McNall Invites Ismail to Toronto, Says Money Is Not a Problem

Bruce McNall, who owns the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, and Raghib (Rocket) Ismail, the Notre Dame football and track star, are already on the same page financially, McNall indicated after his first meeting Friday with Ismail’s attorney, Jon Edwards.

“They know we can work out the economics,” said McNall, who also owns the Kings. “The question is whether (Ismail) likes Canada, and we’ve invited him to spend a few days in Toronto to meet the coaches and look over the city. We won’t pressure him. We just want him to know we want him.”

Ismail’s options, his representatives said, are McNall’s two-year, $6-million offer or the prestige of being the NFL’s top draft choice--probably for appreciably less money. The New England Patriots said they plan to draft him first on April 21. Ismail’s decision is not imminent, Edwards said.