In a revelation that generated an immediate scandalized reaction by the NFL and by college coaches, AFL commissioner Joe Foss said he had learned that the league’s owners had conducted a secret “poll” of college players in the past week, two weeks in advance of the official December 2 draft date. Foss said he had no prior knowledge of the affair and added that he would approve no contracts dated prior to the draft date.

Raiders co-owner Robert Osborne denied wrongdoing, saying the team was doing “everything legally possible” to get players. General manager Wes Fry claimed to have no knowledge of the illicit draft.