Rams News

Agent says Heyward doesn't want to play for Vermeil
07/28 09:09 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

MACOMB, Ill. -- The agent for AWOL fullback Craig ``Ironhead'' Heyward has informed the Rams that Heyward no longer feels he can play for coach Dick Vermeil.
The agent, Jack Mills of Boulder, Colo., says a trade might be the best solution for both parties.
``I know that he doesn't feel good about coming in'' to training camp, Mills said. ``I hope they can find him another place to play.''
When asked if he has formally asked for a trade, Mills said, ``I haven't requested anything at this point, but it would probably be in everyone's best interest if they could do that.''
Mills' comments are the first from the Heyward camp, since Heyward failed to show up for a scheduled weigh-in Friday in St. Louis. As a result of that no-show, the Rams placed Heyward on their reserve/did not report list and informed Heyward via letter that they were fining him $5,000 a day for each missed day of training camp. Tuesday marked the fifth day that Heyward has missed, so he's currently out $25,000 -- and counting.
Vermeil told Heyward early in the offseason not to bother showing up for camp if he didn't meet Vermeil's prescribed target weight of 260 pounds. Heyward has taken exception to Vermeil's public comments about his weight problems -- which Mills said is one of the key reasons Heyward has not reported for camp.
``I think that bothers Craig,'' Mills said.
It bothers Heyward a lot. Heyward was so angry by comments Vermeil made in March -- which appeared in the Post-Dispatch -- that he called Rams Park to complain about them to team officials. In that March article in the Post, Vermeil said Heyward should ``consider himself retired'' if he showed up overweight for training camp. He also said Heyward should ``cut the teeth off his fork'' to control his eating habits.
``Craig's going to always have a problem keeping his weight down,'' Mills said. ``He has to fight it all the time. The fact remains that he's an unbelievable athlete no matter what he weighs.''
And Mills thinks the focus should be on Heyward the football player, rather than Heyward's weight.
Mills has not had much contact with the Rams -- or Heyward -- since before the weekend. Mills, who also represents St. Louis golfing great Hale Irwin, attended the U.S. Senior Open over the weekend, which Irwin won.
``I really don't know where we're at,'' Mills said. ``I think it's going to take a few more days of this thing sort of fermenting -- or whatever you want to say.''
From the Rams standpoint, Vermeil said a trade was easier said than done.
``The problem with a trade, is No. 1, who wants him?'' Vermeil said. ``No. 2, is the acceleration of the signing bonus in the salary cap.''
The Rams would have to count $975,000 of Heyward's $1.3 million signing bonus against this year's cap if they traded him. Short of a trade, Heyward has two options -- retire or report to training camp. Mills says retirement probably isn't an option. ``I don't think he wants to,'' Mills said.
If Heyward reports to camp, he would force the Rams' hand. Once September rolled around, they would either have to start paying Heyward his $650,000 base salary this season or cut him. Even if Heyward reports, Vermeil won't let him practice until he reaches the 260-pound weight limit, or is fairly close to it.
When asked how much Heyward was over that weight, Mills said, ``I don't even know. I'm just assuming that he's probably 15 or 20 pounds over.''
Mills said he wanted to give Heyward a few more days to sort out his thoughts, ``and see if his opinion changes.''
Heyward has spent the offseason and preseason in Atlanta. Through his wife, Charlotte, Heyward declined to be interviewed by the Post-Dispatch.
For his part, Vermeil remains unwavering in his stance on the situation: ``We told him what he had to do to be a football player with the Rams and expected him to do it. As usual, he gave everybody the impression that he was going to do it. And he didn't.
``I've got a whole football team making a commitment, and I expect everybody to do it, especially if it's a guy you're relying on to be a starter. He put himself in the situation. Maybe I made a mistake by forcing him into doing something I thought he would do.''

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