PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Offer to Gary Increased, but. . .

The Rams increased their offer on a one-year contract to running back Cleveland Gary on Tuesday and attached a right of first refusal that would allow them to match any offer tendered to Gary next season.

Gary’s agent, however, said the new offer will probably not be enough.

“It wasn’t much of a bump,” said Jordan Woy, Gary’s agent. “It’s nowhere near the neighborhood of where we anticipate being.”

The Rams informed Gary earlier this week that he has until Friday to sign or miss his first regular-season paycheck.

The Rams’ new offer, their first since March, provides Gary with the one-year contract he has been seeking, but still gives the Rams an opportunity to keep him next season. “It’s a way in which Cleveland doesn’t have to give up a year of free agency,” said Jay Zygmunt, Ram senior vice president. “We also increased the compensation for this year.”

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The Rams sent wide receiver Todd Kinchen, who has been concerned about the condition of his surgically repaired knee, for a checkup by Dr. Clarence Shields.

Coach Chuck Knox also indicated that the team is continuing to pursue a trade for an additional receiver.

“(Kinchen) is concerned because he probably doesn’t think it’s coming along as fast as it should,” Knox said. “The prognosis is he will be 75% this week; he can do some work and then progress next week. There’s a possibility that he might be able to do some full-scale work toward the end of the next week.”

Kinchen, the leading candidate for the No. 3 wide receiver spot, injured his knee while playing basketball during the off-season.

Knox said it would be fair to say that the Rams might have a surplus of tight ends and safeties this season, thereby providing them with trading potential.