'83 Chronology-Shoot for the Moon

Event Date: November 23rd, 1983

Event Description: Bidding War

Source: United Press International

The New York Jets shocked the professional football world in 1965 by signing a young quarterback out of the University of Alabama named Joe Namath to a contract reportedly worth $425,000.

The signing touched off one of the most heated and competitive bidding wars in the history of sports as the American Football League and the National Football League tried to sway athletes to their respective camps by offering large contracts.

That all ended when the two leagues merged in 1969.

The war was rekindled for a short time in the '70s when the now-defunct World Football League enticed Miami Dolphin stars Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Paul Warfield to leave the Super Bowl champions and join the fledging league for big money contracts.

But then the WFL folded and with it went the reckless big money offers.

On Dec. 1, the war begins anew as Warren Moon -- the quarterback who directed the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League to five Grey Cup titles in his six years with the team -- begins to entertain offers from clubs in the CFL, NFL and USFL.

The former University of Washington star's current contract - reportedly worth $250,000 a year -- does not run out until March but Edmonton owner Norm Kimball has given Moon and his agent, Leigh Steinberg, the go-ahead to start fielding offers three months early.

Steinberg told UPI from his Berkeley, Calif., office that the final offer Moon settles on will likely be "the largest contract ever given to a professional football player."

“We feel that Warren is more valuable than a John Elway or Marc Wilson because of his experience and maturity,” Steinberg said. “And you know the kinds of contracts they supposedly got.”

Wilson's pact reportedly is in the neighborhood of $650,000. Elway's Denver contract is reportedly worth nearly a million dollars a year for five years.

Steinberg's claims are not idle boasts made by an overzealous agent.

Moon possesses everything a professional football team desires in a quarterback. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, he has the size, speed and arm strength that makes professional football coachs' mouths water. He also has that intangible quality of of being a heady leader on the field.

Last season, Moon became the first professional quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards. This season he broke that mark by tossing for 5,638 yards. He is the front-runner for the CFL's MVP award -- the Schenley Award -- which will be named later this week.

Moon's value also has been increased by the fact that this year's crop of college senior quarterbacks is thin.

The 27-year-old QB has one thing else -- he's a pure free agent in the NFL. His USFL rights belong to the Los Angeles Express coached by his former coach at Edmonton, Hugh Campbell.

“We are in a unique situation,” Steinberg said. 'Warren signed a three year plus one option year contract with Edmonton before the NFL draft his senior season. Because of that contract, no NFL team drafted him. So now, there is no team in the NFL that has first refusal rights.'

What that means is the NFL team that signs Moon does not have to compensate any other team with a draft choice, player or money for Moon's rights.

Yet Steinberg says Moon is not interested in entering a bidding war.

“Our view is that this will not be a bidding war,” the agent said. “Warren is not interested in a meat market. He knows the dollars are going to be there where ever he goes.”

Steinberg says the fact that the NFL, with the defection of Chicago Bears quarterback Vin:e Evans to the USFL next season, will be without a black quarterback has no bearing on Moon's negotiations with the league.

“We don't think race is an issue here,” the agent said.

Moon has told reporters that the bottom line for him may well be who his coach would be.

“If the offers I get are approximately equal,” Moon said. “Then the different would be the coach.”

Steinberg says Moon likes Tampa Bay's John McKay -- “because he grew up in the shadows of the Coliseum” -- New Orleans' Bum Phillips, Seattle's Chuck Knox and Philadelphia's Marion Campbell in the NFL. He also likes Al Davis and the Los Angeles Raiders organization because “they know how to win.”

Interestingly enough, nearly all those squads could use a quarterback the caliber of Moon.

Steinberg said there had been no discussions with any of those clubs because Moon's contract has yet to run out and that would constitute tampering.

However, a number of club's have made statements saying they would be interested in Moon.

But Edmonton is not out of the running yet.

On Monday, Moon and Steinberg met with Kimball in Vancouver -- the site of this year's Grey Cup -- and the Edmonton owner made an offer.

“We felt that it was a fair offer,” Steinberg said. “Warren has been happy in Edmonton, has a lot of friends there and has a growing off-field business. Now we will see what everyone else has to offer.”

