PRO FOOTBALL : DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Strickland May Be Close to Signing

The agent for holdout linebacker Fred Strickland was in Los Angeles Monday, meeting with Ram Vice President Jay Zygmunt, and said he thought a deal could be completed shortly. Bruce Allen flew in from Phoenix after negotiations last week cut the difference to about $100,000 a season.

“I don’t see any reason for the deal not to get done,” Allen said. “We’ll see.”

Each sides is believed to be zeroing in on either a one- or two-year deal that apparently will pay Strickland about $375,000 for 1991 and, if it’s a two-year package, more than $400,000 for 1992.

Meanwhile, Bob Woolf, the agent for unsigned No. 1 draft pick Todd Lyght, reported no progress in talks with the Rams. But he hinted that a contract deal for Mike Croel, his client who was taken one selection above Lyght by the Denver Broncos, is near completion.

Injury updates: Cornerback Darryl Henley, nursing a sore hamstring, practiced Monday but the Rams are playing it very cautious. Henley has been put on a hamstring-saving regimen. “It’s kind of, ‘Get out there and practice, but don’t go 100%,’ ” Coach John Robinson said. . . . Center Doug Smith, hobbled since the second day of practice with an ankle injury, also practiced but stayed out of contact drills. . . . Guard Gerald Perry, who has a sore knee and was given Monday off to find an apartment, will practice today.