PRO FOOTBALL REPORT : WEEKDAY UPDATE : RAMS : Damone Johnson Ends Holdout

The season started too soon for the Rams, who have been hampered by holdouts and injuries, but at least they will travel to Tampa Friday with a full contingent. On Wednesday, tight end Damone Johnson, the team’s final holdout, agreed to a two-year contract after staying out of camp for 50 days.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it’s safe to say that Johnson settled for considerably less than the $1.1-million, two-year contract he sought. The Rams were offering $575,000 for two years.

“It was a compromise on both parts,” Johnson said. “You know, they’re happy, and well, I’m playing again.”

The Rams will get a roster exemption for Johnson, and Coach John Robinson said he will make a decision Friday on activating Johnson for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.

“It’s been very frustrating since about the second week of camp,” Johnson said, “but that’s part of the business. If you want to be a football player, you have to deal with the negotiation process.”

One person in the Southland who isn’t complaining about the heat these days is Robinson. He hopes the weather will help prepare his players for the 95-degree, high-humidity conditions they are expected to face Sunday in Tampa Stadium.

“I’m grateful we’ve had some heat here,” he said. “I think we’ll all get off the airplane not quite as much in shock. But (the weather) is certainly an issue.”

Robinson said running back Cleveland Gary, who missed the entire exhibition season with a lower-back injury, will be a part of the game plan against Tampa Bay.

How, exactly, will he be used?

“Interspersed in an organized fashion with (Curt Warner and Gaston Green), catering to the one that’s running the best,” he said.

Tampa Bay Coach Ray Perkins said he doesn’t think the Rams’ 36-24 loss Sunday at Green Bay was indicative of anything beyond a shaky start.

“They’ve had a lot of people (holding) out of camp and a lot of injuries, but I think the Rams are one of the top three or four teams in the league,” he said. “They probably have the most weapons of any team in this league. Talk about the speed of their wide receivers, tight ends and running backs and put Jim Everett in there surrounded by that big, good offensive line, their offense is unlimited.”