occasion instead of chartered planes; stopping at less expensive hotels and refraining from paying huge salaries to untried college players.

NFL'S EASTERN CLUBS CASTING FOND GLANCES AT WESTERN HALF

JAN 22 (Philadelphia) - Most of the money in the world is supposed to be located in the east, but you’d never guess it by the talk at the NFL meeting here. It develops that the “big dough” is out west – in the league, you understand. That’s the consensus of such experts as Pete the Bellhop, the eastern writers and, of course, the owners of teams in the east. The Eastern clubs are tossing loving glance at those in the West. They’re interested in those big gates Los Angeles, Detroit, San Francisco and the Bears have been drawing – not to mention the standard guarantee-plus from the Green Bay Packers. They’ve noticed that the West has started to corner championships – Los Angeles and Detroit in the last two years. They’ve noticed that the West has the big color boys, the gate attractions in such as Elroy Hirsch, Bobby Layne, Leon Hart, Bill Howton, Babe Parilli, Hugh McElhenny – to mention a few. They’ve noticed that their trump card, the Cleveland Browns, are starting to get a bit rusty; that the big-city New York Giants are not packing the Polo Grounds; that their all-time, all-timer, Sammy Baugh, no longer will pull customers in (because he’s retired); and that one of their members, the Pittsburgh Steelers, has publicly stated that it wants to play in the same conference with the money bags of the west. Pittsburgh represents the biggest noise in the Eastern loop. The Steelers’ 63 to 7 whacking of the Giants put their club in the high-scoring Western bracket. And just to prove that they can pull in fans, the Steelers played before nearly 70,000 in Los Angeles in their 1952 finale. Art Rooney, owner of the Steelers who knows the value of a dollar, says he almost broke even for the season on that final game along. He’d like more of the same. Thus, he has told the powers that be that he’d like to go West and let Baltimore in the East. It is doubtful, however, if the league would permit the removal of Pittsburgh from the Eastern sector. The Steeler might be just the shot in the arm the East needs since Cleveland and New York have dominated the scene in the last three years. Pitt lost two games to Cleveland by a total of two points last fall, indicating that the young Steelers are on their way up. Regardless of the positions of Baltimore and Pittsburgh, it appears that the Western teams are in for a long reign. Detroit, largely a gang of kids with the exception of fullback Pat Harder and a few linemen, is an automatic favorite to repeat. LA and SF are on the verge of titledom and the Packers are definitely on the way up. The Bears will have tough sledding unless they can find a quarterback. The sixth team? It will be one of these three – Baltimore, Chicago’s Cardinals or Pittsburgh. Coach Paul Brown of Cleveland has stated that he will lead a battle, due tonight or Friday morning, for a realignment of teams. He said recently, “I’ve been in the league for three years and I still don’t know whether I’m in the American conference or the National. Why not call them East or West and arrange for teams that way? You’ll have at least some logical rivalry.”

BLOOD RESIGNS AS ST. JOHN COACH

JAN 22 (Collegeville, MN) – Johnny Blood, onetime Green Bay Packer great and one of the most colorful players in the game in in his 15-year career in the NFL, resigned as head coach of St. John’s college here Tuesday, effective June 1. Blood’s teams won 13 games and lost nine over a three-year span. He said he probably would go into business. The pro gird immortal played with the Packers’ first three world championship teams in 1929-30-31 and was with them when they gained a fourth title in 1936.

