Rams Sign Ex-Edison Star DiBernardo

Former Edison High School standout Rick DiBernardo, who announced his retirement from professional football four weeks ago, signed as a free agent with the Rams Sunday.

DiBernardo, who played last season with the St. Louis Cardinals after graduating from Notre Dame University in 1986, was working for a moving company until Friday at noon, when he received a call from an Anaheim marketing firm offering him a management position.

He accepted, but four hours later, DiBernardo received another offer--one he said he just couldn’t resist.

“I came home from work and my mom told me the Rams called,” said DiBernardo, who is 6-feet 3-inches and weighs 234 pounds. “They said come over to (Ram Camp at Cal State Fullerton) tomorrow. I was just saying, ‘There is a God. He is listening.’ This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Friday was the greatest day ever.”

DiBernardo said the Rams intend to use him as a long snapper and backup linebacker.

He signed for “about minimum wage,” he said.

DiBernardo left the Cardinals July 21, and informed his agent that he would not consider playing again unless it was with a team on the West Coast.

“It really is a dream come true,” DiBernardo said. “It’s (the Rams) who I wanted to play for anyway. I know all the coaches here. Many of them tried to recruit me for Southern Cal when I was a senior at Edison.”