Rams Deny Willie Brown Involved in Talks

The Rams Friday denied that there is a plan to involve State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) in negotiations with holdout Eric Dickerson.

The Santa Barbara News-Press reported Friday that Brown had been contacted by one of the sides about helping to resolve the dispute. Brown has acted as a mediator in several sports contract disputes.

By coincidence, about 20 state legislators are due to attend Sunday’s opening game between the Rams and Denver Broncos at Anaheim Stadium as guests of Ram owner Georgia Frontiere. But a Ram spokesman said Brown did not accept his invitation.

Dickerson is due to return from Sealy, Tex., Sunday, to meet with Frontiere and Coach John Robinson early next week.

Dickerson’s backup, Barry Redden, didn’t practice Wednesday and Thursday because of a sprained ankle and was able to participate in only about 30% of his normal practice Friday, Robinson said.

“I think he’ll play, but I can’t say how much,” Robinson said.

If Redden can’t play, Charles White will start and share time with A.J. Jones and perhaps Lynn Cain, who was signed this week.