Rams Lose Lineman Miller to Green Bay : Plan B: Packer offer of $900,000 for two years is enough to lure the defensive end away from Anaheim. L.A. has lost six to free agency, signed two.
Ram defensive end Shawn Miller, a Plan B free agent, has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Green Bay Packers, his agent said Wednesday.
Miller’s deal is reportedly worth $900,000 and includes a $100,000 signing bonus. Miller earned $225,000 with the Rams last season.
Miller, 28, who started 12 games for the Rams in 1989, started 53 in his six-year career after signing as a free agent out of Utah State in 1984. He lost his job as starting defensive right end to Mike Piel last season, but he returned to the lineup after injuries sidelined Piel and left end Doug Reed.
Miller’s agent, Frank Murtha, said his client chose the Packers over the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons after Green Bay increased the offer by $50,000 this week.
The Packers are planning to use Miller at both defensive end positions and nose tackle.
“They’re counting on him being a starter,” Murtha said. “They paid him starter kind of money.”
Ram Notes
Kicker Mike Lansford has until Sunday to decide whether he’ll accept free-agent offers from either Phoenix or San Diego. Plan B contracts must be postmarked by April 1. Lansford’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, said his client’s decision likely will come late in the week. . . . Plan B update: The Rams have lost punter Dale Hatcher, guard/center Tony Slaton, safety James Washington, guard Kurt Becker, receiver Ron Brown and defensive end Shawn Miller. The team has signed punter Hank Ilesic and guard Joe Milinichik.
The team announced Wednesday the signing of free-agent tight end Gary Knudson, who was in training camp last summer. . . . The Rams’ exhibition season is set. They open against the Kansas City Chiefs in West Berlin on Saturday, Aug. 11. No time has been announced. They return to play host to the San Diego Chargers in The Times’ Charity game at Anaheim Stadium on Aug. 18, and the Phoenix Cardinals on Aug. 25. Both home games will start at 7 p.m. The Rams will close out their exhibition season Aug. 31 against the Washington Redskins at 5 p.m., PST, in RFK Stadium.
Quarterback Jim Everett has won the Daniel F. Reeves Memorial Award as the Rams’ most valuable player, as voted by members of the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Assn. . . . Cornerback Darryl Henley received the Carroll Rosenbloom Memorial Award as top rookie. . . . The team will start a minicamp May 21.
