Event Date: March 21st, 1985
Event Description: Kosar Complaints
Source: UPI
Bernie Kosar said Friday he still wants to play in the National Football League, but the quarterback complained the Houston Oilers were playing a “cat-and-mouse game” that could send him to the U.S. Football League.
“If I had my choice, I would still want to play with the NFL,” Kosar said at a news conference. “But this (USFL) could be an option for us down the road. The USFL right now is really just an option if things don't work out in the NFL.”
Kosar decided on March 14th to forego two more years of college eligibility at the University of Miami and turn professional. Since making the decision, he said, he has been deliberately been laying low.
“I've been doing my best to be a type of hermit,” Kosar said.
He accused Houston of playing “cat-and-mouse” games with their draft picks. Asked if he thought the Oilers were doing what was best for Bernie Kosar, he snorted and said, “No way.”
“Houston is doing the best thing for themselves,” Kosar said. “You can't blame them for that. I think they're going to wait as long as they can.”
Kosar said he had heard from the Cleveland Browns, the Oilers and the Philadelphia Eagles, but has not discussed money with any of the clubs.
He has not discussed money with the USFL either, he said.
Kosar said his agent, Dr. John Geletka, has a meeting scheduled Thursday in Orlando, Fla., with Donald Dizney of the USFL Orlando Renegades. Orlando has USFL territorial rights to Kosar. Geletka met with USFL commissioner Harry Usher in New York Thursday.
Kosar denied reports that he had said he would not take anything less than $8 million to play pro football. He said he had not set any concrete figures.
“I'm not sure what I'm worth. I would hope to at least get minimum wage,” Kosar said.
He said, however, he expected to get about what Doug Flutie of Boston College received. Flutie's contract with the USFL's New Jersey Generals is reportedly worth $8.3 million over six years.
“I would think from everybody's comparing us, that it would be in the neighborhood of what Flutie got,” Kosar said.
Kosar said he was not pressured by University of Miami officials to make a decision on his future.
“I was really torn between staying here because of the close ties and all of the fun I've had and venturing into the unknown,” he said.
While Kosar still had two years of college eligibility left, he will graduate early with a degree in finance. He must graduate this summer in order to be eligible for the NFL next season.
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