Moon says he going to take his time and weigh every offer with his wife and family before making his final decision. “I don't wait to rush my decision,” Moon said. “But I really don't want to wait too long to find out where I'll be next year.”

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Stadium Deal

Event Date; November 15th, 1983

Event Description: Maulers Find Home

Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette-UPI

The Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League Thursday said the team would play its home games at Three Rivers Stadium, also home of the NFL Steelers.

The team and city officials made the announcement despite a clause in the city's lease with the Steelers that prohibits other professional football teams from playing there. The Maulers and city officials said they hoped the Steelers would not file a lawsuit to contest the agreement.

Mayor Richard Caliguiri and George Whitmer, chairman of the Stadium Authority, said they were advised that the exclusivity agreement in the lease with the Steelers would not be upheld by federal court. Failing to lease the facility to the Maulers would be in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, they said.

The agreement with the Maulers, however, will be voided if the courts determine the agreement improperly violated the Steelers' lease with the city.

The Steelers issued a statement Thursday saying they were 'disappointed' the city violated the terms of the lease.

“We consider this a serious breach of our lease agreement with the Stadium Authority,” the Steelers said. “This breach requires that we review all options open to us in this matter.”

Under the agreement, the Maulers will pay the city $235,000 per year or 10 percent of the gate receipts, whichever is higher. The four-year deal also specifies the city and the Maulers will split profits from concessions and parking.

Overall, the city will make more than $500,000 a year on the deal, Caliguiri said.

The team also took the occasion of the lease announcement to unveil its uniforms and logo. The uniforms will be purple, white, red and gray. The team logo depicts a “Mauler” swinging a sledgehammer or “maul” as the long-handled hammers are referred to in the steel, river and railroad industry.

The Maulers will be the only professional team in the city that does not have black and gold as its main colors.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Jumping Ship

Event Date: November 15th, 1983

Event Description: Blitz Sign Bear

Source: The Times-News

'83 Chronology-Slush Fund II

Event Date: November 7th, 1983

Event Description: Generals Sign Barbaro

Source: United Press International

Gary Barbaro, an All-Pro free safety with Kansas City of the NFL, signed a multi-year contract Monday with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League in a deal he “couldn't turn down.”

“Money is not all of it,” said Barbaro. “I'm comfortable coming here and I wouldn't come if I wasn't convinced the USFL would be around.”

Barbaro said he was surprised Kansas City didn't try to peddle him to another NFL team and gain some kind of compensation.

“I think they wanted to show up the famous Howard Slusher, but I know I won,” he said.

Barbaro, a third-round draft choice by Kansas City in 1976 out of Nicholls State, was a holdout this season and didn't play at all for the Chiefs. He reportedly wanted a $1.2 million deal over three years from the Chiefs, while they countered with a three-year pact at $300,000 per year.

Realtor Donald Trump, the new owner of the Generals, said, “We signed Gary for three years, but he will be a General for much longer than that. Slusher had a list of eight NFL players, but Barbaro is my first choice on that list.”

Slusher said he was continuing to negotiate seriously with USFL clubs concerning at least two players on the list and expected some signings soon.

“We are not using the USFL as a bargaining factor with these players,” said Slusher. “I will do anything I can to help the players. The signing of Barbaro shows that the Generals are maturing. Usually, a new league signs glamour players at running back and quarterback.

Slusher indicated Barbaro's signing was a hallmark step and also revealed the NFL is signing almost all its quarterbacks and glamour running backs to long term contracts.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Pivotal Pursuits

Event Date: November 6th, 1983

Event Description: Generals Pursue Pivot

Source: Daytona Beach Morning Journal

'83 Chronology-Tragedy

Event Date: November 6th, 983

Event Description:  West Virginia Mourns

Source: United Press International

Andre Gist, who played last season with Tampa Bay of the United States Football League, was killed Sunday in a one-car accident on a city street, police said.

Another former WVU player, tight end Mark Raugh, was the driver of the vehicle, police said.

Raugh, who was treated for minor injuries, was charged with disorderly conduct and released after posting $250 bond.

A second passenger, Tina Belt, 20, of Morgantown, was also treated and released.

Gist, 25, a native of Clinton, Md., was a sometimes-starting offensive guard for the Tampa Bay Bandits this year. He played his college ball for West Virginia University and was living in Morgantown.

