Rams News

Heyward plans to report to Rams today
09/01 11:59 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff


Ironhead is coming to town.
Craig ``Ironhead'' Heyward, the Rams' wayward fullback, is expected to report to Rams Park today.
> Will he and coach Dick Vermeil part ways?
> Will they kiss and make up?
> And how much does Ironhead weigh?
Stay tuned.
``There's something for you to look forward to Wednesday,'' Heyward's agent, Jack Mills, said with a laugh Tuesday afternoon. ``There will be a little bit of excitement -- not just your normal day.
``He is en route. I don't know if he's in the air or on the road, but he is en route. I said, `I don't know if I'd want to take my car over if I were you. Because you might be driving right back.' ''
The Rams placed Heyward on their reserve/did not report list after he failed to show for a scheduled weigh-in on July 24 -- the veterans' reporting day at training camp. As long as Heyward carries that designation, he does not count toward the team's roster limit and does not get paid.
And this is the first week that players receive a game check -- or 1/17th of their base salaries. Heyward is scheduled to make $650,000 this season, so one game check would be more than $38,000.
So the only way for Heyward to force the issue with the Rams -- pay me or cut me -- was to report.
``As long as he's sitting out, there's no pressure on anybody to do anything,'' Mills said. ``This way, at least at some point, he's going to have to count on the roster. And secondly, I guess the bottom line question is: Does Dick want him around?''
Not likely. Heyward lashed out a Vermeil less than two weeks ago, asking for his release in the process. Vermeil responded by saying Heyward had to report before the Rams would even consider releasing him.
The Rams notified Heyward in late July that they were fining him $5,000 a day for every day of missed work. An unofficial count puts the fine total at $195,000 -- and counting.
With only Derrick Harris on the roster, the Rams could use a fullback. Can Vermeil and Heyward patch things up?
``I don't think so, but I've been wrong before,'' Mills said. ``There's been some pretty surprising things that have happened when people finally get together.
Hakim is hurt: Rookie wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim probably will miss a couple of games with a broken left hand he suffered in the preseason finale against Kansas City.
``I was out there playing Fridayand thought it was a little sore,'' Hakim said. ``I got it taped up. I went and got X-rays, and it's broke. I've got a slight fracture.''
More specifically, Hakim has a fracture of the third metacarpal, a bone in the middle of his hand. Hakim, a fourth-round draft pick from San Diego State, caught two passes against Kansas City after the injury.
But the hand swelled up after the game. Initially, there was concern that Hakim might need surgery, but surgery has now been ruled out.
It is highly unlikely that Hakim can play, because he must wear a full cast for a couple of weeks, which will make catching the football all but impossible. In a couple of weeks, the cast will be replaced by a piece of protective plastic on the back of the hand only.
Hakim caught four passes for 55 yards during the preseason, including an 8-yard touchdown catch Aug. 15 against the Chargers. He also returned three punts for 16 yards and four kickoffs for 73 yards.
Before he knew about the injury, Vermeil said Hakim ``will automatically be in our four-wide receiver package. He separates real well. He catches the ball in a crowd. He's quick as heck.''
Either Johnny ``J.T.'' Thomas or rookie Tony Horne would be asked to fill that role if Hakim can't play.
Ticket count: By the close of the business day Tuesday, just under 1,400 tickets remained for the Rams' season opener Sunday against New Orleans at the Trans World Dome. If the tickets aren't sold by Thursday afternoon, the game could be blacked out on local television. The phone numbers for tickets: 989-8000 or (800) 771-3666.

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