Browner, Meisner Try to Fill Gap : Without Much Practice, They Get a Workout During Loss to Denver

How desperate are the Rams for defensive help? Put it this way: If you can sign on the dotted line, you can play on it.

The Rams aren’t picky. Down two veteran defensive linemen to contract squabbles--holdouts Shawn Miller and Doug Reed--and one to a fickle back--Gary Jeter--the Rams need anybody who knows the three-point stance and isn’t afraid of short training programs.

Ross Browner, an 11-year veteran recently released by the Green Bay Packers, showed up at the Rams’ training camp last Wednesday. He signed a contract by Friday, was in pads by Monday and was in the Ram-Denver Broncos exhibition game by Wednesday night. So much for labor laws.

Then there’s nose tackle Greg Meisner, who joined the Rams Monday, thus ending his not-so-celebrated holdout with Miller and Reed. If nothing else, the three of them got a rise out of Coach John Robinson.

Tired of watching his 1987 starting defensive line play hooky rather than football, Robinson dropped this little hint last week: “Let’s be honest, these guys aren’t exactly the scourge of the league.”

Maybe not, but Meisner the no-scourge had exactly one practice--a non-contact workout, at that--before Ram coaches stuck him in Wednesday evening’s game.

High expectations, there weren’t.

“I think they were OK,” said defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur. “The key here was to get them more physical work.”

If they were rusty, Browner and Meisner didn’t show it. Well, not much.

Browner took his place at right end and played as if he’d been a Ram, oh, at least a week. His second-quarter sack of Bronco backup quarterback Gary Kubiak was a highlight. Making it through the game without use of an oxygen tank was another.

“I knew I could make it through,” said Browner, smiling. “I had fun being out there tonight. It was really exciting.”

Beats Green Bay. Here, the Rams only care about healthy bodies and the ability to learn--fast.

“Hey, I was just happy to be out there in a Rams uniform,” said Browner , who added a tackle and an assist to his night’s work.

And he probably won’t be too upset if Reed and Miller continue to stay out of their uniforms. Every day they do gives Browner a better chance of staying in Ram gold and blue that much longer.

Meisner’s moment also took place in the second period. On a third-and-9 situation, he slipped past a would-be blocker and sent Kubiak one way, the ball another. The Broncos recovered the fumble, but Meisner had delivered a message--both to Kubiak and the Rams.

Not a scourge, eh?

“Ah, you pride yourself playing nose (tackle), in making sure you’re anchoring down the middle of the line,” Meisner said. “I got blocked on time, so that negates my sack.”

Tell Kubiak that, who took his time picking himself off the turf.

Of course, there were occasional problems. Browner couldn’t help himself during a pass rush in the third period and was called for a personal foul. And maybe it would have happened anyway, but the Broncos went on to score on the drive.

Meisner escaped a referee’s penalty flag, but not mistakes. There was that one block and, of course, general discomfort.

“This was the first time I put on the pads, my first practice,” he said. “The neck collar . . . the helmet didn’t feel right. But once you get in there for a couple of plays, your experience lets you act naturally.”

Meisner was on the field for about 20-25 plays, he said; Browner, maybe a few more. This being the preseason of defensive shortages, they can expect plenty more.