Bad Back Sidelines Schad; Rams Sign Edwards
It all worked out rather conveniently for the Rams, who didn’t seem to have much use for Mike Schad this year anyhow.
The team’s No. 1 draft choice was taken off the practice field on a golf cart Wednesday, victimized by back spasms.
Darn the luck, but Schad would surely have to go on the injured-reserve list now, freeing a spot on the roster for veteran cornerback Herman Edwards, who has been hanging around camp for a week waiting for something like this to happen.
Thursday, it all happened.
The Rams, disappointed in the development of Schad at offensive tackle, put him on injured reserve and signed Edwards, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, to fill a void in the wounded Ram secondary.
It all came together in a tight, tidy package, as if it had been meant to be all along.
“I would like to think not,” Schad said.
Schad, in fact, said that the spasms have been acting up for weeks now, the result of some heavy weightlifting in the off-season.
For now, though, it is a fitting end for what has been a hellish experience for the rookie from Queens University in Canada. Schad, the highest-picked Canadian in NFL draft history, was labeled a project who one day could be honed into something great.
But Schad appeared to be in over his head from the day he arrived in training camp after staging a traditional first-round draft choice contract holdout.
‘It’s tough,” Schad said of going on injured reserve. “I’m pretty unhappy. But I feel like I was making progress. They assured me that I’m not out of the picture.”
Let’s just say he’s been put on horizontal hold.
Ram Coach John Robinson said Schad has made some progress in recent weeks but not enough to help a team fighting to make it to the Super Bowl. “I think he’ll be ready to play next season.”
No sooner had Schad stepped out of the scene than Edwards stepped in.
The nine-year veteran, released by the Eagles when the team cut to 50 players Aug. 26, practiced with the Rams Thursday and will play on special teams in Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Edwards’ first words to the press corps at Rams Park were “I’ll have no comment on Buddy Ryan.”
Ryan, the outspoken Philadelphia coach, claimed that Edwards was too old at 32 and washed up.
It’s not exactly the stuff you want on your resume, but the Rams aren’t picky at this point.
They were looking for a veteran who could come in and lend support to a secondary weakened by the loss of cornerback Gary Green and safety Eric Harris.
Ram Notes Starting free safety Vince Newsome sprained his left ankle in practice Thursday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with St. Louis. If Newsome can’t start, Johnnie Johnson will start in his place. . . . St. Louis quarterback Neil Lomax, who injured both ankles and a knee in the Cardinals’ last exhibition game against the San Diego Chargers, practiced Thursday but was still hobbling noticeably. Lomax says he’ll start Sunday but is still listed as questionable. . . . Parting shots: Ram linebacker Steve Busick, obtained in a trade from the Broncos this week, criticized Dan Reeves, his former coach, for his handling of a sticky battle at linebacker between Busick and Ricky Hunley. Busick, though traded, claims he was never beaten out of his job. “I think Reeves is really hot at me,” Busick said. “I guess this means no more backstage passes in Denver. . . . Ram safety Tim Fox is still listed as questionable for Sunday with a hamstring pull.
