Frontiere, Rams Can’t Touch Piece of This Pie

Times NFL writer T.J. Simers poses--and answers--the burning questions for this week’s games:

Question: Who got hurt the most by the NFL’s decision to go to Houston?

Answer: The stores where Georgia Frontiere does her shopping. When the Rams left Anaheim, they agreed not to take any money when the league expanded to 31 and 32 teams unless one of those teams was awarded to Los Angeles.

So when Cleveland paid $17 million to each team in the league to gain entry, the Rams were passed over. And when Houston’s Bob McNair put up $700 million, the league divided it 30 ways instead of 31--each team getting $23.3 million--once again not giving Frontiere a piece of the pie.

The Rams also surrendered $13 million to join St. Louis’ suit against the NFL, which the NFL won.

That’s $53-plus million, or two good shopping sprees for the Rams’ owner.

Q: Why were the Rams against realignment?

A: It’s one more penalty for leaving Anaheim. To get NFL approval for their move to St. Louis, they gave up any say in realignment. The NFL probably will put them in a new division with Seattle, Arizona and San Francisco.

Q: How about a Mike Ditka story to brighten the day?

A: When Buffalo quarterback Doug Flutie was on the Bears’ roster in 1986 and 1987, he recalls a Monday night game against Detroit:

“We had the wrong personnel on the field for a play that was called. [Ditka] was livid. He liked me, but he didn’t want to yell at me. He turned and grabbed [tight end] Emery Moorehead by the facemask and hit heads with him.

“He started yelling at Emery for no reason. I’m waiting for a play call. Jim McMahon and I don’t talk. Mike Tomczak is hurt. Steve Fuller is in street clothes that night; he gave me a play, and I went in and ran the play.”

Q: Why would anyone want to spend any time in Philadelphia?

A: If you’re a football player, it’s a chance to pad your stats. Dallas running back Emmitt Smith has rushed for 90 or more yards 15 times against the Eagles. He has had more than 100 in a dozen of those games, and the last time Philadelphia held him under 90 was Nov. 2, 1992. In his last 15 games against the Eagles, he’s averaging 4.95 yards a carry.

Q: What does Lawrence Phillips think about playing the Rams for the first time since being cut two years ago?

A: Who knows? The 49ers told reporters they could ask Phillips, a former No. 1 pick of St. Louis, anything . . . but nothing to do with his time in St. Louis.

After inquiring about the weather, his chances of winning the lottery and what he thought about the right to sue HMOs, someone asked about St. Louis. San Francisco publicity director Rodney Knox immediately called off the news conference, ushering Phillips out.