Evening star., 1946-12-17
Washington Chooses
|UcIans Rossi and
Knight Of |. 5. U.
By Lewis T. Atehison
stcr stoff respondent

1 LOlhy, Will ccfCIdl ul4AlOA CAAdA6Sc
lin playing rules the last item on the
Iagenda.
| The player draft. delayed seven
hours by an argument between the
New York Giants and Philadelphia
Eagles over TEX" Coulter, Giant
tackle, was completed In the early
hours this morning, with Coulter
going to the Chicago Cardinals. It
Twas tacitly understood, however, that
Owner Charley Bidwell would swap
him back to the Giants in return for
the latter's first pick--Vic Schwall,
Northwestern tailback- was the
Cards choice.
Coulter's name had to be placed
on the draft list because his class at
West Point graduates next June.
The Giants signed him to two-year
contract when he failed in his
studies earlier this year.
Redskins Get Cal Rossi.
Coach Turk Edwards of the Red
skins said he was elated by his sue
cess in the draft. Washington's No.
choice again was Cal Rossi, south
paw U. c. L. A. passer, who was the
first choice last year but who was
ineligible then. Second on the list
was Halfback Gene Knight of Louis
lana State.
Edwards and Owner George Mar
shall refused to reveal their third
selection, but said they anticipated
no real trouble signing any Of the
draftees.
Edwards said: "We only picked
players we figured we can get"
Washington. New York and Pitts
burgh were the only teams to an
nounce all 80 players selected by
them. The attitude OF the others
reflected a wholesome regard for
the American Conference, which
undoubtedly will try to sign most Of
the same players.
Bell Gets New Contract.
The player draft, scheduled to
begin at II am. yesterday, finally
began about pm. after the own
ers at II o'clock announced they
wanted "15 or 20 minutes for an
executive session"
Before it was over Bells old con-
tract, which had two years to run
at $4,000 per year, was torn up
and new one offered him at $780,
900 a year for five years. Club
owners said they were excessively
pleased" at Bells handling of the
gambling expose.
Before that, Bell had called Line
Coach Hunk Anderson Of the Chi
cago Bears on the carpet to answer
charges brought by Owner Fred
Mandel of the Detroit Lions. Man
del, however, asked the commits
sioner to be lenient and Bell took
the matter under advisement until
he has read the entire transcript on
the case. No decision will be made
for at least week, he said.
Anderson allegedly criticized the
Lions management at a meeting
of the Detroit Quarterback Club.
Glen Davis, Army's great back.
went to Detroit, but Mandel said
he would not attempt to lure the
West Pointer into professional foot
ball. ~
asse"I took him as a precaution
against another club getting him.
later" Mandel said, but we aren't
going to approach him. If, In two
or three years, Davis decides to
leave the Army we'll be ready to talk
business with him, but we don't
want to arouse any criticism by try
ing to sway him from a military
career. This way 1t will be strictly
up to him"
Bears Get First Pick.
Davis famous running mate, Doc
Blanchard, was drafted last year by
the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have
decided to follow a policy similar to
| Detroit's.
First pick In the draft went to
the Bears, ironically. Under new
| system each team drew before the
first selection. George Halas took
the last slip and it was the pay-off.
He chose Bob Fenimore of Okla
homa A. and M. The clubs then
reverted to the regular order Of the
draw, with the lowly Lions choos-
ing first.
HaIas said he wanted only players
he felt sure he could sign. The
Bears also took Emil Fritz, Mary
land guard.
Pittsburgh's first choice was Her
bert Bechtol, Texas end, and Boston
selected Fritz Barzilauskis, guard
from Yale. Philadelphia refused to
list its choices, but Neil Armstrong,
Fenimore's .teammate repeatedly
was No. /.
The mystery surrounding Wash
ington's third selection was height
ened by rumors of trade between
the Redskins and Pittsburgh. Of
ficials of both clubs denied any
thing was afoot, but the Skins re-
portedly wanted 270-pound Joe
Coomer, tackle, whom the Steel
ers traded to the Cardinals for Joe
Magliolo, blocking back.
Washington Gets III Backs.
The Tribe also was embroiled with
/ the Boston Yankees in minor dis
pute over their No. S draftee, Will
liam r. Gray, an Oregon State CEN
ter. General Manager Arthur
Sampson of Boston claims the player
is the same Charles Cecil Gray the
Yanks drafted last year.
Washington's draft selections irl-
cluded II backs, seven tackles, eight
ends, one guard and three centers.
Two of the best picks, from Ed
wards viewpoint, which emphasizes
poundage, were 275-pound Henry
Harris, a 6-foot Texas tackle, and
23O- pound John Hart, Detroit tac-
kle.
The Redskins also drafted Herb
Shoener, 6-foot 3-inch Iowa end,
whose twin brother, Harold, was
chosen by the Giants.
Rossi, who will play in the Rose
Bowl game after spending most
| of the season on the bench with a
fractured ankle, was the Tribes first
choice last year. His name was
placed on the board erroneously,
however, and It had to be done
all over again.
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