Milinichik Bolts Rams for Chargers, $2.2 Million : NFL: Team’s revised offer is better, but it’s too late to keep starting right guard in Anaheim.

Joe Milinichik, the Rams’ starting right guard, turned his back on an additional $150,000 Thursday and agreed to a $2.2-million, two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers.

The Rams offered Milinichik $2.2 million and gave him a 2 p.m. deadline Thursday to accept it. The Chargers matched the Rams’ offer, however, and Milinichik telephoned Coach Chuck Knox with the news that he was going to take San Diego’s money.

The Rams responded immediately by adding another $150,000 to their offer, but Milinichik, who earned $360,000 last season, was unmoved.

“The Rams wanted me to run it by Joe and I did,” said David Sampson, Milinichik’s agent. “But Joe said he gave his word to the Chargers and he wasn’t about to renege on it. We didn’t even take the new Ram offer to the Chargers.”

Milinichik, Sampson said, had asked the agent to speak for him regarding his move to the Chargers.

“It wasn’t just money because the two offers were equal,” Sampson said. “Joe prefers not to get into the details of why he made the decision he did.

“I know this: he has high regard for Coach Knox and he leaves behind many friends. I think Coach Knox probably interceded when he realized what was happening today. The Rams reconsidered, added more money, but it was too little, too late.”

The Rams, now left with a gaping hole at right guard, will meet with three possible replacements next week when San Diego’s David Richards, Green Bay’s Ron Hallstrom and Buffalo’s Mitch Frerotte come to town.

In the meantime, it appears the Rams remain intent on being frisky in the free-agent marketplace. They have moved closer to signing Charger outside linebacker Henry Rolling, a move that should protect them in the event Kevin Greene signs with Pittsburgh.

Reports from Pittsburgh indicate that Greene is very close to signing a deal with the Steelers, however, one of the agents handling Greene was more reserved in his assessment.

“I don’t think they’re close,” agent Jeff Dankworth said. “When I last talked to people, they were still probably 15 to 20% apart. There’s still a chance, depending on the Reggie White situation, that San Francisco and Washington may get involved with Kevin.

“(But) I think Kevin is gone from the Rams.”

The Rams are preparing themselves for Greene’s departure and believe they have found an outside linebacker in Rolling who may be more suited to their 4-3 defensive scheme than Greene, who felt more comfortable in a 3-4 look.

Rolling’s agent, Dankworth, ran the Rams’ offer for Rolling past Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard Thursday and Beathard told Dankworth the team would make no attempt to match it.

“We can’t afford those numbers,” Beathard said. “I don’t know if he’s signed with the Rams yet, but they gave him a nice offer.”

A Ram spokesman said the team had not come to terms with Rolling as of late Thursday.

“We have no deal yet. We’re still talking,” Dankworth said. “Henry visited the Raiders (Thursday).

“I told Jay (Zygmunt, Ram senior vice president) we would try and get it done (today) if we’re going to do it. I think Jay wants to get this done.”

The Rams also began negotiations with the representatives for Minnesota defensive end Al Noga and Buffalo inside linebacker Shane Conlan.

“Al would like to be in L.A.,” said Bob Wolfe, an agent for Noga. “There have been conversations with the Rams and there is certainly serious interest.”

Conlan’s agent, Brett Senior, said his client was very impressed with his visit in Anaheim. However, he also said Raider owner Al Davis assured Conlan, after his visit Wednesday, that he would do everything he could to sign him.

“The last thing Al Davis told Shane was, ‘I’ll do what it takes to get you here,’ ” Senior said. “He showed a big interest in Shane.”

The free-agency craziness continues: The Rams wanted to make a push for Dallas wide receiver Kelvin Martin, but Martin canceled plans to come to Anaheim. Martin’s agent called the Rams later and asked for a contract offer, but the Rams insisted on meeting first with Martin.

Martin signed with the Seattle Seahawks Thursday evening for $3 million over three years.