Event Date: July 21st, 1982
Event Description: USFL Preps Plans
Source: United Press International
United States Football League Commissioner Chet Simmons said Tuesday the league has established a committee to study drug and alcohol abuse in an effort to avoid the drug problem that has plagued the NFL.
Simmons, in Denver for four days of meetings with USFL owners and coaches, said Dr. Edward Diethrich of Phoenix, had been named chairman of the Committee on Drugs and Alcohol. Also named to the committee was George Allen, former coach of the Washington Redskins and a co-owner of the USFL's Chicago franchise.
“We will have the best drug program in professional sports,” Simmons said.
League officials also finalized a four-level player-selection process, which San Francisco owner T.N. Taube said would “facilitate a very complicated problem for a fledgling league.”
Players will be chosen first on a territorial basis. After that has been completed, the league will open up the selection process to players passed over by the franchise in their territories, and they will have an opportunity to sign with other teams.
Thirdly, the league will begin signing free agents. Next will be players who once had NFL or Canadian Football League contracts.
Simmons said the league would announce application deadlines for future franchises and fees later. He said fees would be “substantial.” He said the USFL schedule posed a peculiar problem of signing players who have completed their college elgibility, but have not yet graduated. “The USFL recognizes that it has an obligation to assist the student athlete in returning to his studies and to earn his degree,” Simmons said.
(Story Property of UPI)
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