Evening star., 1953-08-11
Redskins, Williams
Compromise, Ending
Two-Week HoIdout
By Lewis F. Atehison
Star Stoff Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 1l.-Pro
football scored a victory over
the cleaning and pressing busi-
ness today when Johnny Will
liams, holdout halfback. signed
his 1853 Redskins contract. He
will join the squad tomorrow.
Williams, who is believed to
have demanded $4,000, COM
promised after a conference with
Coach Curly Lambeau. He was
a holdout for two weeks. from
the time the club began training
here after rejecting a contract
calling for what Redskins off,
cialS called a "substantial' raise
over his 1852 salary.
A 5-foot-11, 180-pound alum
nus of Southern California, Will
liamS clicked from the start in
his pro football debut last year,
running 100 yards for a touch
down with a Rams kickoff in
the first exhibition game.
Among Top Safety Men.
The slender 26-year-old back
went on to rank fourth in punt
returns and 18th in kickoff re-
turns in the National Football
League. He also was well up on
the list of pass interruptions,
grabbing five enemy aerials. One
resulted in a 38-yard touchdown
return that helped beat the
Philadelphia Eagles, 27-21, and
knock them out of the title race
in the final game of the season.
Williams returned a punt 10
yards to score against the Eagles
at Philadelphia, and also went
81 with kick to register against
the Steelers at Pittsburgh.
Johnny opened his cleaning
and dyeing plant last February
and it did well from the begin
ming. His success in business.
plus the fact that his family was
not anxious for him to play pro
football, helped prolong his hold
out. He visited the Redskins
when the squad first assembled
here and seemed anxious to get
back in harness. Johnny re-
turned yesterday and it seemed
apparent that he would reach an
agreement with the club.
To Be Ready for Rams.
Lambeau said Williams should
be ready to play against the
Rams in next weeks opener.
Johnny knows our defensive
patterns and he'll pick up the
new changes in no time" the
coach said. I'VE stressed offense
early in practice, so he's not so
far behind"
True to his promise, Lambeau
called for wind sprintS in yes
terday's practice, showing up the
athletes not in prime condition.
The drills will continue this week
in an effort to run" the squad
into shape for the Rams game.
A lengthy ball-handling drill
for the backs, plus work hitting
the dummies for everybody, fea-
tured the afternoon session.
Lambeau tested the Redskins
defenSes against Los Angeles
plays and found several bad flaws
that must be corrected. But he
was glad to find them before
the game.
NOTES.-The Redskins started
working in secret yesterday.
Three small boys tried to talk
their way past the gateman but
were told they might be Rams
scouts. Honest we're not, ,"
they replied in dead seriousness.
:. Ed Berrang, Julie Rykovich
and Paul Barry went to a knee
specialist yesterday and were re-
lieved to learn they had no seri-
GUS trouble. Some fluid was
drained off Berrang's knee and
he should be running at full
speed by the end of the week.
Clipper Smith, one time VIII
lanova coach and later coach of
Ted Collins defunct New York
Yanks, is working for the Rams
as co-ordinator of personnel.
He told a luncheon gathering of
sportswriters yesterday that the
Rams ere blocking harder and
better than year ago. Paul
Lipscomb, Laurie Niemi, Choo
Choo Justice and Eddie LeBaron
showed themselves to be capable
after-dinner speakers at the
same occasion. Dick McCann,
after being introduced as "the
poor mans George Marshall" "
offered a correction. ). I'm the
impoverished George Marshall" P"
he quipped. Any theater man
ager looking for an amateur act
might contact baritone Gene
Brito, who sings to Chuck Dra-
zenovich's harmonica accom-
paniment. And not badly.