Bears' Harlan Admitted to Gambling

C H I C A G O, July 20 -- — NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Wednesdaythat former Chicago Bears public relations director Bryan Harlanadmitted violating league policy on gambling.

Harlan, the son of the president of the Green Bay Packers,resigned Friday, and the Bears made no mention of gambling problemsin announcing his departure. But the Chicago Sun-Times reportedthat he was the subject of a federal investigation after his phonenumber was found in a bookmaker’s telephone records.

During a conference call Wednesday, Tagliabue said NFL securitypersonnel worked closely with the Bears on the case.

“Harlan acknowledged that he violated our league policy ongambling,” Tagliabue said. “It’s the integrity of the game. Whenwe have the kind of competition we do have and competition thatfeatures integrity, we have to enforce it strictly.”

‘Zero Tolerance’

The league bars betting on its games by players and teamemployees and prohibits them from associating with gamblers orgambling activities in a manner tending to bring discredit to theNFL.

“We know athletes can be tempted in the wrong direction, and socan officials around the game,” Tagliabue said. “We have noindication this [Bears’ investigation] extends to players or otherofficials.”

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Bears President Ted Phillips said in a statement Wednesday nightthat the team has been working closely with the commissioner’soffice during the past two weeks.

“We have no indication that any current Bears employees havebeen in violation of the league’s gambling policy and no former orcurrent players or coaches have been implicated in any way,”Phillips said. “The Chicago Bears have always maintained a zerotolerance position regarding sports gambling.”

Former Boss Subpoenaed

Earlier Wednesday, the Sun-Times reported that Harlan’s formerboss, Ken Valdiserri, was subpoenaed two years ago in a federalgambling probe and that he informed the club at the time. He saidhe never called a bookie and was not required to testify before aU.S. grand jury.