Bell’s Price Isn’t Right for the Rams

Yes, there is a John Robinson Diet. Representatives of the Rams are trying it out right now, at the NFL owners’ meetings in Dallas, where they hope to drop about 210 pounds before Friday.

The dumping of Greg Bell could happen today, tomorrow--really, at any moment. Form your own office pool. Robinson has decreed it and when it comes to running backs, Robinson usually gets what he wants. (See Curt Warner.) In Ramland, Robinson is the man who makes running backs--and occasionally breaks them, too.

The Rams are going to spring their Bell, sending him wherever the price of a third-round draft pick can be had. The Rams maintain that Bell’s no longer in their plans. But when was he ever?

As a Ram tailback, Bell was Plan A by default. He was forced upon the Rams by a Buffalo team eager to get rid of him. He got the starting job only when Charles White drew a suspension for alcohol abuse. He kept it only when Gaston proved too green.

Ultimately, Bell lost the job as a result of Plan B, which brought Robinson’s man Warner aboard, and was thereby shifted to Plan C.

C U Later.

We pause here to consider Bell’s collected sins.

Was he over the hill?

Bell was born 16 months after Warner, which means he doesn’t turn 28 until August.

Did he fail to perform?

In his two seasons with the Rams, Bell rushed for a total of 2,349 yards and scored 31 touchdowns.

Did he choke in the big game?

In order to reach last season’s playoffs, the Rams had to beat New England. Bell rushed for 210 yards in that one. In order to reach the NFC championship game, the Rams had to beat Philadelphia and the New York Giants. Bell totalled 211 yards in those two.

Did he have an attitude?

Are you asking the Rams?

Bell is spelled with an E, not an I, although you’d never know it talking to him. I sure showed Buffalo. I’m one of the best backs in the league. I deserve more money.

With Robinson, this is tolerable if you can run like Eric Dickerson--and then, only to a point. With Robinson, Bell was the anti-Dickerson. He was too small, he ran sideways instead of straight ahead, he danced when Robinson wanted him to slash. Never mind the final numbers, Robinson wanted style as well as substance.

Robinson also sought consistency. Given his druthers, Robinson would take the plugger who pounds away for his weekly 90 yards than the capricious Bell, who rushed for 221 and 33 yards in back-to-back weeks last season. In 1989, Bell had more 200-yard games (two) than 100-yarders (one). He also had a six-week stretch in which he netted 42, 32, 17, 22, 48 and 52 yards.

That drought came shortly after Bell’s heralded--at least by Bell--return to Buffalo for a Monday night game. If the Bills hadn’t admitted their mistake, Bell was going to beat them to it, and he spent the week leading up to the game blasting the Bills’ general manager, the Bills’ team doctor, the Bills’ coaching staff and a various assortment of former teammates.

Those former teammates read those quotes and proceeded to stuff Bell, holding him to 44 yards in 21 carries. The Rams lost, 23-20, and were less than appreciative of their tailback’s verbal assist.

But Bell’s worst crime was asking to renegotiate his contract for 1990. In Ramland, that’s a capital offense. The Rams can tolerate fumbles and losing to the 49ers and even substance abuse. But ask to renegotiate and they’re ready to strap your career in the chair and pull the switch.

Bell made his request about a month before the Rams signed Warner. Talk about cause and effect. Bell dragged the Rams through a 36-day holdout before signing a two-year contract last summer and the team quickly decided there would be no rematch.

Warner took a pay cut to become a Ram. That immediately made him beloved as a Ram. It also moved Bell closer to the door, which will swing open just as soon as the Rams see a price they like.

So where are the takers? What team couldn’t use a two-time 1,000-yard rusher who hasn’t seen the light of his 28th birthday? Two? Three?

So far the Rams’ efforts have been dashed for three reasons, two of them the residue of their own doing.

First is the Robinson-created perception that anyone can gain 1,000 yards behind the Rams’ Pro Bowl offensive line. Even Bell. To outsiders looking in, Bell was still that little dwarf in 1988 and 1989, only a whole lot luckier.

Second is that the word is out on the Rams and Bell. Everybody knows they’re looking him to move him, so they’re waiting for a fire sale. There is precedent for this. In baseball, it is known as Yes, the Angels Can Have Too Much Starting Pitching.

Finally, there is the timing. This year’s draft held an abundance of running-back talent and most tailback-thin clubs already stocked themselves. Phoenix drafted Anthony Thompson. The Jets drafted Blair Thomas. Dallas got Emmitt Smith.

So there the Rams sit, shopping Bell and listening to any offer that catches their ear. It shouldn’t be long now. One way or another, the job will get done.

As they say in the industry, the Rams are motivated sellers.