Rams’ Cuts Include Veterans Smith, Long
The Rams’ final roster cuts Monday left 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 Monday morning and was not planning to get his walking papers minutes later, was released along with Smith and 10 others as the Rams trimmed their roster to the 47-man limit.
Smith’s absence probably will not be a long one. Recently supplanted 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, who expect Smith’s guaranteed $600,000 salary to prevent any team from claiming him, plan to put him back on the roster today assuming he clears waivers.
The team is expected to open a spot for the 14-year veteran and possibly a kick-returning wide receiver today by placing rookie cornerback Robert Bailey (broken left hand) and either of two tailbacks--Marcus Dupree (sore left toe) or David Lang (hamstring)--on injured reserve.
If the Rams had placed the two players on injured reserve before today, they would have had to sit out the season. By waiting a day, the Rams can activate a player after a minimum of four weeks.
“We’re gambling there,” Ram Coach John Robinson said of the decision to waive Smith.
In three of the past eight years, the Rams have lost similar cutdown-day gambles. They lost backup quarterback Mark Herrmann to Indianapolis under similar circumstances last season.
But Robinson said if Smith were claimed by another team, the Rams would be comfortable with Newberry, a left guard the past five seasons, at center without a veteran player to back him up.
Long’s release, however, is no roster-maneuvering gamble. Acquired from the Detroit Lions during the off-season for a 1991 third-round draft choice, Long lost his roster spot when Pagel, who recently signed with the team, proved to be more versatile and the Rams decided to carry only two quarterbacks.
After choosing Pagel, who will hold for kicks, to be Everett’s backup, 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 toward 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 when he and Pagel were talking about the possibilities Monday morning, he sensed something might be up.
“I gave him a ride today,” Long said, “and I told him I had a funny feeling about this situation. I said, ‘If anything happens, talk to (defensive tackle) Mike Piel, he has a ride home for you.”
Robinson, who defended the team’s decision to trade for Long last year, said it was possible Long could return to the Rams some time in the future, but emphasized it would not happen soon and definitely not this week.
The Rams apparently did not feel Long improved as much as they hoped he would from last year to this preseason. Long played very little last season, completing one of five passes. “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 or anybody else.”
Long, a former No. 1 choice of the Lions and a standout at Iowa, started the Rams’ exhibition opener this season. He completed 16 of 32 passes for 231 yards and one touchdown during the preseason. Pagel was 19 of 30 for 163 yards and no touchdowns.
“Mike is a very good 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.”
Said Long: “I felt like I had that No. 2 spot, it was just I think other factors came into play.”
Although Long wouldn’t speculate on what team might claim him, the team with the most pressing need at quarterback is the Phoenix Cardinals--who open the regular season against the Rams on Sunday at Anaheim Stadium.
“My thinking is he’s probably going to Phoenix,” Robinson said. “That’s a real possibility.”
Robinson said the Rams had received two calls inquiring about a trade for either Pagel or Long, but both backed off when they figured the Rams would end up cutting one of them. Among other notable names released by the Rams were second-year receiver Derrick Faison, second-year cornerback Latin Berry, tackle Neal Fort, a sixth-round draft choice, and safety Alfred Jackson, who won’t officially be released until he recovers 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.