NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME : Ryan Baits the Rams, but They’re Not Biting

If Buddy Ryan is trying to bait the Rams, they’re not rising to it.

The Bears’ defensive coordinator continued his one-way war of words with the Rams Wednesday, saying that he is counting on Eric Dickerson to fumble in Sunday’s NFC championship game at Chicago.

“He’ll lay it on the ground for us,” Ryan told reporters at the Bears’ temporary training camp at Suwanee, Ga. “We expect him to lay it down at least three times.”

Earlier in the week, Ryan had accused the Ram offensive line of getting away with holding.

“I don’t respond to what assistant coaches say,” Ram Coach John Robinson said. “If you want further comment, you should go to the commissioner’s office or to Mike Ditka (the Bears’ head coach).”

Said Dickerson: “Maybe Buddy Ryan knows something I don’t know. I’ll say this much: I’ll be in the game plan, fumbles or no fumbles.”

Dickerson has fumbled 10 times this season, losing 7. Last season, he lost 12 of 16 fumbles.

“If we don’t fumble the ball over and they don’t turn the ball over, it could be a very close game,” Dickerson said.

“They make teams make mistakes, and when they do, they take advantage of them.”

Two Bear defensive players suggested that they would have a good day against Dickerson.

“Our goal is to hold him under 50 (yards),” end Dan Hampton said.

“I told you last week we’re the best at stopping the run.” linebacker Otis Wilson said. “We shut (Joe Morris of the Giants) down to 32 yards. Our goal is to shut (Dickerson) down. I don’t know how many (yards), but it’s going to be a long day for him, too.”

Dickerson expects the Bears to try to take the ball from him.

“But the more you try to strip, the more you miss tackles,” he said. “If they try to strip and miss, I’ll be in the secondary, and it’ll be a long day for them.”

Doug Smith, the Rams’ Pro Bowl center, has had a recurrence of his undiagnosed nerve problem and will not be reactivated for Sunday’s game.

Smith has been on injured reserve since he first experienced the problem at New Orleans Dec. 1. A series of tests failed to provide the cause of the symptoms, but he had been practicing recently and had been expected to be able to play Sunday.

He was lifting weights Tuesday when he had the recurrence, and was examined by doctors Wednesday.

“He still has some tingling in his hands and arms,” Robinson said.

Tony Slaton, a second-year pro who played for Robinson at USC, will continue to start at center.

“I had a couple of heavy workouts and I’ve been getting some numbness again, “ Smith said.

He said the numbness starts in his hands, right thigh and “sometimes in the back of my head when I lie down.”

The strongest theory, Smith said, is that an artery at the top of his spinal column is being pinched when he turns his head. “But they’ve X-rayed it and haven’t seen any irregularities,” he said.

Ram Notes Ram cornerback Gary Green replaced San Francisco’s injured Eric Wright on the NFC Pro Bowl squad Wednesday. He was on the AFC squad three times while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. . . . Wide receiver Henry Ellard left practice early Wednesday with a mild calf strain. “He’ll be all right,” trainer Jim Anderson said. “We just didn’t want to take a chance.” . . . The weather at Suwanee, Ga., where the Bears are practicing, was dry and in the 40s Wednesday. . . . The Rams are scheduled to fly to Chicago at 4:30 this afternoon. They will have closed practices at Soldier Field Friday and Saturday.