Raugh, 23, a native of Roaring Springs, Pa., who also was living in Morgantown, had been drafted and was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. He has just signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL.

The accident occurred about 3:30 a.m. on University Avenue.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Tryout Camps

Event Date: November 5th, 1983

Event Description: Outlaws Sign Trio

Source: United Press International

The Arizona Outlaws have announced the signings of three players, including two players from free agent tryout camps held since the end of the 1983 season.

Signed to U.S. Football League contracts Friday were defensive back Selwyn Drain, defensive end Randy Phillips and offensive tackle Joe Carnahan.

Drain was a four-year letterman for Ball State University and was a first-team All-Mid America Conference selection in 1982. He was signed by the Chicago Bears, but was released midway through the 1983 preseason.

Phillips was signed out of a free agent camp held in Monroe, La. He was a four-year letterman at Arkansas and served briefly with the NFL Denver Broncos and USFL New Jersey Generals.

Carnahan was a two-year starter at Oregon State University and was signed out of a free agent camp held in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, team officials announced season ticket sales exceeded the 11,000 mark in the five weeks since Dr. Ted Diethrich and William Tatham purchased the franchise. Last year, the team sold just over 16,000 season tickets en route to an average attendance of 25,000.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'83 Chronology-Befuddled

Event Date: November 3rd, 1983

Event Description: Sipe Rumors

Source: United Press International

The New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League seem to be making inroads into Cleveland's sports teams.

Cleveland Indians officials say that Generals owner Donald F. Trump has expressed an interest in buying the American League baseball team, but denied rumors that a deal has been made.

And the Generals have reportedly made a firm money offer to Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Sipe, who began negotiating a new contract with the Browns Wednesday.

Trump, a real estate developer, said in a statement from his Brooklyn, N.Y., office that he was interested in buying the Indians, and said he would keep the team in Cleveland.

Indians President Gabe Paul reportedly favors Trump as a potential buyer for the team, but said that others were still interested.

“As I've said before, this is not a fire sale,” said Patrick O'Neill, spokesman for the O'Neill foundation which owns 55 percent of the Indians. “We're going to do this right.”

Meanwhile, the Generals have made "a bonafideand strong money offer” for quarterback Sipe, said Ed Keating, the player's agent. The contract is reported to be for more than two years, and completely guaranteed.

“I got the impression it is (principal owner Art Modell's) opinion we already have reached agreement with the USFL,” Keating said. “I told him it's not true, but that we could settle with them very soon.”

“Frankly,” he said, “I am somewhat befuddled by the lack of aggressiveness on the part of the Browns. If they lose Brian to the other league, they will get nothing in compensation.”

Sipe sat out last Sunday's win against the Houston Oilers because of a 'tired arm,' and will be sidelined again Sunday when the Browns face Tampa Bay.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Rooting Them On

Event Date: November 2nd, 1983

Event Description: Invaders Sign Pair

Source: United Press International

The Oakland Invaders, hoping to improve their passing game, signed free agent wide receivers Holden Smith and Ron Smith Wednesday.

Holden Smith was a star at the University of California and later was drafted by the Baltimore Colts, while Ron Smith played his collegiate ball at San Diego State and spent five years in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Terms of their contracts were not announced but coach-general manager John Ralston said he was delighted to land the two.

"Signing Ron and Holden will help us tremendously in 1984,” said Ralston. 

“Combining these two with Raymond Chester, the best tight end in the USFL, and with Fred Besana, our quarterback, I believe our passing game will be outstanding.”

Holden Smith gained notoriety of sorts last year when after being cut by the Colts, he poured a container of root beer on coach Frank Kush's head.

“He accused me of not trying hard when I was injured,” Smith recalled, “so I filled the biggest container I could find with root beer and poured it on him. I did it for my teammates. Everyone wants to pour something on him or hit him."

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Forward Looking

Event Date: November 2nd, 1983

Event Description: Canizaro Under Control

Source: United Press International

Real estate developer Joseph Canizaro says he will buy the controlling interest in the New Orleans Breakers if the new USFL franchise gets solid fan support next season.

Canizaro said Monday he had already aquired 31 percent of the team.

“What I do depends entirely on how our city reacts to the club," said Canizaro, whose current involvement with the club was estimated at more than $2 million. “If the city supports it and loves it, it'll be all locally owned.”

