Rams Get Charger Safety Pope, Could Lose Ellard to Redskins

The Rams, who traded for Charger safety Marquez Pope Monday, appear on the verge of losing all-time leading wide receiver Henry Ellard to the Redskins and have opened contract discussions with Houston wide receiver Haywood Jeffires.

Ellard, who has been all but ignored by the Rams this off-season after leading the team with 61 catches for 945 yards, rejected an offer from Washington over the weekend, but now is considering a new proposal from the team that is expected to pay him around $1.8 million for two years.

The Rams paid Ellard $850,000 last season, but are now looking at Jeffires, New England’s Greg McMurtry, Washington’s Ricky Sanders and the NFL draft to bolster the wide receiver position.

To acquire Pope, a second-round pick of the Chargers in 1992, the Rams gave the Chargers a sixth-round pick in the 1995 draft on the condition that Pope participates in more than 50% of the team’s defensive plays this season.

The Rams are also expected to sign former Jets’ cornerback Clifford Hicks this week, and today they will announce the hiring of Warren Simmons, former Washington assistant, to coach the Ram tight ends.