The Collectors

PRO FOOTBALL

Some people collect rare stamps or coins. Ian Fleming's Goldfinger preferred bullion bars at $14,000 per. But nobody tops Sonny Werblin, president of the American Football League's New York Jets. Werblin collects quarterbacks. He had three last season, and they cost him $48,000. Now he has six. He picked up Virginia Tech's Bob Schweickert for a song, but he had to shell out $200,000 for Notre Dame's Heisman Trophy winner, John Huarte. And to land Alabama's Joe Namath, he went all the way to $400,000--the highest price ever paid for a rookie in the history of pro football.

Pink? No, Green. Exclusive of benefits, of course. Like the retirement plan that guarantees Namath $5,000 a year for life after his playing career ends--if it ever begins. Namath has a bad knee; he reinjured it practicing for the Orange Bowl, and it will take an operation to correct it. Werblin is springing for that too. And just to make sure Joe can transport all that money to the bank, Sonny threw in a Lincoln Continental. Reporters naturally inquired about the color. "Pink?" they asked. Uh, uh. "Jet green," said Namath smartly, and went charging on down to Mobile for the Senior Bowl game. He was slightly less than sensational--passing for one TD but three interceptions as the North and South played to a 7-7 tie.

The way the pros are throwing the loot around this year, Santa Claus will have to fight to keep his franchise. "There aren't 40 players in college ball worth fighting over," insisted one pro scout, but Florida State End Fred Biletnikoff pried enough ($150,000) out of the Oakland Raiders to rent his school's football stadium to get married in. Sometimes the green left grass stains. Georgia Tackle Jim Wilson signed an $8,000 contract with the A.F.L.'s Boston Patriots last August, another for $75,000 with the N.F.L.'s San Francisco 49ers last month. In between he some how forgot to tell his coach that he was a pro and played a full season of college ball.

Rebels in the Ranks. Then there were the four Oklahoma players who signed pro contracts before the Jan. 2 Gator Bowl game. That made them ineligible for the game; Coach Gomer Jones cut them from the squad, and the Sooners got clobbered 36-19. "I was always nice to the pros," said Jones, "but I assure you that those guys will never get on my practice field again."

The pro bosses laughed that one off.

After all, Oklahoma's own reputation is not exactly lily-white: Oklahoma was twice put on probation by the N.C.A.A. for maintaining a "slush fund" for athletes. But there were hints of a rebellion brewing in the ranks. San Francisco's John Brodie insisted that "any regular is silly if he doesn't demand more than some rookie behind him is getting." Quarterback Frank Ryan, who led the Cleveland Browns to the N.F.L. title, was already bucking for a raise--of "about $980,000." Said Ryan: "If a fellow who hasn't even pulled on his cleats in pro ball is worth $400,000, then I must be worth a million."

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