PACK EMERGES FROM DRAFT WITH POTENTIAL SUPER POWER AT HALVES

JAN 23 (Philadelphia) - The Green Bay Packers emerged from the first no-glamour draft in the history of the NFL here today with potential super power at halfback – a non-productive position last year – and all-around additional strength from tackle to tackle. Packer head coach Gene Ronzani, determined to toughen all 1952 weak spots, selected 12 halfbacks and 11 combination guards-tackles. The remaining seven players included three centers, three ends and one fullback. Six of the 30 Packer selections were juniors, which means that they may not play pro ball until 1954, as the Packers, like the 11 other clubs, quickly recognized as the 1952 crop as the leanest in years. After Billy Vessels went early, there wasn’t a big-shot glamour All-American the likes of Babe Parilli, Bill Howton or Hugh McElhenny left in the pile…GOES INTO LATE HOURS: Ronzani, fairly well melted down when the picking ended early today, figured that “we strengthened up where we needed it the most – at halfback and in the line.” Chicago Bear coach George Halas remarked that the Packer draft was “the best balance you’ve had in years.” With two exceptions, the Packers stuck to the big schools, the only small college fellers being speed halfback Jim Philbee of Bradley, the 18th choice, and defensive end Bill Murray of American International college. Ronzani didn’t wait to signal his intentions, selecting all-around halfback Al Carmichael of Southern California first and then following with another halfback, Reich of Kansas, in the No. 2 spot. He nabbed Southern Methodist’s George Connor-like Bill Forester No. 3, and then grabbed another halfback, Gib Dawson of Texas…The Packers’ main hope for 1953 rests with the first 10 choices. The next four are highly-prized juniors and won’t be available until 1954. The next 16 represent a “hopeful” cross-section of the Packers’ needs plus “a sleeper or two”, and Ronzani believes that considerable strength can be expected from this group in 1953, although two are juniors. In all, the pre-draft excitement about halfbacks, the valuable position of middle guard to be vacated by 11-year veteran Ray Bray has been overlooked. However, it appears that Ronzani came up with a similar-sized replacement for Bray in Wisconsin’s Bob Kennedy, who measures almost even with Bray at 5-11, 225…COMES FROM RHINELANDER: Kennedy is the Bray-type guard Ronzani has been looking for. The former all-state guard from Rhinelander High is a mean cuss on defense and effective on offense. Badger coach Ivy Williamson says Kennedy has the fastest charge of any guard he ever coached. Other linemen among the first 10 includes a reversible guard-tackle in Vic Rymkus of Holy Cross, who carries 220 – ideal for guard in the pros; 240-pound tackle Floyd Harrawood of Tulsa; Jim Ringo, a 225-pounder from Syracuse; linebacker-tackle Roger Zatkoff of Michigan; and Forester…Forester actually played three positions in college – offensive halfback, defensive tackle and linebacker. Zatkoff made the All-Players No. 2 All-America as a linebacker – the position that seems to best fit his weight, 210 pounds. Ringo, the leading offensive center in the east, is expected to fill the empty shoes of veteran Jay Rhodemyre, who isn’t expected back next fall. Only one of the halfbacks is a light scatster – Dawson, who measures 5-11 and 175 – while the rest of them range from 185 pounds on up. Dawson is the closest thing to Doak Walker turned out in Texas. He does about everything, makes good use of his speed, 9.6 in the century, on both defense and offense and kicks extra points and field goals. He booted 26 out of 28 PATs and three FGs and averaged five yards rushing last fall…BUILT LIKE CANADEO: The one-two boys, Carmichael and Reich, both are constructed along the Canadeo lines – six feet even and close to 190 pounds. Carmichael, 24, is safe from military service, having served and played football with the Marines. Kansas’ Reich, on the other hand, stands a chance of becoming eligible for another season. The Big Seven will rule on the former Army star’s eligibility next month. The fourth halfback among the first 10 selections, Georgia’s Lauren Hargrove, had a terrific year as a junior. The lanky 193-pounder who runs the 100 in 9.8 sprained his ankle early in his senior year and saw little action…The Packers drafted just one fullback – 218-pound John Hlay of Ohio State. Some of the halfbacks are big enough to crash from the FB spot. Hlay also works as a linebacker. Ronzani provided some history by not drafting a quarterback, which, of course, is an indication that he expects both Tobin Rote and Parilli to return to the pitching hill next fall. However, it can be pointed out that Reich played considerable QB under Bob Blaik before the cribbing scandal at Army. He continued to work some at that position at Kansas. While the main strength is based among the first 10 picks, the remaining “availables” for 1953 are all interesting specimens. Philbee is a hurdler and reached the finals of the Olympics tryouts. Bill Turnbeaugh of Auburn, who packs 265 pounds, is the famous near-sighted tackle known was Earthquake Tremble; tackle Jim Haslam was Tennessee’s regular offensive tackle for three straight years and captained the club as a senior; Ike Jones, the Negro offensive end from UCLA, runs the 100 in 9.9; and Zach Taylor, the back from Colorado, led the nation in punting as a sophomore and then ranked second as a junior and senior. Haslam, who packs only 210 pounds, will be shifted to guard…MIDDLE GUARD PROSPECTS: Besides Kennedy as a middle guard prospect, the Packers drafted 240-pund Henry O’Brien of Boston college in the 29th round for that position. He was recommended by BC coach Mike Holovak, the former Bear. Ward Cuff, former