PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Bettis Replaces Gary as Starter

Rookie Jerome Bettis, who gained 102 yards in relief of Cleveland Gary last week, became the Rams’ starting tailback on Friday.

Bettis leads the team with 260 yards in 63 carries, an average gain of 4.1 yards. Gary, who has been bothered by a sore thigh, has averaged 2.2 yards, with 99 yards in 46 carries.

“I’m not frustrated at all,” Gary said. “I have to be realistic about this. It’s not something you should take personal. I can get in on a third-down situation and catch the ball and take it 80 yards. I understand this game.”

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The Rams returned from three days off in preparation for next Thursday’s game at Atlanta against the Falcons. Gerald Robinson replaced injured Robert Young (knee) as starting left defensive end and Robert Bailey lined up as starting right cornerback in place of Darryl Henley, who has been granted a leave of absence to deal with his legal problems.

Quarterback Jim Everett remained the Rams’ starting quarterback, while T.J. Rubley stood to the side as the team’s No. 3 quarterback.

Mike Pagel took some snaps as Everett’s backup, but Rubley didn’t play during the team’s 11-on-11 drills.

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The Falcons have advised quarterback Bobby Hebert, who has a sore elbow, to not touch a football until Monday. Hebert practiced Wednesday and Thursday, but only handed the ball off and did not attempt to throw. The Falcons do not practice again until Monday.

Hebert took a shot of cortisone in his elbow on Tuesday, and the team is still counting on him as the starter against the Rams. If Hebert cannot start, Billy Joe Tolliver will step in and be backed up by Bob Gagliano.

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The Rams claimed linebacker Brett Collins off waivers from the Green Bay Packers and signed free-agent cornerback Wymon Henderson, who played previously for the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings.

Collins, a 12th-round pick of the Packers in 1992, worked primarily as a special teams player in Green Bay. He fills the roster spot left vacant after tight end Jim Price was traded to Dallas this week.

Henderson, who played for Los Angeles in the USFL from 1983-1985, has started 64 games in his NFL career. He replaces Henley on the roster.

The Broncos released Henderson at this year’s final cut, made an attempt to re-sign him a day later, but then withdrew that offer when Henderson reported late for a team meeting.