SUPER BOWL XXV / NEW YORK GIANTS vs. BUFFALO BILLS : NOTES : Bill Aided by Kindest Cut of All

Less than two months after the Rams gave up on cornerback Clifford Hicks and released him outright, he has landed in Super Bowl XXV as a reserve defensive back for the Buffalo Bills.

“It’s been sort of a crazy year,” Hicks said here this week. “But it’s worked out for me.”

Hicks was once the heir apparent at right cornerback to LeRoy Irvin. But those plans changed when the third-year player from Oregon suffered a severe knee injury late in the 1989 season. The Rams feared that Hicks would never regain the quickness to play cornerback, and suggested his future might be at safety.

Hicks remained with the Rams on injured reserve in 1990 but was given his unconditional release in December when the team had to make room on the roster for another player. The Bills signed Hicks as a free agent Dec. 5 and he will play in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants as an extra defensive back in Buffalo’s pass-coverage defense.

Hicks said he doesn’t know why he was released by the Rams. He said Coach John Robinson broke the news to him.

“He talked to me in person, but he didn’t look me in the eye,” Hicks recalled of the conversation. “When he looked at me, he stared at the ground. I knew I’d have that talk with John Robinson.”

Pool report updates: Buffalo tight end Butch Rolle, who missed two previous practices because of a sprained ankle, worked out with the team Friday.

“I think it is more than likely that he will be ready to play,” Coach Marv Levy said.

Levy also reported that receiver Al Edwards, injured slightly in last week’s victory over the Raiders, will assume his normal position as the team’s third wide receiver.

At the Giants’ Friday practice at the University of Tampa, security guards chased away a man taking photographs from the roof of a classroom. The man was spotted when security guards noticed the flash from the camera’s bulb.

Raider quarterback coach Mike White was expected in Cleveland Friday night for an interview regarding the Browns’ vacant head coaching position. White, who drew raves for his work with Raider quarterback Jay Schroeder this season, is believed one of several candidates who will interview for the job.

Security around the Super Bowl is this tight: Mascots dressed as Mickey and Minnie Mouse were denied access to the media work room at the Tampa Convention Center.

The Bills didn’t have a curfew Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday nights, but were expected in their beds at 12:30 a.m. Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights.

“I told them to have a good time and use good judgment,” Levy said. “To my knowledge, they have.”

Coach Bill Parcells of the Giants said he wasn’t surprised that his team seemed a little nervous Friday.

“I guess I’m starting to see a little bit of an edge on the part of some guys, but that’s just natural,” he said. “In all honesty, I’m feeling it a little bit myself. You know, after today’s practice, it seems like it’s forever until the game. That’s when the real waiting starts, because you’re just filling time, and you’re not filling it with anything really important.”

After 30 years as owner of the Buffalo Bills, Ralph Wilson finally has a Super Bowl team. Wilson said this week he had wanted to put a franchise in Miami but couldn’t get permission from the Orange Bowl.

At a news conference, Wilson said he only occasionally meddles in football operations.

“When I talk to Marv Levy every Tuesday, I may suggest that we run the ball more next week, and play zone,” Wilson said. “And he never listens to me . . . never. I say to you, any coach who listens to his owner on strategy will be a loser.”

Does that include Raider owner Al Davis, who is heavily involved in personnel decisions?

“What happened last week?” Wilson replied.