Rams : Club, Eric Talk, but Not to Each Other
The bright light on the Rams’ horizon may signal the return of Eric Dickerson--or the sun setting on his 1985 season.
Both sides came to life with public statements Monday, but those statements did not lead to a summit meeting by Tuesday.
“No response so far,” Dickerson’s adviser, Jack Rodri, said. “But we have a little movement . . . some signs that pretty soon something may be happening. I’m encouraged that there is a desire to do something.”
Rodri said he hoped he had finally made it clear what Dickerson wants: a superstar contract starting in ‘87, guaranteed against injury.
The guarantee could be written into the contract or backed by an insurance policy.
“Whatever the form is, if I can be satisfied it doesn’t have loopholes in it, that would be fine,” Rodri said.
Dickerson was still sitting tight in Sealy, Tex.
“I do not plan to bring Eric out (to California) at this time,” Rodri said. “But that can also change.”
The Rams will open the season Sunday against the Denver Broncos at Anaheim.
Owner Georgia Frontiere said that her one regret of the contract dispute with Dickerson has been discussion of her gifts to him, such as a Porsche, furnishings for his home and a satellite dish for his great aunt Viola.
“That’s a thing that never should have gotten out,” Frontiere said. “It was a gesture of my feelings for him.”
She said she doesn’t consider Dickerson ungrateful for holding out.
“No, I don’t. Not at all. If Eric were sitting here right now he’d understand. I’m sure he knows how I feel about him and his family. You can’t put a price tag on that. I like to do things for people I care about.”
Greg Meisner, the unsigned starting nose tackle from last season, stopped by Rams Park to see Coach John Robinson on Tuesday--and probably to say goodby.
Robinson said: “We’ll have something (an announcement) tomorrow.”
Meisner was accompanied by his agent, John Marchiano, who said: “They’ve pulled their offers off the table, so it’s apparent the nonfootball people here have no interest in keeping him. It’s out of John Robinson’s hands. We’ve just asked that they trade him.”
Meisner didn’t report this year because his contract ran out in 1984, and he has been unable to negotiate a new one.
The Rams fixed their final 45-man roster Tuesday by putting rookies Chuck Scott and Duval Love on injured reserve and recalling waivers on cornerback David Croudip and running back Charles White, two of the four unidentified players they waived Monday.
The two others waived were tight end James McDonald, who was claimed by Detroit, and wide receiver Michael Harper.
The roster:
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks--Dieter Brock*, Jeff Kemp, Steve Dils.
Wide receivers--Henry Ellard, Ron Brown, Michael Young*, Bobby Duckworth.
Tight ends--David Hill, Mike Barber, Tony Hunter.
Running backs--Barry Redden, Mike Guman, Charles White, A.J. Jones.
Offensive linemen--Bill Bain, Dennis Harrah, Doug Smith, Kent Hill, Jackie Slater, Irv Pankey, Russ Bolinger.
Placekicker--Mike Lansford.
DEFENSE
Defensive linemen--Reggie Doss, Gary Jeter, Doug Reed, Charles DeJurnett, Booker Reese, Shawn Miller.
Linebackers--Mel Owens, Carl Ekern, Jim Collins, Mike Wilcher, Mark Jerue, Norwood Vann, Kevin Greene*, Ed Brady.
Defensive backs--Johnnie Johnson, Nolan Cromwell, Gary Green, LeRoy Irvin, David Croudip, Eric Harris, Vince Newsome, Jerry Gray*.
Punter--Dale Hatcher*.
*--Rookie.