The Washington times., 1938-02-16


is convinced the growing grid
game has reached the point
where it needs a high commits
sioner to preside over its al
fairs and he will propose that
sorne outstanding figure be
named to a post similar to tnat
held by baseball's Judge Lands.
such an innovation Is not cal
e,1lated to in any way affect the
Status of President Joe Carr.
of the National Professional
League, because minor loops IKE
the Dixie which flourishes here
abouts and the American AsSo'
ciation that holds forth in the
Middle West would come unoer
+he commissioner, just as Ian
dis is the last word in all tne
baseball land.
Plan Has Merit
Richards plan fits in snugly
with another proposal which
will come up in the two-day
philadelphia meeting, the same
being to seek permission 10
farr.out players to the minor
orbits of pro football, thereby
enabling teams to keep strings
attached to talent over and be-
yond a clubs player limit.
Some subterfuge has been de-
tected in pro football to cover
up or protect players for Whlch
there is no immediate use. This
has taken the form OF an IN:
active list and is not considered
In keeping with the true spirit
Of the player limit.
Incidentally that limit is now
Is and there are many OF the
moguls who would like to see it
increased to 80. Such a pro-
posal is also q portion Of the
Philadelphia agenda.
Too, professional football is
detecting a growing evil into
which it fell lightly enough
probably because it evolved
from college football. 1t has to
do with granting the courtesy
of the bench occasionally to
well.wishers Of a coach or
player or even an owner. In col
lege football it is considered a
distinction by prom n e n t
alumni to be invited to sit on
the bench.
There has been some abuse Of
this privilege in the pro game
and it has gotten quite beyond
control, so a regulation is to be
sought which will reserve the
bench solely for the players,
coaches and trainers.
Likes Side Lines
Whether this movement IS
aimed at Washington's high
strung owner, George Marshall,
is debatable. Ever since he has
been in the pastime. six years.
he has been a familiar figure
racing up and down the side
lines, sometimes berating the o1
ficials.
And a regulation which
doesn't interest the fans so
much as it does the team man
agement, concerns the future
method of paying referees, etc.
1t has been the custom for the
home team to issue the checks
to the four gentlemen who run
the game and there is a feeling
that this function properly be-
longs to the league, which, Incl.
dentally, appoints them.
But a change is contemplated
that DOES concern the fan and
very vitally. Curley Lambeau,
Of the Green Bay Packers, is
fathering a regulation provid-
ing better protection for the
beavers of forward passes. He
will undoubtedly get the vote Of
Washington, because Sammy
Baugh has beeen handled pretty
roughly in his one year in the
top strata Of football. Lambeau
Is understood to be promulgat-
ing a rule asking that a passer
be given every protection over
and above a legitimate tackle.
A College Abuse
The colleges. you know, GO
after the passers in a pretty
vigorous manner and there is
one outstanding incident where
in a famous undergraduate was
rendered in a serious mental
condition for over a year from
overzealousness by a foe tC
thwart his heave.
And I imagine there will bt
endless discussion up in Quaker
Town with regard to the mat
ter of post-Season games. 1t il
known that the league is Sharpl!
divided on this matter, albei
the far thinking are inclined tt
again adhere to baseballS solu
ton of the practice by discour
aging it.
A happy solution of the prob
lem is likely to result in tn
sanctioning Of one post-seasol
game by the champions.
Certainly the experience o
the Washington Redskin
proved that prolonged exhib1
ton schedules have a tendenc!
to cheaper the game and tn
talent, for many of the boy
played for peanut money a.
matters eventuated.
If the truth be known Coacl
Ray Flaherty early realized thi
weakness Of touring the countr!
and had it been possible h
would have ducked the MAN
game altogether.