Redskins May Take Pounding

William (The Refrigerator) Perry reportedly is up to 350 pounds, and coaches on both sides are worried. Chicago Bear Coach Mike Ditka is worried about Perry’s health. Joe Bugel, Washington Redskin assistant coach, is worried that his guards will get squashed.

Bugel, looking to Saturday’s playoff game, said: “I told Russ Grimm to avoid any pileups with Perry on top.”

Said Washington guard R.C. Thielemann: “The key this week is to stay out of Perry’s way and hope he doesn’t fall on you.”

Sounds funny, but they’re not kidding.

“It goes with the style of offense we run,” Grimm told Christine Brennan of the Washington Post. “I do a lot of pulling, I do a lot of trapping. I play inside, so I get tangled up in a lot of piles. R.C. and I both have had knee injuries because we got caught up in a pile.”

It could be worse. When Perry was at Clemson, he once weighed 392.

From Bill Musselman, coach of the Tampa Bay Thrillers of the Continental Basketball Assn.: “I heard the players talking the other day after practice, saying they could beat the Clippers. I don’t know if we could beat them, but I know we could give them a good game.”

Trivia Time: Name two things that Doug Flutie and Tom Lasorda have in common. (Answer below.)

Larry Bird is possibly the most respected player in the NBA, but according to Jeff Lenihan of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, he’s not necessarily the most well-liked.

Lenihan quotes Mo McHone, former Cleveland Cavalier assistant coach, as saying: “Larry Bird is not a nice guy.”

Lenihan: “When Bird and Julius Erving got into their famous fight in November, 1984, there were reports Bird precipitated it by chanting ‘42-6, Doc, 42-6.’ At the time, Bird was outscoring Erving, 42-6.

“During the final game of a miniseries against Atlanta two seasons ago, Bird repeatedly told Dominique Wilkins, ‘Get ready to have a nice summer, Dominique.’ ”

A.C. Green of the Lakers, on his improved inside game: “It all comes with practice. Going against Kurt Rambis every day isn’t a non-contact sport. You get kicked, punched and bitten out there. It’s like the World Wrestling Federation. So when I’m in a game, I’m ready.”

Now-it-can-be-told Dept.: When somebody asked former Southern Methodist hurdler Bob Johnson why he never got started on a weight-lifting program, he said: “I tried to, but I couldn’t get them out of my car.”

Miami Hurricane running back Melvin Bratton told Ken Denlinger of the Washington Post: “You know how I picture Penn State? Like a military academy with no uniforms. They just don’t list it with Army, Navy and the Air Force. It’s gotta be one of those places where you go to the university bookstore, the university inn and the university restaurant.”

Add Penn State: Washington Redskin linebacker Rich Milot, an ex-Nittany Lion, offers this assessment of Joe Paterno: “Difficult to play for. Plays politics a little too much, by playing players from real rich recruiting areas. He’s also sarcastic. Berates you on the field. But he’s pretty honest.

“I would recommend his program to any player. He’ll be well-coached. He’ll leave with some values, and there’s a great chance he’ll graduate.”

Trivia Answer: Both are 5-9 and both wear No. 2.

Quotebook

New England Patriot Coach Raymond Berry, on how the holidays have passed him by: “I’m not paying much attention to the calendar. Last week, I had to keep telling myself it was Christmas. By the way, is Reagan still president?”