Evening star., 1955-01-23
Number Of Changes
In Rules; Bylaws 10
Come Up Thursday
By Lewis r. Atchison

may be one of the most irnpor-
tant annual meetings since their
victory over the All America
Football Conference ended a Bit
ter, costly .feud five years ago.
The session. preceded by COM
missioner Bert Bells meeting
with officials Of the Canadian
League yesterday. may see a
truce declared in the player war
between the two. This problem,
the annual player draft. changes
In playing rules. and In the by
laws and constitution will occupy
the owners attention. although
not necessarily in that order.
Thirty-seven changes have
been proposed in the bylaws,
and 20 In the playing rules. Some
undoubtedly viii be accepted, but
the majority seem headed for the
ashcan.
A vigorous fight TO increase
the player limit from 80 to IS
men, and the draft. in which
Ralph Guglielmi Of Notre Dame,
Alans Ameche of Wisconsin and
Dick Moegle Of Rice are ex-
pected to go /. 2, 3. probably will
highlight the conference.
More Prosperous Than Ever.
Commissioner. Bert Bell will
have a favorable report for the
owners when he formally opens
the meeting. Recently recovered
from an illness that put him In
the hospital for two weeks and
forced him to pass up the cham
pionship game between the De-
troit Lions and Browns at Cleve-
land last month"; Bell viii report,
the NFL is more prosperous than
1t ever has been.
Bell told the Associated Press
at his Philadelphia headquarters
that, while he hasn't received
the final figures from league ac-
countants, the record breaking
total of 2.164.585 customers who
watched pro football in 1853 was
increased by more than l per
cent in 1854. Eleven of the 10
teams made money, and the
gravel-voiced commissioner fore
sees an even better year in 1855
If several of the second-division
teams show some improvement.
In addition to revenue from
the gate, concessions, programs
and Endorsements. league teams
collected some SIS million for
radio and television broadcast
rights, and Bell is hopeful Of
arranging an even more profit
able set-up next season.
Might Return Jumpers.
Rival player raids between |
Canada and this country could
be ended by an agreement on |
both sides to return players to /
their original clubs. In the case |
of the Redskins, it would mean
that Scooter Scudero. who |
jumped the Toronto Argonauts /
last year to join the Washing
ton club. would have to return |
to the Argonauts. George Mar
shall. owner of the Redskins,
said he would give UP Scudero |
If it would help pave the way /
to peace. But Marshall pointed |
out that such move would in /
volve a wholesale exodus Of /
Americans from Canada. /
One of the proposed rules
changes would increase the NFL |
player limit from 80 to 35 play
ers. providing that two would |
have to be Canadians. This SEEM
ingly indicates that not all club |
owners are willing to lay down
their war clubs. Another pro-
posal. which Marshall favors. /
would increase the limit from |
80 to 35 men and do away with |
the injured player reserve list.
Other proposals include elm |
ination of the bonus pick after |
1t has completed the 12-team |
cycle tfour teams have yet to
get a bonus player. disbanding |
officiating crews and rotating Of |
ficials between both divisions, |
raising salaries to get better of
ficials. and registering game
scouts. /
Another item on the agenda
calls for all teams to begin train. |
ing July %, and while Marshall |
favors a mutual kickoff date, he !
doubts il 1t can be passed this
year. The Redskins, for one |
thing, already are committed to |
begin trsining July Is.
Another proposal would per-
NIT teams to carry two players
from the Chicago All-Star squad |
for the first two league games,
in addition to the regular 33-man
roster. but would not permit |
them to play in those games.
Schedule Changes Proposed.
One owner will offer an IL
game schedule for discussion,
with only one inter division game
instead of two, while another
is stunning for q schedule cali
ing for ome-and-home games
with four teams In the same
division, plus four with teams
from the other division to make
a 12-game card.
Marshall said he viii oppose
Bells annual effort to have the
point after touchdown elimi-
mated. but win campaign for
the adoption Of the rule calling
a ball carrier down when any
part Of his body. other than q
hand. touches the ground. Most
owners favor this change. be-
lieving 1t will cut down serious
injuries to star players.
Marshall will vote for rule
forbidding players to down puntS