Rams Find Sutton Is Still Man of the Hour

The Rams’ media guide describes cornerback William (Mickey) Sutton as an “opportunistic cornerback who makes things happen,” but that doesn’t suggest the half of it.

If you believe in magical powers, what Sutton made happen last year was Henry Ellard’s holdout and Ron Brown’s separated shoulder.

The first incident induced the Rams to keep Sutton around to field punts. Then, when Ellard finally showed up, the second secured his position on the roster as a kickoff returner.

Meanwhile, Sutton played enough defense to intercept two passes and break up four others.

“I just keep working hard,” Sutton said, “and when the situation pops up, I get a lot more time and I’m prepared to take advantage of it.”

The Mickey Sutton saga continued Thursday night in the Rams’ 23-14 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in the 42nd annual Times/Rams Charity Game at Anaheim Stadium.

Sutton, still listed as Jerry Gray’s backup at left corner, started at right corner because of LeRoy Irvin’s hamstring injury. The opportunistic Sutton intercepted a pass by David Krieg and returned it 29 yards to set up a Mike Lansford field goal for a 13-7 lead in the second quarter.

Sutton’s only regret was that he only reached the Seahawks’ 31-yard line.

“I should have followed my blocks,” he said, his ever-present smile slipping into a frown for a moment. “I didn’t follow the guys.”

But it’s the same old story. Sutton wishes nobody ill fortune--but he’s ready and willing to make the most of it.

“I just work hard and pray to the Lord to be ready when these things happen,” he said.

“LeRoy’s been hurt since training camp started, and I’ve been running (at right corner) all along.”

Then, Thursday night, Clifford Hicks, the Rams’ third-round draft choice from Oregon, sustained a separated shoulder, giving Sutton one less rival to worry about for awhile. That may seem insensitive, but that’s football.

Sutton is the kind of guy training camp followers root for, against all odds.

He is listed, generously, as being 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds, no doubt with his thumb on the scale.

Sutton was brought in last summer as a free agent after two years in the United States Football League with Birmingham and Pittsburgh. Obviously, they were more impressed than National Football League teams when Sutton won some all-American mention at the University of Montana--something less than a football powerhouse--in 1982.

But every summer Sutton manages to make his mark.

“I could use a lot more rest,” he said as Thursday’s game wound down. “I played a lot tonight. I hope we can get all those guys back healthy.

Was he serious? Wouldn’t that jeopardize his already marginal career?

“I’ve never had anything come easy,” Sutton said. “I don’t expect it to come easy.