Contact: Chris Widmaier/National Football League                                 Kathleen Hamilton/Ford Motor Co.
(212) 450-2000                                                                                             (212) 265-2839

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORMER NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS LEAD FINAL FORD-SPONSORED FOOTBALL CLINICS FOR INNER-CITY BOYS

Boston, July 29, 1998 – Four former New England Patriots will lead the final NFL Junior Player Development football clinic today at Carter Field at Boston’s Northeastern University. The clinics, sponsored by the Ford Division of Ford Motor Company, are geared to young boys and teens. In all, nine NFL cities are participating in the program.

Former players – and present day high school football coaches – Peter Brock, Roland James and Mosi Tatupu, were among the coaches teaching football fundamentals at the clinic, while their former teammate Ronnie Lippett, provided the life skill messaging portion of the clinic.

The New England clinic marked the final clinic in the first phase of the NFL C.I.T.Y. Football Junior Player Development Program, a series of free instructional football clinics offered to inner-city boys ages 12-14 in nine cities with NFL teams. The program is designed to teach football skills and provide school counseling to the 3,000 total participants.

The second phase of the program will begin in September when the Ford Motor Company recognizes high school student atheletes of the month in all nine cities for the months of September, October and November. A panel of high school coaches and school principals will choose the student who excells in off-the-field academics and on-the-field performance.

Ford will honor the 27 monthly winners at NFL home games in December. The three New England winners are expected to be honored at the Patriots-San Francisco 49ers game at Foxboro Stadium on Sunday, December 20. Ultimately, Ford will select one student athlete of the year, and bring the player, his family and coach to Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami.

All clinic participants will be offered the opportunity to play in the league’s new NFL Flag leagues at no cost this fall. The competitive flag leagues are designed for both boysand girls up to the age of 14 and are taking place in NFL markets across the country.

The final phase of the junior player development program will begin in March of1999 when all clinic participants may take part in three more advanced clinics in their local cities. The NFL and coaches will then assist in identifying tackle football leagues for those youngsters seeking more involvement in the game.

# # #