Rams News

St. Louis Rams
Team Report posted June 12, 1998
by tsn correspondent
JIM THOMAS St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Cornerback Ryan McNeil continues to skip all team activities until he gets a multi-year contract to his liking.

McNeil, upset over being named the team's franchise player in February, missed the team's second and final minicamp, June 12-14.

"I think everybody is in a quandary, bewilderment, why the deal hasn't been done," said McNeil, who was in St. Louis recently to play in a charity golf tournament.

There should be no bewilderment -- the sides are $14 million apart.

The Rams are offering McNeil $13 million over four years, including a $3.6 million signing bonus. McNeil wants $27 million over five years, including a $10 million signing bonus.

McNeil says he has been working out 2 1/2 hours at his offseason home in the Miami area. But Dick Vermeil is a stickler for having players participate in the team's offseason conditioning program at Rams Park in St. Louis.

The program ends June 24.

"I've said this I don't know how many times -- I don't worry about a guy that's not here," Vermeil said. "You coach the people you have. In this business, if you start worrying about all those guys, then they become a distraction. I don't want them to be a distraction."

But Vermeil's stance, and patience, will be put to the test if McNeil is a no-show for the start of training camp July 24.

In the meantime, the Rams are talking up second-year player Dexter McCleon, who did not distinguish himself last year as a rookie, as a possible replacement for McNeil. . . .

Nine days after his release from St. Louis, middle linebacker Robert Jones was reunited with Jimmy Johnson in Miami.

Jones, who played for Johnson in Dallas, signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins. Jones became expendable in St. Louis when the Rams signed free agent Eric Hill from Arizona to beef up their run defense. . . .

Strong safety Toby Wright took some important first steps in his comeback from reconstructive knee surgery in January by participating in individual drills at the Rams' June minicamp.

The hard-hitting Wright played at a Pro Bowl level in 1995, but has been dogged by injuries since then. Severe hamstring injuries marred his play in '96 and '97, and he suffered the knee injury -- a torn anterior cruciate ligament -- last December 7 in New Orleans.

Despite his quick recovery to date, Wright still is expected to open training camp next month on the team's physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

With a little luck, however, Wright will be on the field for the Rams' regular-season opener September 6 against New Orleans -- just under eight months after his surgery.

When healthy, Wright is the emotional leader of a Rams defense that has lacked leadership in recent years. . . .

Vermeil got his first look at quarterback Kurt Warner and offensive lineman Tom Nutten at the June minicamp. Both players participated in NFL Europe this spring for the Amsterdam Admirals.

Warner had an impressive season, leading the league in passing yards (2,101) and touchdown passes (15). He will compete with Steve Bono and Will Furrer for two backup jobs behind Tony Banks.

Backup wide receiver Malcolm Floyd returned to action for the first time since surgery for an Achilles' tendon injury in December.

Offensive guard Ryan Tucker (hamstring) and linebacker Troy Dumas (shoulder) sat out. Dumas will begin training camp on the team's PUP list as he recovers from shoulder surgery this spring.

Newly acquired free agent Ed Simmons has been installed as the team's starting left guard -- ahead of Tucker -- even though he's played tackle for most of his 11-year career with Washington.

Strong safety Kadar Hamilton, a rookie free agent from Stanford, has been added to the roster. . . .

OFFENSE

WR --Eddie Kennison, Ricky Proehl, Az-Zahir Hakim, Russell Shaw, Tryone Goodson; LT -- Orlando Pace, Jeremy McKinney, Roger Chanoine; LG -- Ed Simmons, Ryan Tucker, John Gerak, Fred Pollack; C --Mike Gruttadauria, John Flannery, David Kempfert; RG -- Zach Wiegert, Ethan Brooks, Glenn Rountree, Tom Nutten; RT -- Wayne Gandy, Fred Miller, Matt Reem; TE -- Ernie Conwell, Aaron Laing, Mitch Jacoby, Tyji Armstrong, Roland Williams;

WR -- Isaac Bruce, Johnny Thomas, Donald Sellers, Tony Horne, Donnell Baker, Malcolm Floyd; QB -- Tony Banks, Steve Bono, Will Furrer, Kurt Warner; FB -- Craig Heyward, Derrick Harris, Raymond Priester; RB --Jerald Moore, Robert Holcombe, Amp Lee, David Thompson, June Henley.

DEFENSE

LE -- Kevin Carter, Bryan Robinson, Corey Sears; LT -- Jeff Zgonina, Ray Agnew, James Manley; RT -- D'Marco Farr, Joe Phillips, Chris Maumalanga;

RE -- Jay Williams, Grant Wistrom, Jeff Robinson, Glenn Young Jr; OLB -- Roman Phifer, Muadianvita Kazadi, Leonard Little; MLB -- Eric Hill, Lorenzo Styles, Daryl Bush, London Fletcher; OLB -- Mike Jones, Charlie Clemons, Troy Dumas, Jason Chorak;

LC -- Todd Lyght, Taje Allen, Joe Rowe; SS -- Toby Wright, Billy Jenkins Jr., Gerald McBurrows, Kadar Hamilton; FS -- Keith Lyle, Gerald McBurrows, Mike Scurlock, Billy Austin; RC -- Ryan McNeil, Dexter McCleon, Willie Clark, Omarr Morgan.

SPECIALISTS

K -- Jeff Wilkins; P -- Rick Tuten, Mark Schultis.

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