NFL Owners to Mull Free-Agency Compromise

A month before the Freeman McNeil free-agent case is scheduled to be tried, NFL owners will meet in Pasadena today to consider the terms of a potential compromise with their players.

“I’m optimistic that we’ll get it done,” Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said of the attempt to end 10 years of trouble with the NFL Players Assn.

Barring a player-owner agreement before the June 15 trial in Minneapolis, the McNeil case is expected to settle the crucial question:

At what point in his football career should a player be free to play for the team of his choice?

McNeil, a former UCLA halfback, and seven other NFL veterans are suing for free agency for all players. That is more than the players union has ever sought.

“We haven’t asked for (unrestricted) free agency,” said Gene Upshaw, NFLPA executive director. “What the players want is assured free agency after some reasonable period in theirlives.”

A McNeil victory, however, could make all players unrestricted free agents. And because that’s the last thing the club owners want, they will continue to seek an alternative this week.

They also will work on three other things:

--The list of possible expansion sites might be reduced to five from St. Louis, Memphis, Sacramento, Oakland, Charlotte, Jacksonville and Baltimore.

--Roster reduction is a possibility. The owners will vote on a proposal by Jim Finks, president of the New Orleans Saints, for squads of 50 players each, limiting teams to 40 active players. The goal is to cut down on situation substituting.

Said Raider owner Al Davis: “Next, (Finks) will want the leather helmet back.”

Raider executive Al LoCasale said: “The (Finks plan) legislates against creative thinking.”

--Final plans for Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl Jan. 31 will be discussed with David Simon, president of the Los Angeles Sports Council. It was his organization that successfully gained the bid for the game at the NFL’s meeting last year.