MODELL NAMED PRESIDENT; PLAYERS' UNION FORMED

By Joe Platania

1935 -- The NFL approved a proposal to hold an annual college draft, with teams selecting in the inverse order of their previous year's finish. The first-ever draft was held the following year, and the Philadelphia Eagles took the college game's first Heisman Trophy winner, Jay Berwanger, with the first overall pick. Berwanger never played in the league, opting to go to law school.

1939 -- Former NFL president Joe Carr, who had held that office since 1921, passed away.

1951 -- Defensive line coach Clarence Brooks, a part of the Ravens' coaching staff since 2005, was born in New York City.

1956 -- The NFL Players Association, which went on to represent the players in all union-management disputes up to the present day, was established.

1967 -- Cleveland Browns owner and future Ravens majority owner Art Modell was elected NFL president, first in the line of succession behind commissioner Pete Rozelle.

1969 -- Thanks in part to Modell, the league entered into a three-year agreement with ABC to begin a series of prime-time telecasts on Monday nights.

1972 -- The league changed its formula for determining how tie games were reflected in the standings. Previously, they were not counted at all, but a new formula was put in place where they would be counted as a half-win as well as a half-loss.

1974 -- Ravens Northeast area scout Andy Weidl was born in Little Rock, Ark.

1977 -- Retired running back Ricky Williams, who played the final season of his colorful on-and-off career with the Ravens in 2011, was born in San Diego.

1982 -- Colts defensive back/special teamer Bruce Laird was traded to the San Diego Chargers for a 1983 sixth-round draft pick. It turned out to be Abilene Christian center Grant Feasel, who played for the team for just two seasons.

1985 -- The NFL began its attempt to broaden the game overseas by approving a plan for teams to play occasional preseason games in Europe and Japan.

2003 -- The Ravens signed street free agent punter Derrick Frost, who couldn't unseat incumbent Dave Zastudil in camp, but went on to punt for Washington and Cleveland.

2004 -- Because of the Maurice Clarett lawsuit, the NFL decided that players had to be out of high school for at least three seasons before being eligible for the annual draft.

2009 -- The team inked free-agent NFL journeyman receiver Kelley Washington in an effort to upgrade the downfield passing game. But he played just one season in Baltimore, catching 34 passes and scoring only two touchdowns.

Posted May 20, 2013