Chuck Long Gets Cut, Doug Smith Put on Hold : Rams: The decision to go with Pagel, and only two quarterbacks, shocks former Iowa passer.
The Rams’ final roster cuts Monday left 14-year veteran center Doug Smith temporarily without a team, backup quarterback Chuck Long without a job and newly named No. 2 quarterback Mike Pagel without a ride home.
Long, who drove Pagel to Rams Park on Monday morning, not planning to get his walking papers minutes later, was released along with Smith and 10 others as the Rams got down to the 47-man limit.
Smith’s absence probably will not be a long one. Recently replaced in the lineup by Tom Newberry after nine years as the starter, Smith was released only to give the Rams more flexibility with the complex injured-reserve rules.
The Rams expect Smith’s guaranteed $600,000 salary to prevent any team from claiming him and plan to put him back on the roster today, assuming he clears waivers.
The team is expected to open a spot for him and possibly a kick-returning wide receiver today by putting rookie cornerback Robert Bailey and either of two tailbacks--Marcus Dupree or David Lang--on injured reserve. Bailey has a broken left hand, Dupree a sore left toe and Lang a pulled hamstring.
Had the Rams put players on injured reserve before today, they would have had to sit out the season. By waiting a day, the Rams can move a player off the list and back onto the roster after four weeks.
“We’re gambling there,” Coach John Robinson said Monday about possibly losing Smith.
In three of the past eight years, the Rams have lost similar cutdown-day gambles. Last year, backup quarterback Mark Herrmann was claimed on waivers.
But Robinson said that if Smith is claimed by another team, the Rams would be comfortable with Newberry at center without a veteran backup behind him. Newberry has been a left guard the past five seasons.
Long’s release, however, is no roster-maneuvering gamble. Acquired from the Detroit Lions before last season for a 1991 third-round draft choice, Long lost out when recently signed veteran Pagel proved more versatile and the Rams decided to carry only two quarterbacks.
The Rams decided they could not afford to carry three quarterbacks, despite a new rule that allows teams to carry one extra active player if he’s a quarterback.
“I’m upset and . . . shocked,” Long said from his home hours after getting the word. “But I have no bitter feelings towards the Rams or anything like that. It’s just a business decision. It happens. I just happened to get caught up in one.”
Long, 28, said that when he and Pagel were talking about the possibilities Monday morning, he sensed something might be up.
“I gave him a ride today and I told him I had a funny feeling about this situation,” Long said. “I said, ‘If anything happens, talk to (defensive tackle) Mike Piel, he has a ride home for you.”
With Pagel a known commodity after his years with the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts, the Rams apparently did not believe Long improved as much as they hoped he would. Long completed one of five passes last season.
“The whole idea when I got here is, they told me I was going to be the No. 3 guy if they passed the 46-man rule, and they passed that,” Pagel said. “So the whole challenge to me was to learn the offense and to produce. It wasn’t to compete against Chuck or Jim (Everett) or anybody else.”
Long, a former No. 1 choice of the Lions and star at the University of Iowa, started the Rams’ exhibition opener this season and ended the exhibition season completing 16 of 32 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown. Pagel was 19 for 30 for 163 yards and no touchdowns.
“Mike is a very good (kick) holder, and we really want to make sure of that (aspect),” Robinson said. “Mike is premier in that area. Chuck is learning. They were about even, we felt. We felt Chuck had been here and knew our system and Mike was still learning, so maybe . . . there was more upside to Mike.”
Although Long wouldn’t speculate on what team might claim him, the team with the most pressing need at quarterback is Phoenix--which opens the regular season at Anaheim Stadium on Sunday.
Among other notable names released by the Rams were second-year receiver Derrick Faison, second-year cornerback Latin Berry, safety Alfred Jackson and sixth-round draft choice Neal Fort, a tackle. Jackson won’t officially be released until he heals from an ankle injury.
The Rams also released receiver Stacey Bailey, 11th-round draft pick Terry Crews, receiver Jarrod Delaney, running back Aaron Emanuel, receiver Jimmy Raye and defensive tackle Ben Thomas.