Ram Notebook : Reed, Deciding That 27 Days Are Enough, Ends His Holdout
Another day, another Ram contract convert--this time defensive end Doug Reed, who concluded his 27-day holdout with a phone call to team vice president John Shaw Tuesday night and a signature on the dotted line Wednesday afternoon.
Thus ended the Rams’ worries with free agents. Holdout guard Tom Newberry, who is under contract, is their lone negotiating headache. A day earlier, defensive end Shawn Miller arrived in camp after agreeing to terms. On Aug. 1, nose tackle Greg Meisner returned.
But unlike Miller, who pulled an all-nighter and drove 13 hours from his home in Ogden, Utah, Reed, a fourth-round draft choice in 1983, only had to jump in the family car and make a trip from Garden Grove to the Rams’ training camp at Cal State Fullerton. The Rams thanked him, he said, with a two-year contract that guarantees his salary for the 1988 season and conditionally guarantees the 1989 salary if he participates in a Ram-monitored off-season weight training program.
Reed wouldn’t reveal the salaries, but it is presumed he received considerably less than the $300,000 he and his agent, Harry Vested, once requested and more than the $210,000 he earned last year. According to one source, Reed will get about $250,000 in base salaries, a low five-figure bonus (about $25,000) in 1989 should he complete the conditioning program, and some incentive money based on playing time.
Meisner signed a two-year guaranteed contract for $225,000 annually. And Miller’s contract, though not guaranteed, also pays him $225,000 this season and next.
“We’re pretty happy with the deal we made,” Reed said. “We never get what we want, but we were pretty close.”
Actually, Reed made his own deal, choosing to call Shaw directly rather than wait for Vested, who was in Wichita, Kan., on business, to resume negotiations. By Wednesday, Reed was back in player meetings and later, on the practice field. And no, he said, he wasn’t pressured to make a deal, nor did Miller’s decision affect his thinking.
“Basically, I was more concerned with me not being in top condition when the regular season started,” he said.
He should be. After Wednesday afternoon’s workout, cornerback LeRoy Irvin approached Reed as they walked off the practice field.
“Hey, we got another practice at 7:30,” Irvin said, kidding.
“Hey, I’ll be asleep,” Reed said, dripping sweat.
Reed’s arrival doesn’t necessarily ensure him a starting position, though defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur would prefer to see both Miller and Reed on the first team. When diagramming the Rams’ new Eagle defense, Shurmur jotted their names down as starters, but made it clear he had an eraser ready.
“They’re competing for positions,” Shurmur said. “I mean, we are fighting time here.”
Shurmur figures there are about five practices left in which Reed and Miller can receive actual on-the-field job training. And expect both players to receive considerable playing time in Saturday evening’s exhibition game against the Houston Oilers.
“That’s what we’re desperate for,” Coach John Robinson.
Newberry is off again--this time back to Wisconsin--but his Los Angeles-based agent, Greg Campbell, remains behind. And bored stiff.
Campbell said he is through trying to convince the Rams to re-open negotiations and end his client’s holdout, which began July 21. He also criticized Ram management and warned it not to underestimate Newberry’s patience.
“This thing should have been resolved a long time ago,” Campbell said. “You might think the guy was asking for millions of dollars. (The Rams) don’t have a resolver. They make no effort. This was a simple deal to do. When a team ends up having a holdout over this situation, it’s ridiculous.”
Newberry remains a training camp no-show because of his dissatisfaction with a renegotiation offer. On Tuesday, Newberry said a trade might be the best alternative. Newberry also indicated he had no plans to abandon his holdout until his demands were satisfied.
“I think they should take Tom seriously,” Campbell said. “He’s not kidding. With any other team, this would have never happened. It’s a strange situation, that’s all it is.”
Meanwhile, Robinson said to disregard any talk of trade.
“That’s not going to happen, c’mon,” he said.
That about did it for Ram reaction. Robinson did say he would never get involved directly in the Newberry negotiations should the holdout continue.
Ram Notes
Steve Dils’ father died Wednesday morning. Dils left camp and won’t return until Monday. Coach John Robinson said he had planned to use Dils in Saturday night’s exhibition game, but will now rely on Jim Everett for the first half and part of the third quarter, followed by Hugh Millen. Everett, sidelined by the flu, practiced Wednesday. “He looks like he’s been in a prisoner of war camp, but he’ll get all his fluids back,” Robinson said. . . . Weary with the daily holdout questions, Robinson delivered this line: “One of the biggest problems in my life right now is how do I go out to practice and keep gum off my shoes. Or two, find somebody who will clean it off. Those are two of my major concerns.”
