USFL Breakers Release Players After Failing to Meet the Payroll

All the players on the Portland Breakers’ roster became free agents Wednesday when the United States Football League club was unable to meet its payroll demands.

The 39 players under contract with the financially ailing club can be claimed on waivers by other USFL teams. If they aren’t claimed, they will be eligible to join the National Football League.

The club is the second in the USFL to release its players in recent weeks because of financial problems. The other club was the San Antonio Gunslingers.

Breaker President John Ralston admitted the team’s image “may be tarnished a little bit,” but he insisted the franchise intends to remain in Portland.

“We’re in the habit of changing lemons into lemonade, and we’re confident we’ll field a much stronger team in 1986 than we did in 1985,” he said at a news conference.

The USFL Players Assn. had given the Breakers until 1 p.m. Tuesday to meet its delinquent payroll, which amounts to about $500,000. The deadline was extended until 6 a.m. Wednesday, but Breaker officials failed to get a further extension to Oct. 1.

Ralston said the players’ association wanted to adhere strictly to the terms of its agreement with the USFL and did not want to grant the Breakers special treatment after holding three other USFL teams--San Antonio, Tampa Bay and Houston--to payroll deadlines.

Ralston said he doubted that any USFL team would pick up the biggest name on the Portland roster--running back Marcus Dupree--because of Dupree’s uncertain playing status after a severe knee injury last season. Portland Coach Dick Coury has said he doubts Dupree will play football again.