'84 Chronology-Finders Fee

Event Date: January 28th, 1984

Event Description: Sims Trial Update

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'84 Chronology-Cloudy Situation

Event Date: January 25th, 1984

Event Description: Court Date

Source: United Press International

Billy Sims goes to U.S. District Court on Wednesday for a suit that should decide whether he's a star running back for the USFL Houston Gamblers or the NFL Detroit Lions.

Sims signed a five-year, multi-million dollar contract with the United States Football League expansion team on July 1 and signed a similar pact with the same team in November.

Then, on Dec. 16, Sims signed a five-year contract for more money with the Lions, where he has played the past four years.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert DeMascio will determine which of the two contracts the 1978 Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma should honor.

Clouding the situation is the fact that one of the Houston owners is Dr. Jerry Argovitz, former dentist who negotiated Sims' original pact with the Lions and also signed the running back to his contract with the USFL team. Argovitz received a commission of nearly $200,000 for signing Sims for the Gamblers.

“I think this is a relatively simple case,” Sims' attorney, Elbert Hatchett, said, “of whether he can be forced to honor the Argovitz contract. I don't think it'll take a lot of witnesses to determine that he doesn't.”

Hatchett said his case would take less than two days to present. Attorneys for Argovitz say their case could take a week.

Sims and the Lions originally filed a joint suit in Oakland County Circuit Court last year but that was transferred to federal court. The suit charges Argovitz with fraud and misrepresentation while representing Sims in contract talks with Detroit.

Judge DeMascio on Monday ruled the Lions have no standing to assert Sims' rights on his behalf and dropped them from the suit.

The Lions also have a suit for damages against Argovitz and the Gamblers but that will only come to trial, at a later date, if DeMascio decides Sims' contract with Detroit is valid.

Currently, the only question being decided is which contract is valid. Sims accepted part of his bonus money from Argovitz in July -- and also was given a $1 million bonus for signing with Detroit.

Story-(UPI)

'84 Chronology-The Philosopher

Event Date: January 25th, 1984

Event Description: Homegrown Philosophy

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'84 Chronology-Schellen Signs

Event Date: January 25th, 1984

Event Description: USFL Roundup

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'84 Chronology-Peace Talks

Event Date: January 25th, 1984

Event Description: Bandits Pursue Picks

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'84 Chronology-Backup Role

Event Date: January 25th, 1984

Event Description:  Whitehurst Returns

Source: United Press International

David Whitehurst has decided a backup quarterback role at a higher salary with the Green Bay Packers is more attractive than jumping to the U.S. Football League.

The Packers announced Tuesday that Whitehurst, 28, had agreed to a new two-year contract.

'The contract has been mailed and I suspect the whole thing will be wrapped up sometime about the middle of next week,' said Bob Harlan, assistant to the president of the Packers.

Whitehurst, who had been making $150,000 a year to play behind starting Green Bay quarterback Lynn Dickey, confirmed he had been thinking of signing with the USFL.

“At one point, yes, I was considering it,” the seven-year veteran said. “But toward the end of the season, I wasn't. Sentimentally, my heart is with the Packers. That's where I wanted to be. At this stage in my career, I wanted to stay in the NFL.”

Story-(UPI)

'84 Chronology-Camps Open

Event Date: January 23rd, 1984

Event Description: USFL Camp News

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'84 Chronology-Future Considerations

Event Date: January 22nd, 1984

Event Description: Johnson Considers Contract

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'84 Chronology-Bacon Bits

Event Date: January 22nd, 1984

Event Description: Bulls Cut Bacon

Source: Ocala Daily Banner

'84 Chronology-Questionable Operations

Event Date: January 21st, 1984

Event Description: Rutigliano Sees Inexperience

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

'84 Chronology-Season Ticket Sales

Event Date: January 20th, 1984

Event Description: USFL Roundup

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'84 Chronology-Appealing Offer

Event Date: January 18th, 1984

Event Description: The Minister of Defense

Source: The Commercial Appeal

'84 Chronology-Shoot for the Moon

Event Date: January 18th, 1984

Event Description: Moon Meeting

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'84 Chronology-Colorful Commentary

Event Date: January 15th, 1984

Event Description: Football Notebook

Source: Baltimore Evening Sun

'84 Chronology-Family Feud

Event Date: January 15th, 1984

Event Description: Sims v. Argovitz

Source: Baltimore Evening Sun

'84 Chronology-Bengals Top Target

Event Date: January 15th, 1984

Event Description: Bengals Move On

Source: Baltimore Evening Sun

'84 Chronology-Trophy Case

Event Date: January 15th, 1984

Event Description: Heisman Hopefuls

Source: Beaver County News

'84 Chronology-Examining Options

Event Date: January 12th, 1984

Event Description: Ross Staying?

