Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 22, 1991 TAG: 9104220078
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
Raghib "Rocket" Ismail spurned the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and signed the most lucrative contract in pro football history with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
Toronto owner Bruce McNall said Ismail's contract includes a guaranteed $18 million in U.S. dollars over four years and incentives that could increase the value of the deal to more than $26 million.
The speedy wide receiver-kick returner from Notre Dame said there were several reasons he chose the CFL over the NFL, but one of the most important was financial security for his family.
"I'm going to make my family happy," said Ismail, runner-up in last year's Heisman Trophy voting. "Regardless of how things turn out for me, they're going to be able to live comfortably and not have to worry about anything."
Ismail, who skipped his senior season at Notre Dame to turn pro, replaces San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana as football's highest-paid player. Montana makes almost $4 million per year.
Most people expected the Cowboys to make Ismail the No. 1 pick in Sunday's NFL draft, but they took Miami defensive tackle Russell Maryland instead after contract negotiations with Ismail broke down. The Cowboys obtained the first pick in a trade with the New England Patriots.
"We made good faith negotiations with the Rocket, but his numbers were totally out of our range," Dallas owner Jerry Jones said. "We found out pretty quick he was headed for Canada."
Despite Ismail signing with Toronto, the Los Angeles Raiders drafted Ismail in the fourth round with the 100th pick overall.
Some of the incentives in Ismail's contract are based on his ability to boost attendance for Toronto games in the SkyDome. McNall denied reports that the package also includes condominiums in Toronto and Los Angeles.
"I felt that if we can add people in the stands, it's a very sound investment," McNall said.
McNall hopes that Ismail can do for the Argonauts what Wayne Gretzky has done for the Los Angeles Kings, another team that he owns. Kings attendance has skyrocketed since Gretzky, a part-owner of the Argonauts, signed a $15 million contract with the team in 1988.
Despite the high expectations, Ismail said he feels no pressure.
"I'm determined to enjoy everything that's happened to me and be very relaxed," he said. "I'm going to do my job and not worry about anything."
McNall's reputation as a generous owner also influenced Ismail, who joined Magic Johnson in the owner's luxury box for Saturday night's playoff game between the Kings and Edmonton Oilers.
"Mr. McNall and his organization have the reputation of treating people as more than a piece of meat," Ismail said.
Ismail won't get nearly as much publicity playing in the CFL as he would in the NFL, but he said that wasn't a major concern.
"I don't see anything as far as loss is concerned," he said. "I always look for the positive."
But Ismail didn't rule out playing in the NFL someday.
"It's a four-year contract; we'll see what happens," he said.
Ismail is small at 5 feet 10, 175 pounds, but has blazing speed and elusive moves that could be even more effective in the wide-open CFL. The league has wider fields than the NFL, gives punt returners a three-yard cushion when fielding the ball, and allows two offensive players to move forward before the ball is snapped.
Ismail averaged eight yards per rush, 24 yards per kickoff return and 22 yards per catch on 32 receptions last season for the Fighting Irish.
He ran track after the football season ended, and recorded the fastest 55-meter time of the year - 6.07 seconds.
by CNB