Oilers Will Keep Donnalley From Rams

The Houston Oilers will match the Rams’ four-year, $4-million offer sheet for offensive tackle Kevin Donnalley.

At the NFL owners meetings Monday in Orlando an Oiler official told Ram executive vice president John Shaw that Houston has decided to match the Rams’ offer for Donnalley and will make an announcement before Thursday’s deadline.

The Houston Chronicle, quoting unnamed Oiler sources, will report today that the team decided to keep Donnalley because of the retirement of guard Mike Munchak.

“That’s interesting,” said Jay Zygmunt, Ram senior vice president, when advised of the Oilers’ decision. “Obviously, we were hoping to have a shot at him. We knew there was a chance of them matching it, but we thought it was better than 50-50 that they wouldn’t.”