Transcripts of USFL meetings revealed in the...

Transcripts of USFL meetings revealed in the league’s $1.69-billion antitrust suit against the NFL indicate the young league discussed merging with the NFL, but its former commissioner said “it was never a strategy.”

Chet Simmons, the USFL’s first commissioner from 1982 to 1985, concluded his second day of testimony saying he didn’t recall hearing owners make statements about a merger with the NFL.

But NFL attorney Frank Rothman produced transcripts of statements made by New Jersey General owner Donald Trump in a Jan. 18, 1984 meeting in New Orleans that mentioned the possibility of a merger.

“Watch what happens when you challenge the NFL,” the transcript quoted Trump. “It’s their biggest fear. And I’ll tell you where it’s going to lead. Don’t state it outside of this room, but I believe either we’re going to have a league that’s going to be just as valuable as the NFL, or we’re going to have a merger.”