Rams News

Vermeil wouldn't mind getting Gerak back

06/20

By Elizabethe Holland
Of the Post-Dispatch

Rams coach Dick Vermeil penned a ``Dear John'' letter Friday, but one of an atypical variety.
In a note to John Gerak, the Rams' starting left guard last season, Vermeil didn't tell the player he was through; rather, he told him he'd love to have him back.
Gerak was released Tuesday after asking to be cut from the team.
He did so because he realized his chances of being a starter this year were slim. Although the 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman started all 16 games for the Rams last year, he had fallen to third on the depth chart, behind recently acquired Ed Simmons and second-year player Ryan Tucker.
Gerak's hope in being released is that he will get a shot at a starting position elsewhere. If not, the sixth-year player may retire.
``I wrote him a note (Friday) and just told him that if he has a change of heart and doesn't end up on a roster with an opportunity that looks much better, I would reopen the door for him and let him come back, because I think he can play a lot better than he did last year,'' Vermeil said.
Vermeil was high on Gerak last season, often praising him for durability and lack of complaints in light of injuries.
Despite painful elbow injuries, Gerak played the second-highest total of plays (899) on the offensive line.
``He's such a tough guy, he won't tell you how banged up he is; he plays anyway,'' Vermeil said. ``He had one operation on his right elbow already, which made it a lot better. Now he's going to have his left one done. With two good elbows and the heart that he has, you never know how much better he can play.''
Vermeil, clearly bothered by Gerak's exit, is concerned that he won't have a player of Gerak's quality and toughness to replace him on the offensive line.
``Our whole offensive line needs to become more competitive and get a tougher frame of mind and approach to the game for us to improve, and he was the one guy that didn't have to improve in that area. . . . He wasn't playing football for money; he was playing because he loves to play.''
Starter material
Of the four Rams re-signed last week, Vermeil said at least two have shots of becoming starters.
One of them is Jay Williams, who is listed in the No. 1 spot at right defensive end on the Rams' depth chart -- over Rams' first-round pick Grant Wistrom.
Williams, a 6-3, 280-pound fourth-year player, played in 16 games and started in two last season.
``It's his job to lose,'' Vermeil said Friday. ``It's about time he gets an opportunity to start. He's a give-it-everything-you've-got type of player.''
The other player who may see a starting role is second-year running back David Thompson.
The 5-8, 200-pound back made an impression as a kick returner last season, and Vermeil wants to see what else he can do.
``I'm going to give him an opportunity to start a preseason game because in all the minicamps, if you wanted to single out one guy that appeared to be a much better football player than he was last year, you'd have to start with him,'' Vermeil said.
Unlike Williams' lofty position on the depth chart, Thompson is listed fourth, behind Jerald Moore, Robert Holcombe and Amp Lee.
Vacation plans
Now that two minicamps are behind him and activity has slowed dramatically at Rams Park, Vermeil plans to take off shortly for Pennsylvania, then the mountains, for family time.
``I'll be home on the range for a few days, and then I'll go to the Poconos,'' he said.
The Vermeil clan -- 10 grandchildren included -- will vacation at a resort where canoeing, fishing, hiking and bicycling will be on the menu.
Think of it as the Vermeil Family Training Camp.
``And I'll be the one getting trained,'' Vermeil quipped.
Last year Vermeil didn't allow himself much of a break. First-year preparation got the better of him.
But not this year.
``This year I'm so much further along,'' he said. ``I don't feel nervous about it or apprehensive. I've got a few little things I want to tinker with while I'm away, but nothing serious.''
Training camp reunion
Vermeil will be reunited with Dennis Harrison, a former Eagle he drafted, when Harrison reports to training camp next month as part of the NFL's minority coaching development program.
Harrison, now the defensive line coach at Vanderbilt, was a defensive lineman with the Eagles from 1978-84, the Rams in '85, the 49ers in '86 and the Falcons in 1986-87. He was a Pro Bowl player in 1983 and participated in Super Bowl XV.
He will be easy to spot among the Rams' band of coaches: Harrison is 6 feet 8 and 300 pounds.
Also taking part in the two- to three-week program will be Arizona State running backs coach Cornell Jackson.
Team psychologist
The Rams have renewed a contract for the 1998 season with team psychologist Phil Towle, who is based in Topeka, Kan.
Media friendly
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers swept honors from the Pro Football Writers Association for the team's treatment of the media. Coach Tony Dungy won the Horrigan Award, given to the team official, coach or player who goes beyond the call of duty in cooperating with the media.
The other finalists were Vermeil, Tennessee Oilers coach Jeff Fisher and Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis.
Tampa Bay also won the Pete Rozelle Award for the NFL's top media-relations staff. Last year's winner was the Rams staff.
Writers in other cities contributed some information for this notebook.

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