PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : No. 2 Choice Israel Reports

No. 2 draft choice Steve Israel made it to his first practice, 13 days before the regular-season opener, and said he knew his 40-day contract holdout might have ruined his chances at winning a starting cornerback job.

Israel was drafted to compete with right cornerback Darryl Henley for the spot. While Israel has been absent, Henley has led the team with three interceptions in exhibitions.

“It’s almost impossible,” Israel said. “How do you come in and compete for a starting job when . . . the other guy’s going to be extremely good just like you are? Darryl Henley, he’s probably had one of the best camps he’s ever had so far.

“Maybe even if I was a day late, it would have been pretty tough making it up with a guy like him.”

Coach Chuck Knox said neither Israel nor veteran safety Michael Stewart, who participated in his second practice after his own holdout, will play in Thursday’s exhibition finale against the San Diego Chargers. Both are expected to suit up Sept. 6 against Buffalo.

“We’re going to try to get (Israel) ready to play in the (five-man secondary) for the league opener,” Knox said.

“We’ll see how he progresses from there and certainly hope he can play some special teams.”

Among the Rams’ 11 cuts Tuesday was their highest 1992 draftee yet to be released, running back Joe Campbell, a sixth-rounder from Middle Tennessee State. Besides veteran Doug Smith, released were: center Kelvin Harris, a 12th-round pick; offensive linemen John Fisher and John Schneider; defensive backs Courtney Griffin and Everett Nicholas; receivers Hendricks Johnson, Jonathon Pinckney and Paul Smith and tight end Darian McKinney.

Fourth-round pick Shawn Harper, a guard, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and probably will be put on the injured-reserve list when the team has to meet the final 47-player limit Tuesday.

Guard Tom Newberry got a little more than he wanted out of Tuesday’s newspaper. Newberry, who keeps his 45-foot boat docked in front of his house in Coral Gables, Fla., knew both were endangered by Hurricane Andrew. Then he picked up The Times and saw a picture he did not want to see. “I was eating breakfast this morning, saw the paper and said, ‘Wow, that’s my . . . house,’ ” Newberry said. In the picture, his boat was lying battered on its side. Newberry said he understands that his house, which was not occupied and was barely visible in the shot, apparently did not suffer major damage.

Knox would not say if the Rams will use their first-round pick in this week’s supplemental draft if Florida defensive end Darren Mickell is available.

If a team uses a first-round pick, it forfeits its first-rounder in the 1993 regular draft.