Former Raiders great Stabler owes $500K in back taxes

MOBILE, Ala. -- The federal government has sued former NFL quarterback Ken Stabler, seeking more than $500,000 in overdue taxes and proposing foreclosure on property he owns in Mobile and Baldwin counties.

The suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court by the Justice Department's Tax Division, says Stabler owes $241,565 in unpaid income taxes, penalties and interest from 1999, 2000 and 2001.

It also says the Stabler Co., which he owns, owes $303,282 in unpaid income and employment taxes, penalties and interest from 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2000. The Stabler Co. arranges speaking engagements.

The suit asks a judge to make sure the amounts are paid by foreclosing on property that the former University of Alabama and Oakland Raiders quarterback owns in Mobile and on Ono Island, an upscale residential island.

Robert Galloway, Stabler's tax attorney, told the Birmingham News in a story on its website Friday that he has been negotiating with the Internal Revenue Service on his client's behalf and that he expects the matter to be settled before any property is seized.

Stabler is scheduled to be a radio announcer for Alabama's first football game of the season against Hawaii on Saturday.