Rams : Ron Brown Agrees to Terms, With No Trial Run

As quick as a 100-meter dash, Ron Brown fell back into good graces with the Rams on Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract that might finally end the stormy five-year relationship between player and management.

This is the same Brown who was so infuriated last season during contract negotiations that he retired from football at a teary-eyed press conference and then headed full speed toward the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. Brown was a gold-medal winner in the 1984 Los Angeles Games as part of the 4x100 meter relay team, but came up a few strides short in his race to Seoul, failing to qualify for the U.S. team.

After a proposed trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell through, Brown reluctantly returned to the Rams in October at the team’s prorated salary offer of $123,000 over nine games. Brown played in seven games and had two catches for 16 yards.

With no Olympic Trials in sight, Brown apparently has rededicated his life to football, where the potential still outweighs the production.

“The difference this year is that they wanted Ron to play and Ron wants to play for them,” Brown’s agent, Steve Arnold, said. “Before, he was good trade bait. We felt he was being used as a pawn.”

As in most difficult resolutions, there was compromise. Two years ago, Brown was seeking a three-year contract worth $2 million. On Tuesday, he settled for a one-year contract for about $270,000, with a chance to make another $100,000 in incentives.

The change in Brown has not gone unnoticed. He attended mini-camp without a contract, the ultimate show of good faith.

“I think he’s very anxious to get out here and get going,” Coach John Robinson said. “I think he has genuine goals to achieve. I think it will be very interesting watching Ron Brown this year.”

Brown is expected at practice today.

Nose tackle Alvin Wright also agreed to contract terms on Tuesday, leaving five veterans unsigned. Four of the five are offensive linemen--Irv Pankey, Duval Love, Tony Slaton and Robert Cox. The other is tailback Greg Bell. All but Pankey are represented by Steve Feldman, who met again with Jay Zygmunt on Tuesday with little success. Slaton is apparently the closest to signing, though close doesn’t throw blocks for quarterback Jim Everett.

Tight end Damone Johnson is under contract but failed to report and is subject to a daily fine of $1,000.

Tuesday was a day for dueling drug tests at Rams Park. The league tested players in the morning and the National Football League Players Assn. took samples in the afternoon. The NFLPA initiated its program as a backup to the league’s testing policy, which has been under fire recently.

Players interviewed didn’t seem to mind the inconvenience of a second test.

“In case something comes up, we now have something else to fall back on,” defensive end Doug Reed said.

Two urine samples in one day was a little much to ask, though.

“I drank so much water that I ended up having to go behind a tree during practice,” cornerback LeRoy Irvin said. “I’m glad it’s over.”

Hoping the change will do him good, Gaston Green has switched back to his college uniform number--No. 44. Green wore No. 30 during his rookie season with the Rams because his old number was on the back of fullback Mike Guman. When Guman retired last spring, Green snatched it. Well, he waited a few months out of respect.

“I didn’t want to do it at first,” Green said. “He was gone, and it looks like you couldn’t wait until he got out of it.”

Why the switch? Green gained 3,275 yards with No. 44 while at UCLA. Last season with No. 30, he gained 117 yards on 35 carries. Also, the pair of fours gives Green a certain vertical look.

“The coach says I look 6-2 now,” said Green, who is actually about 5-foot-11.