Dickerson May Relocate to Bench : Robinson Also Doesn’t Rule Out the Possibility of a Trade

Eric Dickerson’s latest diatribe against Ram management on Monday might have earned the star running back a trip to the bench or, perhaps, another city.

Coach John Robinson, after a one-hour meeting with Dickerson Tuesday morning, said that a decision to play or bench Dickerson next Monday night against the Cleveland Browns will be made on a “day-to-day basis,” depending on Dickerson’s attitude in practice.

Also, for the first time since he and Dickerson were united in 1983, Robinson said that he would consider trading the disgruntled star.

The National Football League trading deadline is next Monday.

“If I see he’s uncommitted in any way, that he can no longer contribute to the team, we’ll have to look for someone who is,” Robinson said.

Dickerson had blasted Ram management Monday for not offering to renegotiate his present contract in good faith.

Dickerson called the Rams’ latest offer of $975,000 through 1989 “a ridiculous figure.”

Though the tone of Dickerson’s speech Monday was more biting, it was basically the same plea he had made in training camp, when he first issued his pay-me-or-trade-me demands.

Robinson said then that he would base any decision on how Dickerson responded on the field. Dickerson, of course, looked as good as ever before the strike.

The coach is taking the same approach this time around.

“There’s a clear difference in a player saying, ‘I’m unhappy and I’m not getting paid enough,’ and him saying, ‘I’m not giving it all I can,’ ” Robinson said.

Dickerson said that at Tuesday’s meeting he asked Robinson to trade him and also asked that Charles White start in his place against the Browns.

“Charles White is a better football player than I am now,” Dickerson said. “I have other things on my mind.”

Dickerson said he didn’t want to play against the Browns in his current mental condition.

“If I play, I will hurt them,” he said of his teammates. “If I can’t play with my mind 100% clear, I’d rather not play.”

Dickerson, the NFL’s rushing leader in three of his four seasons, has signed a two-year contract extension through 1989. He’s due to earn $682,000 this season, $682,000 next year and $686,000 in 1989.

Dickerson had said Monday that he was looking for something near $1.1 million a season.

But on Tuesday, he said money was no longer the issue. He said he wouldn’t want to stay now even if the team offered him $1.3 million a season.

“Honestly, I could not say yes,” he said. “This has gone on for three years. After a while, you get fed up with it. I don’t think I should have to beg. I’m not happy anymore. I’d like to be gone.”

Dickerson’s shopping list of favorite teams includes Washington (“Good offensive line. They pay well”), Denver (“They need a running back. They pay well”) and Chicago (“I’d like to go there. They pay well”).

Dickerson, though, said he’d go anywhere, even Green Bay.

“I’ll take my chances,” he said. “It can’t be any worse.”

On the chances of trading Dickerson, Robinson would only say: “Anything’s possible.”

He also said that the Rams will go on, with or without Dickerson.

“A team is like any group,” Robinson said. “You go about your business. This team is very committed to winning. Like anything else, you say, ‘I’ve got my job to do.’ ”

Ram Notes

The knee injury linebacker Mark Jerue suffered Monday was not as serious as first thought. John Robinson said that Jerue, if pressed, might be able to play against the Browns. . . . Fullback Mike Guman, who has a neck strain, is listed as doubtful.