Pat McInally Signs Pro Pact With AFC's Cincinnati Bengals

Pat McInally has signed a pro football contract for the 1975 season with the Cincinnati Bengals of the American Football Conference, a Bengals official said yesterday.

Mike Brown, assistant general manager for the Bengals, said, "It's a good contract, one that pleases us and also pleases Pat."

Citing club policy, Brown refused to divulge either the terms or the amount of the contract. He did, however, say that the agreement does not include a no-cut clause.

"We don't give anybody no-cut contracts," Brown said. So, despite his All-American honors, McInally will still have to prove his worth during training camp next summer. The Bengals already have several tested veteran pass-catchers, including All-Pro wide receiver Isaac Curtis.

Brown expressed confidence in the ability of his fifth-round draft choice to make the squad.

"We feel that McInally will be able to contribute to the Bengals," he said.

McInally said yesterday that he had negotiated the contract himself. He said the money he saved in potential agent fees was probably greater than the amount an agent could have added to his contract.

Exuding somewhat less enthusiasm than his future employer, McInally said. "The only thing I can say about the contract is that it was bigger than my Harvard scholarship."

McInally is Harvard's all-time leading receiver with 108 career receptions.