Brock Gets Doctors’ OK to Resume Workouts : Ram Quarterback’s Status for Sunday’s Game to Be Evaluated Later in Week

Ram quarterback Dieter Brock, who underwent surgery to remove a kidney stone last week, has been given permission to return to practice and could start against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

“I’ve basically got a clearance to see what I can do,” Brock said after a Monday afternoon examination by Ram physicians. “It’s pretty much based on what I can tolerate as far as pain.”

Brock, who takes prides in his ability to play despite injuries, said he is recovering nicely from last Monday’s minor surgery. “If I feel like I can perform without hurting us offensively or hurting myself, I’ll go out and play,” Brock said. “If I can do it during practice, I feel I can do it in the game.”

Ram Coach John Robinson said Monday he’ll decide Brock’s playing status later this week.

Brock returned to the Ram practice facilities Monday and was greeted by Robinson near the locker room door.

“A little agony there, watching the game?” Robinson asked.

“Yeah,” Brock said, smiling.

Brock didn’t travel with the Rams to New Jersey. Instead, he watched the game on television--an arrangement he could do without.

“It’s really boring sitting around here not being able to do anything about it,” he said.

If, by chance, Brock couldn’t play Sunday, Robinson said he would continue with Jeff Kemp. Kemp started Sunday’s game against the Giants--a 24-19 loss--and finished the afternoon with 10 completions in 25 attempts for 130 yards and 1 interception.

“Jeff was fine,” Robinson said. “Jeff did what we asked him to do.”

The Rams, however, did not ask Kemp to test a Giant secondary that Robinson described as “average.”

“We didn’t feel like we were in a position with a new quarterback to take advantage of that secondary the way we would have liked to,” Robinson said.

Robinson spent about 30 minutes Monday with an NFL schedule and let his imagination run free. After 10 games, Robinson offered these observations:

On the probable NFC playoff teams: “Right now you’d have to say the five NFC playoff teams would be the Dallas and Giants in the East, the Bears in the middle and the Rams and the 49ers in the West. At least, that’s how I see it, depending how that game goes tonight (49ers vs. Denver Broncos). The Giants have as good as defensive front as any one of those five . . . and perhaps the best defensive front coming into the playoffs.”

On the prospects of winning the NFC West: “We’re clearly in control of our own fate. The magic number, so to speak, to win our division is five. If we win five games, we’re the division champion. If we win four and the 49ers lose, we’re the division champions. That’s what we’re after and the first step is to beat Atlanta.”

The Ram schedule consists of Atlanta, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Francisco, St. Louis and the Raiders.

San Francisco must play Kansas City, Seattle, Washington, the Rams, New Orleans and Dallas.

After re-examining the two most questionable calls from Sunday’s game against the Giants--a catch by Ram receiver Bobby Duckworth ruled out of bounds in the end zone and a pass interference call by Ram cornerback LeRoy Irvin--Robinson was less inclined to be charitable toward the officials.

“Bobby Duckworth caught the ball in the end zone, he came down, it should have been a touchdown,” he said. “The LeRoy Irvin play was probably a little more flagrant in my view than the other one. It was second and 24, something like that (actually, second-and-23) and they were out of field goal range. . . . That gave them a chance to go ahead by eight.

“From our standpoint, which is prejudicial, they were clearly the wrong calls. I could live with the one in the end zone more than I can with the other one. We’ve all seen pass interference penalties where guys are bumping, shoving, kicking and all of that this year and everybody’s kind of saying, ‘That’s the way it is.’ But to have one that’s so inconsequential in terms of anything.”

Other reactions on the officiating:

Len Fontes, a Giant assistant coach, told the New York Post his opinion of the disallowed touchdown catch by Duckworth.

“I think he was in,” Fontes said. “I have a different viewpoint in the press box, and I saw it (replayed) on TV. I think he would have had an opportunity to put the other foot in (if safety Kenny Hill hadn’t hit him).”

Columnist Dave Anderson of the New York Times, wrote: “True, the Giants had their share of breaks, perhaps more than their share. Notably a pass-interference call against LeRoy Irvin . . . “

Ram Notes

The Rams returned from New York with an assortment of injuries. Bobby Duckworth, who hurt his shoulder while attempting a near-touchdown catch in the fourth period of Sunday’s game against the Giants isn’t expected to play against Atlanta this week. “Probably doubtful,” said John Robinson of Duckworth’s availability. . . . Other Ram injuries include running back Eric Dickerson (groin pull), center Doug Smith (ribs), safety Nolan Cromwell (ankle), right tackle Jackie Slater (ankle) and nose tackle Shawn Miller (ribs). Defensive back Eric Harris, who has been nursing an injured back, should be OK for Sunday, Robinson said