Rams Call Off Andrews’ Comeback : Linebacker Is Dropped After Two Major Knee Operations

The Rams, reducing their roster to the required 50 Monday, released veteran linebacker George Andrews, who fell short in his comeback attempt after two major knee operations.

Andrews started 58 games for the Rams at outside linebacker from 1980 through 1984, but surgery on his left knee in 1984 and on his right in 1985 proved to be too much to overcome.

“It’s a sad thing,” said Coach John Robinson, who broke the news to Andrews Monday morning. “He made a real great effort to come back, but fell short of where we are with men in his position.”

With a surplus of outside linebackers, the Rams asked Andrews last week if he’d try the inside spot left weakened by the injury to Jim Collins.

Andrews gave it a shot but later told coaches he couldn’t do it.

“That might have been a factor,” Robinson said of Andrews’ lack of versatility. “He was certainly limited because of his injuries. On a 45-man roster, if you’re not a starter, you have to be able to play in a variety of ways.”

Still, the news came as a surprise to Andrews, the Rams’ No. 1 pick from Nebraska in 1979.

“They just said I wasn’t playing up to what I was before when I was a starter,” Andrews said. “And they didn’t think I could help out on special teams.”

Robinson said that the Rams released Andrews now to give him of a chance to try to catch on with another team. Andrews, though, isn’t sure what he’s going to do.

Also released were cornerback Lucious Smith, running back Louis Jackson, wide receiver Allen Pitts, quarterback Scott Tinsley, defensive back Mike Fox and defensive end Dennis Edwards.

Linebacker Jim Collins, out indefinitely with a shoulder injury, was put on the injured-reserve list, along with linebacker Garrett Breeland and receiver Alfred Jackson. Breeland has a hand injury, Jackson an injured shoulder.

Actually, the Rams reduced their roster to 51, since safety Troy West has a roster exemption until Sept. 1.

Robinson said that quarterback Dieter Brock, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Aug. 12 and is expected to miss at least the season opener against St. Louis on Sept. 7, will be kept on the team’s active roster even after the final cutdown to 45.

Unless the Rams come up with a better offer in a hurry, holdout wide receiver Henry Ellard will sit out the 1986 season, his agent said Monday.

Mike Blatt, who represents Ellard, met with Ram management in Stockton.

Blatt said he was told the Rams had a new contract offer, but arrived instead with the same proposal--a four-year deal worth $1.2 million.

Blatt met with vice president-finance for the Rams, John Shaw, and general counsel, Jay Zygmunt.

Blatt said Shaw told him that Ellard was not a great impact player and ranked him only fifth on the Rams in importance behind running back Eric Dickerson, quarterback Steve Bartkowski, cornerback LeRoy Irvin and linebacker, Jim Collins.

Ellard was the Rams’ leading receiver in 1985 with 54 catches. He also was the NFC’s leading punt returner in 1985.

In his fourth season out of Fresno State, Ellard seemed one of the Rams’ best bargains last season, drawing a salary of $145,000.

Now entering the 32nd day of his holdout, he is looking for a four-year deal worth about $500,000 a season.

But Blatt said Monday that he would settle for a one or two year contract in the neighborhood of $400,000.

Blatt said Shaw told him that the Rams had imposed a deadline of 1 p.m. Tuesday for Ellard to respond to the offer.