Jan. 4, 1965 - Frank Ryan, quarterback of the NFL champion Cleveland Browns, said today he should be paid a million dollars if a rookie quarterback gets $400,000 just for signing a contract.
Ryan, in Los Angeles to play with the East in the annual pro all-star game, said that on the basis of the $400,000 Joe Namath (pictured) was said to have received, he was going to have to ask for a raise.
“I guess I’ll have to ask for a raise of about $980,000,” he said. “If a fellow who hasn’t even pulled on his cleats in pro ball is worth $400,000, I must be worth a million dollars.”
There were varying opinions from the pro players on whether the high pay for the collegians was good for the game or bad.
“More power to Joe Namath,” said Sonny Jurgensen, quarterback for the Washington Redskins. “However, the owners are going to have to do something. This can’t go on forever. You know it gives a player an odd feeling to go out there on the field and play with or against a guy who has no pro experience and is getting $100,000 for one year. Meanwhile, a guy has been in the league 10 years and played well gets maybe $18,000.”
Coach Blanton Collier of Cleveland, head man for the East squad, refused to get involved in the controversy.
“Let’s face it,” said Collier, “it’s a player’s market. And I’ll say this for Namath: he’s a fine player. I tried to get him to come to Kentucky when I was coaching there. He is a fine passer.”
Collier, asked if he thought opposing players would like to flatten a $100,000 quarterback more than one making $15,000, said he had no opinion.
“I guess some would want to flatten, and some would just treat him like another player,” said Collier. “But maybe a common draft for both leagues would be the thing. That’s not for me to say, however. It’s up to the owners.
“This is an age of inflation. I bought a car for $950 just at the start of World War II, went into the service, and came out to sell it six years later for $1,400.
“Pro football players used to get $5,000 or $7,500 a season. Now, most of them get two or three times that.”
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