January 10, 2011

This is the time of the year when NFL teams fire and hire coaches. Every year you can expect several changes that really get a great deal of media attention.

Just this past week Jim Harbaugh taking the San Francisco 49ers job was a major story.

Let's go back more than 45 years when we had an even bigger story. Two coaches who would be NFL Hall of Famers were in a court of law fighting about a breach of contract suit with antitrust implications.

George Halas is considered one of the founders of the NFL. As the owner and head coach of the Chicago Bears, Halas ruled his domain with an iron fist. Halas was also known for his frugal ways; the famous line is that "Halas threw nickels around like manhole covers". George Allen joined the Chicago Bears staff in 1958 and worked his way up to what today would be called the defensive coordinator. In addition to his coaching duties, Allen also did significant scouting work. In 1963 Halas and Allen brought the Chicago Bears to an NFL title. Allen remained on the Bears staff for two more seasons. Allen was under the impression Halas would be retiring and at that point Allen would become the Bears' head coach; but Halas showed no indication of giving up the reigns of the Bears.

 

At the end of the 1965 season George Allen had an opportunity to take the head coaching position of the Los Angeles Rams. Rams owner Dan Reeves and Allen had come to an agreement to let Allen take over in Los Angeles. Allen's only hurdle in the way of leaving for Los Angeles was notifying Halas that he was leaving. Traditionally, head coaches are happy to let their assistants move to other teams to become head coaches. This was not to be the case with George Halas. Allen had signed a three year contract on June 22, 1965 with the Bears for approximately $19,000. per season. As Halas saw it, that contract bound Allen to the Bears, even if there was a head coaching opportunity.

See this excellent 'Sports Illustrated' piece for a more detailed look.

NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle intially told Halas that there was a tradition in the NFL of assistant coaches being able to leave while under contract to take a head coaching job. Halas was not buying that, and was ready to file a breach of contract suit in a favorable Chicago court.

Asomugha becomes a free agent

Defensive back Nnamdi Asomugha of the Oakland Raiders was able to have the final year of his contract voided, allowing him to become a free agent. What is interesting is that it was voided because Asomugha didn't reach certain incentives in his contract.

French Open bids

The bids are in for a new site for the French Open in 2016.

Tomorrow:  Part II of Halas and Allen