Delpino Thinks Ram Deal Is a Steal

Just as local dairies were commencing production on the special-edition Robert Delpino milk carton, the at-large Ram running back resurfaced last weekend at a charity basketball game in Irvine.

As he ran through warm-up drills, in clear view, with a telltale No. 8 on his back, eyes scanned the numerical rosters and fingers began to point.

It had been months since Delpino had been sighted in public--nowhere near the Rams’ mini-camp--and the rumors had been flying.

Delpino, it was assumed, was:

a) On a plane to Green Bay, where all former Ram MVPs go to improve their chances of making the playoffs.

b) On a plane to Denver, where all underappreciated Ram running backs go to improve their chances of making the Pro Bowl.

c) On a plane to Philadelphia, just to make sure Herschel Walker was actually signing with the Eagles and not plotting any end-around to Anaheim.

Whatever the boarding pass, it was assumed Delpino was unhappy. And when Delpino’s name was announced during pregame introductions, a voice from the crowd cut loudly to the chase:

“Hey, Bobby, you signed that contract yet?”

Yes, he has and, no, he hasn’t, and if you follow the Rams long enough, you realize the above statement makes keen and perfect sense.

This off-season, Delpino has been the Rams’ anti-Howard Hughes, sealed off in seclusion not because of too much wealth, but, from Delpino’s point of view, too little.

Last summer, Delpino had the misfortune of signing a two-year Ram contract worth $350,000 in 1991 and $375,000 in 1992. Good money for a part-time fullback/kick returner, which is what Delpino was at the time, but not so good for the rushing leader of an NFL franchise, which is what Delpino was about to become.

You can count the Rams’ 1991 positives on the fingers of one hand and Delpino was one of them. In order of significance, they were: Tony Zendejas going 17 for 17 on field-goal tries, the Rams’ season lasting no longer than four months and Robert Delpino rushing for 688 yards and nine touchdowns.

One year earlier, Delpino had rushed for 52 yards and no touchdowns, so Delpino’s 1991 output represented, roughly, a 1,200% improvement in production.

Delpino figures that warrants more than a 7% raise and wants to renegotiate.

The Rams, as you might suspect, do not.

The impasse kept Delpino out of last month’s mini-camp and could keep him out of next month’s training camp, although Delpino says, “I hope it doesn’t come to that. We still have a month to come to some agreement.”

Still . . .

“I say it’s like a slap in the face,” Delpino said once the dribbling stopped. “I want to be signed. I want to be in there.

“I was a fifth-round draft choice and they put me on special teams and I became special teams player of the year. Then they put me at tailback and I led the team in rushing. I’m not one to boast about myself, but I’ve proven myself over and over to them. Fullback, tailback, whatever. I go in and do the job and I just don’t feel I’ve been appreciated.”

The Rams counter by saying Delpino is signed and thereby legally bound to be in there once camp begins.

Is it John Shaw’s fault that Cleveland Gary went belly-up after the season opener and Delpino became John Robinson’s primary ballcarrier out of desperation, by default? Last summer, the Rams weren’t signing their starting tailback for the next two years--they were signing a role player.

“A role player in their eyes,” Delpino interjects. “I never considered myself a role player.

“I have patience and I do my job, whatever it is. Give me a specific opportunity and the Rams have always gotten my full potential.

“I can run. I can catch the ball. I can do all those things. I’ve done everything I’ve been asked to do.”

As Delpino speaks, fellow Ram and basketeer Todd Lyght rushes over and throws an arm around his teammate.

“You tell me, who was the leading ground-gainer for the Rams in 1991?” Lyght asks a reporter. “How are we supposed to start the season without our leading ground-gainer? The Rams need to do whatever they have to do to get this man into camp.”

Lyght grinned broadly and stared at Delpino.

“And then,” he yelped, “we’re gonna take it to the playoffs . . . and then to the Pro Bowl!”

With that, the two embraced.

Clearly, delirium was setting in.

When heads clear, the Rams will need to consider the Flipper Anderson precedent and Delpino will need to consider the Chuck Knox mind-set. Last year, the Rams refused to renegotiate Anderson’s skimpy $210,000 salary, but agreed to a three-year extension that included a $275,000 signing bonus--in effect, making Flipper a $485,000 man for 1991. The Rams could arrange something similar for Delpino.

But where does an undersized fullback and out-of-position tailback fit within the Knox offensive scheme? Weighty question, that. For the moment, Knox seems set on giving Gary a third and final crack at the starting tailback job and giving Ernie Thompson a lengthy look at fullback. Thompson is 25 pounds heavier than Delpino and regarded as a better blocker. Knox likes big, blocking fullbacks.

If Thompson is anointed as the starter alongside Gary, Delpino will have come full circle, back to whence he came.

A role player.

“I don’t plan to hold out,” Delpino maintains. “We have a new coaching staff and I like the challenge of showing Chuck Knox exactly what Robert Delpino can do.

“But you’ve got to look out for yourself. This is strictly business.”

The next game on Delpino’s schedule will be played at the negotiating table, and the equipment at his disposal is a pair of dice.

Right now, it appears Delpino is about to become a roll player.