

FALCONS: Free agents Tod McBride and Twan Russell signed with Atlanta.

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