Giants, Cardinal and Packers, recommended the Packers’ 30th choice, 222-pound Al Barry, guard from USC. Mike Michalske suggested several Packer picks, including 215-pound center Jim McConaughey of Houtson and Bill Lucky, Baylor tackle. Mike formerly coaches at Baylor, leaving recently. Ronzani and his assistants were extremely careful in getting swift halfbacks with some weight. Dawson likely will be battling with returning Larry Coutre for what may develop into the "one" scatback job. While the name of the six juniors were just names at this stage of the game, Ronzani pointed out that "you can add those three from last year to the possibilities for next year." He was referring to tackles Chuck LaPradd of Florida and Jack Morgan of Michigan State and halfback Billy Hair, who were drafted in '51 for '53 use. Thus, with today's tackle-guard crop, the Packers have a total of 14 big boys up front to draw from. All of the juniors picked last night are being groomed for All-America honors. Halfback Joe Johnson of Boston college, picked No. 11, is considered "out of this world out east." Two of them are big tackles - 250-pound Chuck Wrenn of TCU and 230-pound Bill Lucky, who got his early grid schooling under Michalske at Baylor. The others are halfback George Bozanic of Southern Cal, center Bob Orders of West Virginia, a former Army star, and halfback Dick Curran of Arizona State at Tempe. All of the clubs went wild picking juniors and, in some cases, sophomores who were eligible because their classes already had graduated. Something like 80 juniors were picked and 20 sophomores. The unusual picks were mostly the result of athletes entering school for a season and then going in the Army. By the time some of them get out, their classes were about to graduate...The peaceful operation of making a bonus choice and drafting college player out of the way, NFL owners rolled up their sleeves today and prepared for their customary knockdown, dragout fight over organizational problems. When Bert Bell called the annual meeting to order for its second session, four items are certain to be brought front and center: 1. A proposal to lower the player limit from 33 to 30. 2. Placing of Baltimore in one of the league's two divisions. 3. The 1953 schedule. 4. Raising or lowering the guarantees to visiting teams...Each problem has plenty of pros and cons among the owners and squabbles appear inevitable. Only one thing seems certain. It takes 10 votes out of 12 to pass on an issue. The usual procedure in this league is for the owners to spend hours arguing and then give up and ask Commissioner Bell to solve the matter. It wouldn't surprise anyone if Bell had the final say on everything. The proposal to lower the player limit has the support of the commissioner, some of the owners and none of the coaches. The idea is to cut about $15,000 to $20,000 off the salary department. Bell has recommended economy all the way down the line to lessen the risk of big losses for the losing clubs. The job of placing Baltimore in one of the two conferences is sure to provide a floor fight. Bell says Baltimore has replaced Dallas in the National conference, which includes most of the western teams on a geographical basis. Don Kellett, general manager of the new Baltimore team, says he doesn't care where his team operates. Some of the other owners do care...George Marshall of the Washington Redskins wants Baltimore in the American conference, or eastern sector of the league. He wants to play Baltimore twice a season to build up what Marshall claims is a natural rivalry between the two teams which operate 30 miles apart. Marshall would send the Chicago Cardinals from the American to the National conference where he insists they belong. Art Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, says he'll be glad to go into the National conference and let Baltimore have his American spot. You would think that makes everything east with Baltimore not caring where it plays and Pittsburgh quite willing to switch. But enter the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, while not making any official statement, are reported to oppose the moving of Pittsburgh. The Eagles, it is said, feel that they went along playing the Steelers twice a year when the Pittsburgh entry was in bad shape. Now that the Steelers have a pretty good club, the Eagles can see some pretty good gates for battles with their intrastate rivals. Rooney would solve the whole thing by having the league play a round robin schedule which means that fans in each league city would get to see every team in the NFL over a two-year period. He doubts his round-robin idea will get the first base, though...If a group represented by sports promoter Abe Saperstein makes a deal for the San Francisco 49ers, Nate Dolin of the Cleveland Indians would be willing to take a "small" share, the latter said in Cleveland Thursday. Dolin is director of stadium operations and a major shareholder in the Indians. Saperstein, who has the Harlem Globetrotters, makes his headquarters in Chicago. They and Franklin (Whitey) Lewis, sports editor of the Cleveland Press, left San Francisco Wednesday night amid reports they were negotiating to buy the National league professional football club. Dolin related that he met Saperstein in San Francisco on "personal business", heard the club was for sale, and suggested a call to Tony Morabito, co-owner. He said he mentioned "what I though the club was worth", but that Morabito replied he "never would sell at that figure." Morabito had a heart attack last spring and was advised by doctors to sell the club. He and his brother Victor own it. Tony Morabito's version of the incident was that the three men negotiated for a sale. There were reports the price was around $400,000 to $450,000.

