Ram Camp : Pankey Hopes to Return to Club Before Weekend
Tackle Irv Pankey, the lone Ram holdout, said Monday that he could be back in training camp sometime this week.
“I’m hoping something will happen in the next two or three days,” Pankey said. “I don’t want to drag this thing out. I just want my due.”
Pankey’s agent, Peter Funsten, is vacationing in Colorado this week but is scheduled to phone Jay Zygmunt, the Rams’ general counsel, today.
The Rams and Pankey have reportedly been only $50,000 apart on a two-year deal. Pankey is seeking about $700,000 for two years.
Pankey, a valuable member of the offensive line because he protects the quarterback’s blind side on passes, is even more an issue now that his replacement, Duval Love, is out at least four weeks with a knee injury.
The lack of depth at left tackle will force reserve Robert Cox to play four quarters Sunday in the Rams’ exhibition game against San Diego.
“I’m ready to get back,” Pankey said. “When you’re the last guy (holding out), there’s no one else to talk to.”
Ram Notes Eric Dickerson will miss today’s practice to attend a preliminary hearing in the paternity suit filed against him by former girlfriend Rea Ann Silva. The hearing was originally set for Aug. 4 but was postponed to allow Dickerson to go to London for an exhibition game against the Denver Broncos. Dickerson also said that he will have no further comment on his contract situation. “You guys (reporters) have screwed me up,” he said. Dickerson said last week he will soon approach the Rams to ask that his contract be renegotiated. . . . Ram tackle Duval Love, out 4 to 6 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Sunday, said he doesn’t plan to miss much of the regular season. “I’ll be back in a month,” he said. “I’m just glad they didn’t have to cut on it.” Love suffered only a partial tear of a ligament in his right knee. The Rams will open the season Sept. 13 at Houston. . . . Rick DiBernardo, formerly of Edison High School and Notre Dame, signed with the Rams as a long snapper.
