Rams : Anderson Signs a Four-Year Contract
After some 11th-hour negotiating Sunday night, wide receiver Willie Anderson became the Rams’ 11th draft choice to sign a contract when he reported to training camp Monday with a four-year deal worth $985,000.
That takes care of all three of the Rams’ second-round draft choices, with only--and it’s a big only--first-round picks Gaston Green and Aaron Cox and third-round pick Mike Piel still unsigned.
The Anderson deal was completed late Sunday after a marathon negotiating session between Anderson’s agent, David Lueddeke, and the Rams’ Jay Zygmunt.
Anderson signed the contract Monday morning, in time for afternoon practice.
Anderson--they call him “Flipper”--said the brief holdout shouldn’t hurt his progress. The former UCLA star participated in a May mini-camp and has spent his idle time browsing through the Rams’ pass offense, a system he considers less complicated than UCLA’s.
“It’s not that much different,” Anderson said. “It’s not as hard to learn as the one in college. I think it’s pretty easy, to tell you the truth.”
Anderson figures to be the Rams’ third wide receiver and a primary deep threat along with Cox, if he ever joins the team, taking over the spot vacated by the retired Ron Brown.
Anderson said he isn’t conceding the second spot to Cox or anyone.
“I’m going for the open spot,” he said. “If that spot’s open, I’m going for that spot.”
Ram Notes
More on Willie Anderson’s contract: He will receive a $235,000 signing bonus plus base salaries of $150,000 (plus $10,000 reporting bonus), $160,000 (plus $10,000), $200,000 and $220,000. Anderson didn’t get the three-year deal he wanted. He settled for more than the Rams’ original offer of $945,000 for four years. Still, it was less money per year than teammate Fred Strickland’s 3-year, $813,000 deal. Strickland, a linebacker, was the 20th pick on the second round, Anderson the 19th. . . . Meanwhile, agent Ernie Wright negotiated into the night with Jay Zygmunt in an effort to get first-round pick Aaron Cox into camp by today. . . . Add Strickland: The Purdue rookie broke the index finger on his left hand in Saturday’s scrimmage and will wear a cast for six weeks. He practiced Monday morning. . . . Discussions with John Shaw about first-round pick Gaston Green are “making progress,” according to agent Leigh Steinberg. . . . Veterans Kevin Greene, Mark Jerue, Greg Bell, and Steve Dils have checked in early with the rookies. . . . And yes, the Rams really would welcome retired receiver Ron Brown back to the team. “The issue is does he want to be back,” Coach John Robinson said Monday. Brown, who retired this spring to resume his track career, failed to qualify for the Summer Olympics in the 100-meter dash.
