Ferragamo Interests Packers--and Raiders, Seahawks

How did Vince Ferragamo look in his workout for the Green Bay Packers Wednesday?

Apparently good enough to sell the Packers on his value, and perhaps to interest the Raiders and Seattle Seahawks as well.

“If we had Vince, we’d look at him as a second starter,” said Bob Schnelker, the Packers’ offensive coordinator who flew in to check out Ferragamo at Rams Park. “He’s a smooth athlete. He knows what he’s doing.”

Another Ram quarterback, looking on after his own daily workout, requested anonymity but said: “He’s throwing better than he has in any of the other workouts (this spring).”

Schnelker said afterward that he was surprised that the Rams had put Ferragamo up for trade after signing Dieter Brock, “considering how important quarterbacks of that caliber are these days.”

Ferragamo, 31, left Rams Park smiling. “It felt good,” he said after the session, in which he threw to five Ram defensive backs who happened to be on the grounds. “I’m stronger than I ever was.”

Schnelker said that he would recommend making an offer for Ferragamo, but head Coach Forrest Gregg will have a chance to see the workout for himself. The Rams filmed the tryout for Green Bay.

Schnelker seemed convinced that Ferragamo’s throwing hand, injured in an exhibition game against the Packers last summer, is healed.

“We had heard he had also hurt his shoulder,” Schnelker said. “We weren’t sure he could even throw a ball anymore. There’s nothing wrong with his arm and nothing wrong with his hand. That’s all we were concerned about.”

Lynn Dickey, 35, is the Packer starter, backed up by Randy Wright, who played considerably last season as a rookie but who is coming off knee surgery.

Ferragamo said he had no other tryouts scheduled but added that he had “talked to the Raiders (and) I’m ready.”

Also, Seattle Coach Chuck Knox said by phone: “We’re interested, but being able to negotiate a deal is something else.