PRO FOOTBALL TRAINING CAMPS : Colts Were Aware of Dickerson’s Injury

The hamstring injury that caused Eric Dickerson to fail a physical was not a complete surprise to the Indianapolis Colts, Coach Ron Meyer said Tuesday.

“We were aware that he had strained the left hamstring,” Meyer said during his daily news conference, explaining that the six-time Pro Bowl running back reported the injury in a telephone call to the team’s trainer in early June.

The club assumed the injury had healed when Dickerson said last week that he was ready to play football, Meyer said.

Dickerson ended an 11-day boycott of training camp on Monday but failed a physical when his left hamstring tested 40% weaker than his right. He will seek rehabilitation at a clinic in Houston.

General Manager Jim Irsay estimated the injury will take one to three weeks to rehabilitate. Dickerson should be ready to play in the season opener Sept. 9 at Buffalo.

“That really is in Eric’s hands,” Meyer said of the rehabilitation. “Since it was a non-football injury, it’s an area where the player has the sole right to make the determination at this time.

“We project him to heal up quickly and come back, get on with football. That’s what we want and that’s what Eric wants, because obviously he reported ready to go.”

Dickerson’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, said he anticipates a two- or three-week recuperative period. “But Eric’s obviously a superb athlete and hopefully it will be a rapid process. Among injuries, it’s not a serious injury.”

Coach Chuck Noll said the Pittsburgh Steelers’ top three draft choices, including first-rounder Eric Green, have missed too much of training camp to contribute this season and shouldn’t even bother signing contracts.

Noll said the Steelers’ management “is screwed up if they pay them all kinds of money and they can’t help you now” and he really doesn’t want tight end Green, quarterback Neil O’Donnell and defensive tackle Craig Veasey on his team.

Noll said it would be “almost impossible” for O’Donnell to make the team because he’s missed 21 days of training camp and said the former Maryland quarterback “should just sign for next year and forget about this year.

“These people have missed training camp as far as I’m concerned. They’re going to have trouble (if they do sign),” Noll said. “I’d just as soon not see them sign.”

He said he has told Steeler management about the situation. Asked about ownership’s response to his recommendation, Noll said, smiling, “They don’t listen to me.”

Pro Bowl nose tackle Fred Smerlas of the San Francisco 49ers went through contact drills for the first time after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee during the off-season.

Smerlas, former standout for the Buffalo Bills who signed with the 49ers as a Plan B free agent, was not expected to be ready to start the season, but may be ready if his rehabilitation continues at the current rate.

Coach George Seifert said Smerlas probably will play a few plays in the 49ers’ exhibition game against the Raiders Saturday at Candlestick Park.

Running back Stump Mitchell was released by the Phoenix Cardinals “with Stump’s best interests in mind,” according to general manager Larry Wilson.

Mitchell, 31, who was with the Cardinals for nine seasons, is attempting to come back from a severe left knee injury last September. He is the team’s all-time leader in combined yardage and kickoff returns.

Wilson called Mitchell “one of the great players in the history of the franchise,” but said he wasn’t likely to make the team this year.

“Stump’s release at this point of training camp enhances his chances to seek an opportunity with another team,” Wilson said.

Offensive coordinator Greg Landry of the Chicago Bears said he and Coach Mike Ditka will try to avoid repeating last season’s arguments over play-calling.

“What we both will try to do this year is . . . communicate more during the week so we both understand what we’re trying to accomplish on Sunday,” Landry said. “I don’t want him not coming up to me. He’s got a great mind.”

Their disagreement over play selection came to a head last season in a game against the Rams when Ditka grabbed the game plan away from Landry.

“I’m hoping it’s not repeated,” Landry said. “I just look at that as a little blip and try to pass it off as something that happened, and it’s unfortunate.”

Ditka has said he regrets the incident.

Offensive tackle Rickey Bolden of the Cleveland Browns said he’s retiring to become a minister.

“I feel like a thousand pounds has been lifted off my shoulders,” said Bolden, who will enter the Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio.

“Some of the guys on the team ask how I can walk away from all that money. I’m not going to let money make my decisions.”

The 6-6, 300-pound Bolden, who started at left tackle last season, said numerous injuries--including a broken ankle, arm, thumb and shoulder, and a separated shoulder--also influenced his decision.

Matt Tatchan has taken Bolden’s spot in the starting lineup.

Tight end Clarence Kay pulled his left hamstring as the Denver Broncos practiced in pads for the first time since returning from Saturday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks in Tokyo.

The severity of Kay’s injury wasn’t immediately known, but his thigh was wrapped and he was limping noticeably.