Schad Ends Holdout, Signs for 4 Years

The Rams on Monday tied up some more loose ends when they signed their No. 1 draft choice, offensive tackle Mike Schad, to a four-year contract, ending one of the least dramatic holdouts in Ram history.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but a source close to the deal said it was worth slightly more than $1 million. You might want to call this the Canadian Compromise.

Schad, from Queen’s University in Canada, was seeking a contract comparable to players drafted around him.

Schad was the 23rd player selected in the first round. The player taken before him, Mike Haight, an offensive tackle from Iowa, signed with the Jets for $1.3 million. The 24th pick, defensive end Bob Buzcowski from Pitt, signed with the Raiders for $1.2 million.

Initially, the Rams were believed to be offering Schad $900,000.

Schad boarded a plane in Canada and arrived in Orange County late Sunday night, but not before losing his luggage in Dallas. He signed a little after noon Monday and suited up for afternoon practice, though he won’t play in tonight’s exhibition opener against Houston.

“I would have liked to have been here a lot earlier,” Schad said. “But a lot of those things were not in my power.”

Schad, 6-feet 5-inches and 290 pounds, said he has been working out twice daily with his brother in Canada and has spent hours browsing through his personal copy of the Ram playbook.

Schad said he was anxious to see what effect his holdout had on his teammates.

“I worry a lot about how they feel,” he said. “But I know a lot of players here have gone through some contract things, so I hope they understand.”

Schad’s signing leaves the Rams with only three holdouts--wide receiver Henry Ellard, defensive end Doug Reed and linebacker Mel Owens.