Redden’s Wish Comes True: Rams Trade Him : Unhappy in Backup Role, He Goes to Chargers for McGee, Two Draft Choices

When Barry Redden was traded to the San Diego Chargers for another running back, Buford McGee, and two draft choices Tuesday, it ended a Ram career that for him was a long five years, with little to tell.

The only time he played was when Eric Dickerson got tired.

The only time he talked was when he asked to be traded.

He ran silent, he ran deep.

Ever since the Rams drafted Dickerson in 1983, Redden was convinced that the focus of the offense was not to be Barry Redden but to bury Redden.

“Hey, wasn’t I a first-round draft choice, too?” Redden wondered.

That he was, arriving from the University of Richmond a year before Dickerson. But a knee injury ruined his rookie season, and by the time he got well the Rams had a new coach, John Robinson, and a new runner he could never hope to surpass.

Redden, without making loud noises, issued his first request for a trade after the ’84 season, when Dickerson rushed for a National Football League-record 2,105 yards.

Robinson ignored him.

But the quiet requests became persistent until a year ago, when Redden agreed to report to training camp only after Robinson promised to try .

Redden said at the time: “They have one of the greatest runners in the history of the game. Why hold onto me? I’d like to get a chance to carry the ball. I just need the repetitions. That’s the only way you’re going to get better. I need to work on my skills, and the only way you get sharp is not through practice but game experience, as well.”

Finally, Redden got his wish, or the most important part of it, anyway. He would have preferred to have been traded to a club nearer his home in Sarasota, Fla., but he’ll take it.

“It would be easier for my family,” he said Tuesday by phone from Sarasota. “But I’m happy with where I’m going now, and (the Rams are) happy. They had the burden of my frustration.

“I feel good. I definitely feel it’s long overdue. If you’d been in my shoes coming out of college and had run the ball and done a decent job and now (were) told to sit on the bench, (they) just want you to block . . . it wasn’t my idea of contributing to the offense.”

Redden said that even if the Chargers continue with their air-oriented offense, he won’t be any worse off.

“I may have gotten the ball 10 times in a game, so it’s not really an adjustment at all,” he said.

Robinson had resisted trading Redden because he was such a reliable backup for Dickerson. Redden was able to enter a game on a moment’s notice without the offense missing a beat, and last year he did become a starter--at fullback with Dickerson--when Robinson switched to a two-back offense.

Redden had his most productive season with 110 rushes for 467 yards and 4 touchdowns, while catching 28 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown.

But the Rams were under pressure to deal because Redden had played out his option in ’86 and, as a free agent, probably would have refused to report to training camp next month. There was a strong hint of that when he ignored the May mini-camp, as he had the previous year.

Besides McGee, the Rams will get the Chargers’ second-round draft choice in ‘88, plus a conditional middle-round choice, depending on Redden’s contributions to the Chargers.

And to hear McGee talk, they get no problems in return. He hasn’t forgotten that in ’84 he was only an 11th-round draft choice from Mississippi, where he earned a business degree.

“I don’t have any hang-ups,” McGee said. “I can see myself a role player. I don’t necessarily have to be a runner. My assets are more like blocking or pass-catching.

“I’m just a football player. I’m in the business to play football. If the Chargers don’t have any more use for me, I’ll play wherever I’ll have an opportunity.

“Barry was a first-rounder. He wanted to run the ball. In my situation, I just want to get in and help the team. I’m not worried about running the ball.”

If asked, he’ll even work the option for the Rams, pitching the ball back to Dickerson as he did to Gary Anderson with the Chargers.

“Sure, (Dickerson) ran it in college,” McGee said. “I would love to pitch it to him.”

The trade will reunite McGee with Ernie Zampese, the Rams’ new offensive coordinator who came from the Chargers this off-season.

“I’m excited about getting the chance to come back and work with Zamp,” McGee said. “He knows my abilities.

“I don’t have any idea what Zampese has in mind, but I’m sure it won’t be anything like we had (in San Diego). The Rams are a running team.”

Most likely, McGee, a good blocker, pass receiver and short-yardage runner, will alternate as the second back with veterans Charlie White and Mike Guman, with White moving up as Dickerson’s primary backup.

Robinson, in London making arrangements for the Rams’ exhibition game against the Denver Broncos Aug. 9, left a statement saying: “Buford McGee is a veteran player who will fit nicely into our offensive scheme. He is a skilled blocker, proven pass receiver and good runner.

“Barry’s goal is to be the No. 1 back, and we were unable to accommodate him here. He’s a very fine person, and we wish him well.”