Rams Beat the Chargers to Tight End
The Rams took another ride down the San Diego pipeline Wednesday, claiming tight end Eric Sievers on waivers from the Chargers.
Sievers, 29, had been on injured reserve since Oct. 12 with a neck injury. The Chargers were trying to bring him back this week because of an injury to starter Rod Bernstine, but had to expose Sievers to procedural waivers because they had used their five free roster moves for the season.
The Rams have done well shopping in San Diego in recent years, having signed the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, Ernie Zampese, tight end Pete Holohan, fullback Buford McGee and reserve quarterback Mark Herrmann.
Sievers, who has caught 3 passes in the past 3 years, will be used on special teams and as a backup to starter Damone Johnson in Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons at Anaheim Stadium.
“Don’t think there’s anything wrong with D.J.,” Coach John Robinson said of Johnson, the team’s third-leading receiver with 36 catches. “That would be very off the mark.”
Robinson said Sievers is a solid blocker who could fill that role for the next 2 or 3 years while the Rams searched for a young project-type tight end in the draft.
“Eric gives you that bridge,” Robinson said.
Sievers knows the Rams’ offense, having played for Zampese in San Diego. Zampese sees the acquisition of Sievers as insurance.
“Are you saying he’s going to start in front of D.J.?” he said. “No, he’s not. He’s not a Pro Bowler. He’s just a solid football player.”
Sievers’ best season was in 1985, when he caught 41 passes for 438 yards and 6 touchdowns. In his 8-year career, he has 152 receptions for 1,793 yards and 16 touchdowns.
To make room for Sievers on the roster, the Rams put tight end Jon Embree on injured reserve. Embree has a knee injury.
Looking ahead: If no new collective bargaining agreement is signed by Feb. 1, National Football League owners say they will automatically implement their latest proposal, which grants unrestricted free agency to some players.
How many? That depends. The NFL Players Assn. estimates that only 85 of the league’s 1,642 players will become total free agents. The NFL Management Council, which represents the owners, says more than 300 players will become free agents, based on a somewhat complicated system of protecting and not protecting rostered players.
Under the current agreement, a team losing a free agent has to be compensated for the loss, a reason why only two players have changed teams in 10 years.
How will the new plan affect the Rams? The NFLPA suggests that six Rams will be free to sign with any team after Feb. 1. They are receiver Michael Young, running backs Keith Jones and Tim Tyrrell, snapper Mike McDonald and defensive tackle Mike Piel.
However, Management Council spokesman John Jones said Wednesday that only 42 of the 55 players under contract would be protected, leaving 13 free agent Rams come Feb. 1.
Determining which players would be affected is based on variables such as playing time, experience and length of contract.
Ram Notes
It won’t be much of a move for Eric Sievers, acquired by the Rams on Wednesday from San Diego. He lives in La Costa and figures the drive to Anaheim will be only 10 minutes longer than the commute to San Diego. . . . More on Sievers: He wore No. 85 in San Diego but will be asked to take a different number with the Rams. Jack Youngblood wore No. 85 and equipment man Don Hewitt hasn’t issued it since Youngblood retired in 1985. . . . Linebacker Mark Jerue, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury, practiced Wednesday, though the Rams still list him as questionable for Sunday’s game with the Falcons. . . . Wide receiver Henry Ellard is tied for the NFC lead in receptions with 74 and leads the NFL with 1,248 reception yards. . . . More Ellard: He is 10 receptions from tying Tom Fears’ single-season team reception record of 84, set in 1950. He is 247 yards shy of tying Elroy Hirsch’s season reception yardage mark. . . . Speaking of Ellard, NFL coaches and players cast their Pro Bowl ballots Dec. 12-13. . . . The Rams’ dropped from fourth to fifth overall in NFL offense. . . . The Falcons list guard Bill Fralic (knee), defensive end Mike Gann (groin), linebacker John Rade (shoulder), center Wayne Radloff (knee) and receiver James Milling (shoulder) as questionable for Sunday’s game. . . . Atlanta Coach Marion Campbell said there’s a chance wide receiver Stacey Bailey would be back this week. Bailey has been on injured reserve since Oct. 29 with a shoulder injury.