BULLETIN

JAN 23 (Philadelphia) - Baltimore, which has replaced the defunct Dallas Texans, will play in the NFL’s National conference in 1953, a reliable source told the Press-Gazette here at noon today. No vote has been taken but the sentiment has been in favor of such an experiment for one year “rather than making any changes at this time,” the informant explained. It was expected, however, that the plan would meet with considerable opposition at this afternoon’s session.

REICH, PACKER DRAFTEE, IS ONE-MAN BACKFIELD

JAN 23 (Lawrence, KS) - The Green Bay Packers could have picked a football player who can do one or two things better than Kansas university’s multi-faceted Gilbert (Gibby) Reich, but they’d look far and long for a back who can do as many things as well as the 6-0, 190 pound Steelton, Pa., product. The specialty – if he has one – of the No. 2 1952 draft choice for Coach Gene Ronzani’s Pack is defense. But don’t bet he can’t do something until he’s been given a thorough trial. You’ll probably lose your money. Furthermore, the poised, raven-haired, dark-complexioned Steelton Stiletto is interested in pro football. That’s despite the fact the onetime West Pointer is a dandy baseball prospect and currently is a starting guard with the surprising K.U. basketball team. Army’s loss was one of the biggest athletic gains in the history of the Jayhawker institution. Gil, whose impromptu comments make one suspect he’s reading from a prepared script, was one of the cadets who got the ill-aimed boot during the cribbing scandal. As a Point sophomore, he was No. 1 defensive safety for the 1950 Red Blaik eleven that fell only to Navy. Gil came up from the plebe team that season – along with boys like Gene Filipski, J.D. Kimmel and Bill Rowekamp – with a whale of a reputation as an offensive quarterback. But the man-under post was bring handled capably by Blaik’s son, Bobby. Gil, however, was slated to take over after Bob left and played some offense, connecting for touchdowns on the only four passes he threw in competition. Realizing that the boy was too good to be kept on the bench, Coach Blaik utilized his tremendous ability at safety. The Big Seven moguls allowed Reich and other Army men transferring to league schools only one year of eligibility after the customary one-year residence. But although this is Gibby’s first and last year as a Mr. Oread athlete, he’s already stamped himself as one of the school’s all-time greats both in football and basketball. His baseball ability – he’s an outfielder – will be known this spring. Folks at Kansas who’d heard of Gil realized they were getting something dandy when Reich, a close friend of Warren Woody, well-known Chicago insurance man and rabid K.U. alumnus and former athlete, announced he had chosen the Lawrence institution. He enrolled in civil engineering and currently is maintaining a B average in the tough subjects such an interest requires. He’d like to work for a large engineering firm once he gets his degree. There are a couple of question marks overhanging the boy’s availability to the Packers. He has more schooling after this year, although he’s listed as a senior. Most K.U. engineering courses take 4 ½ or five years and he needs another semester next fall. Then, too, Gil is a member of school’s Air Force ROTC unit and upon completion of his studies and the reception of his reserve second lieutenant commission, he owes the Air Force two years of his time. By the way, the boy’s as outstanding military as he is in everything else. Gil was selected the No. 1 cadet during his short tour of active duty training at a big eastern AF base last summer. At home in any crowd, Reich is a favorite wherever he goes. He’s clever but not overbearing, reserved but not shy. He has that rare ability to make acquaintances and teammates listen – and then follow. Those in a position to know term him one of the greatest natural leaders and organizers they’ve ever encountered. But on with Reich, the football player who might come to Green Bay. As we’ve said, Gil’s admitted forte is defense. He was top defensive left half with a Kansas team which, though riddled with injuries, mounted with an impressive 7-3 record. You can name at least three of those seven victories that were salvaged simply because Reich’s sure, dead-aim tackling – the kind with the shoulder in it – saved tying or winning enemy scores. Not a blazing runner, he is far faster than average, has a great change of pace, is a clever mover and hit with the power of a fullback if he happens to be carrying the ball. The “defensive” player went nearly 55 minutes in the season opener against Texas Christian, passing for both touchdowns as the Jayhawks notched an impressive triumph. His defensive pyrotechnics were instrumental in victory which saw the score-happy Horned Frogs blanked for the first time in over 50 games. When the Oklahoma game rolled around and the K.U. fullback corps was repleted by wounds, Coach Jules Sikes moved Reich into the fullback spot with only a week’s work. From that midpoint in the backline of the K.U. T-formation, Gil ran and passed lethally until knocked out and benched in the second half. In the last game of the year against Missouri, the versatile gridder took over the left half spot vacated by the great by injured Charlie Hoag. Again Gil was hurt, suffering a broken finger, and again his team lost – this time 19-20 after his running, passing, blocking and defending were gone. A good idea of Reich’s ability can be gained from a glance at a few statistics. Gil was considered good enough by the Football Writers of America to be placed at a first string halfback post on the Look All-American defensive team. He was a unanimous choice for every all-conference aggregation. Gil completed 19 of 43 passes as a quarterback-fullback-halfback for 238 yards (six of them going for touchdowns) and rushed for over 250 yards and three touchdowns from three spots; did most of the team punting, getting off 29 for 297 aces, an average of 35.6; returned 19 enemy punts for 327 yards, over a 17-yard average; took up extra-point kicking when the team’s regular converter was put out at midseason, averaged a pass interception a game as a defender. Coach Sikes considers Reich one of the best all-around backs he’s ever handled or seen and calls him “a mighty terrific pro prospect” because of his amazing versatility. The NCAA’s change from the platoon style of football wouldn’t have affected Gil a bit. One of the shortest and most emphatic of the many compliments the incredible Steelton boy garnered this year came from T.C.U. boss Dutch Meyer, after Gil has led the Jays to victory over the Frogs. Dutch said: “Reich – Well, just say he’s the heart of a Kansas team – a kid who gives this club poise and purpose, offensively and defensively.” There are those who’ll say all this is a fairy tale, that all this can’t be true of one boy. Our reply: You just haven’t met or watched Gil Reich, Green Bay prospect deluxe.

PACK TO PLAY NON-LOOPER WITH BROWNS IN CLEVELAND, REPORT

JAN 23 (Philadelphia) - The Packers will play the Browns in a non-conference game in Cleveland early in September – probably on a Friday night, it has been reported hereabouts. Thus, the two clubs will exchange history-making non-loopers, having started the series in Green Bay last year. And speaking of non-wheelers, an appearance by Curly Lambeau and his Washington Redskins in Green Bay would provide an interesting contest. Nobody seems to be able to figure out why Baltimore didn’t draft home-state quarterback Jack Scarbath first instead of Billy Vessels – unless Baltimore coach Keith Molesworth is fixin’ to deal with the Browns for George Ratterman, the skilled quarterback who played little last year behind Otto Graham. In first 10 rounds, a total of 14 Big Ten players were selected – four by the Browns. The first to get called was end Bernie Flowers of Purdue, who was picked by Baltimore in the second round. The first player from Wisconsin’s Rose Bowl team chosen was guard Bob Kennedy, who was picked by the Packers in the sixth round. There wasn’t a Notre Dame player selected in the first 15 rounds. As predicted, the first meeting day, confined solely to the draft, was unusually quiet. Nobody even would guess a fight for today. Asked if he expected a big rhubarb over the conference issue, Commissioner Bert Bell just shrugged his shoulder and said “Naw.” Bell had to make one touchy ruling during the draft. The Bears picked halfback Billy Anderson, son of Rochester, the radio comedian, in the first round and the Browns promptly announced that they already had him under contract. Bell said Anderson was not eligible at the time he signed. Redskin mentor Lambeau said John Martinkovic never would have left Washington had he been around when the deal was made two years ago. Big John came to the Packers for the rights to Ted Cook. Lambeau, incidentally, sat near the Packer table in the drafting room. He told the Packer group that “your Carmichael is one of the greatest backs in the country.” The Packers had hoped to draft Dave Suminski, the Wisconsin tackle, on the 15th round, but Washington grabbed him three notches ahead of the Bays. The experts in the halls claim that Packers’ Gil Reich is the equal of Glenn Davis, the Army immortal. Los Angeles, dead set on tightening its defense, for the second successive year gains an All-America linebacker. The took Donn Moomaw of UCLA from the Philadelphia Eagles for the final payment in the Bobby Thomason deal. A year ago, the Rams “bought” Les Richter, the other LBing great, from Dallas for 11 players. Richter won’t be available until 1954. Earl Gillespie, former WJPG sportscaster who handled the Packer broadcasts and the championship playoff last year, visited the meeting Thursday. He’s on the road doing the aircasts of the Milwaukee Hawks’ games; they played Philly here last night. Packer Tobin Rote will show Packer and championship game pictures in Texas this winter in the interests of Miller High Life. The “rich get richer” is the way most people looked on the trade that send reserve quarterback-end Tom Dublinski of Detroit to Baltimore for veteran fullback Dick Hoerner. Dick is just what Detroit’s Pat Harder needs, although Hoerner is 30 years of age. The Packers had seven representatives sitting in on the long draft meeting – President Emil R. Fischer, board chairman Lee Joannes, coaches Gene Ronzani, Ray McLean and Chuck Drulis, administrative aide Joe Stydahar and scout Jack Vainisi. The draft finished up at 1 o’clock this morning.

