Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-03
Group Denied Recognition
By NIL, But Wins Most ofDemands
Owners Reject
Plan to Expand
League in 1858
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON
Star STAFF Correspondent

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 1.-The
National Football League tonight
refused to recognize the newly
organized Players Association,
but acceded to almost all the
demands made by a three-man
d elegation representing the
players.
1--WE gave them more than
they want proudly proclaimed
Commissioner Bert Bell, but we
will not recognize anybody as a
bargaining agent"
Later the owners. by an 8-3-1
margin, voted down a proposal
to add two franchises to the
league for the 1858 season. The
Philadelphia Eagles. Pittsburgh
Steelers and Baltimore Colts
voted in favor of expanding the
league to IA teams and the Chi
Icago Cardinals didn't vote. Seven
cities had applied for NIL
franchises.
Bicker Over Schedule
Bells statement ended a day.
long discussion that delayed the
windup of the leagues three-day
annual meeting into the early
morning hours.
Hopes for a speedy wind-up
were shattered when the owners,
after an hour recess for dinner,
began pickering over the sched-
ule. time worn stumbling
block. After a couple of hours
they put it aside and moved on
to other matters.
In lengthy, legally worded
statement, Bell, in effect, de-
cleared the - club owners de-
lcided the players needed no
association to represent them
linasmuch as they have direct
access to the commissioner. His
decision is final in all disputes.
The players presented six
point plan for the owners con-
Islderatlon. with recognition of
their association at the top of
the list Two points, a $4,000
base salary and an injury clause
in contracts, were ignored by
the owners.
There is no player in the
league receiving less than S.
i000," Bell said. explaining the
owners action. IF there is I'll
find out about it and have it
corrected. There never was ball
player injured, and who brought
1t up, who wasn't paid in full"
The players were represented
by Norm Van Brocklin of the
Los Angeles Rams and Kyle Rote
of the New York Giants. as well
Jas by Attorney Creighton Miller,
lone-time Notre Dame star, from
Cleveland.
Van Brocklin Disappointed
In San Antonio. Rote said
he was quite surprised that
they didn't recognize us as an
association. the Associated
Press reported.
Wan Brocklin expressed dis
appointment, saying: MY re-
action is that they haven't
done anything for us" He
elaborated:
owe requested inclusion of
an injury clause, which they
haven't given us. We requested
training camp expenses, which
they haven't given us. We
requested minimum pay, which
/ they haven't given U.S."
whats their next move?
cBell promised us another
I hearing" Van Brocklin re-
piled. IF nothing is done,
then we'll get together and try
to find our own solution" He
said he wouldn't guess what
that would be-
$50 Advance for Exhibition
The players asked for So daily
meal money on the road during
the regular season. The owners
agreed to give them SO, but an
nounced policy that whenever
practical all players shall eat in
a group"
The players request for Sl2
daily for meals and lodging be-
tween the end of the exhibition
season and start of the league
schedule was okayed.
The players asked for expense
See PRO FOOTBALL. Page c.