Richards Jilts Rams for Deal With Lions : Football: Miscommunication leaves team executive waiting for free agent who was not going to show up.

The Rams had a luncheon date Monday with Charger guard David Richards, and while Jack Faulkner, the team’s administrator of pro personnel, waited at a restaurant near Rams Park, Richards was in Detroit signing a three-year deal for $5.1 million to play for the Lions.

“I waited 45 minutes at the restaurant and then called Richards’ home,” Faulkner said. “His wife said he was in Detroit. I had talked to him Saturday and he indicated he would still be here.

“Oh, well.”

Richards’ agent, Randy Vataha, had called Jay Zygmunt, Ram senior vice president, Monday morning to advise the team of Richards’ plans, but apparently Zygmunt did not communicate them to Faulkner.

The Rams are looking for someone to replace starting right guard Joe Milinichik, who signed a two-year deal to play for the Chargers. Green Bay guard Ron Hallstrom (6-6, 305) took a tour of Rams Park on Monday, and Buffalo guard Mitch Frerotte (6-3, 285) will do the same today.

Hallstrom, 33 years old and an 11-year veteran, has never missed a game. He also has failed to win Pro Bowl recognition and has had to fight to stay in the lineup recently.

The Packers started Keith Uecker in his place in 1990 after a lengthy contract holdout, and after Hallstrom returned to the starting lineup in 1991, the team tried to open last season with Tony Mandarich in his place.

That experiment lasted three days, and Hallstrom was starting again.

But the Packers gave Miami right guard Harry Galbreath a three-year contract for $4.6 million recently, and if Hallstrom, who earned $680,000 last season, is to remain in Green Bay, it won’t be at right guard.

“They have told me I’d be starting somewhere else, because I can really play any position along the line,” Hallstrom said. “I can return there, but I really think we’re going in a different direction.

“If I can get the chance to play right guard somewhere, then I’ll go there . . . I find the Rams’ situation very appealing.”

Frerotte, 28, who earned $337,500 last season, has three career starts at right guard.

The Rams continue to pursue Buffalo linebacker Shane Conlan and Minnesota defensive end Al Noga. Conlan’s agent, Brett Senior, said the Rams and Raiders appear to be the two teams most serious in acquiring Conlan.

Meanwhile, it has been a month since Zygmunt returned a phone call, including two attempts Monday, and therefore it has been difficult to assess how aggressive the Rams were in trying to sign linebacker Kevin Greene.

Greene signed a three-year deal this past weekend to play for the Steelers.

“Here’s what happened,” said agent Marvin Demoff, who represents Greene. “The Rams let Kevin know from the very beginning--before free agency--that they wanted him back. Kevin told the Rams he would give them an opportunity to present the last numbers once he had heard everyone else’s best offer.

“Pittsburgh came up with an offer and an opportunity that would put him in the defense--the 3-4--that in Kevin’s mind provided him his glory days.

“The Steelers gave him a three-year contract that will pay him with incentives included over $5.5 million. Kevin gave the Rams a chance to match it, the Rams responded promptly, and they did match it. But by then Kevin was emotionally committed to Pittsburgh, and it didn’t matter that the Rams matched it. He chose Pittsburgh.”

Greene called Ram Coach Chuck Knox Monday morning, and although he’s already signed with Pittsburgh, he asked for an audience with Knox at Rams Park in the coming days.

“I guess we’ll visit,” Knox said. “Kevin Greene is a fine football player, but this is free agency. He has made a decision that he feels is in his best interests, and we will go on from here.”