RAM NOTEBOOK : Robinson’s Choice of Comments Could Prove Inspirational for Saints

File this under “My bulletin board can beat up your bulletin board.” It seems some well-edited comments from Rams Coach John Robinson regarding his team “forfeiting” a 40-21 loss to New Orleans on Oct. 22 have made their way into Louisiana papers, providing some pregame fodder for Sunday’s rematch in the Superdome.

Robinson made the comments at Monday’s media luncheon in the context of his team being totally dismantled by the Saints in the first game. He said: “We forfeited that game.”

Wednesday, Robinson was amused to learn the Saints are turning his phrase into bulletin-board material.

“We’re not in high school anymore,” he said. “Obviously, they kicked the hell out of us. Forfeit is a way of saying we played so poorly we didn’t give ourselves a chance. I have no other comment on that.”

The Times-Picayune of Louisiana used the item as part of a story headlined, “Rams Expect to Mug Saints in Their Rematch,” in which linebacker Kevin Greene was quoted as saying the Rams were coming to New Orleans to “punch them right in the face.”

Saints Coach Jim Mora told Ram beat writers Wednesday that he didn’t take the comments personally.

“I haven’t done anything about it,” Mora said. “Our players, I’m sure, have read the comments. I don’t know how they’re going to react to it.”

In Tuesday’s editions of the Times-Picayune, however, Mora was quoted as saying, “I guess we got no credit for beating ‘em.”

Stuffed heads will roll department: This week, Mora brought a stuffed doll, dressed as an NFL official, to his weekly media briefing, where he proceeded to tear it limb from limb as he described the state of officiating in recent weeks.

“This is what I thought of the roughing call on Frank Warren last week,” Mora told reporters as he ripped away the Velcro appendages.

Mora told Ram beat reporters Wednesday that the gag was all in fun, perhaps in an effort to escape a fine from the league office.

“I don’t expect to,” Mora said when asked if he thought he would be reprimanded for his actions. “I wasn’t criticizing anybody. I was just having fun with our media. I didn’t realize it would get national attention. I hope I don’t hear from them.”

Saints kicker Morten Andersen has made four consecutive Pro Bowls, ruining several Hawaiian vacation plans for Ram kicker Mike Lansford.

This season, however, the shoe seems to be on the other foot, or bare toe, in Lansford’s case.

The rivalry continues this weekend at the Louisiana Superdome. The difference this time is that Lansford brings the Pro Bowl numbers.

Through 11 weeks, Lansford is the National Football Conference’s second-leading scorer with 84 points, trailing San Francisco’s Mike Cofer, who leads with 92. Andersen ranks seventh with 72. Lansford hasn’t missed an extra point. Andersen has. Lansford has not missed a game-winning kick in his career. Andersen has.

Lansford has made 17 of 20 field goal attempts this season. Andersen is 14 of 19.

There are lasting memories for Lansford in New Orleans. His career was essentially launched there in 1983, when he knocked the Saints out of the playoffs with his last-second, 42-yard field goal.

Ram Notes

The Rams will probably lose Doug Reed for two weeks with a sprained left ankle, Coach John Robinson said. The team’s next two games, at New Orleans and Dallas, will be played on ankle-wrenching artificial turf, which no doubt affects the Reed prognosis. The Rams are shooting for a Dec. 11 return against San Francisco. Reed suffered the injury in last week’s victory over Phoenix. Shawn Miller will start in his place at left end. . . . Linebacker Richard Brown (sprained ankle) practiced Wednesday, but decision time is quickly approaching. Said Robinson: “He’s either going to have to make some progress or we’re going to have to shelve him.” . . . Cornerback Cliff Hicks’ fiancee, Mia, had a baby Wednesday morning. “It’s either a boy or a girl,” Robinson speculated. It was a girl, named Brianna Nichole. . . . The Rams’ defense is No. 18 with a bullet, jumping eight places from 26th two weeks ago. The defense ranked 19th last week. . . . Jim Everett has moved into second place behind Joe Montana among NFC passers, although the ground between the two is considerable. Montana leads with a 115.5 rating, followed by Everett’s 88.9 mark. . . . Henry Ellard is one reception shy of leading the NFC in both receptions and yardage. With 61 catches, Ellard ranks behind Phoenix’s J.T. Smith, who has 62. Ellard is the yardage leader with 1,176 yards, 27 more than runner-up Jerry Rice of the 49ers. Ellard and Rice, in fact, have posted almost identical numbers. Rice has 60 catches and is averaging 19.2 yards per reception. Ellard has 61 receptions and is averaging 19.3. . . . Flipper Anderson continues to lead the NFL with his 30.7 yards-per-catch ratio.