Neither Dickerson Nor the Rams Benefited : Aftermath: L.A. has become a .500 team in the 68 games since the deal. Tailback’s rushing average has steadily declined.

This divorce has left both sides worse off.

Eric Dickerson left the Rams to find happiness and a healthier cash flow while finishing a Hall of Fame career at Indianapolis. But as the Rams’ fortunes have soured in recent years, so have Dickerson’s.

After two suspensions and more of the nonstop acrimony that seems to accompany him, Dickerson probably will be offered to the highest bidder after this season, and the Colts will be lucky to get a No. 1 pick for the player who once appeared certain to finish his career as the league’s all-time rushing leader.

The Rams have no interest in re-acquiring him at any price.

But both sides reflect on what might have been had Dickerson stayed with the Rams. The Rams were 41-29 with Dickerson; they are 34-34 since trading him.

He averaged more than 1,700 yards in his four full Ram seasons. With Indianapolis, he is averaging fewer than 1,000.

“He had a great situation here running the ball,” says Ram assistant Gil Haskell, who coached the running backs when Dickerson was a Ram.

“The game was tailored for him. I’m sure he went back there with the understanding that it would be the same, but it didn’t work out for him. That’s a shame.

“The big crime is that Coach (John Robinson) and he together were a hell of a combination. . . . They both excelled in that situation. Coach loved to invent plays for him or blocking schemes for him and he just carried them out.”

Dickerson has said privately that he thinks leaving the Rams might have cost him the chance to break Walter Payton’s rushing record, and that he was as much at fault for the breakup as the Rams.

Dickerson’s rushing average has declined every year since he was traded, and this season he has been a $2-million nonfactor. He was suspended recently for refusing to practice.

“I’m sure that if he would’ve stayed here and if we had the same emphasis that we had, he would’ve (broken the record), sure,” Haskell says.

Colt General Manager Jim Irsay, who suspended Dickerson two weeks ago, says he isn’t ruling out a return to form for Dickerson with the Colts.

“I think that’s a question only he can answer,” Irsay says. “All we do is look for players who play and practice hard. And if someone doesn’t, then we have to take action to protect the team.

“I think the future is bright for Eric if he comes in and plays and practices hard. And that’s up to him. He holds the key to the future more than we do.”

Dickerson’s Statistics

RAMS

Rushing Receiving Year No. Yards Avg. TD No. Yards TD 1983 390 1,808 4.6 18 51 404 2 1984 379 2,105 5.6 14 21 139 0 1985 292 1,234 4.2 12 20 126 0 1986 404 1,821 4.5 11 26 205 0 1987 60 277 4.6 1 5 38 0 Totals 1,525 7,245 4.8 56 123 912 2

COLTS

Rushing Receiving Year No. Yards Avg. TD No. Yards TD 1987 223 1,011 4.5 5 13 133 0 1988 388 1,659 4.3 14 36 377 1 1989 314 1,311 4.2 7 30 211 1 1990 166 677 4.1 4 18 92 0 1991 110 347 3.2 1 34 213 2 Totals 1,201 5,005 4.2 31 131 1,026 3