Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24
Agenda Also Includes
Discussion Of N,
Canadian Problem
By Lewis +. Atchison

owners will consider two major
changes in playing rules when
they gather in Philadelphia next
Thursday for their annual mid
winter meeting.
Rules may be drafted to pre-
vent taking injuries to stop the
clock and to prevent piling on a
downed ball carrier. Both have
good chances of being passed.
But even more important in
the overall picture will be the
owners discussion of television
problems, relations with Cana
dian football in regard to sign
ing, players. a game schedule
a perennial headache-and the
player draft.
Bell to Offer Injury Rule.
Commissioner Bert Bell has
announced that he will offer o
rule to allow an injured or dis
qualified player to be removed
from the game in the last two
minutes of either half, thus
stopping the clock. But If the
offensive team is behind. or the
game is tied, the referee will be
required to allow the clock to
run Is seconds before the ball
can be put in play.
The second rule to be presented
will make the ball dead when a
ball carrier falls to the ground
after being in contact with a
defensive man. 1t won't affect
a ball carrier who slips or bal
ances himself with one hand
but only where contact has been
made.
This rule has been banded
about in the last several league
meetings. Half the owners seem
to be for it on The ground that
1t will prevent serious injury. The
other half argue that it would
deprive pro-football of one of
its biggest thrills. that Of watch
ing player get up and go again.
Few Try to Get Up.
Actually, few veteran backs
try to get up and run unless
they can make a worthwhile
gain or a touchdown. Fast
whistles by officials also have
tended to discourage the prac-
tice in the last couple of years.
George Marshall, president of
the Redskins, thinks the vote will
be close. Marshall pointed out
that the proposed rule is COM
promise, and that it is different
from the college version, in that
a runner who merely slips and
falls without being hit has the
right to get up. The Chicago
All-Star game between the NIL
champions and College All-Stars
Is played under this rule.
Bell also intends to present
again-his suggestions for the
adjustment of the extra point
and sudden death playoh of
ties, but he admittedly has little
hope that either will be accepted.
TV Situation to be Explained.
The complicated television Sit
uation will be explained to the
club owners by the attorneys who
argued the case in a Philadelphia
court last spring. AS the mat
ter now stands, the NIL can't
control radio broadcasts, nor can
it control telecasts in a clubs
home territory while that team
is away. But it can black out
areas where an NIL game is be-
ing played in order to protect
the gate.
In all probability the owners
will vote to rewrite Article 10 of
the bylaws, which contains the
leagues radio and TV policy
to conform with the courts rul-
ing in the case.
While Bell seems apprehen-
sive about the Canadian League
reaching into the United States
for more college players, the
situation doesn't seem to be as
alarming as the commissioner
believes. His statement about
going after players Of Canadian
teams that sign United States
collegians bordered on the ride
ulous.
Marshall accurately summed
UP the situation when he de-
clared that the Canadian League
had very few players that would
be of use to the National Foot
ball League, and most Of them
have been signed for next year."
$50 Players to Be Picked.
Three hundred and sixty play
ers will be chosen in the draft,
each of the IL teams selecting
30. The clubs will draw from
the bottom up, with the last
place Chicago Cardinals first
and the champion Detroit Lions
last. After the Cards come Green
Bay, Baltimore, New York. Chi
cago Bears, Pittsburgh, Redskins.
Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San
Francisco, Cleveland and Detroit.
Before this gets under way the
five teams still eligible for the
bonus pick will draw for that
privilege. This practice was in
augurated during the war be-
tween the NIL and the ALL
America Conference to give even
top-ranking clubs a chance at
the collegiate stars. Paul Giel Of
Minnesota, Bobby Garrett Of
Stanford, Johnny Lattner and
Art Hunter of Notre Dame are
among this years possible bonus
choices.
Once a team has won the bonus
pick it is ineligible until every
team in the league has won. The
five clubs still participating are
the Green Bay Packers, Cleve-
land Browns, Chicago Cards,
Baltimore Colts and Pittsburgh
Steelers.
The Redskins won the bonus
choice in 1913 and selected Half
back Harry Gilmer of Alabama.