USFL '86: The Season That Never Was

Thursday, June 14, 2018

'83 Chronology-Slush Fund

Event Date: October 22nd, 1983

Event Description: Trump Denies Report

Source: United Press International

New Jersey Generals owner Donald Trump Saturday denied published reports that his U.S. Football League team has signed four top NFL players in a proposed $8 million deal.

The Boston Globe reported that Trump had already agreed to the proposed deal involving Los Angeles Raiders quarterback Marc Wilson and defensive backs Mike Haynes of the New England Patriots, Jeris White of the Washington Redskins and Gary Barbaro of the Kansas City Chiefs.

All four players are free agents now or will be at the end of the season and are represented by agent Howard Slusher.

Haynes, White and Barbaro are holdouts, refusing to play with their teams after contract disputes, and all three reportedly were ready to make the jump to the USFL.

“We have very little to no interest in Marc Wilson,” said Trump. “We will continue to pursue other quarterbacks. We are just talking (with the other three players) and we have not made a decision on any of them.”

New Jersey struggled with veteran Bobby Scott at quarterback for most of the 1983 season before turning to Denver Gold castoff Jeff Knapple near the end of a 3-15 inaugural season.

The Generals last month were rumored to be chasing Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Sipe.

Wilson, who was moved ahead of veteran Jim Plunkett in the starting lineup for Sunday night's Raiders game against the Dallas Cowboys, has reportedly told his Raiders teammates he wants to stay with the team.

The reported offer to Wilson would have made him the second-highest paid quarterback in history behind Denver rookie John Elway, who received $5 million for five years.

The deal also would have made Haynes, White and Barbaro the three highest-paid defensive backs in football. The Patriots have offered Haynes more than $400,000 per year which they say would make him the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL, but he rejected it.

It had been reported that Trump and Slusher had reached an agreement Thursday at the USFL owners meeting in Houston. However, its completion was contingent upon Wilson being part of the deal. The report did not contain the breakdown of the $8 million deal for each player or how many years it would cover.

Trump, who acquired the Generals several weeks ago, has been courting Miami Dolphins Coach Don Shula and has offered him $1 million over five years to coach the Generals. Shula's present contract with the Dolphins expires Feb. 28.

Former Generals Coach Chuck Fairbanks sold his 10 percent interest in the club and lost his job in the sale.

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