PRO FOOTBALL : Irvin, Who Once Almost Got Boot, Now Gets Game Ball

The Rams presented LeRoy Irvin with a game ball Sunday, which sure beats the walking papers they nearly gave him five weeks ago.

Those were the days when Mr. Mischievous was busy demanding a raise and a trade, when he was struck down by mysterious strains of flu at the darndest moments, when a hamstring injury appeared every time he checked his wallet. Irvin wanted out, all right, and the Rams came this close to obliging him.

And then it happened, an improbable twist that included a failed trade, suspension and, if all continues as is, a happy ending.

Strange doings. One minute, Irvin is pouting and spouting. He would rather eat chicken liver mixed with Castor oil than play for the Rams. A minute later, Irvin is as angelic as a choir boy, as impressive as his Pro Bowl status of last season warrants.

The transformation continued Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, as Irvin intercepted a pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown. The interception return wasn’t entirely necessary--the Rams won, 33-0--but symbolic, nonetheless.

This is the new and improved Irvin, which seems to coincide with the new and improved Ram defense. In their last three games, the Rams have allowed only 19 points. And for the first time since 1985, the Rams recorded a regular-season shutout.

Irvin didn’t do any of this by himself, of course. The Ram defensive line has steadily improved, as has its number of sacks and that now noticeable statistic, hurries. Ram linebackers have always been steady enough. And newcomers Clifford Hicks and Michael Stewart have fit in nicely in the injury-plagued Ram secondary.

Still, Irvin remains a focal point of sorts for the Ram defense. “A real team leader,” defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur said.

Coach John Robinson said: “LeRoy is playing every bit as good as he’s ever played. He’s just been fantastic.”

Before he found humbleness, Irvin would probably have agreed. If nothing else, he was good for at least one, probably two or three inflammatory quotes a week. Reporters could count on Irvin to question an opposing receiver’s nerve, a quarterback’s arm, a coach’s play-calling. Now listen to him.

“I’ve kind of forgotten about my own situation,” he said. “I’ve got (cornerback) Jerry Gray on the other side and it’s kind of like a competition between ourselves to see who’s going to play better. I’m starting to dedicate myself to the rest of the guys. That’s my main purpose right now.”

It got worse. Irvin refused to make any predictions about the Rams’ playoff chances. He lavished his teammates with praise. He downplayed his own interception return, the fifth time he has returned a pass for a touchdown.

So sugar-coated became the conversation, that Irvin even complimented next week’s opponent, the Dallas Cowboys. This would be the 5-8 Cowboys, the same team that lost to these same Falcons only a week earlier. “We look at them as a great team,” he said.

Writers scattered soon thereafter, in fear Irvin might find something nice to say about the 3-10 Detroit Lions.

While tame in the postgame locker room, Irvin did have his moments on the field Sunday. For instance, Irvin celebrated his interception return by turning toward the Rams’ bench, snapping to attention and delivering a salute to Shurmur that would make a Marine drill sergeant proud.

“The salute was for Fritz Shurmur,” Irvin said. “He’s The General. He wears those glasses before the game and that hat. He walks around with a cigar in his mouth, and he looks like General Patton.”

What made Irvin’s interception return even more special is that he predicted it shortly before the play began.

Defensive end Reggie Doss, who plays on probable running downs, said he remembers Irvin stepping from the huddle and telling teammates that the Falcons would throw to receiver Billy Johnson.

“He called the play,” Doss said. “He said, ‘They’re going to throw a pass, they’re going to come over here. They’re going to come this way, so you guys be ready.’ ”

Sure enough, quarterback Scott Campbell dropped back, looked for Johnson and instead found Irvin.

“He’s probably the best at what he does,” Doss said. “When he comes to play, he comes to play.”

And then there was Irvin, pretending as if he had never touched Falcon receiver Aubrey Matthews during a second-quarter incompletion. As Falcon coaches and players yelled at officials from the sidelines, Irvin stood up and raised his arms in a sign of innocence. Not a penalty flag was thrown.

It was that sort of day for Irvin, mostly charmed. He avoided detection on likely pass interference calls. He found himself with an interception return. He was awarded a game ball.

Best of all, Irvin has conveniently forgotten about his earlier troubles. Now he likes the Rams. Wouldn’t think of leaving. And guess what?--it shows.