Rams News

Rams weigh options in dealing with Heyward

07/24/98

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

MACOMB, Ill. -- The Great Weigh-In never took place. Craig ``Ironhead'' Heyward was a no-show Friday in St. Louis, leaving coach Dick Vermeil disappointed -- but not surprised -- and seldom-used Derrick Harris at the top of the Rams depth chart at fullback.
``He just didn't show,'' Vermeil said. ``So that's probably an indication that he's a ways off in meeting the weight. It's really disappointing, because I look on our field, I know we need him. But obviously, he isn't ready to meet the commitment, or he'd be here.''
Heyward could not be reached for comment by the Post-Dispatch. Then again, no one from the Rams could reach him Friday, either. Kevin Warren, the team's vice president of player programs, spoke to Heyward on Thursday and said he wasn't sure what Heyward's frame of mind was.
But the issue really is waistline, not frame of mind. Vermeil told Heyward in January to either report to training camp at 260 pounds or don't report. Heyward didn't report.
Vermeil could see this coming because Heyward weighed 300 pounds at the team's June minicamp. And not even the Duke weight reduction clinic, where Heyward supposedly headed after that minicamp, can take off 40 pounds in five weeks.
The team has placed Heyward on its reserve/did not report list. That designation means Heyward does not count against the roster limit, does not get paid, and cannot play for team.
So why not just cut him?
``There's salary cap acceleration,'' Vermeil said.
The Rams would have to absorb $975,000 of Heyward's original $1.3 million signing bonus against their 1998 salary cap if they released him today. And there's one other factor. ``I don't want to reward a guy for not living up to his end of the bargain, either,'' Vermeil said.
In other words, Heyward might prefer to play in Atlanta -- his offseason home -- rather than St. Louis. One way to get out of his four-year, $4.5 million contract with the Rams is to get cut.
``We had 40-something guys make 80 percent of their (offseason) workouts in preparation to be here today,'' Vermeil said. ``Thirty-five of them made 90 percent or more. So it's not too much to ask Craig Heyward to take five months and report to training camp with his weight controlled.''
By placing Heyward on the reserve/did not report list, the Rams can also ``toll'' Heyward's salary for 1999. That means he has to play for the same amount of money in '99 that he did in '98 if he sits out the entire season. Heyward is scheduled to make $650,000 in base salary this season, but $950,000 in '99 under his Rams contract.
The Rams can also fine Heyward $5,000 a day for every day he does not report, but Vermeil hasn't decided whether to do so.
Missing in action: Safety Gerald McBurrows has yet to report to training camp because of the chicken pox. Safety Toby Wright has returned home to Arizona because of a death in the family.
Linebacker Eric Hill, offensive guard Ethan Brooks and cornerback Joe Rowe sat out the Friday afternoon practice because of back strains and spasms. Hill's setback was the most disconcerting to Vermeil, given the fact that Hill missed playing time last season in Arizona with neck and shoulder problems.
The team has also placed offensive lineman Ed Simmons on the reserve/did not report list until Simmons officially notifies the NFL that he is retiring.
As expected, unsigned cornerback Ryan McNeil did not report Friday. There have been no talks between Rams executive vice president Jay Zygmunt and McNeil's agent -- Brian Ransom -- since the Rams made a two-year offer on Wednesday.

ARCHIVE

HOME