Mccullum Wins Latest Round -- Labor Panel Doubles Award From Hawks

The Seattle Seahawks owe Sam McCullum more than twice the amount previously awarded the former receiver who was released from the NFL club for his union activities.

McCullum, who served as the team's representative with the NFL Players Association, learned yesterday the National Labor Relations Board granted his appeal for full pay from the 1984 season, increasing his damages to $543,000.

The ruling by the three-member panel was another costly blow to the Seahawks, who cut McCullum four days before the 1982 players' strike.

"This is definitely very gratifying," McCullum said. "But they could have settled this for $10,000 nine years ago."

Tom Flores, Seahawk general manager, said the club will review the Aug. 27 ruling before deciding whether to file an appeal with the 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco.

The decision of the NLRB panel followed the edict of an administrative law judge last March, and determined that McCullum should be paid for the final three months of the 1984 season. The size of the award more than doubled, from $250,000, because NFL players receive most of their salary in the final fiscal quarter of each year.

McCullum, now a Mercer Island resident and marketing specialist, said he no longer will pursue an out-of-court settlement with the club. The parties have discussed remedies since the case was filed in September 1982.

"There's no reason for me to settle now," McCullum said. "I want to see what's on the table."

McCullum, an original Seahawk who started 78 of 91 games with the club, played for the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons (1982 and '83) after the Seahawks released him.

He contended the illegal release ended his career prematurely, and that he was due more than $1.5 million. But the judge and labor panel granted his request only for 1984 salary, benefits and interest payments, denying his claim to 1985 and 1986 compensation because he retired.

If the Seahawks accept the NLRB ruling, McCullum will be the only NFL player rep from 1982 to have resolved his case in court. Mike Kadish of the Bills and Herb Orvis of the Colts reached settlements with the clubs that cut them before the strike.

"The message is, the system works," McCullum said. "At some point, you've got to pay for what you do illegally. It just takes time."