Bandits Say They’ll Let NFL Have Player Back

Cris Collinsworth is apparently headed back to the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. The Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League signed the wide receiver to a five-year contract worth $3 million 19 months ago, but John Bassett, managing general partner of the Bandits, said Thursday that if Collinsworth wants out of his contract he won’t stand in the way.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the Bengals offered the Bandits $250,000 to free Collinsworth, but Bassett said the Bandits will only ask that Collinsworth return his $500,000 signing bonus.

“If it’s in his best interest to get back to Cincinnati, he can go back,” said Bassett. “Our situation is very simple: If Collinsworth wants to go, he can go. If he goes back, I might take a little heat, but who cares?”

The Raiders will draft in the 23rd position in the April 30 college player draft and the Rams 21st, the NFL said.

Three horses involved in spills during separate incidents at Aqueduct Race Track Jan. 24 all suffered from bone disease, the New York Racing and Wagering Board said.

All three horses, who were destroyed after the spills, had osteochondrosis, post-mortem examinations showed. The disease causes weakening in affected bone areas. One horse suffered a broken shoulder and the other two broke cannon bones in the spills.

Finland’s Ari Vatanen lopped six seconds off the near-two minute lead held by defending champion Walter Rohrl of West Germany on the first two timed sections of Thursday’s final stage of the 53rd Monte Carlo Rally.

The agent for former Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier said first that an agreement had been reached for Rozier to sign with the USFL’s Jacksonville Bulls, but several hours later said nothing definite had been worked out.

Art Wilkinson, Rozier’s agent, is negotiating with both Jacksonville and the NFL’s Houston Oilers. Rozier played last season for the now-defunct Pittsburgh Maulers.

Names in the News

Mark Breland, Olympic gold medalist welterweight boxer, will make his third pro appearance Feb. 16 in Reno on the undercard of the Livingstone Bramble-Ray Mancini lightweight title fight.

Maria Walliser of Switzerland won the first race of the World Alpine Ski Championships, taking the women’s combined downhill.

Jim Pelton, University of Kansas freshman basketball player, has quit the team, returned home to Palos Verdes and plans to transfer to a West Coast school, Kansas officials said.

Walter Davis was activated by the Phoenix Suns after missing 47 games with a knee injury. He was hurt when he slipped on a slick playing surface at the Forum in an Oct. 9 exhibition against the Lakers.

Gunther Cunningham has been named defensive line coach by the San Diego Chargers.

Ernie Accorsi has been named executive vice president for football operations by the Cleveland Browns.

Irene Epple, 13-year veteran of the ski racing circuit, said she is quitting to study medicine.

Hollis Stacy, Betsy King and Patty Sheehan have confirmed their entries in the GNA women’s pro golf tournament March 20-24 at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale.