Rams--Minus a Few--to Face Bengals : With Injuries and Holdouts, Exhibition Opener Won’t Show a Lot

CANTON, Ohio —  The Rams will open their second consecutive five-game exhibition season today against the Cincinnati Bengals in the Hall of Fame game.

But if you’ve just been dying to see some of your favorite new Ram draft choices and veterans in action, tough luck.

Gaston Green? He’s out. The former UCLA flash and fastest man in this year’s scouting combines has a thigh bruise and probably won’t make his Ram debut until next Wednesday night’s home exhibition against the Denver Broncos.

Anthony Newman? He’s out. The rookie cornerback/safety and second-round choice is nursing a shin injury.

Receiver Michael Young? Back spasms.

Newcomer Pete Holohan? Out. Sore hamstring.

Linebacker Jim Collins? Knee strain.

Fullback Donald Evans? Neck strain.

Defensive end Gary Jeter? Back strain.

And that’s not even counting the holdouts--guard Tom Newberry (whereabouts unknown), tight end Greg Baty (please call) and the united defensive front (UDF) of Shawn Miller (boating in Utah), Greg Meisner (doing yardwork) and Doug Reed (doing nothing).

Robinson said recently of his three defensive holdouts: “These guys aren’t exactly the scourge of the league.”

OK, but last season they were his starters, sorry as Robinson is to admit it.

In lieu of regulars, the Rams’ defensive front today will feature mostly Alvin Wright and friends.

Wright plays the part of nose tackle, flanked by ends Mark Piel--the third-round rookie who was holding out and surfing in Orange County this time last week--and Fred Stokes, a 12th-round choice last year.

In other words, not exactly a lineup that belongs near the Hall of Fame.

So who is playing? Quarterback Jim Everett and selected starters are scheduled to go about one quarter, no more. Then, it’s free-agent ball.

The game will provide sneak-preview opportunities for some of the top stories in training camp, namely fifth-round fullback Robert Delpino, the Missouri rookie who has received more compliments in camp than owner Georgia Frontiere’s new ponytail hairdo.

And then there’s the rookie receiving duo of Aaron Cox and Willie Anderson. The only thing that has slowed these guys down in camp has been the volume of Ernie Zampese’s playbook. Sources say once these guys learn which way to break a pass pattern, look out.

Then there’s Mike Schad, the first-round pick who is filling in for Newberry and the injured Robert Cox at left guard. Is this the game that proves he can play in the National Football League?

“It’s important for Mike,” Robinson said. “He’s been practicing for three years.”

And it just wouldn’t be an exhibition season without three quarters of quarterback Hugh Millen, who shone brightly this time last year only to return to the bench come September, never to be heard from again.

The stakes seem higher today. Millen, starting his third season, was told in mini-camp that he’d get a real shot at unseating Steve Dils as No. 2 behind Everett.

“The job is open, from what they’ve told me,” Millen said.

Millen missed his rookie year with a broken leg and pretty much started from scratch in 1987.

“Last year, I was coming off a broken leg, plus there was Ernie’s new system,” he said. “I chalked it up as a rookie year. The year before didn’t exist. Now, I think they’re giving me a look.”

If not, the way Millen plays this summer may affect his stock around the league, if the Rams are considering a trade.

“I don’t want to downplay the significance of these games for veterans,” Millen said. “But it shouldn’t fool anybody. But with me, I’ll be evaluated much more intensely.”

Ram Notes

Both the Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals are coming off losing seasons. . . . Bengal Coach Sam Wyche said quarterback Boomer Esiason will play about one quarter today, followed by Turk Schonert and Mike Norseth. . . . A big surprise for the Bengals has been the return of Stanley Wilson, back from a year’s suspension for cocaine use. Today, he’s the starting fullback. Wilson, like the Rams’ Charles White, takes a drug test three times weekly. . . . The Bengals have three veteran holdouts--safety Robert Jackson, center Dave Rimington and fullback Larry Kinnebrew. The Bengals still haven’t signed No. 1 pick Rickey Dixon, the former Oklahoma cornerback. . . . The Rams are making their first appearance in Canton since 1971, when they beat the Houston Oilers, 17-6, thanks to two touchdown passes from John Walton to Bob Klein (9 yards) and Randy Vataha (33 yards). The game was also Jack Youngblood’s first as a Ram. . . . The Rams have found a punter, for now. He’s free agent Kevin Brown from West Texas State. Brown will temporarily replace Dale Hatcher, out six to eight weeks with a knee injury.