Evening star., 1948-12-16
Thompson 70 Pui
Common Draft
Before Mogu|s
Salary War Ruinous,
Own Club Is in Red
Despite Crown
BY the Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 16.-Alexis
Thompson today opened the way
for a new peace offensive in profess
sional football.
The millionaire owner of the
Philadelphia Eagles disclosed today
that he plans to feel out his Ma
tional Football League colleagues
on their latest reaction to a COM
mon draft with the All-America
conference at their annual draft
meeting next Monday. The meet
ing follows Sundays championship
playotf between the Eagles and
Chicago Cardinals.
Either that or some other SEN
sible solution to the fantastic situa-
ton that finds me with q cham
pionship football team that will lose
close to $4,000 this year." Thomp-
son added.
The NFL and AAC have been at
loggerheads for three years and the
only result has been high salaries
and money-losing franchises. It's
this condition Thompson is anxious
to find a cure for.
I'D like to make some sense and
cents out of this muddled pro foot
ball business" Thompson explained.
Please understand, I'm not the
kind that changes his mind on this
subject every "a hours. I'm 100 per
cent in back of any policy the league
decides on, but Id be a fool if I
didn't try to resolve a situation in
which most Of us are losing money"
Thompson continued.
Thompson Is Determined.
The Eagle owner is determined to
try to make other NFL owners see
the light at the draft meeting here
next Monday.
Il tried last year but nobody
would even second my motion for
a discussion of the problem. I'll
canvass the boys and see how the
wind blows now. If I can get any
encouragement I'll certainly bring
UP the subject officially.
Like the little boy with q fire.
cracker who won't listen until he
gets burned. maybe the other
owners now are ready to use their
better judgment.
Thompson declared that he per-
sonally believed the All-America
hackers were foolhardy in entering
pro football.
"But darn 1t, they're in 1t. They
haven't folded up The competi-
tion has driven salaries up so high
that. nobody can make a franchise
really pay. We must recognize this
fact and act accordingly ~
Just toshow how far away every
body is on the problem, here's what
NFL Commissioner Bert Bell has
to say:
The National Football League is
satisfied with its operation this
year. in view Of the general falling
of OF the amusement business.
Expect Per Cent Loss.
while we figure to drop about 6
per cent financially, I feel sure that
more teams have made money in
the last few years than in the
period from 1888 to 1913.
Our future is bright as long as
our owners conscientiously and ag-
gressively pursue the football busi-
ness without regard to outside fac
tors"
Bell said he expected very sue
cessful draft meeting.
The commissioner announced that
Detroit-rumored to be seeking
Georgia's Johnny Rauch-will get
first choice in the draft. The cellar
dwelling Lions will be followed by
Boston, Green Bay. New York,
Pittsburgh, Washington, Los An
geles, Chicago Bears, and the loser
and winner of the NFL title game
between Philadelphia and the Chi
cago Cardinals Sunday. Pittsburgh
and New York finished in a tie
and will have to toss for position.