PRO FOOTBALL: DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Knox Has No Rookie Holdouts

Fifty-three new and old Rams convened at UC Irvine Wednesday evening to begin the first phase of training camp with an opening speech by Coach Chuck Knox, the oldest new Ram there is.

Before the speech, though, Knox got some pleasant news: No. 2 draft choice Steve Israel, the team’s last unsigned draftee, agreed to a multiyear deal and is expected to be at camp as early as this afternoon.

Two-a-day workouts begin this morning, and the Rams are without a holdout--a clean break from tradition.

Last year they were without No. 1 pick Todd Lyght--like Israel, a cornerback--for all of training camp because of a contract dispute, and Lyght was not able to break into the starting lineup until late in the season.

Israel agreed to what is believed to be a three-year deal worth about $1.65 million and will immediately compete for the team’s starting right cornerback spot.

The only missing body for this week-long “advance camp” for rookies and assorted other players who might need extra work was second-year fullback Ernie Thompson, who had plane problems and is due in today.

The Rams also announced the signings of fourth-round selection Shawn Harper and veterans Damone Johnson and Mike Pagel, trimming their list of unsigned to eight veterans, none of whom are scheduled to report to camp until next Wednesday, when the full camp begins.

Knox said his introductory speech would not be much different than the first one he gave 17 years ago as a rookie head coach before his first Ram team.

“It’ll be about the same,” Knox said. “I’ll tell them for example why coaches are here. The only reason coaches are in charge is to help make the players know they’re responsible for being just as successful as they can possibly be. That’s the only reason the manager or supervisor or anybody who is responsible for people has a job.

“It’s not going to be like a presidential nomination acceptance speech, or anything like that. I don’t think it’s going to have that kind of historical significance, but nonetheless there’ll be some things we have to cover.

“You come into a new situation and it’s even more challenging. A new training camp, new coaching staff to a large degree, new players. I’m anxious to get out there and see how it’s been put together, see what the talent looks like.”

Knox didn’t sound exactly thrilled with the spread-out logistics of the UC Irvine camp site. “I know this, you could get lost around here,” he said. “It’s like a maze, to go from here to the cafeteria, from here to the locker room. Find your way back. It’s challenging.” . . . Seventeen veterans were instructed to attend the advance camp: defensive linemen Bill Hawkins, Robert Young, Vance Hammond and David Rocker; linebackers Roman Phifer, Frank Stams, Glenell Sanders, Terry Crews and Fred Strickland; cornerback Robert Bailey; offensive lineman Jeff Pahukoa; quarterback Pagel; tight end Jim Price; and running backs Thompson, Derek Loville and David Lang. Quarterback Jim Everett is scheduled to check in Sunday, three days before the rest of the veterans are to report.