TORONTO -- Dieter Brock, twice selected the CFL's outstanding player, said Thursday he would strongly consider playing football for the Washington Federals of the USFL, but his Canadian bosses were in no mood to let him go.
Brock has informed his CFL club, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he plans to retire unless the club agrees to tear up his $1.1 million, five-year contract so he can finish his career with a team in his native United States.
The nine-year CFL veteran, who has set a flock of league passing records, said a move to Washington was a promising prospect since it would reunite him with Ray Jauch, his coach at Winnipeg through the end of last season. He has also expressed interest in the Stallions of his native Birmingham.
Brock conceded he might be forced to remain in Winnipeg, but warned the Bombers to consider the prospect of being led by a quarterback who simply does not want to play in Canada anymore.
'I've thought about that and they could, if they want, force me to come back to Winnipeg if I want to continue playing football,' he said. 'I hope it doesn't come down to that. It wouldn't be fair to the fans, to the club or to me.'
Jauch, who coached Brock the past five seasons, has posted a 1-7 record withthe Federals, who are last in the USFL's Atlantic Division.
'I wouldn't say it's the most viable, but the interest is there ... with coach Jauch being there and, as I have been saying throughout, if I can work out something with the Winnipeg football club,' said Brock from his home in Birmingham, Ala.
'I'm interested in going to a club that has some interest in me. I definitely would look into them (the Federals) very close, but I wouldn't make a commitment to the Federals or any team at this point.'
Federals general manager Dick Meyers was cautious in discussing the prospect of Brock going to Washington.
'He's under contract to Winnipeg,' Meyers said. 'Until that is resolved and he is a free agent, there is nothing that we can do. Ray Jauch has too much respect for the Winnipeg organization to get involved. We have his rights and if he became a free agent, we'd have to look at it.'
Brock has offered to play one more season at Winnipeg so the Bombers could groom his successor. The former Jacksonville State star said a career in the U.S. would gain him more recognition and better opportunities for a job outside football once his playing career is finished.
Winnipeg general manager Paul Robson rejected Brock's demand.
'It would be silly for us to say the sky's falling in,' he said. 'We have a very good football team and right now (last year's backup) Mark Jackson is our incumbent quarterback and Mickey Hall is the reserve. We'll prepare for the 1983 season on that basis.
'If he (Brock) decides to show up, we'll have three quarterbacks. There's nothing else to do. He's retired.'