5 NON-LOOP GAMES APPROVED BY PROS

JAN 24 (Philadelphia) - Can you imagine the Packers and Bears playing a non-conference games - an exhibition! This is possible, and highly probable, under the NFL's new non-league rule adopted unanimously at the circuit's meeting early today. The rule states that each club must play five non-conference games with teams of its opposite conference. Then, if the club so desires, it can play additional game, normally only one, with a team in its own division. The game within the conference may be played first - so long as five across-the-loop tilts are scheduled. Thus, the Packers could battle the Bears or other National conference teams in Milwaukee, for instance, or Minneapolis or anywhere for that matter. What effect a P-B non-looper would have on the Packer-Bear league doubleheader is something else again. Officials here believe that it might require considerable study. The new rule also relieves considerable difficulty in scheduling teams for the Packers' successful big three non-league games in Green Bay, Minneapolis and Milwaukee. The Packers already have one non-wheeler in Cleveland set and arrangements for the big trio are now being made, with the possibility that Curly Lambeau might invade Green Bay with his Washington Redskins - something of a natural to say the least. The non-conference law ended Friday's do-nothing meeting on something of a successful note...Earlier in the evening, the clubs booted by an unknown vote an opportunity to cut rosters and (1) thus save approximately $20,000 per season per club and (2) provide for a well-balanced league. Commissioner Bert Bell, concerned for months over the financial condition of some of the teams, stormed out of the meeting rooms at the Hotel Bellevue-Stratford late last night and frankly admitted to the press that "they did nothing." In short, the league refused to reduce rosters from 33 to 30 players and put out the abused injured-player reserve list - both proposals being made by Mr. Bell. Another plan, presented by the New York Giants, called for 35 players for the league opener, 33 for the remainder and no injured-player list. This, too, was killed. Under the present 33-player and reserve plan, clubs carried - and paid for - as many as 40 players. Bell wanted to cut each club to a flat 30 with no injury tomfoolery. His intention, besides saving each club some money, was to help the weaker clubs in player personnel. At the start of next season - if the 30-player thing has been adopted - a total of 36 players would be released, including at least 15 to 20 top-notchers from the "rich" clubs...But the 12 teams decided to go along and let the rich get richer in player talent. Actually, each club can save money by cutting its roster below 33 (the league bottom by law is 25), but an undermanned team isn't going far up in the standings. Bell's plan is to make each team on a par. He and the club officials had a good example in the Western division where four of the five clubs were about on a par for the first nine games. As a result, Bell pointed out, the six clubs in the Western loop drew - and get this - $600,000 more than the six teams in the Eastern circuit last fall. Oddly enough, the weaker clubs weren't all in favor of the 30-player program. Bell put it this way: "I was astonished to see that all of the weaker teams did not favor the 30 players." The commissioner seemed puzzled and furious - all at the same time. But he hadn't lost his wonderful sense of humor. A moment later, the writers, looking for something hot, groaned when Bell announced that the clubs passed a rule requiring an ambulance to be present at all games. A writer yelled, "Who cares", and Bell answered: "I'm darn sure the players care."...The Packers, via Emil R. Fischer, board chairman Lee Joannes and Coach Gene Ronzani, were generally in favor of the 30-player limit. Bell's proposal to raise the game guarantee from $20,000 to $25,000 for league games outside a team's conference and reduce it to $15,000 for games within a conference went down the drain. Edwin J. Anderson, president of the Detroit Lions, told a reporter that economy measures such as cutting the squads and guarantees were not the answer to financial problems. "The only way to operate in professional football is to sell your team to the community. You have to get the big industrial firm in back of your season ticket drive." The Detroit president said "sure, there is risk in pro football. There is in any business. The idea is to circumvent that risk. Cutting squads and guarantees isn't the way to do it. The way to do it is to work hard on that season ticket angle." In another action, the league acted to protect a player, salarywise, who is traded from a championship team before the college All-Star game. If he is traded, he will be paid half of his All-Star game salary by his new team. The first case is Tom Dublinski of Detroit (the Lions play in the star game), who was traded to Baltimore. Dick Hoerner of the Los Angeles Rams, who was traded to Dallas a year ago, was the last player to miss out on the extra half pay. The league also decided that any player who reports and plays in Canada during any season must be cleared at a special hearing held by the league before he plays in the National league. And he must report to his NFL team before the first game; otherwise he must wait until the following year. For certain decision today was the problem of the home conference of Baltimore, which is presently in the National division. The Rams and San Francisco may not like the fact that they each must travel across country each year, meaning that a rhubarb may develop before it's settled. Pittsburgh wants to get into the money-minded NC but the other AC clubs are ready to say nix. This morning, the club officials accomplished three strokes of business. They voted to: (1) Limit player salary cuts to 10 percent. (2) Rename the National and American conferences Eastern and Western divisions. (3) Follow the present television policy in 1953. (Home team now have the right to decide whether their games will be televised.)

