'85 Chronology-Exchange of Views

Event Date: June 29th, 1985

Event Description: USFL Owners Meet

Source: UPI

Representatives for each of the sixteen U.S. Football League teams met for nine hours Friday and afterward reported some progress was made in solving many of the league's problems.

When the meeting broke at 6:30 p.m. E.D.T., Commissioner Chet Simmons said the teams would meet again Sunday the day after the Michigan Panthers play the New Jersey Generals at Giants Stadium in the third USFL championship game.

The USFL is planning to remain in the spring for the 1986 season, but they may explore a fall option for 1987 or 1988. 

The owners must decide how many players should be kept on the rosters after August 1st, the status of the Chicago franchise and how to resolve problems that some teams have had with regard to player payrolls, specifically in San Antonio. 

“Those decisions are hard and those conversations are long and exciting,” Simmons said. “It's probably premature to make any annoucements. On Sunday we'll address all of the issues we addressed today. This is a part of a series of meetings this summer.”

The Los Angeles Express, Pittsburgh Maulers, and San Antonio Gunslingers are top candidates to be moved or merged. 

But a move by the Express may jeopardize league contracts with star quarterback Steve Young of Los Angeles. Young and agent Leigh Steinberg met with Simmons Thursday, saying the league's takeover of the Express for the 1985 season has voided Young's USFL contract. 

Simmons admitted a buyout of Young's contract is a possibility. The former Birgham Young star's NFL rights are owned by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

League owners have also talked to Eddie Einhorn regarding the status of the Chicago team which has been inactive since the end of the 1984 season.

Players for the San Antonio Gunslingers, Gamblers and Bandits have had problems receiving paychecks owed to them from the recently completed season. On Thursday, an arbitrator ruled if San Antonio owner Clinton Manges did not pay his players within 10 days their contracts would be terminated.

The plan for keeping a majority of rosters intact apparently will have each team protect either 25 or 35 players by Aug. 1st -- though that date may be flexible. 

However, the thought of mergers and ownership changes has many USFL stars trying to latch on with the NFL. 

Running back Mike Rozier has signed with the Houston Oilers and Young and Panthers quarterback Bobby Hebert are rumored to be near agreements to jump to the NFL.

So far, 40,000 tickets, priced at $28 and $22, have been sold for the title game. League officials are hoping for a crowd of 50,000, a figure exceeded in the first two title game at Denver and Tampa.

Story-(UPI Modified)