UCLA’s Thomas Signs Five-Year Deal With the Rams
First-round draft pick Robert Thomas signed a five-year deal with the St. Louis Rams on Tuesday. Thomas was the 31st overall pick in April’s draft.
St. Louis has Thomas penciled in to start as a weakside linebacker.
He was a three-year starter at middle linebacker at UCLA.
The outside spot generally entails more pass-coverage responsibilities, but the Rams believe that with his 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash, Thomas is capable of handling the pass-coverage duties.
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Baltimore Raven owner Art Modell remained hospitalized at Owings Mills, Md., for a mild stroke but plans to attend the opening Friday of his 42nd training camp as an owner.
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Quarterback Joey Harrington, the No. 3 overall pick from Oregon, signed a six-year, $36.5-million contract with Detroit.... Julius Peppers, the second overall pick in the NFL draft, agreed to terms on a seven-year contract with Carolina that could be worth more than $50 million if incentives kick in.... Wide receiver Javon Walker, Green Bay’s top draft pick, signed a six-year, $9.5-million deal. The Packers also signed sixth-round selection Mike Houghton of San Diego State.... Defensive back Mike Rumph, San Francisco’s first-round draft pick, agreed to a five-year, $6.4-million deal.... Veteran running back Terry Allen signed with New Orleans.
Tennis
Anna Kournikova advanced in the Bank of the West Classic with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 upset of Israel’s Anna Smashnova at Stanford.
Kournikova, who has struggled since breaking her left foot and undergoing surgery last year, snapped a five-match losing streak with the victory over eighth-seeded Smashnova, ranked No. 18.
Top-seeded Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic defeated Sebastian de Chaunac of France, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2, in the opening round of the Idea Prokom Open at Sopot, Poland. In the women’s tournament, third-seeded Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario beat fellow Spaniard Marta Marrero, 6-3, 6-1.... Fernando Vicente and Felix Mantilla were eliminated in the first round of the $1-million Generali Open at Kitzbuehel, Austria. Mantilla lost to Michael Kohlmann, 6-3, 6-4. Vicente lost to Markus Hipfl, 6-2, 7-5.
Hockey
Pittsburgh Penguin forward Martin Straka injured his back while training in the Czech Republic.
Straka is expected to be ready for the season.
Free-agent forward Jay Pandolfo re-signed with the New Jersey Devils.... The New York Islanders re-signed defenseman Adrian Aucoin to a two-year contract.... The St. Louis Blues signed veteran forward Jason Dawe.
Miscellany
Former NFL defensive lineman Alonzo Spellman, who has a history of psychological and legal problems, failed to appear in court at Dearborn, Mich., to answer charges of drunken driving and destroying property.
Judge Virginia Sobotka issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
NASCAR driver Jerry Nadeau finally got a full-time job when Petty Enterprises hired him to drive the No. 44 Dodge for the rest of the season.
Nene Hilario, 19, signed with the Denver Nuggets. He was drafted seventh overall.
Former USC and Los Angeles Ram assistant coach Marv Goux, 69, is in an intensive care unit at a Los Angeles hospital because of cancer.
Tommy Groom, a member of Frank Beamer’s first football coaching staff at Virginia Tech and a captain on the 1966 Liberty Bowl team, has died. He was 57.