RONZANI MAY HAVE COMPLETED PROJECT TO TOUGHEN DEFENSE

JAN 24 (Philadelphia) - Packer coach Gene Ronzani's tightening-the-defense project, started a year ago with the drafting and signing of Bobby Dillon, may have been completed here. Six of the dozen "big, fast" halfbacks chosen are two-way backs and one in particular - Gil Reich - is a cornerstone in the keep-the-enemy-from-scoring-on-passes department. Ronzani's 1952 defense allowed less points than either of his two previous years and one of the reasons was the swift Dillon. Reich plays all three defensive positions - not to mention offense - but he's must at home at safety, where he can roam either way. The other double-up boys are Gib Dawson of Texas, the No. 4 choice; Lauren Hargrove of Georgia, No. 8; Tulsa's Gene Helwig, No. 15; Bradley's Jim Philbee, No. 18; and Alabama Bob Conway, No. 21. Dawson and Hargrove, besides Reich, are safetymen, while the other three play right or left halfback...The Packers will train at Grand Rapids, Minn., for the third straight year in 1953. Final arrangements were ironed out with officials of Minnesota Sports, Inc., here. The training setup also includes a non-conference game in Minneapolis and two or three intra-squad games. The Packers' non-conference game with the Browns in Cleveland early in September will be the Browns' only home non-looper. Arrangements are being made for a Packer-Lambeau (Washington) non-wheeler in Green Bay...Coach Buddy Parker of the Detroit Lions can't be blamed if he's a bit peeved about getting only a one-year contract, which he has signed. After all, his team did win the world's championship. The story around is that Buddy wouldn't have been rehired if he had lost the title. He can thank the Packers for those five fumbles and four pass interceptions in that game Thanksgiving day! And speaking about coaches, Washington, Green Bay, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and the Chicago Cardinals are looking for assistants. The Packers recently lost two in Dick Plasman and Tarz Taylor and it's entirely possible Ronzani will add only one replacement. Curly Lambeau at Washington is looking for a line mentor; the Cards want at least three aides; and Pittsburgh need a backfield mentor. Keith Molesworth and Ray Richards are the only pilots at Baltimore, which means they'll need two more.

