PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : No New Contract Likely for Gary

The NFL trading deadline is less than three weeks away, and although running back Cleveland Gary said Thursday that he does not intend to play for the Rams next season, he isn’t going anywhere this season.

John Shaw, Ram executive vice president, said the team will not deal Gary before the Oct. 19 trading deadline. The Rams, however, have refused to extend Gary’s contract beyond this season, and as a result, Gary remains unhappy.

“I can’t tell you I feel appreciated here because I’d be lying to you,” Gary said. “I would think they would have come to me and signed me to an extension. That would show me a lot.”

Gary will become a free agent at the end of the season, although the Rams have maintained a first right of refusal to match all offers for Gary. If Gary meets certain statistical conditions, however, the first right of refusal will be voided and Gary will be free to go elsewhere without any restrictions.

Gary signed for $700,000 after missing training camp in a salary dispute. He has pointed to the contracts given to Pittsburgh’s Barry Foster and Cincinnati’s Harold Green and he said he cannot understand the Rams’ reluctance to pay him accordingly. Foster got a $2.1-million signing bonus this year and Green a $2.5-million contract.

Gary, the team’s leading rusher and receiver last year, has run 42 times for 86 yards and caught 13 passes for 75 yards.

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Wide receiver Ernie Jones, who was released by the Rams on Wednesday, signed a three-year $1.65-million contract with the team Thursday.

The Rams acquired Jones in a trade with Phoenix on Aug. 26 and were not willing to surrender a fifth-round pick to the Cardinals unless Jones agreed to sign a contract beyond this season. The Rams were not obligated to surrender the draft choice to Phoenix until Jones put in five games on the Ram roster.

Once the Rams released Jones, he was free to go elsewhere, but he opted to re-sign with the Rams in time to practice Thursday.

The Rams agreed to pay Jones his 1993 salary of $650,000, and Jones said he will draw a base salary of $500,000 in 1994 and $500,000 in 1995, with an opportunity to earn additional money in incentives.

The Rams released wide receiver Tony Hargain, who was signed Wednesday, to make room for Jones.

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Defensive tackle Sean Gilbert missed practice because of a sore shoulder.

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The Rams announced they fell 21,485 tickets short of selling out Anaheim Stadium in time Thursday to lift the TV blackout for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.