Evening star., 1951-01-20
Bears Are Determined
Ito Avoid West Coast
Jaunts Next Season
BY Lewis F. Atchison
SAnr StnH HTnrrasnondanf

| Sfof oforr correspondent
CHICAGO, Jan. 2G.-The pos.
sibility of a compromise in setting
up two National Football League
conferences next season seemed
likely today as club owners await.
ed Ted Collins arrival from New
York before getting down to the
most important item on theil
agenda.
Collins, owner of the Yanks. is
the only absentee, aside from
Mrs. Violet Bidwell, who is rep
resented by General Manager Ray
Bennigsen Of the Cardinals.
George Halas of the Bears
seems determined to avoid two
trips to the West Coast next sea-
son, but is reported willing to take
the assignment every other year.
The consensus here is that the
Chicago Cardinals would be the
alternate club under such an ar
rangement, but whether the Cards
would 60 for the idea Is not
known.
The present temper of the own
ers makes it seem almost certain
there will be new alignment next
season. Last wears Setup was
only temporary and more than
one city is clamoring for games
with certain teams now in the OPP
posite division.
The owners virtually marked
time yesterday, although they
toiled from midday until near
midnight.
Bell Gets Salary Boost.
Before adjourning they:
Hiked Commissioner Bert Bells
salary from $4,000 to $4,000;
made three minor changes in play
ing rules; defined a bona f1de col
lege for draft purposes, and left
the 1851 player limit up in the air.
Bell received an unanimous vote
of confidence. The roly-poly COM
missioner who succeeded Elmer
Layden January IL, 1916, first re-
ceived a three-year contract at an
annual salary of $4,000. That
document was replaced by a five
year pact at the same terms jan
uary l, 1947. Two years ago to-
day the owners voted Bell 10
year contract at $4,000.
George Marshall, owner of the
Redskins and veteran parliament
tartan, had the floor. vainly argu-
ing for 35-player limit last night
at adjournment. Marshall's plan
would provide for a cutback to
33-player limit after two games.
Last year it was raised from 80 to
33 after the first game. 1t now
stands at 80, although motions to
reduce it to 80 and even % were
on the floor when the confab
adjourned.
Marshall argued that the mill
tary draft situation made it i'm
perative for the clubs to have
enough players to offset probable
losses to the armed forces. The
only concession he could wangle
out of his opponents was rule
that an injured player who re-
mains inactive for 80 days may
return to action without going on
the waiver list. This is. provided,
of course, that the player limit
is observed.
The owners passed the rule that
tackles, guards or centers cannot
become eligible to receive forward
passes.
Numbering Plan Rejected.
They decided to put a new ball
in play at the start of each quar-
ter in the event of rain or a wet
or muddy field.
They also put the 1949 rule
back in the book concerning the
downing of punts by the kicking
team. This eliminates intentional
fouls to make double foul, there
by nullifying the kick.
The idea of numbering players
according to position was rejected
on the ground that it would not
be popular with the fans, who as
sociated a particular number with
a particular player in college and
like to see him continue wearing
the same number in pro ranks.
At the same time Bell announced
the league would make an effort
to have colleges introduce the
practice, already followed by
many. to number players by posi-
ton so that the NFL eventually
could follow suit.
It was voted to recognize COL
leges listed in the Education
. Directory of Higher Education
published under the auspices of
the Social Security Commission
and those listed in the Blue Book
, of College Athletics. This helps
determine when players are ELI
gible for the draft.
The clubs completed the 1851
draft yesterday.
The conference setup, televisior
contracts and preliminary sched-
ule arrangements are among the
: items still to be taken up.