'83 Chronology-Tour of Duty

Event Date: December 2nd, 1983

Event Description: Simmons Seeks Stability

Source: United Press International

The U.S. Football League won't pirate big-name players from the National Football League in its search for new stars, USFL commissioner Chet Simmons said.

“We're not trying to sign everybody,” Simmons said during a brief promotional visit to New Orleans. 

“People go to see football and they go to see players.” Simmons said the USFL made inroads toward signing and developing stars during its first year, but he steered clear of the NFL “war” issue.

“Somebody said we're in a war with the NFL.” he said. “I think we have good old American competition. For the first time, the NFL player has the possibility of some movement. He now has a choice. If you're going to have a war, you're just going full out to sign everybody. We're not trying to sign everybody. We know we still need skill positions and probably our Achilles heel last year was quarterback.”

Simmons stopped in New Orleans for a press conference attended by staff members of the New Orleans Breakers, the city's USFL team which moved from Boston.

Breakers coach Dick Coury said he has had a long talk with former Saints quarterback Archie Manning, now with Minnesota.

“He's making so much money, he'd be taking about a $600,000-a-year cut to come with us as a player or coach,” Coury said. “Really, we just had a friendly chat.”

The Breakers and many other teams in the league are looking for players with market value for both television and ticket sales. The team already has signed Cincinnati Bengal tight end Dan Ross to a future contract for next season.

Simmons said the league will actively seek other name players among college seniors and NFL free agents.

One player he mentioned was running back Mike Rozier of Nebraska, who is considered a prime favorite for the Heisman Trophy.

Simmons, though, said it was hard to say where the USFL stands with Rozier.

“He comes from New Jersey,” he said. “We'll leave it at that. We'll just have to wait and see.”

Story-(UPI)