Rams Reportedly Nab Linebacker Conlan : Football: Sources say the team and the free agent agree on a three-year contract.

Buffalo middle linebacker Shane Conlan has reached an agreement on a three-year contract with the Rams, a Ram team official said Saturday night.

“I’d say it’s likely we will sign him in the next day or two,” the official said.

Conlan, 29, visited Rams Park recently and afterward Coach Chuck Knox immediately made it known that Conlan, a three-time Pro Bowler, was the ideal player to start at middle linebacker in the Rams’ 4-3 defensive set.

Conlan’s agent told a Buffalo newspaper Saturday night his client had decided earlier in the evening to accept the Rams’ offer.

“It came down to the Rams and the Bills and we made our decision tonight,” Brett Senior said in an interview with the Buffalo News. “I spent an extensive amount of time working with (Buffalo General Manager) John Butler, but he could not match what the Rams were able to put together.”

The Rams reportedly will give Conlan, who earned $975,000 last year, a three-year contract for $5.4 million. The newspaper reported that the money in the contract will be guaranteed.

A Ram official, however, said, “it’s partially guaranteed, and the $5.4 million is probably a little high. I thought it was more like $5.1 to $5.2.”

The Bills are embroiled in a contract squabble with the Indianapolis Colts, who tendered an offer sheet for tackle Will Wolford. The Bills will match the offer for Wolford, but must wait for an arbitrator to rule on elements of the deal. The amount of money they expect to pay Wolford, upcoming negotiations with running back Thurman Thomas and next year’s salary cap made it difficult for the Bills to compete with the Rams for Conlan’s services.

Conlan has started 76 games in his six-year career, and has at times been limited by injury. He missed time in 1988 with a foot injury, more time in 1989 with a knee injury and three games last season with an ankle injury.

Conlan, who is tough against the run, has 463 tackles in his career and has four sacks, two interceptions, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

After visiting the Rams, Conlan said he was excited at the prospect of playing middle linebacker in a 4-3 defensive scheme. The Rams are looking at Conlan as a first- and second-down player, who will probably come off the field in long-yardage situations.

“I’d like to try the 4-3 at least once in my career,” he said. “The middle guy is supposed to make all the tackles and I’d like to see how I do.”

If the Rams had failed in their bid to land Conlan, it’s known they considered putting together an offer sheet for Houston inside linebacker Al Smith. Smith, a transitional player for the Oilers, had expressed an interest to friends in playing for the Rams.

The Rams, however, would have had to make a substantial financial offer for Smith, and the Oilers maintained the right to match any offer.

The Rams, who had a reputation of being tight with the dollar in the past, have now signed four unrestricted free agents. They paid defensive end Fred Stokes $3.75 million for three years, tackle Irv Eatman $3.3 million for three years, linebacker Henry Rolling $3 million for three years and now add Conlan to their payroll.

Running back Robert Delpino, meanwhile, appears headed to Denver.

“We’re close to an agreement with Robert Delpino,” said Bob Ferguson, Bronco director of football operations. “Essentially what we have (with Delpino) is a backup at fullback and running back. It gives us some depth.”

Delpino accounted for 1,305 yards in offense in 1991, but after Knox’s arrival in 1992, he played backup to Cleveland Gary. Delpino ran 32 times for 115 yards and caught 18 passes for 139 yards last season.