$100,000 Cut in Pay Cost of NFL Return

It’s understandable when a guy making $3.50 an hour crosses a picket line for a shot at the National Football League, but how about a guy who makes $175,000 a year?

Skip Lane, 27-year-old graduate of the University of Mississippi and a former defensive back in the NFL, has signed with the Washington Redskins.

Wrote Christine Brennan of the Washington Post: “Little more than a week ago, he led the life of a successful commercial real estate broker in Westport, Conn. He drove a Porsche, planned a monthlong sailing vacation to Bermuda, met friends in the city on weekends and occasionally traveled to Jersey to watch his old teammates, the New York Jets.

“But when the NFL players went on strike last Tuesday, Lane’s life changed. To play football again, he took a $100,000 pay cut, signing with the Redskins for about $75,000.”

Lane said it’s worth it.

“This is like a vacation,” he said. “I’m out here in the fresh air. If I were back home, I’d be having a business lunch or trying to figure out how many square feet there are in this building.”

He doesn’t anticipate any repercussions.

“I don’t see where the scab term applies to me,” he said. “The players are just trying to make us look bad. I hear Todd Christensen with his little quotes and little cliches. Well, he doesn’t realize what a dream it is for these players to have just one day in his life.”

Lester Hayes, who announced he will return to the Raiders next week, said his injured toes are so bad he can’t bear to look at them.

“My foot is grotesque,” he said. “It’s half troglodyte and half human.”

Here’s what a couple of coaches had to say when asked their game plans this weekend:

--Bill Parcells, New York Giants: “I think we can run 50 quarterback sneaks without making a mistake, but that would be taking it too far.”

--Al Saunders, San Diego Chargers: “Our game plan is for our coaches to learn everybody’s names.”

Add Giants: Said assistant coach Bill Belichick after a kickoff drill: “On the first kickoff, the ball hit the receiver right in the head. And then he dropped the next five in a row. You get used to things like that.”

Trivia Time: Who is the only pitcher to win earned-run average titles in three decades? (Answer below.)

San Jose State cornerback Phil Frasch, on last Saturday’s 24-17 win over Stanford: “I’m exuberated. I think that’s a word.”

Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden, on today’s game against the University of Miami: “They look so good to me, I’m amazed they’re not on strike.”

From Jim Donaghy of the Associated Press: “Toronto General Manager Pat Gillick is expected to take over operations in Los Angeles, and that could force Tommy Lasorda out. Lasorda wants the GM job at Dodger Stadium, too.

“If Lasorda leaves Los Angeles, George Steinbrenner would like to have him take over the New York Yankees.”

Trivia Answer: Warren Spahn. He won with the Boston Braves in 1947 (2.33) and with the Milwaukee Braves in 1953 (2.10) and in 1961 (3.01).

Quotebook

Mike Diaz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, after seeing rookie pitcher Vicente Palacios with three gold chains around his neck: “What’s that, a Mr. T starter set?”