Redskins’ Three-Year Wait Pays Off : USFL Star Kelvin Bryant Says He’s Eager to Play in NFL

A seed sown by the Washington Redskins three years ago has germinated into the multimillion-dollar signing of USFL running back Kelvin Bryant, one of the most feared all-purpose backs in football.

General Manager Bobby Beathard expended a seventh-round draft pick in 1983, the 196th choice overall, to obtain the NFL rights to Bryant, who had already signed a five-year pact with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars.

Three years later, with the USFL in critical condition after the resolution of its antitrust suit against the NFL, Bryant enlisted the aid of the Redskins in gaining a release from his contract with the now Baltimore Stars.

Several days of negotiations between Bryant’s agent, James Stewart, the Stars and the Redskins culminated in the running back’s freedom from the USFL and a four-year contract with the Redskins reportedly valued at $3 million.

Bryant, 25, led the Stars to three straight appearances in the USFL title game and two USFL championships. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons and, coming out of the backfield, averaged more than 50 receptions per season.

Bryant hasn’t played since he was named MVP of the last USFL championship game, a July 1985 victory over the Oakland Invaders.

Bryant said his three-year USFL career might have been a mistake.

“I’m just glad it’s over and I can concentrate on playing with the Redskins right now,” he said. “Three years ago I had no regrets, but I don’t know now. It might have been a mistake, but I had some good times and some bad times.”

The Redskins are like a home team to Bryant, who grew up in rural North Carolina and starred at the University of North Carolina.

“It’s a great feeling. I always wanted to be a part of the Redskins. Now it’s like a dream come true. I’ve been a Redskins fan all my life. Being from North Carolina, that’s all they show down there.”

Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke, the man signing Bryant’s checks for the next four years, immediately proclaimed that Bryant would make the Redskins Super Bowl bound for the first time since 1983.

“I believe that he may be the link in the chain which will find its ultimate source you know where--it’s in the town on the West Coast with the initial ‘P,’ ” said Cooke, referring to Pasadena, site of Super Bowl XXI.

“This is going to kill (Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs) because he hates me to talk about Super Bowls, but that’s exactly what we are in this game for--to win the Super Bowl. He, along with George Rogers, is going to be one of the factors to help us get there.”

But the question remains as to what role Bryant will play with Washington, which uses a one-back offensive scheme and is committed to George Rogers, a three-time 1,000-yard rusher himself.

Gibbs has said that he will not stray from his one-back attack to accommodate Bryant and Rogers in the same backfield. Bryant said that the Redskins have not yet defined what his role will be, but said he is willing to play behind Rogers.

“I like catching passes and I like running, too, so whatever Mr. Gibbs wants me to do, I’m ready to do,” Bryant said. “I know I’m going to be behind George. He’s been here a few years (actually one season) and I’m just coming here.”

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Bryant agreed to a reported four-year, $3-million deal with the Redskins, compared to the three-year, $2-million pact signed last month by Washington’s starting running back George Rogers. Rogers’ contract contains incentives that could increase its value to $2.5 million.

Bryant is one of seven USFL players, including quarterback Doug Williams, signed by Washington.

Bryant accumulated 5,325 total yards in the USFL, 4,055 yards on the ground. Only new Dallas Cowboy Herschel Walker ran for more yards.

The USFL suspended play for the 1986 season and allowed its players to negotiate with NFL teams after it won a judgment of only $1 in its billion-dollar antitrust suit against the NFL.

“It’s going to be a lot tougher than the USFL. They’ve got a lot of good players in this league and a lot of good teams in this league, but I think I’ll be ready for it,” Bryant said. “I think I’ve proved that I can play professional football, but I haven’t proved that I can play in the NFL yet because I haven’t played. When September the 7th (the Redskins opener against the Philadelphia Eagles) comes, I’ll be ready.”

Bryant wore No. 44 throughout college and the USFL, but won’t be wearing the number in Washington. That number was worn by now retired running back John Riggins, the mainstay of the Redskins ground game for a decade and one of the most popular players in the eyes of Washington fans.

“John Riggins wore that number and he was a real good running back. I just didn’t ask for it,” said Bryant, who will wear No. 24, his old high school number.

Just hours after signing his contract on the night of Aug. 13, Bryant was suited up and participating in a two-hour intrasquad scrimmage.

It was a much different feeling for Bryant, who had been playing mostly in court rooms over the past several months.

Arbitrator Richard Kasher turned down his grievance against the Stars in July when he was seeking a release from the USFL club, and he is currently involved in a breach of contract suit with the team. In addition, he said he is considering suing Stars part-owner Myles Tannenbaum to collect on $400,000 in deferred payments on his 1983 $1-million signing bonus with the Stars.

“It’s been kind of hard over the last two months. I haven’t really been able to concentrate on playing football because of the USFL and what they were doing--holding a lot of guys up. I just wish they wouldn’t have held us up this long because I needed to work and right now I’m behind schedule,” Bryant said.

“But I’m signed and ready to go--I’ve got a lot to learn and I’m ready to do it.”