Canadian Quarterback Comes In From Cold, Putting Ferragamo Out : Brock Now Is a Ram

Another spin of the Rams’ revolving door for quarterbacks has placed Dieter Brock on the hot seat and Vince Ferragamo on the street.

“How this move turns out, nobody knows,” Coach John Robinson said at a press conference Tuesday, “but we’re excited about this because we think Dieter can provide a missing ingredient.”

Ferragamo, who thought he was making a comeback from last season’s hand injuries, will be just plain missing.

“We’ve told him we’ll seek an opportunity to trade him,” Robinson said, “to give him a chance to be successful. We’ll try to do the best we can for him.”

That’s Robinson’s way of averting a controversy, the same way he traded away another local favorite, Wendell Tyler, to make room for Eric Dickerson two years ago. Robinson hopes this move turns out half as well.

Brock, 34, played out his option with Hamilton of the Canadian Football League and became a free agent March 1. He immediately becomes the second-oldest player on the Rams’ roster, after Jack Youngblood, 35. He signed a four-year agreement worth an estimated $2.1 million.

Robinson said: “We would anticipate his career to go four years plus. There are some quarterbacks in the league over 34. It’s not too advanced if he’s a good player.”

But Robinson may have been whistling past the graveyard of other recycled Ram quarterbacks who failed to produce for his predecessors. The club’s luck with aged leaders rivals that of the Soviet Union.

In 1977 the Rams brought in Joe Namath, whose wobbly knees betrayed Coach Chuck Knox on a slippery Monday night field at Chicago. Knox found himself in Buffalo the next season--also a possible purgatory for Ferragamo.

In 1981 Ray Malavasi suffered through Dan Pastorini’s faded talents and in 1982 watched Bert Jones’ career end with a neck injury after only four games, with Malavasi soon to follow.

Certainly, no quarterback should count on a long career with the Rams. Not since Roman Gabriel, who was traded in ‘73, has one been able to put two full seasons together.

But Brock called his new situation “a dream come true,” citing the opportunity to play behind the Rams’ strong offensive line, hand off to Dickerson and throw to swift receivers Henry Ellard and Ron Brown.

“I didn’t get anything assured,” Brock said. “I just want the opportunity. I’m not guaranteed anything here.”

Brock is not among those concerned about his age and lack of mobility.

“I don’t have any gray hair,” he said, laughing. “I don’t think I’ve lost any strength in throwing the football. I’ve missed only one game in my whole career because of an injury. That was back in ’78 when I had a stretched ligament in my knee.

“I’ve been basically a drop-back passer the last six or seven years, for sure. The team in Winnipeg was built around my drop-back passing. I’m not much of a scrambler. I can move around the pocket well. My strength is definitely throwing the football.”

Johnnie Johnson, the Rams’ free safety, agreed. Johnson was pressed into service as a receiver with three other Ram players--Otis Grant, James McDonald and linebacker Mike Wilcher--who happened to be working out when Brock tried out for Robinson and Ram executives Monday. “The man has a very powerful arm,” Johnson said. “For him to throw the ball as hard as he does, he has excellent touch. His delivery is along the lines of Dan Marino (of the Miami Dolphins). He holds it high where it’s easy to pick up, he spots ‘em and the ball gets there in a hurry.”

Later, Johnson walked into the same nearby Japanese restaurant where Brock was having lunch with his agent, Gil Scott of Toronto.

“Hey, man,” Johnson told Brock, “I want you on my team.”

Jeff Kemp was less enthusiastic. He started 14 games, winning nine, after Ferragamo was injured last season.

“I was surprised and, to a degree, disappointed,” Kemp said. “But the situation isn’t that much different than it was for me last year (or) this whole off-season, in terms of so-called competition.”

The four quarterbacks--Ferragamo, Kemp, Steve Dils and Scott Tinsley--have been doing passing drills twice a week for the past few weeks. Ferragamo is expected to drop out. Brock will take his place after Easter.

“By bringing him in, it seems they’re making some sort of obvious commitment to give this guy the main shot,” Kemp told a reporter. “And looking at it from your perspective, I can see that the guy that gets paid the most and the one they’re making a big deal about bringing in from Canada has the inside track.

“But I’m not gonna admit that to the extent that it would stop me from expecting to have a chance to be No. 1. The coach said to me, ‘The competition continues, the best quarterback will play.’

“Things have always worked out for me. Last year was just a beginning. Finding my potential is way out in the future. Who knows--I might get to start and play a lot this year. I’m not gonna let it discourage me. It’s just another obstacle. It’s not a roadblock that’s gonna end my career here. It may fire me up.”

Kemp, asked about Ferragamo, said: “I feel bad for him. It’s a shock to have things like that happen . . . to hear about someone else coming in, much less to be told that you’re gonna be traded.”

Ferragamo’s agent, David Fishoff, said by phone from New York: “I hope we don’t wind up in Minnesota.”

Fishoff also voiced mild resentment.

“He (Ferragamo) is the only guy they went to the Super Bowl with,” he said.

A sampling of NFL personnel executives indicated that the Rams probably will get a second-round draft choice for Ferragamo, but not a No. 1.

Ferragamo’s contract probably won’t be factor. It called for $550,000 last year, $600,000 in 1985, $650,000 in 1986 and $700,000 in 1987, but half of each year’s salary is deferred.