Evening star., 1953-01-04
Only 4C|ubs Making
Real Money, Bell Says;
Most Others in Red
BY the Assoeioted Press

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. o.-1Ne
most vital meeting in the history
Of the National Football League
opens January % and the entire
structure Of the league appears in
for a revamping.
Commissioner Bert Bell is
plenty worried about the future
of professional football in the
United States and makes no secret
Of his concern.
Something has to be done
about a business where you can
lose more in one year than the
average team can make in three
years." Bell says. I'VE have to
get this game down to a sound
business basis where the operation
is run with the mind and not the
heart
Only four teams in the NFL
made what financially minded
people would call real money"
One or two teams edged into
the black, and the rest wrote in
red ink. The commissioner says
something has to be done or the
money-makers will be playing
without the other eight.
Antitrust Hearing Near.
AS if the financial structure Of
the league isn't bad enough. the
Governments anti trust suit
against the NFL's television policy
comes u pin Federal Court here
January 26. the day after the an
nual meeting ends. The suit means
a great deal to the club owners.
IF they lose, salary scales in pro-
football are going to take a severe
drop. It's this TV money which
helps to pay the big salaries.
Television money doesn't have to
be split with anybody. It's clear
profit.
What then is the answer?
Minimum and maximum sala-
ries were suggested. But Bell
vetoed this idea. He explained
that a minimum salary could hurt
more than help. Here's how:
Lets say a ball club picks up a
few players who aren't ready for
the big league right away, but
they show great promise and could
develop into high-speed stars in
a few years. If we had a minimum
salary Of say $400 or $500 a game,
team couldn't afford to hold onto
these youngsters and develop them
We. don't have d Triple A and
Double A and Class B farm clubs
like major league baseball. We
have to develop our talent on the
big club.
II was never in favor Of a
maximum salary. A player should
get what he's worth to his team.
You can't stynie initiative"
Plans Two Suggestions.
Bell said he would suggest two
things that could help out:
!. Cut the player limit from 33
to 80 players. .
2. Urge all clubs to cut their
overhead expenses.
On the first point the commits
sioner said that the teams have a
squad list of 33 players plus three
on the injured list which in re-
aEty means they're paying SO
players.
II say 80 players on club are
plenty. They'd have three allowed
on the injured list. so actually
they'd have SO. The thing to do
is to hire more double-duty play
ers. We can't afford to pay spe-
cialists. Football players should be
prepared to play offense and de-
fense. It's okay in the colleges
where kids get a chance to play
But we're not giving out letters or
building character. We're in busi-
ness. We pay cold cash. Let's hire
as many players as we actually
need"
Says Clubs Can Cut Costs.
On the subject of expenses, Bell
also has a definite opinion.
II feel that clubs spend too
much money on hotel and food
bills. They don't have to stay
at the best hotels in town and
eat the most expensive food. They
can stay at respectable, clean.
good eating places. I wouldn't
ask a boy to eat or sleep in any
place I wouldn't eat or Sleep"
Bell said owners have to learn
to judge players with their minds
and not their hearts. When
you're paying big money and a
man doesn't produce, either cut
his salary or get rid of him. You
can't be a philanthropist in pro
football and make ends meet"
Scott an Example.
The commissioner didn't men
ton any names on the latter
point, but one that comes to mind
is Clyde (Smackover) Scott Of
the Philadelphia Eagles. Scott
was the highest paid player on
the Eagles when he was released
last season. He was making more
than $4,000 for IL games. Yet
Scott. in three years with Phil
adelphia. didn't play a total Of
three complete games. He was
always injured. That's no reflec-
ton on Scott. He was a brittle
ball player. The team physician
said that Clyde didn't know how
to fall.
And if you don't think pro foot
ball clubs pay big money today.
there is one team in the league
that has lost $4,000 in the last
two years. and in 1852 had a !
salary scale of some $3.50. 900 for
IL games. That's almost as much
as some big league baseball teams
pay an entire squad for 154 games.