Tagliabue Meets With Manley, Says He’ll Rule Monday

Paul Tagliabue, commissioner of the NFL, met with Dexter Manley Friday and said he will announce Monday whether the former Washington Redskin defensive end will be reinstated from his drug suspension.

Tagliabue met with Manley and his lawyer for 1 hour 45 minutes. Manley was banned for life Nov. 18, 1989, as a three-time offender but can appeal for reinstatement after one year.

“Before reaching a decision, the commissioner will be reviewing a report from NFL drug adviser Dr. Lawrence Brown and other pertinent records,” the NFL said in a statement. “We will announce that decision on Monday shortly after Manley has been contacted.”

Bob Woolf, Manley’s attorney, said Tagliabue gave no indication of how he would rule.

“It was a very open, very frank, very honest discussion,” Woolf said. “(Manley) has made a dramatic change from when he was denying he had a drug problem.”

Woolf said they reviewed Manley’s hospitalization, his after-care program and what the lawyer described as “visits to hospitals and schools to help others who have the same problem.”

If Manley is reinstated, the Redskins then would have to decide whether to take him back or to release him.