Evening star., 1948-09-11
Packers Power Dims
Skins Victory Hopes
In Birmingham Tilt
By Lewis T. Atehison
Stor Stoff Correspondent

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Sept. IL
minutes with Publicity Di-
rector George Strickler of the Green
Bay Packers was enough to con-
vince us the Redskins made . mis-
take coming to Birmingham. After
listening to Strickler's comments on
the 'R Packers, any sane football
team would concede the victory in
today's game, climb quietly aboard
a train and make a dash for Wash
ington-they're that tough.
Counting Guard Earl M. Cook and
Tackle Harold Crisler, who have
been picked up from Boston and will
join the squad in Washington Mon
day, the Redskins have Al players,
and all Al on the field together
couldn't stop the Packers, to hear
George tell 1t. Unfortunately, he
may be right. 1--WE can field line
averaging 242 pounds" says Mr.,
Strickler, who used to be publicity
director for the entire National
League, "but We'll probably start one
averaging only 225. It can move,
too.
We've got depth at left half this
season, with Ralph Earhart and
Lefty Ed Smith to help Bob Forte
and Red Keuper. Earhart is a 81
dash man-no fooling. We've got a
real smart quarterback in Perry
Moss to spell off Jack Jacobs and
Ted Fritsch. Irv Comp and s,her
veterans look as good as ever. We're
much stronger than last year"
Packers Neal Is Rugsed.
Strickler is sweet on one Packer
in particular-Bill Neal, 290-pound
Irish Indian guard once cast off by
the Philadelphia Eagles as a fat,
lazy, no good bum, at least that's
Georges story and the record shows
he was cut loose by the Eagles.
Hes unquestionably the strong
est man in the league" Strickler
says. Hes a legitimate. old-fash-
ioned blacksmith during the off,
season and I've seen him break
empty beer bottles across his fore
arm. Last year they stopped seven
games to examine his arm and
make sure it wasn't padded with a
piece of lead. No joking, he's tough.
philadelphia had the ball on the
20-yard line at one stage of our
game and on three plays he put
Roy Zimmerman back on the bench
and the Eagles behind their own
goal line for a safety. Just kept
knocking the center into the quar-
terback for and 8 yard losses. He
laid 'em out like tenpins and every
time he passed the Eagle bench he
looked up Greasy Neale and asked
when he was going to get into the
lineup. Neale cut him because Bill
couldn't get down to 220 pounds.
Said he was too fat"
Strickler claims the only thing
that can stop Neal is penalty for
unnecessary roughness because he
almost killed an opponent in an am
ateur boxing bout and later crushed
several ribs of wrestling rival. He
doesn't want anything really serious
to happen to football opponent.
Worrying Over Close Score.
It was evident that the Packers,
who trimmed the New York Giants,
TO, and Pittsburgh. 81, In previ-
Gus games, had no fear of the Skins,
but Strickler couldn't help worrying
about a close score.
Were too nice" he said 1--WE
Just want to win. We don't have
that burning desire like the Chicago
Bears to beat a team. If the Bears
know they're so points better than
you, they try to make it 100"
This didn't jibe with the Chicago
Cardinals stories about their
sclimmage with the Packers in
which teeth popped out like shelled
peas and stretcher-bearers earned
time and half pay.
They weren't ready" said George.
They were the champs who had
licked us twice last year and were
still cocky about it. We actually
won the All-Star game for them.
In two hours we did what Jimmy
Councilman hadn't been able to do
in two weeks. We showed them how
badly out of condition they were"