The Breakers decided last month to move to New Orleans from Boston, where they were experiencing difficulty finding adequate playing quarters. 

The Louisiana Superdome, home of the NFL Saints, agreed to host the Breakers as well.

Canizaro said the Breakers would need to average 30,000 fans per game for him to buy the remainder of the team.

“I have a three-year option at a fixed price to buy the team, and I'll exercise that option when it becomes clear how New Orleans reacts,” he said. “At that point I would look to have 15 or 16 other businessmen involved as minority partners. In our budgetary figures we've looked at 29,000 to 30,000. But I honestly believe that we're looking at 40,000 to 50,000 people if I know this known.”

The Breakers, 9-9 and the surprise team of the USFL last year under head coach Dick Coury, averaged 12,735 in 21,000-seat Nickerson Field in Boston. Team officials said they couldn't have made money had every seat been filled.

The announcement of Canizaro's involvement came exactly 17 years after NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle announced New Orleans was being awarded an expansion franchise.

At Monday's news conference, Coury said he was hoping to begin training camp Jan. 23 in New Orleans.

"I'm going this afternoon to look at facilities both at Tulane and the University of New Orleans,' the league's 1983 coach of the year said. 'I'm really excited about our move here and getting everything going.”

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Passing Fancy

Event Date: October 26th, 1983

Event Description: Gabriel Joins Allen

Source: United Press International

Former NFL passing great Roman Gabriel will join his old coach George Allen on the staff of the Arizona Outlaws.

Gabriel is to arrive in Arizona from his southern California home Friday to take over as quarterback coach for the USFL team.

“I'm very happy to be reunited with Coach Allen,” Gabriel said Wednesday. “I have so much respect for him. He will field a winning team in Arizona and I'm delighted I will be able to assist him. I've played for him and I'm looking forward to working with him.”

Gabriel resigned as head coach of the International Football League's Charlotte team to join Allen in Arizona.

“Because Roman played for me in Los Angeles, he knows what to expect from me here,” said Allen. “He will have responsibility for our passing game and will be a plus for our entire football operation.”

Allen added, “He is the type of person who has always, and will always, put forth no less than 110 percent in whatever he does. He comes to Arizona with a knowledge of our terminology and system, so this won't be a new learning situation for him. He can come here immediately and get to work.

Roman will lend the Arizona Outlaws knowledge of the game, experience in the game and a strong desire to excel.”

Gabriel was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams out of North Carolina State in 1962. He became the Rams' starting quarterback in 1966, Allen's first year as head coach of the team. During the net five seasons, the Rams posted a 49-17-5 mark and won two division titles.

In 16 pro seasons -- 11 with the Rams and five with Philadelphia - Gabriel completed 52.6 percent of his passes for 29,444 yards. He played in four Pro Bowls, was the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1969 and was named Comeback Player of the Year in 1973.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'83 Chronology-Under Pressure

Event Date: October 24th, 1983

Event Description: Shula Ends Speculation

Source: United Press International

Miami Dolphins Coach Don Shula said Monday he was “no longer interested” in a $1 million-a-year offer from the New Jersey Generals of the fledgling United States Football League.

Shula said pressure last week and Sunday was interfering with his preparation of the Dolphins in the last few weeks.

“When the third question in my press conference after the game Sunday is about my contract and not about the football team, then it's time to draw the line,” Shula said.

Shula had confirmed recently that Generals owner Donald Trump had offered him $1 million a year to coach the USFL club. Shula's contract with the Dolphins is reportedly $450,000 a year and it expires Feb. 28, 1984.

Shula said he has talked with Miami owner Joe Robbie, but no date has been set for negotiations.

Shula also expressed reservations about going directly from coaching the Dolphins this season to coaching the Generals in February.

“I don't know if my 53-year-old body and mind can handle that,” he said.

In a prepared release, the Generals announced that all negotiations had been terminated.

Shula said he had told Robbie of his decision and expected to meet with him in the near future.

“I said from the beginning I was interested in giving Joe Robbie and the Dolphins every opportunity to work something out,” he said. “So far nothing has been resolved. In the event that it isn't, I'll wait until the end of the year I'll review all my options.”

Story-(UPI)

'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.

Story-(UPI Modified)