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Leo Lyons and the Rochester Jeffersons have been the subject of many published articles. Not surprising, as Leo was a co-founder of the NFL, Honorary Historian of the NFL, and a huge contributor in opening the Football Hall of Fame.One such story has caught my attention recently. A game was scheduled for Dec. 5th, 1921 between the Jeffersons and the Washington Senators. It has been said by some that Leo forfeited the game because of snowy conditions.According to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle article on Dec. 6th, 1921 there was a little more than weather effecting the game.The Washington team had a poor fan turnout due to a snowstorm and said they would only pay the Jefferson team roughly $200. Since Leo financed the entire team, that amount would not allow for the team to be paid to play the game, or travel expenses for the trip back to Rochester.The game has an NFL guarantee that the Jeffersons must be paid $800 for the game regardless of anything.Leo refused to play the game because of Washington not paying the $800 that was in the game contract. Later, NFL commisioner Joe Carr ruled in favor of Leo Lyons.Some stories explain only that Leo would not play because of the weather and the Jeffersons were charged a forfeit. The Elias Sports Bureau has not recognized this as a forfeit. Official NFL standings also say it was not a forfeit.In my opinion after reviewing the game, the Jeffersons are not the first team to forfeit an NFL game.The game itself does not go in the record books because of Washington's failure to follow NFL rules.The referee on the field had to make a ruling at that time.Since Washington refused to honor the contract,and Leo refused to play for financial reasons, how can Leo be charged with forfeiting this game? The NFL corrected it later when they ruled in favor of Leo and threatened Washington to pay Leo or be removed from the NFL. Leo and his players had to pay there way back from Washington to Rochester,New York. I also have inside information on the game. Leo Lyons is my great grandfather. I talked the other day to some family members who remember Leo telling them about that day. That weekend was tight on money and when Washington offered a small amount of the guarantee, Leo was very upset.Washington had told Leo they would receive that$800 dollars that day.Because they didn't, all of the Jeffersons team would not be able to get back home to Rochester.He was upset about this for a long ,long time. How times have changed in the NFL.

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle - December 6, 1921

Copyright ©2001 Rick Anderson