NFL Will Draft Ineligible College Players Carter and Gladman

Faced with the threat of legal action, the National Football League announced Wednesday that it will “reluctantly” hold a supplemental draft Aug. 28 that will include wide receiver Cris Carter of Ohio State and running back Charles Gladman of Pittsburgh.

Both have been ruled ineligible for further college play--Carter for accepting money from an agent, Gladman for refusing to cooperate in an investigation into agents making payments to college players.

It marks the first time that the NFL has agreed to draft players made ineligible because of dealings with agents, although it has allowed the drafting in both supplemental and regular drafts of underclassmen kicked off teams or out of school for other infractions.

Carter, an All-American, petitioned the NFL for admission after admitting to Ohio State officials that he accepted a $5,000 loan from Norby Walters and Lloyd Bloom in May 1986 and subsequently accepted $1,800 more. Gladman also petitioned for admission in the supplemental draft.