BROWNS, ALL FIVE WESTERN CIRCUIT CLUBS ON PACKER HOME SCHEDULE

JAN 26 (Green Bay) - The Packers' schedule worries are over for three years. They'll play home and home series with each team in their own Western division and two games with clubs in the Eastern division - one home and one away, rounding out the 12-game card. The only change over the three-year period will be the opposite-conference opponents. For 1953, the Packers were "awarded" the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers as Eastern division foes. Here are the Packers' 1953 home, Green Bay or Milwaukee, opponents: Chicago Bears, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Baltimore and Cleveland. The Steeler game will be one of the six games on the road, the other five being against Western conference opponents. The schedule program, which will have the Packers playing all of the Eastern division teams once over the three-year plan, thus keeps intact the famed Packer-Bear doubleheader. All of this resulted from an early-Sunday morning announcement by NFL Commissioner Bert Bell that "we have finally agreed on a schedule" at the final session of the league in Philadelphia. The vote on the compact schedule idea, which took about eight hours of arguing, was 11 to 1, Philadelphia being the only dissenter. The agreement included keeping Baltimore in the Western division, despite its eastern location, and turned the problem of setting dates over to Bell. The new program cut out the standard two-game league series between the two Chicago clubs, Bears and Cardinals, and ruined any possible two-game league rivalry between neighboring Washington and Baltimore. Both the Cardinals and Washington conceded plenty in submitting to the three-year plan, since both lost an extra game with their natural rivals. A plan to place Baltimore in the Eastern division and the Cardinals in the Western division and thus maintaining the two-game series involving the Bears-Cards and Redskins-Colts were voted down early. While these two natural rivalries were sliced in half, the league, for the first time, came up with a definite pattern for non-league games, which was explained by Bell as "the one thing they did for the weaker clubs." Under the new exhibition rule, a team must play five non-wheelers with teams in the opposite division before it can schedule a sixth with a team in its own division. This was voted in to prevent the top teams from playing two exhibitions with each other and cutting the lower clubs out of the lucrative exhibition money. For Green Bay, this rule presented a strange twist - a possible non-league game with their traditional rival, the Bears. Under old rules, a team in the same conference wasn't supposed to play exhibitions against its own-loop teams unless the two clubs were scheduled in only one league game. This made it possible for the Packers to play San Francisco in Minneapolis two years ago. The exhibition rule opens the way, of course, for games between the Bears and Cardinals and Baltimore and Washington...One of the sidelights to the meeting was the rumor that the league championship game is headed for the Orange Bowl in Miami. The league reportedly feels that it no longer would incur the wrath of home fans for taking a championship game out of its city because of widespread television. The Orange Bowl thing came up after the league decided to hold the championship game annually on the Sunday between Christmas and New Years's day, regardless of when the regular campaign ended. Thus, the pros would be cutting in on some of the holiday bowl money. Emil R. Fischer, president of the Packers, reportedly was empowered by the Orange Bowl group to start negotiations with the league. Fischer, who is vacationing in Florida, left the league meeting early Saturday for Miami. He said he would return to Green Bay for the annual Packers' meeting early in February. The story is that the pros would receive a $200,000 guarantee for each championship game played in the Orange Bowl, at the same time retaining their fees for television and radio rights. This nets approximately $100,000 a year under a contract with Dumont, which has two years to go...Lee H. Joannes, chairman of the Packer board of directors and a long-time veteran in league affairs, fought for the Packers in the heated Saturday struggle over conference alignment and scheduling. He was accompanied by head coach Gene Ronzani...Before leaving early Sunday, Bell told the press, "we're still going to kick our extra points from the field side of the goal post." He was referring to a suggestion by a Chicago Bear fan that all extra points be kicked from the end zone to the playing field. The fan said it would save $20,000 in footballs. Bell, a tired man, took the press and radio boys out to dinner early Saturday night, and he pointed out, among hundreds of other things, that the league is confident of winning the TV anti-trust suit. He said he expected to be placed on the stand early. Besides the player draft and other actions pointed above, the league accomplished the following: Kept the player limit at 33 players plus an unrestricted injured reserve list. Retained the $20,000 guarantee to visiting teams and - Limited player salary cuts in any one year to 10 percent. Previously, cuts were unlimited.

PACKERS' IKE JONES HAS TOUGH JOB!

JAN 27 (Green Bay) - The Packers have given Ike Davis a tough job. The Negro speedster from UCLA, who negotiates the 100 in 9.9, was the only offensive end drafted by Packer coach Gene Ronzani. He is faced with the task of beating out one of the Packers' Big Offensive End Four - Bill Howton, Bob Mann, Jim Keane and Stretch Elliott - for profession work next fall. Jones, drafted in the No. 25 slot, isn't as tall as most offensive ends go - 5-foot-11 - but Ronzani was attracted by the youngsters' tremendous speed. Ike carries about 185 pounds - 15 more than Mann. Unlike the San Francisco Forty Niners, who were begging for pass catching ends, Ronzani didn't have to worry about wings. Coach Buck Shaw, the lucky stiff, won the bonus choice and promptly picked Harry Babcock, the underrated pass receiving star from Georgia. Then, on his first round selection, he added another - Tom Stolhandke of Texas. And speaking of ends, the nation's leading college pass receiver, Ed Brown of Fordham, wasn't even selected. The general opinion was that Brown was too slow for the type of speed game the pros play. There wasn't a pass catcher in the entire lot who averaged 20 yards or over per reception. A year ago, the Packers' No. 2 pick, Howton, led all receivers with a 22-yard average at Rice. He maintained it with the Packers. Green Bay drafted three other ends - all defensive experts - Bill Murray of American International, Bill Georges of Texas and James McConaughey of Houston. Murray, according to his coach, is better than Andy Robustelli, the crack Los Angles Ram defensive wing. Drafted No. 23, Murray goes 6-3, 215. McConaughey, 27th choice, plays defensive end as well as offensive center; he carries 215 pounds and stands 6-3. Georges, the 17th pick, is considered a rough character on the field; he weighs 195 and stands 6-1...Of the first 60 players selected, 24 were backs, 16 tackles, 12 ends, four guards and four centers. This group included the first five picks of each team.

