Oilers’ Matthews Gives Up His Fight and Signs

Bruce Matthews conceded defeat by the National Football League system Wednesday, ended his holdout and agreed to play four more years with the Houston Oilers for $1.55 million.

“If circumstances were different, I wouldn’t have come,” Matthews said. “I mean, if I had a big old bank wad set away, I think I’d still be fighting it.”

Earlier this week, a judge in Los Angeles turned down the offensive tackle’s request for a temporary restraining order against the Oilers to allow him to sign with any team in the league.

Oiler General Manager Ladd Herzeg claimed victory.

“We got it done for what we said we’d get it done for last May,” Herzeg said. “We said we would not pay him as much as we were paying (guard) Mike Munchak.”