RAM NOTES : Slater Might Return for 1993 Season
Although Jackie Slater said he has made no final decision whether to come back next season, neither he nor Coach Chuck Knox sounded as if Sunday’s game would be the right tackle’s last as a Ram.
Slater, 38, is signed through 1993, which would be his 18th in the league. And he has said, if the Rams want him, he probably would return.
“Jackie Slater can play as long as he wants to play, as far as I’m concerned,” Knox said Sunday. “He’s still doing the job.”
After hearing Knox’s statement, Slater said: “Coach Knox, he’s been awfully encouraging to me throughout the time I’ve played for him. . . . And that is really encouraging, because I have a lot of respect for him, and I believe he knows football talent . . .
“That certainly will be a big factor as I stack them all up and make a decision as to whether or not to continue to play.”
Todd Kinchen had been sent a few times to field punts earlier this season, but hadn’t actually returned one. He admitted he was surprised he had been asked to return punts Sunday.
“It’s the last game,” Knox said. “If he was going to return any more this year, he had to do it this game. Couldn’t do it next week.”
Kinchen, a rookie who was the third-round pick from LSU, said he knew this was a vital chance to make waves, which he did by returning two punts for touchdowns. “I knew that I would be judged today by what I did today as far as how comfortable they would be giving me a chance next year,” Kinchen said. “And obviously coming out with a good deal of success gives me a lot more relaxed feeling.”
The Rams, with their victory Sunday, lost a chance at a top-seven draft selection in the 1993 college draft, and now will have the 10th selection overall.
According to the NFL schedule formula, the Rams’ out of division opponents for the 1993 season will be--away: Houston Oilers, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Phoenix Cardinals; home: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears and either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Detroit Lions, depending on the outcome of Detroit’s game with the 49ers tonight. If the Lions lose, the Rams will play host to Detroit.
Kinchen tied five other players by returning two punts for touchdowns Sunday. The last player to do it was the St. Louis Cardinals’ Vai Sikahema in 1986. The last Ram to accomplish the feat was LeRoy Irvin, Oct. 11, 1981 against the Atlanta Falcons. . . . Quarterback Jim Everett completed 11 of 18 passes for 140 yards Sunday, giving him a team-record 1,712 in his career. Roman Gabriel previously held the record of 1,705.