PRO FOOTBALL REPORT : WEEKDAY UPDATE : AROUND THE NFL : Owners Ordered by Judge to Pay Fund $29.4 Million

The NFL was ordered Monday by a federal judge in Baltimore to increase player benefits by $29.4 million because the league failed to make required contributions in 1985 and 1986.

U.S. District Judge Joseph C. Howard, who presided over a jury trial that found the league guilty July 12, ordered management trustees to increase benefits by $17,848,160 for missed payments, $163,713 for back interest from 1984, plus interest on both at 12% per year. The total as of Oct. 31 would be $29,408,706.19, the judge said.

The dispute centers on the management council’s claim that it doesn’t have to pay the money because it would not have been tax deductible in the year it was paid. The lawyer for the NFL Management Council said the decision will be appealed.

Gene Upshaw, NFLPA executive director, called the decision “a total victory for the players.”

Quarterback Mark Rypien of the Washington Redskins says his injured left knee is healing well and that he could begin taking snaps in practice next week.

Rypien, who suffered a torn ligament in the season’s third week, said he hopes to be in uniform for the Redskins’ game Nov. 12 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rypien ran and threw on a practice field Monday for the first time since his injury Sept. 23 against the Dallas Cowboys and said he felt no pain in the joint in which three ligaments were damaged.

Stan Humphries has been 2-2 as a starter in Rypien’s place, but both losses have come against the NFC East-leading New York Giants. He has completed 58% of his passes but has only two touchdown passes and six interceptions since Rypien went down.

Jeff George, still sore but ready to resume practice, might return as the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback by default.

Joe Ferguson, 40, the only healthy quarterback on the roster, was forced to play, unprepared, in Sunday’s 27-7 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Ferguson was called upon after starter Jack Trudeau suffered severe damage to his right knee and George suffered a severe bruise on his left knee.

Reserve Mark Herrmann has been on injured reserve for more than a month because of a separated shoulder and is not expected to be ready for at least another week. Coach Ron Meyer said that the Colts are looking to sign another quarterback.

“If Jeff is healthy, we will go with him,” Meyer said. “We just have to wait to see how he comes back in practice before we say whether he will start. We’re contemplating other quarterbacks, but there’s been no decision at this time.”