Source: Beaver County News

'84 Chronology-Hog Tied?

Event Date: January 12th, 1984

Event Description: Maulers Eye Grimm

Source: Beaver County News

'84 Chronology-Confirmation

Event Date: January 11th, 1984

Event Description: Rozier Confirms Contract

Source: Beaver County News

'84 Chronology-Gold Standard

Event Date: January 11th, 1984

Event Description: Blitz Pursue Payton

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'84 Chronology-Four Year Plan

Event Date: January 11th, 1984

Event Description: Simmons Visits Cleveland

Source: United Press International

Attendance at U.S. Football League games last year averaged about 25,000 per game, and commissioner Chet Simmons was hopeful it would improve in the league's second season.

“We have to keep our options open,” he said Thursday. “I think four years is a good period of time to see if we have reached our goals.”

Simmons, who visited Cleveland Thursday, said he wanted to make Cleveland the site of a USFL franchise. The city already has one football team -- the NFL's Browns.

Simmons wants to add eight more teams to the current 16 teams, and said Seattle, St. Louis, Minneapolis, and Cleveland were the main targets.

“If there are interested people here (in Cleveland) with money and have a sincere interest, we would be crazy to turn our back on the 10th leading market in the United States,” he said.

“My purpose here is not to talk to prospective buyers, but we are at the very beginnings of conversations with people here,” he said.

He would not elaborate, but Malrite Communications, the owner of two Cleveland radio stations, also owns the USFL's Washington Federals, and has the rights to a Cleveland franchise.

He said he was happy that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Cliff Stoudt had agreed to a contract with the Birmingham Stallions, and expected Buffalo Bills running back Joe Cribbs to sign with the Stallions as well.

“We are in competition with the National Football League,” he said. “We are not raiding that league. We will not break contracts.”

New Jersey Generals quarterback Brian Sipe, formerly of the Browns, “will be very good at marketing himself, his team and the league,” Simmons said. “I hope that taking a star away from this area will not keep people here from becoming interested in our league.”

Story-(UPI)

'84 Chronology-In Limbo

Event Date: January 10th, 1984

Event Description: Stoudt Signed?

Source: Beaver County News

'84 Chronology-Sign Here

Event Date: January 10th, 1984

Event Description: Rozier Deal Complete?

Source: Beaver County Times

'84 Chronology-Plausible Deniability

Event Date: January 8th, 1984

Event Description: Rozier Close?

Source: Beaver County News

'84 Chronology-On the Outs

Event Date: January 6th, 1984

Event Description: Stoudt Out?

Source: Beaver County Times

'84 Chronology-Hartless

Event Date: January 5th, 1984

Event Description: Hart Axed

Source: Montreal Gazette

'84 Chronology-Maulers Draft Rozier

Event Date: January 5th, 1984

Event Description: Maulers Pick Rozier

Source: Schenectady Gazette

'84 Chronology-Drawing Interest

Event Date: January 3rd, 1984

Event Description: USFL Draft

Source: Beaver County Times

'84 Chronology-Coaching Changes

Event Date: January 4th, 1984

Event Description: Coaching Changes

Source: Beaver County Times

'84 Chronology-1984 Territorial Draft Schools

Event Date: January 3rd, 1984

Event Description: 1984 Territorial Schools

Source: League Office

'84 Chronology-Stabler Stays

Event Date: January 3rd, 1984

Event Description: Stabler Rejects Offer

Source: Beaver County News

'84 Chronology-No Joking Matter

Event Date: January 1st, 1984

Event Description: Sims Controversy Continues

Source: Beaver County Times

'83 Chronology-Business Interests

Event Date: December 30th, 1983

Event Description: Sims Court Fight

Source: Beaver County Times

'83 Chronology-Physicality

Event Date: December 30th, 1983

Event Description: Sipe Deal Guaranteed

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Defections

Event Date: December 30th, 1983

Event Description: Niners Seek New Deals

Source: Beaver County Times

'83 Chronology-Reserve Clause

Event Date: December 29th, 1983

Event Description: Panthers Sign Bethea

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Sipe Jumps Ship

Event Date: December 27th, 1983

Event Description: Sipe Officially Signs

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Mutual Need

Event Date: December 24th, 1983

Event Description: Butch and Sundance

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Christmas Sale

Event Date: December 24th, 1983

Event Description: Express Sold

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Free Agency

Event Date: December 24th, 1983

Event Description: NFL News

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Michaels Returns

Event Date: December 21st, 1983

Event Description: USFL Roundup

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Billy Sims Poll

Which contract should Billy Sims be forced to adhere to?

