Rams News

Gruttadauria is out with knee injury

08/19

By Elizabethe Holland
Of the Post-Dispatch

MACOMB, Ill. -- Rams starting center Mike Gruttadauria will miss the rest of the preseason and could miss one or two regular-season games because of knee problems.
Gruttadauria missed the Rams' final training camp practice Wednesday because of knee surgery scheduled for 2 p.m. that day at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital.
``They're going to take a cyst (out) that was irritating him,'' coach Dick Vermeil said. ``And they also found a little (torn) cartilage. . . . I think it's been something that's been gradually bothering him.''
The surgery is expected to keep Gruttadauria from playing for two to four weeks.
The center also began last season coping with an injury. He started 14 games last year but missed two early-season games with an ankle injury.
John Flannery, whom the Rams signed April 7 as an unrestricted free agent, will start in Gruttadauria's absence.
Flannery ``struggles a little bit at guard, but at center he seems to play a little better,'' Vermeil said.
Last year, while with the Cowboys, Flannery played in 16 games, starting one at left guard and three at right guard.
Camp finale: Training camp ended with a bang Wednesday -- literally.
Vermeil signaled the end of camp with the loud, smoky firing of a 10-gauge cannon on one of the practice fields. With that, the players dispersed just about as quickly as the smoke.
The majority of players had checked out of the dorm and loaded up their cars and sport-utility vehicles before practice so they could zip through the showers, jump in their vehicles and get out of town as expeditiously as possible.
Cornerback Todd Lyght estimated it would take him about 30 minutes, with the count beginning at the end of practice, to hit the road.
``I'm all packed up, ready to go,'' said Lyght, who was eager to leave Macomb, dorm life and bed checks behind. ``It will be nice to go home and sleep in my own bed. That's the most important thing.''
Injury report: Of the eight players who sat out practice Wednesday, four were linebackers: Charlie Clemons (groin), Daryl Bush (knee), Muadianvita Kazadi (biceps) and Lorenzo Styles (groin). Kazadi's injury may require surgery, Vermeil said.
Showtime: As is custom, the rookies put on a show for the rest of the team Tuesday night at a nearby bar, The Pride. The festivities were led by first-round pick Grant Wistrom, who was tight-lipped about the program. Asked before the show what was planned, he quipped, ``If I told you that, I'd have to kill you.''
Ram-blings: Several Rams staffers addressed or visited with the Western Illinois football squad before the Rams left Macomb. Among them were Vermeil, Charley Armey, Kevin Warren and Frank Gansz. Jack Snow, Rams broadcaster and former wide receiver great for the Rams, also put in a few words to the Leathernecks receivers.

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