Jeffires Deal Isn’t Done Yet : Pro football: Ram official says contract is set, but wide receiver says he could remain with Oilers.

The Rams’ pursuit of free-agent wide receiver Haywood Jeffires may have hit a familiar stumbling block Thursday night--the Houston Oilers.

Jay Zygmunt, Ram senior vice president, said Thursday that Jeffires, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, had agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $1.1 million, including $100,000 in incentives.

Ram assistant head coach Joe Vitt and receivers’ coach Steve Moore were on their way to Greensboro, N.C., Thursday night to take the contract to Jeffires and his agent, Fred Joseph.

“We expect to sign him today,” Zygmunt said.

But Jeffires, who on April 15 rejected a three-year, $3.9-million offer from the Rams, said Thursday night that he will decide today between the Rams’ offer and re-signing with Houston, which has offered a one-year deal worth $1.25 million.

“I haven’t agreed to terms with the Rams,” Jeffires said. “We’ll have a decision in the morning. I’m a nice guy and I’m not leading anybody on.

“I’m flattered that Jay wants me this much--he hasn’t been upset with me one time during negotiations. But you always have to have something else sitting back there for you.”

In this case, it’s the Oilers, who have offered a $300,000 signing bonus, $650,000 in base salary and $300,000 in incentives. The Rams have offered a $400,000 signing bonus, $600,000 in base salary and $100,000 in incentives.

The Oilers have been negotiating with Jeffires and wide receiver Webster Slaughter around the clock the last few days in hopes of re-signing both. Jeffires has played his entire pro career with the Oilers, who drafted him in the first round out of North Carolina State in 1987.

If they lose Jeffires, the Rams could go 0-3 against the Oilers this off-season. The Rams tried unsuccessfully to trade for Houston quarterback Warren Moon, and made an offer to offensive tackle Kevin Donnalley, a restricted free agent, but the Oilers matched it.

When he turned down the Rams’ original offer in April, Jeffires indicated he would entertain offers from other teams or re-sign with the Oilers, who were struggling to stay under the $34.6-million salary cap.

“No matter what I do,” he said, “I want a one-year deal. I wasn’t happy with the three-year deal the Rams put out last month, but if they would have offered me more money with that many years, it could have been done.”

The Rams, in desperate need of a top receiver, have coveted Jeffires throughout the free-agent signing period. Quarterback Chris Miller, who signed with the Rams in March, called Jeffires twice Thursday to encourage him to come to Anaheim.

Jeffires, 29, would complete a rebuilding Rams’ receiving corps that includes veteran Flipper Anderson and free-agent Greg McMurtry, whom they signed this week.

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Zygmunt said he expects to receive the signed contracts today from linebacker Joe Kelly and defensive end Robert Young, who agreed to contract terms with the Rams this week. The Rams also made a two-year, $1-million offer to tailback Cleveland Gary, on whom they retain exclusive rights.