Rams News

Bono comes to grips with new team

Sunday, May 3, 1998

By Jim Thomas
Of The Post-Dispatch

* Incoming Rams quarterback admits trade from Green Bay was a shock.



Steve Bono reported for work without fanfare the week before the draft.

During last week's minicamp, he quietly took his regular turn along with fellow Rams quarterbacks Tony Banks and Will Furrer.

So was there anything to those rumors that Bono would not show up at Rams Park, that he was contemplating retirement?

"No, no," Bono said in rapid succession. "I think it was more just getting over the initial shock."

The shock of being traded from Green Bay, which has participated in the past two Super Bowls, to the Rams, who haven't had a winning season since 1989.

The shock of being cast aside by Packers coach Mike Holmgren, a longtime associate who had been his offensive coordinator for three seasons in San Francisco. And the timing certainly was a surprise as well. Bono found out on a late Friday afternoon on April 3 that he had been traded.

"I found out about 4:30, Pacific time," said Bono, whose offseason home is in the San Francisco Bay area. "I had just gotten out of the shower. I was getting dressed to go to the city for dinner."

Then the phone rang. It was Packers quarterbacks coach Andy Reid, formerly an assistant at Mizzou, with the news: Bono was being traded to St. Louis for a seventh-round pick in 1999. Which kind of ruined Bono's appetite.

"A couple of good cocktails, I was ready to go," Bono said, with a laugh.

"It was a lot of shock," he said. "A lot. One, it was the last thing on my mind. I probably would've thought I'd be released before I was traded from Green Bay. It's hard on me because it's a new system. I was lucky and fortunate to be in a system for the last nine years."

Bono had played in variations of the West Coast offense in San Francisco, Kansas City and Green Bay since 1989.

"But it's also a big shock on your family," he said. "You get one year under your belt in Green Bay, and get baby-sitters and schools established. So I need to come and look for a place to live here in St. Louis. Schools. Baby-sitters. Just things that make life more fun, more comfortable."

When it comes to learning the Rams' offense, it's not a matter of learning the plays.

"There's only so many things you can do offensively," Bono said. "Basically, everybody has the same thing. It's just a matter of calling plays different ways, and reading patterns different ways. . . . It's more of an adjustment than I've had to make in a while."

Coach Dick Vermeil admits as much. "Steve has a lot of catching up to do," Vermeil said.

Bono, who turns 36 next month, still feels he has something left and would like to play a few more years. Given the overall quality of backup quarterbacking in the NFL, you can't blame him for thinking that way.

"Two years ago, I thought I was still going to be the quarterback of the Chiefs - starting quarterback," he said. "But things didn't work out. So yeah, I feel like I've got a few years left in me. I'll take them one at a time until they throw me out."



Phillips over Simmons

Just when the Rams appeared to be closing in on a free-agent deal with veteran defensive end Clyde Simmons, Vermeil reversed field and signed veteran defensive tackle Joe Phillips.

Phillips agreed to terms on a two-year, $1.6 million contract on April 21, and participated in the Rams' minicamp last weekend. The deal includes a $500,000 signing bonus and some play-time incentives.

"It came down to the fact that we drafted Grant Wistrom, and then Leonard Little fell into the package as well, and Jason Chorak," Vermeil said. "We're also going to work Bryan Robinson outside."

Wistrom is a defensive end; Little and Chorak will be used as outside pass rushers as well. So there was more a need for another inside presence. Simmons can play inside, but is more suited to play end.

As for Phillips, Vermeil said, "He's a great, big strong man that can move the pocket. We can play him on the obvious run downs, and rest D'Marco (Farr) just a little bit more to take advantage of his pass rush skills, and not wear him down."

The addition of Phillips gives the Rams a four-man rotation at the two defensive tackle spots that also includes Farr, free-agent pickup Ray Agnew (New York Giants), and Jeff Zgonina. Phillips realizes he won't be on the field much on third-and-long.

"My talent over the years has been my strength at the point of attack," he said. "I think that's probably the role I'll fill. But the bottom line is, whatever they want for me, that's what I'll do."

After his release from Kansas City, Phillips visited the Rams in late Febuary, and also drew interest from Tennessee, Oakland and Denver. "But from my perspective, this is the best opportunity for me to be a significant part of a rapidly climbing program," Phillips said.

The "climb" better be rapid for Phillips' sake, because at age 35, he doesn't have many years left in the NFL.

"Guys at my stage take a look and say, `Do I want to play anymore?' " Phillips said. "For me it boiled down to the fact that I still have fun playing the game. . . . It's a lot of fun. It's great money. And it's what I like to do."

An add-end on Simmons: Vermeil says the signing of Phillips makes it unlikely the Rams will continue to pursue Simmons, but wouldn't entirely rule it out.



Wilkins out

Shoulders slumped and chins dropped at Rams Park when free-agent defensive end Gabe Wilkins opted for San Francisco over the Rams in February. But who knows if the 49ers will get their money's worth?

Wilkins signed a five-year contract worth $20 million, including a $5 million signing bonus. But Wilkins didn't even make it through a 49ers minicamp in March without experiencing further knee trouble. After starting every game for Green Bay last season, he missed most of the Super Bowl because of a left knee injury.

The 49ers were aware of the knee problem when they signed Wilkins, but
didn't think it was this serious. Wilkins underwent surgery in April and is not
expected to be ready to play again until sometime in August.

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