Rams : Jerry Gray Is Making Up for Some Lost Time
Jerry Gray started earning his money from the Rams right away Friday. His first day on the payroll was a full one.
The first-round draft choice from Texas signed Thursday after helping to negotiate his own contract, checked into camp at 10:30 that night, practiced briefly Friday morning and went most of the way at left cornerback in a scrimmage against the San Diego Chargers at La Jolla in the afternoon.
“That’s a lot of work,” he said, “but I need it. I missed three weeks of camp.”
Gray hadn’t played cornerback since high school. He was a safety at Texas, but the Rams believe he’ll be more effective in man-to-man coverage. Starting left corner Gary Green didn’t participate Friday because of a pulled muscle.
Gray was the last Ram draft choice to sign, agreeing to five years for about $1.5 million. He had the rare opportunity to sit in on his own negotiations when agent Calvin Guidry closed the deal with John Shaw, Ram vice president, this week.
The talks were interrupted last week when Guidry had minor surgery. Gray stayed in touch with Shaw by phone from Texas and worked on arrangements for the final talks in Los Angeles.
“John Shaw is a nice man,” Gray said. “It’s just that me being a number one draft choice and the salaries being reduced (this year), he had to follow new guidelines. I was just trying to get the same amount other rookies are getting this year.”
Sitting in, Gray said: “You really get to learn both sides. I could see John Shaw’s position, also. I don’t think anybody lost. He and I both got everything we wanted to establish.
“I’m relieved. I didn’t want to do what they call a holdout. It was just a matter of getting everything fixed up.”
Reporting nearly three weeks after the other rookies, Gray said he may be behind in conditioning, “but while I was out I was learning the plays on my own.”
Ram Notes
The Rams announced Friday they had traded reserve defensive back Ivory Sully, a six-year veteran, to Tampa Bay, fulfilling his request for a chance to play elsewhere. . . . Tight end Tony Hunter and running back A.J. Jones were impressive in Friday’s scrimmage with the Chargers. Hunter caught 7 passes for 95 yards in the 7-on-7 passing drill. Jones ran 5 times for 45 yards in the 11-on-11 scrimmage. Charles White had 10 carries for 45 yards. Rookie linebacker Kevin Greene had a quarterback sack and nailed two runners for losses. Few veterans took part in the contact work, but No. 3 quarterback Steve Dils threw a long “touchdown” pass to Henry Ellard in the 7-on-7. . . . Coach John Robinson said he wasn’t concerned about quarterback Dieter Brock’s lack of 11-on-11 scrimmage time so far. “He’s been playing 12 on 12 (in Canada) for 11 years,” Robinson said. . . . Eric Dickerson planned to go home to Sealy, Tex., this weekend to continue his holdout for a guaranteed extended contract. . . . Ron Waller, the Rams’ rookie of the year in 1955, said in a visit to training camp that he wasn’t sorry to be overlooked on the 40-year team. “I’ve already been picked on the silver anniversary team by (late owner) Dan Reeves,” Waller said, “and (former coach) Sid Gillman picked me on his team. That’s good enough for me.” . . . The San Francisco 49er training camp is rockin’ and sockin’ at Rocklin, with 21 players on the injury list. The most impressive young talents are wide receiver Jerry Rice and nose tackle Michael Carter. Defensive back Ronnie Lott said Rice, the first-rounder from Mississippi Valley, is “incredible. He’ll win three or four games for us. He’s as good as any I’ve seen at the Pro Bowl.” Carter, the Olympic shotput silver medalist, is down from 310 pounds to 280. All the 49ers are signed.