Rams Get Faulk for a Couple of Draft Choices

The St. Louis Rams got three-time Pro Bowl running back Marshall Faulk cheap Thursday, because the Indianapolis Colts wanted to clear the decks for Ricky Williams.

Faulk, 26, the best all-purpose back in the league, rushed for 1,319 yards, caught 86 passes and scored 10 touchdowns last year. He was expendable in part because he wanted to renegotiate his contract and cost the Rams only two draft picks, a second and a fifth.

“I think it’s an outstanding move for our organization,” Ram Coach Dick Vermeil said. “Players like this make offensive coordinators and head coaches a lot smarter.”

Faulk was surprised his price tag was so low.

“I think I’m worth more, I really feel and believe that I am,” Faulk said after arriving in St. Louis. “But that’s what happens. If you can get anything cheaper or for less the price, you do it. That’s the American way.”

Faulk was disappointed that the trade doesn’t change his home-field situation, which is playing on artificial turf under a dome.

“It was something I didn’t want to do,” Faulk said. “Sometimes you can’t get everything you want in life.”

The Colts are expected to take Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner, with the fourth selection, or trade up to make certain they get him. Many pre-draft observers expect quarterbacks Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb and Akili Smith to be the be the first three picks.

“Knowing Bill Polian and Jim Mora, they have a pretty good feel for what’s going to go on before then,” Vermeil said. “There’s only a few people ahead of them, and I think they’ve probably got a good pulse on it.”

Faulk is coming off his best year. His 2,227 total yards from scrimmage was the sixth-highest total in NFL history. He was second to Terrell Davis in rushing yards.

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In the latest twist to an escalating family feud, San Francisco 49er co-owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. filed a $150-million countersuit against his sister, claiming breach of contract. . . . The Dallas Cowboys signed free-agent wide receiver Raghib “Rocket” Ismail to a seven-year, $21.5-million deal that includes a $5-million signing bonus. The Cowboys also refused to match the Carolina Panthers’ offer for free-agent wide receiver Patrick Jeffers. . . . The Philadelphia Eagles signed free-agent safety Tim Hauck to a one-year contract and re-signed former starting quarterback Bobby Hoying to a one-year deal.

College Basketball

Duke guard Will Avery, against the wishes of Coach Mike Krzyzewski, will join teammate Elton Brand in the NBA draft.

“I’m not in favor of William’s decision at this time,” Krzyzewski said in a statement released by the school Thursday. “We have done extensive research into the NBA for William and my conclusion was that entering the draft now would not be in his best interests.

“However, everyone is entitled to make their own decisions. I certainly wish him the ultimate success in his future endeavors.”

The 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 8.5 points and 2.5 assists as a freshman backup. He improved to 14.9 points and 5 per game as a sophomore starter.

A contrite and emotional Khalid El-Amin apologized to his family, his teammates and the people of Connecticut and Minnesota for his arrest on marijuana possession charges.

The Connecticut point guard, joined by Coach Jim Calhoun at a news conference, called the actions leading to his arrest Tuesday evening “a gross error of judgment.”

Rhode Island promoted assistant Jerry DeGregorio to head coach, taking over for Jim Harrick.

Southland

As many as six USC football players are expected to sit out the rest of spring practice because of academics, among them redshirt freshman Sultan McCullough, who has been pushing for playing time at tailback.

McCullough took part in drills for the last time Thursday, and the standout sprinter also is likely to miss the upcoming UCLA track meet.

Coach Paul Hackett said final word on which players will be ineligible or voluntarily held out will be made shortly and a couple of projected starters are in jeopardy, but he added that receiver R. Jay Soward, who sat out Thursday’s practice and much of last spring to concentrate on academics, is not at risk.

“R. Jay is here for the rest of spring,” he said.

USC has five more practices before completing its 15 days of spring drills April 23.

The USC and Stanford women’s tennis teams, the only two undefeated teams remaining in Pacific-10 play, will meet today at 1:30 at USC’s Marks Tennis Stadium. The No. 14 Trojans (17-7, 6-0 Pac-10) can take a one-match lead with only one match to play with a victory over the No. 5 Cardinal (20-2, 6-0). No. 4 UCLA (17-5, 5-1) hosts No. 7 California (15-3, 5-1) at 1:30 at the LA Tennis Center.

Miscellany

Top-seeded Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands ousted No. 16 David Prinosil of Germany, 6-4, 6-4, advancing to the Japan Open quarterfinals at Tokyo. No. 3 Thomas Enqvist of Sweden advanced by beating unseeded Canadian Daniel Nestor, 6-2, 6-2.

Diego Serna scored a late tying goal and Jeff Cassar made three saves in the shootout as the Miami Fusion rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Burn in a Major League Soccer game at Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. . . . Taylor Twellman’s second goal of the match was not enough to save the United States from a 3-2 loss to Spain in the World Under-20 Youth Soccer Championship at Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Michigan State Athletic Director Merritt Norvell will step down this spring to join a firm specializing in searches for executives. . . . New Mexico State Athletic Director Jim Paul resigned, effective May 31, to work as a fund-raising volunteer for Texas Gov. George W. Bush’s presidential exploratory committee.