USFL '86: The Season That Never Was

Sunday, February 16, 2020

'85 Chronology-Business Decisions

Event Date: July 31st, 1985

Event Description:  Carter Contract Extended

Source: UPI

The Michigan Panthers exercised their option to keep Anthony Carter Wednesday, but team officials said the wide receiver might not play with the U.S. Football League team next season.

The Panthers had until midnight Thursday pick up the option for the final year of Carter's four-year, $2 million contract. He will receive $500,000 in the last year of the pact.

“Yes, we've exercised our option,” General Manager Vince Lombardi Jr. said. “It was a business decision.”

Lombardi said he talked with Carter and his attorney, Bob Woolf of Boston, about the possibility of Carter buying out his contract. If Carter were to buy out his contract, he would be free to join the Miami Dolphins, who own his NFL rights, and join star receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duper.

“We decided a long time ago (to exercise the option) depending on how things fell into place,” he said. “There's been speculation we've been talking to the young man and his agent with regard to buying out his contract, and I won't deny those discussions took place. But the bottom line is that we exercised our option.”

When asked if that meant Carter was a member of the Panthers and would be playing for them next year, Lombardi said, “I didn't say that. There's no guarantee that any member of the Panthers will be here next season.”

The Dolphins hoped for a chance to sign the fleet receiver, who played his high school football in Riviera Beach in Palm Beach County. However, as long as he is under contract to the Panthers, Miami owner Joe Robbie has said the team is prohibited from talking to Carter.

Story-(UPI Modified)

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