Flutie Not Likely a Ram in ‘86, Robinson Says
Ram Coach John Robinson said he believes that Doug Flutie can play quarterback in the National Football League, but probably not this season for the Rams.
“Timing is the most complicated issue at this point,” Robinson said Friday. “I think he can play in the NFL. He was a great college player. (But) with his lack of size, you must create opportunities for him to succeed and use the assets he has, which are considerable.”
The Rams own Flutie’s NFL rights because they drafted the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner from Boston College on the 10th round in 1985, although he had already signed with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League. All USFL players are now free agents, but Flutie has said he hasn’t decided whether to try the NFL.
“The toughest thing for him is to adapt to an existing system,” Robinson said. “We wouldn’t want to change for someone who is an unknown commodity. If this were January and we were looking ahead, it might be a different situation.”
But other former USFL players could help the Rams, Robinson indicated. They also own NFL rights to linebacker Howard Carson of the Express and defensive tackle William Fuller of the Baltimore Stars.
Carson was a reserve for the Rams from 1981 through ’83.
“We would talk to him,” Robinson said. “He’s up to about 240 pounds now.”
As for Fuller, Robinson said: “I’d only be relaying what I hear, but I understand he’s a pass rusher, around 6-3 and 250. I think he’s like a Doug Reed on our team, a year or two ago.”
Robinson anticipates that as many as 100 former USFL players will be trying out with NFL teams in the next few weeks and suggested they be exempted temporarily from roster limits. The first mandatory cut is to 60 players by Aug. 19.
“We’re short in the secondary,” Robinson said. “We might look there and at inside linebacker, and perhaps at wide receiver because they had some speed in the league.”
Ram Notes
All of the players underwent voluntary drug testing Friday. The urinalysis results, when determined, will not be made public. . . . Quarterback Dieter Brock (bruised left knee) is expected to return Monday. Outside linebacker Mike Wilcher missed Friday’s practices because of a toe injury, and inside linebacker Jim Collins spent Friday night in Centinela Hospital after tests on his pinched nerve and deltoid muscle problem in his shoulder and neck. Offensive tackle Irv Pankey was out with a groin injury and Eric Dickerson was bothered by tight hamstrings in addition to a chest cold. . . . Wide receiver Ron Brown, his sprained left wrist heavily taped, returned along with cornerback LeRoy Irvin, guard Kent Hill and defensive end Doug Reed. . . . The Rams released free agents Jim Hawn, an offensive tackle who graduated from El Dorado High School; Carlton Willis, nose tackle, and Sam Moore, wide receiver, bringing the roster to 85. . . . The Rams will practice twice today, then be off until Monday morning. They don’t play another practice game until Aug. 18 against the San Francisco 49ers at Anaheim.