An appointee to the state's gambling commission has resigned as a National Football League official to avoid any conflicts with his new post.
Sanford Rivers, 61, said he decided to retire after discussions with NFL executives. He had been scheduled to officiate at Saturday's Washington at Miami exhibition game, but was replaced by another official.
Rivers also took an unpaid, one-year leave of absence from his job as assistant vice president of enrollment at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Rivers was named last week as the second of three appointees Gov. Ed Rendell gets on the seven-member board, which will regulate the 14 locations where up to 61,000 slot machines can be operated under the recently approved legislation.
Rivers was one of 17 head linesman in the league, which he joined in 1989. The NFL pays its officials $2,100 to $7,700 a game, based on experience.
NFL employees aren't allowed to associate with the gambling industry.
Rivers will serve a two-year term on the gambling board with a likely salary of $145,000 to $150,000, Rendell spokeswoman Kate Philips has said.
Rendell must make his third appointment by Sept. 4. Legislative leaders have two more board members to select.
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Sanford Rivers, 61, said he decided to retire after discussions with NFL executives. He had been scheduled to officiate at Saturday's Washington at Miami exhibition game, but was replaced by another official.
Rivers also took an unpaid, one-year leave of absence from his job as assistant vice president of enrollment at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Rivers was named last week as the second of three appointees Gov. Ed Rendell gets on the seven-member board, which will regulate the 14 locations where up to 61,000 slot machines can be operated under the recently approved legislation.
Rivers was one of 17 head linesman in the league, which he joined in 1989. The NFL pays its officials $2,100 to $7,700 a game, based on experience.
NFL employees aren't allowed to associate with the gambling industry.
Rivers will serve a two-year term on the gambling board with a likely salary of $145,000 to $150,000, Rendell spokeswoman Kate Philips has said.
Rendell must make his third appointment by Sept. 4. Legislative leaders have two more board members to select.
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