The Houston Gamblers

The Detroit Lions

Created with Poll Maker

'83 Chronology-Spending Spree II

Event Date: December 18th, 1983

Event Description: NFL versus USFL

Source: United Press International

Billy Sims admitted Sunday he has signed two five-year contracts -- one on July 1 with the Houston Gamblers of the USFL and a second on Friday with the NFL Detroit Lions.

But he also admitted he signed the Detroit contract against the advice of Lions' attorney's.

“The Lions' lawyers tried to advise (general manager) Russ (Thomas) not to sign me,” Sims said. “But he wanted to do it anyway.”

“We feel we have a binding contract with Billy,” Detroit owner William Clay Ford said. “I guess it (the two contracts) means a problem for somebody.

'I guess this matter is just going to have to be resolved in court. We never saw the contract but our lawyers said go ahead and have Billy sign it.”

Dr. Jerry Argovitz, the one-time dentist who used to represent Sims but now is a part-owner in the Houston USFL franchise, came to Detroit's game against Tampa Bay and said the star running back signed a contract with the Gamblers on July 1.

“And we gave Billy Sims a substantial amount of money as part of that contract,” Argovitz said. “I am appalled at what Bill Ford and Russ Thomas have done to Billy Sims. On Friday they told Billy, 'You just sign this contract -- we'll take care of the rest and get you out of the Houston contract.''

Sims admitted the Lions gave him a $1 million bonus to sign a five-year contract which he said started at $600,000 a year and went up to $800,000.

He said this was more than what Houston offered for the five years and although the Gamblers were to give him a $1 million bonus, they had only given him part of it last July.

“I signed both of them, to tell you the truth,” Sims said. “But my heart is right here. I was going to contact Jerry before this came out but I never got the chance. 'I feel I was misled on a few things,” Sims said. “Jerry feels that I wasn't. I guess it's going to come down to the USFL versus the NFL.”

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Starting Over

Event Date: December 18th, 1983

Event Description: United Press International

Source: United Press International

Veteran guard Bob Simmons of the Kansas City Chiefs said Sunday he has signed a three-year guaranteed contract to play for the Chicago Blitz of the U.S. Football League beginning with the 1984 season.

Simmons, a former All-America at the University of Texas and a veteran of seven NFL seasons, will be reunited in Chicago with Marv Levy, who was the coach of the Chiefs from 1978-82 and will be in his first season as coach of the Blitz.Simmons will report to training camp with the Blitz Jan. 18 in Scottsdale, Arizona, but said he'll be in Chicago for a news conference Tuesday. 

Simmons played center, guard and tackle during his seven NFL years and started much of the 1983 season for the Chiefs at guard because of injuries to regulars Tom Condon and Brad Budde.

"I wouldn't mind having a little longer break in between the two seasons (NFL and USFL)," Simmons said. "But that's the way it is. It'll be fun; it'll be like starting all over again."

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Spending Spree I

Event Date: December 16th, 1983

Event Description: Lapham Switches Leagues

Source: United Press International

Cincinnati Bengals offensive guard Dave Lapham plans to sign a contract with the New Jersey Generals of the U.S. Football League, his wife says.

Lynne Lapham has confirmed that the 10-year veteran has reached agreement with the USFL team and will sign the Generals' contract when it arrives in the mail. Lapham could not be reached for comment, but he told reporters last week that his negotiations with the Generals were going well and that he probably would leave the Bengals.

Lapham's salary with the Bengals was in the $150,000 range. Reports have said the Generals have offered him a salary starting at $250,000.

Earlier Friday, it was reported the Generals had contacted Washington quarterback Joe Theismann.

Lapham, a former Syracuse player, was a third-round pick by the Bengals in 1974. He generally is considered a team leader and was voted 'Man of the Year' by Cincinnati fans in 1980.

Lapham is one of several Cincinnati players expected to jump to the USFL next year, including tight end Dan Ross and linebacker Glenn Cameron.

Story: (UPI)

'83 Chronology-Coming to Terms

Event Date: December 16th, 1983

Event Description: Generals Hire Michaels

Source: Lakeland Ledger