NFL PLAYERS STRIKE: DAY 9 : You Can’t Tell the Non-Union Players Even With a Program

The lighter side of the NFL players’ strike: He said he was Eric Jeffries. He even looked a little like Eric Jeffries.

But 20 minutes into their first replacement workout, the New York Giants were suspicious that the Eric Jeffries on their roster wasn’t the real thing.

Turns out they were right. The real Eric Jeffries, a draft choice of the Chicago Bears, was in Canada last weekend working out with the Ottawa Roughriders. He signed with the Washington Redskins late Monday and was in Washington’s camp Tuesday.

“As soon as this guy (the ersatz Jeffries) stepped on the football field and had to function as an athlete, we knew something was up,” said Giants’ General Manager George Young. “So we started checking.”

The Giants checked the impostor’s picture against the one of Jeffries in the Texas football guide. It was hard to tell the difference. They asked the impostor some personal questions. He got some of them right.

“We don’t fingerprint these guys,” Young said.

The make-believe Jeffries left the Giants’ camp Saturday, afraid the scam would soon be uncovered. When they realized their mistake, the Giants called the real Jeffries in Texas and apologized.

“I just hope the impersonator didn’t write any checks,” Jeffries said.

The wives and girlfriends of striking Philadelphia Eagles players have been selling cakes and cookies across the street from Veterans Stadium, using the profits to offer one-way tickets out of town for replacement players.

None of the non-union players has taken the offer, according to the local union representative’s wife. Kathy Spagnola, wife of tight end John Spagnola, said the women raised $950 in two days of the so-called “Send a Scab Home” bake sale.

“It was definitely worthwhile,” she said. “Of course, I would have felt better if a scab had called up and accepted our offer, but that hasn’t happened yet.”

If no one accepts the money, the cash will go to a fund called the Eagles Fly for Leukemia, Mrs. Spagnola said.

Before Sunday’s game in New Jersey between the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys, striking Giants and Jets plan to hold a tailgate party and touch football game in the parking lot of Giants Stadium. They will invite fans to play in the game.

“I think it will be a better brand of football than inside the stadium,” said defensive end George Martin, the Giants’ player representative.

Philadelphia Eagles Coach Buddy Ryan passed out copies of “The Illustrated NFL Playbook” to his new players, telling them to take the books home and read them thoroughly.

Ryan told the Chicago Tribune that the book, which sells for $7.95 in most bookstores and takes the “see Dick run approach” to football, will be the basis of the Eagles’ offense against the Bears Sunday.

“No one is sure if Ryan is kidding,” the Tribune added.

What do the replacement Miami Dolphins and their coach have in common?

The 54 replacement Dolphins have a grand total of 35 years’ experience in the National Football League. This is Coach Don Shula’s 35th season in the league as head coach, assistant coach and player.

Shula said he expects to use only about a third of the team’s regular offensive and defensive formations.

“You have to simplify it so that the guy that’s the weakest link of the chain knows what he’s doing,” he said.

Ron Fazio was working in a health club until the Eagles signed him to play tight end during the strike. He figured he could always go back to the health club when the strike ends.

Oh, yeah?

The club is owned by John Spagnola and Mike Quick. Spagnola is the Eagles’ regular tight end and player representative. Quick is a wide receiver and assistant player rep.

“I wish Ron luck in his football career,” Spagnola said.

There were two new pickets on the Raiders’ line at El Segundo Wednesday--Mike Quirarte and his 14-month-old son, Cody.

The younger Quirarte had a picket sign attached to his stroller. On one side, it read: “Scabs, Lower Than Swamp Slime, The Only Thing Worse Than a Dirty Diaper.”

On the other side, it read: “Future Players of America, Local 0000 Supports NFL Players Looking a Better Tomorrow.”

“We support the players, that’s why we’re here,” the older Quirarte said.