Bo Jackson’s Contract Will Be Restructured to Protect the Royals

Avron Fogelman, co-owner of the Kansas City Royals, says Bo Jackson’s contract will be restructured, and an injury clause protecting the club will be inserted in case the outfielder goes ahead with plans to also play pro football.

An escape clause in Jackson’s three-year, $1.066-million contract that would have allowed him to nullify his contract with the Royals next Wednesday is now moot, the Royals’ co-owner said.

Jackson, the 1985 Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn University, announced Saturday that he hoped to play a limited number of games with the Raiders after the baseball season.

Fogelman said he “never considered” giving Jackson an ultimatum to play for either the Royals or Raiders, but not both.

“I wanted to hear from Bo first, to find out what his objectives in life were first,” Fogelman said.

“I have to recognize that if a man has talents that he has, the right way to do things is to give him that opportunity to help determine how good he is in football.”

Royal General Manager John Schuerholz said: “The question is, can anybody withstand the physical stress of football playing for a limited amount of games, and maintain the strength and agility of 162 games of baseball? I just don’t know.”

But, he added, “We’re willing to let him try it for one year.”

There has been no comment from Raider officials since Jackson’s announcement.