Bartkowski Still Sore but Says He’ll Be Back

Steve Bartkowski showed up limping at Rams Park Monday--and that was a good sign for him.

There was some doubt as he was helped off the field at Philadelphia Sunday whether he would walk in the near future.

“It’s extremely sore, but there’s nothing seriously damaged,” he said of his right knee, which has been operated on five times during his 12 National Football League seasons.

Said Coach John Robinson: “I’m shocked that he’s walking.”

Less fortunate is inside linebacker Steve Busick, who had knee surgery Monday and is out for the season. He’ll be replaced on the active roster by quarterback Jim Everett this week.

“Jim will be the backup quarterback (behind Steve Dils),” Robinson said.

Everett, who signed last week after a major trade with Houston, will get a crash course.

“When he has to play is when he’s asked to,” Robinson said. “You open no wine before its time--unless you’re really thirsty.”

Bartkowski’s goal is to be able to play against his former team, the first-place, undefeated Falcons, at Atlanta a week from Sunday.

“I’m hoping,” he said. “They have something we want, and it’d be fun to go down there and take it away from ‘em.”

Bartkowski was five yards past the line of scrimmage when he released a pass just as he was hit by Eagle safety Andre Waters, shoulder on knee. He didn’t accuse Waters of a cheap shot but did say he’d prefer to be hit higher.

“We’d rather have the people who bash you in the face rather than go after your legs,” he said. “You can play with a broken nose.”

But he also said that Waters apologized after the game.

“He just said he was sorry and he was praying for me,” Bartkowski said.

Bartkowski said he might even play against Tampa Bay at Anaheim Sunday.

“Never rule it out,” he said. “When I see some of the miracles that have taken place in my life.”

Ram Notes

The Green Bay Packers are showing interest in acquiring the Rams’ rights to quarterback Doug Flutie. Tom Coughlin, an assistant coach at Boston College when Flutie was there, is on Forrest Gregg’s staff. The Rams, who drafted Flutie on the 11th round in 1985, will probably ask for a No. 2 choice but would settle for something lower. The trading deadline is Oct. 14. . . . The Rams had almost as much trouble with their airplane as they did with their offense over the weekend. Preparing to leave Los Angeles International Airport last Friday, their charter had to taxi back to the gate because the engines weren’t in tune. Then, arriving home Sunday night, the plane had to be towed in from the landing area. . . . Steve Busick, acquired from the Denver Broncos this season, was playing in Carl Ekern’s position when he was injured. He suffered a torn cartilage, torn ligament and a chipped femur that temporarily locked the joint. He is expected to be able to play again, but not until next season. “It’s sad because he was playing very well,” Ram Coach John Robinson said. “It’s been very difficult for Steve, changing clubs and all this.” Ekern is expected to return against Tampa Bay at Anaheim Sunday.