Guerrero Passes His Crash Course : Rams: Six-foot-6 former USC star slims to 305 pounds, earns a shot in training camp. He was cut by Bengals last year.
Tackle John Guerrero, last seen throwing his considerable weight around the USC campus, realized his only hope of making the NFL was to shed some of those pounds.
This week, the Rams offered to give Guerrero a look after he dropped 35 pounds from his 6-foot-6 frame. Guerrero’s weight was always something of a mystery at USC, but he acknowledged having weighed as much as 340 pounds as a Trojan.
Guerrero wasn’t drafted after his senior season in 1988. No one said it to his face, but the reason was clear: he was too heavy.
“I think the weight was a major problem,” he said Friday. “People were too concerned with my weight rather than my playing ability.”
Guerrero signed a free agent contract last year with the Cincinnati Bengals but was cut late in camp.
“I don’t think anyone knew I was released,” he said. “I wasn’t even (listed in NFL transactions).”
Soon after, Guerrero began work as a bouncer but, more important, he began some serious work on his waist line. On his own.
“I ran a lot, lifted a lot, and watched what I ate,” Guerrero said. “I think people thought that now that I was out of football, I’d weigh 400 pounds. But I don’t. I showed the coaches I could do it.”
Guerrero’s return to football still involved a twist of fate. Last week, he began a job in Camarillo at a beer company owned by Jim Basso, who happens to know Ram coaches Hudson Houck and Marv Goux--both former coaches at USC.
Basso asked Guerrero why he wasn’t playing football. Then, he called Goux and arranged a physical. Before Guerrero knew it, he was a Ram.
Houck, the team’s offensive line coach, said he has been impressed by Guerrero, saying the weight loss has made all the difference. Guerrero has no illusions about walking into camp and onto the team’s 47-man roster.
His chances of making the team involve his continued improvement and how many linemen the Rams intend to keep.
“I had given up for this year,” Guerrero said of his football plans. “They just said I’d have an opportunity. They’re not going to say, ‘Yeah, you’re not going to make the team.’ ”
The Rams have listed him at 290 pounds, but Guerrero says he weighs 305. That’s progress, however. There was a time when he wouldn’t dare broach the subject.
More tough luck for receiver Aaron Cox. Last season, he suffered a pulled hamstring in training camp and lost his starting job to Flipper Anderson, who may never give it back. Friday, Cox’s right hamstring was injured and could be out for as long as three weeks.
The early reviews on the team’s new training camp at UC Irvine are mixed. The ocean breeze is a welcome relief after so many years in Fullerton, but some players are complaining about the condition of the practice field, which has been slippery in spots.
The Rams have already lost Pro Bowl receiver Henry Ellard because of a sprained ankle. He is expected back Monday.
“Henry’s (complaining) about the grass,” Robinson said.
Robinson said there is a problem with the underground watering system, which wets parts of the field more than others.
Ram Notes
Nose tackle Alvin Wright, who signed Thursday, suffered a hip-flexor injury at his first practice Friday. “It’s good to have Al back,” Coach John Robinson said. “It lasted about 20 minutes. He’ll be out three to four days.” . . . The team will practice today at 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.. Sunday, practices will be at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
At Thursday night’s scrimmage with the San Diego Chargers, quarterback Chuck Long completed seven of 12 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown. Rookie Tim Stallworth had three catches for 61 yards.
Friday’s practice was a rough one for runner Cleveland Gary, whose helmet was ripped off his head on one hand swipe by Jerry Gray. Gary then was blind-sided well after the whistle by rookie cornerback Latin Berry. . . . Berry, a third-round pick, is apparently making some progress in his conversion from fullback to cornerback. “He can cover you pretty good,” Robinson said. “But he doesn’t contest the ball on deep passes. A week ago you would have walked out and said, ‘What’s that guy doing at corner?’ He just didn’t look right. Now, he looks like a corner.” . . . Tackle Irv Pankey (neck strain), Henry Ellard (ankle sprain), Alvin Wright (quadriceps strain) and nose tackle Sean Smith (toe) will miss both weekend practice days because of their injuries. Tailback Curt Warner (groin strain) missed Friday’s practice and is listed as day-to-day.
