Rams News

St. Louis Rams
Team Report posted September 3, 1998
by tsn correspondent JIM THOMAS - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Craig "Ironhead" Heyward had planned to report to St. Louis Wednesday or Thursday. When Dick Vermeil caught wind of Heyward's travel plans, the Rams called Heyward's agent to say don't bother.

The Rams waived the larger-than-life fullback Wednesday, ending a saga that had taken on soap-opera proportions. Vermeil took a hard-line stance last winter by instructing Heyward to show up for training camp at 260 pounds, or else.

The "or else" finally happened Wednesday with Heyward's release.

"It's just as well that Craig go on with the rest of his career," Vermeil said. "I'm sorry it didn't work out."

This might have been avoided had Heyward showed up for camp at 260 pounds and Vermeil refrained from fat jokes involving the fullback.

But neither happened.

Heyward was a no-show for a scheduled weigh-in July 24. The Rams placed him on their reserve/did not report list; that put Heyward's career in limbo until he decided to report.

Even though he never arrived in St. Louis, Heyward finally forced the issue, by at least planning to come to St. Louis this week.

"I apologized to the management and to the ownership for bringing him here," Vermeil said. "You hate to make mistakes in signing free agents. Everybody does it, but sometimes you think you're immune. And I proved I am not immune."

Heyward's departure leaves the Rams with only one fullback on the roster, third-year man Derrick Harris. . . .

What's the price of a franchise tag? In the case of cornerback Ryan McNeil, about $220,000. McNeil ended his holdout Monday night by signing a one-year, $3 million contract.

McNeil was one of the six franchise player holdouts, a group that included Dorsey Levens, Joe Johnson, Dan Williams, Wally Williams, and Tim Bowens. In signing for $3 million, McNeil agreed to play for less than the team's original franchise tender offer $3.22 million.

But the Rams made a concession of their own, because they agreed not to name McNeil a franchise player after the '98 season. (They reserve the right, however, to name him a transition player.)

"Now I can find out my true market value," McNeil said. "We can't speculate about it. We can't guess. It'll be what it is."

As much as anything, the NFL schedule-maker helped settle this stalemate, which at times took some absurd twists.

With Minnesota coming to the Trans World Dome September 13, the Rams wanted every able-bodied cornerback they could muster to take on the Vikings' receiver corps of Cris Carter, Jake Reed, and Randy Moss.

By signing Monday, McNeil can get his feet wet this week against New Orleans, and be ready to start against Minnesota.

POSITIONAL ANALYSIS

Offensive line: The task got much tougher Wednesday, when New Orleans signed franchise player Joe Johnson. Even with his late arrival, Johnson is expected to start at right end. He is a powerful man, with enough quickness to get to the passer, so Orlando Pace will have his hands full at left tackle.

The other stud in the Saints' front four is left tackle Wayne Martin, who, like Johnson, combines power with quickness. Rams right guard Zach Wiegert will have his hands full.

Quarterback: Tony Banks had one of his better games as a Ram against New Orleans last December, completing 22-of-41 for 267 yards. His three touchdown passes matched a career high. But 12 of his 91 sacks have come in four games against the Saints, including five in that game last December. The Saints always manage to bring a lot of heat, and Johnson's return could literally give Banks headaches.

Running back: Look for Jerald Moore to start, with Greg Hill poised to come in off the bench. Moore is almost exclusively a between-the-tackles runner. Surprisingly, it is unclear at this point if rookie Robert Holcombe will even dress for the game. Remember, teams must declare seven players inactive, and Dick Vermeil is infatuated with June Henley, who was on the Rams' practice squad last season.

Receiver: Isaac Bruce eats the Saints alive. He has scored at least one touchdown pass in all five career games against New Orleans, including two last year in a December 7 game. Saints corner Alex Molden is fast and will be tough to get behind. But you may see the Rams try to attack the other corner, former 49er Tyronne Drakeford. And with a makeshift linebacker corps, look for the Rams to dial Ernie Conwell's number.

Defensive line: How much does new Ram Mike D. Jones figure into the team's plans Sunday? Jones eventually may be the Rams' starting right end. But in his first practice Wednesday, he worked at both end spots and tackle. The Rams' terminology is very similar to New England's -- Jones' former team -- so he could be a quick study. Then again, Vermeil generally takes a conservative approach about playing newcomers, so there's a chance he might not even be active.

Linebacker: The man on the spot is Lorenzo Styles, who will replace injured right outside linebacker Roman Phifer in the starting lineup for the next few games. Styles has played in 31 games in three NFL seasons, but has yet to start. He had been working primarily at middle linebacker until the past few weeks. The Saints shouldn't pose much of a threat throwing to their tight ends, so the linebacking corps' primary responsibilities should be run defense and monitoring the backs out of the backfield.

Defensive back: The Rams' franchise player, right cornerback Ryan McNeil, agreed to a contract Monday night. He will dress for the Saints game, but it is unclear how much he will play. Second-year man Dexter McCleon will start in McNeil's place Sunday. The Saints are a little better this year at wide receiver with the addition of Sean Dawkins. Dawkins and Andre Hastings are both solid performers, but don't really pose a deep threat.

Special teams: The Rams will open with rookie Tony Horne as their lead man on kickoff returns. Depending on who is active, Horne will be paired with either another rookie -- Robert Holcombe -- or '97 practice squad member June Henley. For all three players, Sunday will mark their first kickoff returns in the NFL. The Saints will be missing a talented punt and kickoff return threat in Eric Guilford, who returned a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown against the Rams in last year's season-opener.

INJURY ANALYSIS

Two starters will miss the opener with injuries -- outside linebacker Roman Phifer (hamstring) and center Mike Gruttadauria (knee).

Phifer will miss at least one more game, and could be out the entire month of September.

Gruttadauria underwent arthroscopic knee surgery August 20. He hopes to play in Game 2 against Minnesota September 13. But the Rams don't have to rush him back because they have a very capable replacement in John Flannery, whom some observers at Rams Park think may eventually beat out Gruttadauria. . . .

Toby Wright experienced some soreness in his surgically repaired knee Wednesday, and couldn't finish practice. He tore some scar tissue in the knee in the team's preseason finale against Kansas City, but planned to practice Thursday.

The team's receiver and return depth took a blow with the news that rookie Az-Zahir Hakim, a fourth-round selection from San Diego State, will miss about three weeks with a broken hand.

Hakim would have seen duty in the Rams' four-receiver sets and possibly on kickoff returns. Hakim suffered the injury against Kansas City, but kept playing and didn't think much of it. But the hand swelled up after the game, so Hakim had it looked at.

OUT ON A LIMB

There was much more grumbling than usual about Dick Vermeil's training camp and preseason regimen this year. The Rams practiced five hours or more most days at Western Illinois, and 3 1/2 hours after breaking camp for St. Louis.

There probably were just as many sore bodies, if not more, than a year ago after camp broke. If the Rams start slowly, Vermeil could lose the team mentally very early in the year, and '98 could be a disaster.

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