Gary Is on Outside, Looking In at Rams : Pro football: He sees they drafted Bettis and White, figures he has no chance for a rich contract, and asks to be traded.

Cleveland Gary led the Rams in rushing with 1,125 yards last season and was tops with 52 receptions, but he believes he’s no longer in the team’s plans.

“I think in the best interests of Cleveland Gary, the Rams should allow me to go someplace else,” Gary said by telephone from Stuart, Fla., Wednesday. “I think trading me would be the fair thing to do.”

Gary, a restricted free agent who earned $350,000 last season, was hit hard on draft day when the Rams selected Notre Dame running back Jerome Bettis in the first round and California’s Russell White in the third.

Despite their reassurances at the time, he said the Rams have shown little interest in re-signing him.

“I’m not angry, and I still have tremendous respect for the Ram organization,” Gary said. “But the writing is on the wall. They tendered a contract that will pay me 110% of what I earned last year, just to keep my rights. That’s all they’ve done; there have been no further negotiations.

“Just look at what they did. They drafted those two running backs. Now doesn’t that tell you something?”

Jay Zygmunt, Ram senior vice president, confirmed that the team has explored trading Gary and said his agent received permission to try and reach a deal for a second-round draft pick, rather than the first-round pick called for in the free-agency guidelines.

At the same time, Zygmunt said, the team has not given up on trying to re-sign Gary.

“Right now we just don’t know what direction it’s going to go in,” he said.

The Rams, however, are looking for a wide receiver and have talked about using Gary to acquire one. However, they believe teams will be more willing to discuss such a deal after reviewing their rosters in exhibition play next month.

The Rams don’t figure to satisfy Gary’s long-term contract demands, which are expected to top $1 million per season. But they will try to persuade him to sign a contract, report to camp with their veterans July 22, showcase his talents, work a trade and then gain the money he desires from his new employer.

“I don’t know why it’s come to this,” Gary said. “It can’t be said because of a lack in production. Maybe they just got an itch to go in a different direction.”

Gary finished last season as the NFC’s sixth-leading rusher, but he also continued to fumble. Gary, Pittsburgh’s Barry Foster and Minnesota’s Terry Allen led all running backs with nine fumbles each.

“You know the Rams are going to give Bettis every opportunity this season and White (a) chance to perform,” said Jordan Woy, Gary’s agent. “I think it’s best the Rams trade Cleveland. I just don’t see it working out for everybody if Cleveland signs back with the Rams.

“It makes more sense for him to go where he will be appreciated.”

Ram Notes

The Rams have reached an agreement with guard Charles Belin, their fifth-round draft pick. Of the team’s nine draft picks, only Bettis and tight end Troy Drayton, the team’s second-round selection, have not come to terms.