NFL Notes : Some Progress Is Reported for Black Officials

Several of the black club officials who met recently with NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle to discuss ways to increase the number of blacks hired in front-office positions have privately expressed both cautious optimism and skepticism about the possible ramifications of the meeting.

Joe Browne, an NFL spokesman, said the meeting “was an effort to enlarge the list of non-NFL minorities who would be good candidates for league and club positions across the board--front office, training staff as well as coaches. Pete (Rozelle) wanted to sit down and discuss this at a time when GMs and front offices will be reviewing their seasons. They often come to Pete for (hiring) recommendations.”

The black officials were requested to supply Rozelle with names and resumes of qualified blacks outside the NFL. Browne termed the meeting “informal and productive.”

Seven black officials attended the four-hour meeting in New York at Rozelle’s invitation: Bobby Mitchell, Washington assistant general manager; Tank Younger, San Diego assistant general manager; Paul Warfield (Cleveland), Theo Bell (Tampa Bay) and Charlie Lee (Denver), all of whom work in club player relations; Ronnie Barnes, New York Giants trainer; and Dallas scout John Wooten.

Browne said Rozelle would not provide any details of the meeting. Rozelle also requested that anyone who attended the meeting not make any public comment regarding its contents.

However, one black official who attended the meeting said, “I left . . . with mixed emotions. I hope the people who were there were sincere in what they said. There’s no question the league wants to do something about this, but it all comes back to the owners. Some of the owners still won’t be willing to hire a black as head coach or general manager in another 20 years. They won’t change. Some of them don’t have one black in their whole organization.”

Another black official who attended the meeting said simply, “Now, we’ll wait and see if anything comes of it.”

According to several officials at the meeting, the Redskins’ Mitchell was the most outspoken and forceful among blacks in attendance. “Bobby was smoking,” one official said. “He put all the cards on the table. He told the truth. I gained a great deal of respect for him.”

Mitchell declined comment, saying he would abide by Rozelle’s request.

Black officials in the NFL have expressed frustration in recent years that there are no black general managers in the league and that there hasn’t been a black NFL head coach since Fritz Pollard with the Akron (Ohio) Pros in the early 1920s.

Different ways to view the 1986 season:

Up: The Browns, Chiefs and Giants tied among NFL teams for making the greatest improvement from 1985 to 1986 (a four-game rise). Down: The Raiders, Chargers, Dolphins and Packers tied among teams suffering the largest drop over the past season (a four-game fall).

Up: Quarterback Jim Kelly doubled Buffalo’s win total this season from two to four. Down: Now in their 11th season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14) won two or fewer games for the fifth time. They’ll have the No. 1 overall pick in the draft for the sixth time.

Up: You most often hear about such rookies as Dolphin linebacker John Offerdahl and Saint running back Rueben Mayes, the deserving rookie defensive and offensive players of the year, but take note also of such rookie performers as 1,000-yard receivers Ernest Givins (Oilers, 61 catches) and Bill Brooks (Colts, 65), Cardinals Pro Bowl kick returner Vai Sikahema (clearly the best 10th-round pick of 1986) and Chargers defensive end Leslie O’Neal (12 1/2 sacks).

More downs: This was the only season in the franchise’s 27-year history in which no Dallas Cowboys were voted to the Pro Bowl. Also, Raider running back Marcus Allen finished 1,000 yards below his rushing total of last season (from 1,759 to 759).

Up and Up: The Bears’ defense sure has missed Buddy Ryan since he left for Philadelphia after the Super Bowl, don’t you think? After yielding a league-low 198 points under Ryan last season, the Bears gave up 187 points this season. That rates eight points better than the previous 16-game NFL record set by Pittsburgh in 1978. Look at it this way: the Bears’ defense gave up one touchdown or less in 14 of 16 games this season (compared to 12 in 1985). You don’t hear too many Chicago defenders complaining these days about Vince Tobin’s switch from Ryan’s 46 alignment to the 4-3.

Pro Football Notes

Best banners seen around the NFL this season: “Free Denny McLain” (Pittsburgh, Oct. 26); “It’s Howdy Flutie Time” (Chicago, Nov. 3); “Time For Din Din, Morris (RFK Stadium, Redskins-Giants, Dec. 7). Honorable mention goes to Minnesota fans who, after the Vikings lost a replay decision and the game the preceding week in Houston, reportedly offered two doozies at Sunday’s season finale against New Orleans in the Metrodome: “Drug Tests for Replay Officials” and “Upon Review of Replays, This Season is Over.”

Not to imply that the city of Chicago loves its Bears, but the team sold out 4,600 playoff tickets in 58 minutes. . . . Although the Browns might not activate veteran quarterback Gary Danielson for the playoffs, some in the Cleveland organization believe he can continue to be a huge asset to the team merely by continuing his role as confidant to starter Bernie Kosar. Danielson, 31, has been sidelined the entire season with a shoulder injury, and Mike Pagel currently serves as backup. “We’ve been good friends,” Danielson said of Kosar, 23. “I give him someone he can go to in between coaches. He can complain, prod and sometimes question me. It gives him an outlet and it’s a situation we’re both comfortable with.” . . . Atlanta Falcon wide receiver Charlie Brown deserves consideration for comeback player of the year. The two-time Pro Bowl player with the Redskins caught 63 passes for 918 yards and four touchdowns. . . . Fifty-seven years later, the NFL’s oldest still-standing record holds firm: the 40 points scored by Chicago Cardinals running back Ernie Nevers against the in-town rival Chicago Bears on Nov. 28, 1929. He scored six touchdowns and kicked four extra points.