Harrah Enjoys Changing of the Guard

Twelve years ago, it was Dennis Harrah tagging behind the great Ram guard Tom Mack, watching his every move, the brunt of his every prank.

Harrah was the brash and brazen first-round choice out of Miami, Mack a veteran nearing the end of a storied career.

A big kidder, Mack liked to sneak up behind Harrah and pull the hairs from his chest.

“Tom Mack was the biggest jerk when it came to rookies,” Harrah said. “He made life a constant harassment. Every minute he was doing something to you.”

But Mack was also there to teach Harrah how to throw a trap block. He was there to show him how to read a play book, miss a curfew, cheat at cards and put his uniform on straight.

No doubt, had Tom Mack worn wings, you would have found Harrah tucked up underneath one of them.

“You might have a personal problem but were afraid to say anything about it,” Harrah said. “You could always go to Tom Mack.”

So here it is, all these years later, and look who the old man is now? Look who’s taking bonus babies by the hand and leading them through Ram camp? Look who’s making rookie guards stand up at dinner and sing “Roll out the Barrel.”

Dennis Harrah turned 33 a few months ago, shortly after playing in his fourth Pro Bowl game.

He is head deep into his 12th training camp and cursing this one as loudly as the first.

When Jack Youngblood retired last season, Harrah became the Rams’ elder statesman, the keeper of the flame. He has been a fixture at guard since becoming a starter in 1976.

Harrah always wondered what it would be like to grow older, how he would act around rookies and how much of Tom Mack would actually rub off on him.

Harrah secretly has been waiting for a rookie guard to come along with a chest of hair ripe for plucking, someone so naive as to ask directions to the cafeteria.

Sooner or later, it will be time for another changing of the guards, and Harrah doesn’t want the guy taking over his cherished spot next to center to serve the position dishonor.

So meet Tom Newberry, 6-feet 1-inch and 290 pounds of him. He was the Rams’ second-round pick in 1986 and the man likely to take over from Harrah after he plays in his last Pro Bowl.

Newberry is a tough kid like Harrah was, ready to knock the National Football League on its backside.

He came from a small school, Wisconsin-La Crosse, but entered camp with a big reputation.

Newberry, who considered a boxing career, once knocked four men out in a local “Tough Man” contest. It took him all of two minutes to do it.

This was just the type of stuff Harrah wanted to hear.

“He could have whipped four girls, for all we know,” Harrah said of Newberry’s feat. “We never got to see the guys he beat up.”

Oh, and one more thing.

“He’s about eight feet too short,” Harrah said.

It sounds as though Harrah can’t wait to start lifting from the pages of Tom Mack.

“My favorite thing is putting heat in someone’s jock strap,” Harrah said. An old Mack attack?

“Nope,” Harrah said. “Invented that one myself.”

Aside from making him sing in the cafeteria (standard rookie procedure), Harrah hasn’t hit Newberry yet, but when he does, you’ll know that it will mark the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

That’s just the way it works. Some people send cards to show they care. Football players light up each other’s shorts.

Of course, seldom leaking out are stories such as Harrah inviting Newberry to his house for dinner, or Harrah taking the extra time to show Newberry a new blocking technique.

“It’s a pretty good position to be in,” Newberry said of hanging around Harrah. “I just watch the things he does, all the different technique. He’ll stop and give me advice, like to try to use my hands more.”

Through Harrah, Newberry also can learn the subtleties of being a rookie, like how you don’t go around bragging about how many guys you knocked out in a bar once.

“You don’t want to come in here and act like you’re the king of the road,” Harrah said. “The best way to act is to keep your mouth shut and work as hard as you can.”

And that’s what Newberry is doing. There’ll be plenty of time for stories later.

“I don’t want to be too headstrong,” Newberry said. “I don’t want to be too cocky.”

Of course, that’s what trouble shooters like Harrah are around for.

Harrah admits to softening over the years. There was a time, he said, when he mostly looked out for himself.

“As I get older, I have a tendency to help people more than when I was younger,” Harrah said. “Inside, you do care more about people. When I was younger, I was more self-centered.”

So now Harrah can help players such as Newberry prepare for the season and not feel silly about it later. After all, the are a few things he can offer.

“These guys don’t realize how long the season really is,” he said. “You’re playing 20 games when you’re used to playing eight to 10 in college. It’s a total shock on the body.”

Harrah knows. Someone told him once. “There was a way that Tom Mack took care of people,” Harrah said. “I’d have to go a long way to emulate Tom Mack.”

Passing on knowledge is just part of the game.

“They showed me so I’m showing them,” Harrah said. “I’m thankful to have guys like that around me. You don’t know how important those guys are until it’s too late. It’s like your parents.”

Ram Notes Still no word on the Rams and quarterback Doug Flutie. His agent, Bob Woolf, said Thursday that he still is waiting for an official release from New Jersey Generals owner Donald Trump. When he gets the release, Woolf said he will contact the Rams. Flutie, an 11th-round draft pick by the Rams in 1985, is expected to be released from the $8 million, six-year contract he signed with Trump to play in the United States Football League. . . . Eric Dickerson missed Thursday’s practice because of tight hamstring muscles. Quarterback Dieter Brock, who bruised his left knee in Tuesday night’s loss to the Houston Oilers, won’t be able to practice until next Monday. Linebacker Jim Collins, who aggravated a pinched nerve in his left shoulder in the Houston game, will be examined by Dr. Robert Watkins today. . . . First-year tackle Hank Goebel of Cal State Fullerton likely will be placed on injured reserve because of injuries to his knee and elbow. . . . Ram Coach John Robinson was impressed with No. 1 draft choice, tackle Mike Schad, who completed his second day of practice Thursday. “He’s such a great physical learner,” Robinson said. “You know, if he had to learn a new dance step, he could do it fast, whereas it might take me a month.”. . . Wide receiver Ron Brown, who sprained his left wrist in the Oiler game, should be back at practice today. . . . Robinson said that Dick Coury, the Rams’ quarterback coach, probably would be calling the team’s offensive plays this season. “We’re trying to be a more wide-open football team this year,” Robinson said. . . . Because of the possibly career-ending neck injury to Gary Green, the Rams are in the market for a cornerback. “We’re not looking for an All-Pro,” Robinson said. “We’re just looking for a solid NFL man. . . . No word on the contract negotiations of linebacker Mel Owens. His agent, Phil Closius, said he spoke with the Rams last Friday and was told the team would call back on Monday. Closius said they never did. Owens and receiver Henry Ellard are the two remaining Ram holdouts.