STYDAHAR NAMED CARDINAL COACH

JAN 29 (Chicago) - Jumbo Joe Stydahar was named today as the new head coach of the Chicago Cardinals, the eighth in the last four seasons. Managing Director Walter Wolfner said that Stydahar would be given a three-year contract at more money than the club paid to Joe Kuharich, fired from the job yesterday. Stydahar led Los Angeles to two divisional titles and one National league crown before relieved early in the 1952 season after a dismal start. He finished out 1952 as an administrative assistant to Head Coach Gene Ronzani of the Green Bay Packers. Wolfner would neither confirm nor deny the hiring of Stydahar, pending a news conference at noon, Green Bay time, today. Earlier, Wolfner had said he expected to announce Kuharich's successor within the next 10 days. Kuharich was fired yesterday and paid off for the remaining season under his two-year contract. "I just couldn't turn down the splendid offer," said Stydahar on his return from the East. He wouldn't discuss the terms, but friends indicated it called for more than one year and a handsome salary...T-QUARTERBACK TOP NEED: Stydahar, 42, whose normal weight is about 280, is no stranger to Chicago. He was long a star of George Halas' Bears. The Cardinals finished fifth in the American Conference last season, and Stydahar conceded he has a job on his hands to make them championship contenders. "I hope we can come up with a good T-quarterback," he said. "The Cardinals drafted plenty of them. They tell me that a boy named Jim Root of Miami University of Ohio could be the answer to our problems." The Cards, who used a made-over halfback, Charley Trippi, in the post last year, also picked up Dale Samuels of Purdue and Jim Lear of Mississippi...ENDED IN TIE FOR CELLAR: Kuharich, hired in 1952 after guiding the University of San Francisco through an undefeated 1951 campaign, compiled a 4-8 record for the Cards. They ended the season in a tie for last place in the Eastern division. The Cardinals, striving to reach championship status, have been directed by seven head coaches in four years. The firing of Kuharich stemmed from Wolfner's insistence that he release two of his assistants, Bill Daddio and Mike Nixon. Kuharich said he wouldn't stay if they had to go. By being fired, rather than pressured into resigning, Kuharich's second year of a two-year contract will be honored. Wolfner said he will pay him off - an estimated $14,000. Kuharich, 35-year old former Notre Dame and Cardinal guard, replaced Curly Lambeau last year. Lambeau lasted through 1950 and until the final two games of 1951. At that time, the Cards finished the campaign under a combine of Cecil Isbell, Phil Handler and Buster Ramsey. Jimmy Conzelman quit after winning the 1948 divisional crown for the Cards. His successors were Handler and Buddy Parker, now coach of the Lions. During the 1949 campaign, Handler stepped down and Parker threw in the towel when the Bears walloped the Cardinals, 52-12, in the 1949 finale.

HOWTON TO TRY KICKING PAT'S; DAWSON ASPIRANT

JAN 30 (Green Bay) - Recent announcement that fullbacks Bill Reichardt and Fred Cone won't return to the Packers next fall pose this question: Who will kick the extra points and field goals next year? Coach Gene Ronzani furnished this answer today: "We'll give Bill Howton a shot at kicking; he's cool our there and he might develop into a good kicker. And don't forget Gib Dawson from the draft." The Packers suffered a foot shortage recently when Reichardt went into the Air corps and Cone reveled his intentions of retiring from the game. Howton kick extra points? If he succeeds, he'll be following in the footsteps of the famed Don Hutson, the Packers' pass catching end. Howton, also an end, started running in Don's elegant foot tracks last fall as a rookie, breaking his yardage mark on passes caught. Hutson booted only four extra points and no field goals in his first four seasons as a Packer. But, at the end of an 11-year career, Hutson had accumulated 174 extra points and seven field goals. For PAT and FG kicking, Howton has a Hutson characteristic - coolness, not to mention excellent timing and coordination, all valuable in kicking PATs and FGs. Dawson handled the point and field goal kicking for the University of Texas last year. He booted three FGs and converted on 26 out of 30 point after touchdown attempts. He's a sure bet to be a leading candidate for Packer kicking chores. Most college kickers find it easier in the pro ranks because the goal posts in college ball are placed on the end line - 10 yards behind the goal line. The standards for the pros are on the goal stripe. Dawson will be the lightest point kicker since Hutson put away his moleskins after the 1945 season. Gib carries 175 pounds on a 5-11 frame. Most of the kicking since '45 was handled by Ted Fritsch, a 200-pound fullback, and Reichardt and Cone, both around the 200 mark. And speaking about moving the ball with the foot, Babe Parilli may have some competition in the punting department next fall. Among the Packers' draft choices is halfback Zach Jordan of Colorado, the nation's not-quite No. 1 college punter last fall. Jordan delivered 57 punts for an average of 43.4, a fraction behind Rudy Koch of Southern California, who averaged 43.5 on 47 boots. Parilli, as a rookie pro punter last fall, averaged 40.7 yards on 65 boots. A number of the Packers' other backfield choices are experienced punters, but Jordan is the only one listed among the top 30 in the nation.

STOCKHOLDERS OF PACKERS TO MEET MONDAY

JAN 31 (Green Bay) - Stockholders of Green Bay Packers, Inc., will meet in the supervisors' room of the courthouse at 8 o'clock Monday night to elect 12 directors and hear reports from President Emil R. Fischer, W.J. Servotte, secretary-treasurer, and Gene Ronzani, head coach. After the meeting, the board of directors will meet to elect officers and executive committee. A new president to succeed Emil R.Fischer may be selected. Fischer, who was chosen president in July of 1947 following the resignation of Lee H. Joanne, has indicated to friends that he would like to retire. Directors up for election are Lee H. Joannes, chairman of the board, Fred N. Trowbridge, John Torinus, Max Cohodas, Frederick C. Miller, Max Murphy, Charles Mathys, Jerry Atkinson, G.W. Calhoun, Art Mongin, William Sullivan and Frank Birch. The nominating committee, composed of Verne Lewellen, chairman, Russ Bodga, Ray Decker, Henry Wintgens and Jack Paeps, recommended reelection of the 12 directors. In its election nomination ballot, the committee stated: "Although not desiring to set a precedent, your nominating committee feels that, because of the diligent efforts put forth by the aforementioned (12) directors, that no additional nominations are to be submitted." Officers of the Packers besides Fischer are Ronzani, vice-president; Servotte, secretary-treasurer; and Joannes, chairman of the board of directors. Members of the executive committee are Fischer, Joannes, Servotte, Ronzani, Max Leicht, Murphy, Bogda, Dominic Olejniczak, Trowbridge, Lewllen, H.J. Bero and Torinus.