Rams to Get Detroit’s Long for Draft Pick

Chuck Long has agreed to a trade to the Rams, who will give him a chance to become the backup quarterback to Jim Everett.

An official announcement is expected today, pending final paper work. Under NFL rules, players without contracts cannot be traded, so the Detroit Lions, for whom Long played last season, must sign him before trading him to the Rams.

The Lions reportedly will receive a mid-round draft choice in return.

Long, 27, is expected to challenge Mark Herrmann for the backup job, quite a fall from grace after his career at Iowa, where he was more acclaimed than his Purdue rival, Everett.

Long attempted only five passes in 1989 after recovering from elbow surgery on Feb. 2. He spent eight weeks on injured reserve and never really became involved in the new offense.

In his four-year pro career, Long has completed 330 passes in 602 attempts, with 19 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.

Last week, the Lions drafted Houston quarterback Andre Ware in the first round.