Robinson Lashes Out at Holdout Slater : Rams: Veteran guard is seeking to renegotiate contract, which reportedly is for $550,000 this season. He’s being fined $1,000 a day until he reports.
Ram Coach John Robinson, using his strongest language to date, reprimanded 14-year veteran tackle Jackie Slater on Sunday for holding out of training camp while being under contract.
Robinson also said that Slater, a team captain and six-time Pro Bowl selection, is being fined $1,000 per day during his holdout, which began last Wednesday when Ram veterans reported to camp at UC Irvine.
“He has a contract and has violated the terms of that contract,” Robinson said. “I think he’s out of line in what he’s doing.”
Slater, who has been unavailable for comment, is trying to renegotiate his contract for 1990, which reportedly will pay him $550,000.
Robinson said Slater’s reputation as a team leader and his years of service to the organization do not excuse his absence from camp.
“He’s been a very responsible player here, a very responsible person here,” Robinson said. “But his responsibility continues.
“Just because he’s been a great player, and an outstanding person in the past, he still has a responsibility to this team to be here. In my view, the tact he’s taking is not going to be successful.”
Slater, 36, said he plans to play two more seasons. If he does and remains healthy, he will break franchise records for most seasons, 16, and games played.
Slater enters his 15th season with the Rams, tying him on the team’s all-time list with Charlie Cowan and Joe Scibelli.
As for games played, Slater, with 194, trails only Merlin Olsen (208), Cowan (206), Jack Youngblood (202), Scibelli (202).
If Slater plays 16 games in each of the next two seasons, he’ll finish with 226 appearances.
Bern Brostek, the team’s first-round draft choice from the University of Washington, signed a five-year contract and reported to camp.
Terms of the deal were not available. The Rams had reportedly been offering Brostek the same four-year, $1.8-million deal they gave Cleveland Gary last year. The two sides compromised by adding another year to the length of the contract.
Brostek, who was drafted as a center/guard, will be used exclusively at center this season, Robinson said.
“He doesn’t have time to learn two positions,” Robinson said. “We feel good about our guards--(Joe) Milinichik, (Duval) Love, and (Tom) Newberry. If we ever have a disaster, I think (center) Doug Smith is probably more equipped to play guard than Brostek, rather than asking a guy to do both.”
Anticipating his signing, Brostek flew from his home in Hawaii to California late Saturday night. Brostek said he never wanted to hold out for one minute, let alone 18 days.
“I wanted to be here on the first day (July 11), he said. “It’s time to play some football.”
Brostek, the heir apparent to eventually take over veteran center Smith’s position, will spend his first season in a learning role.
“He doesn’t have to come in and fill a hole,” Robinson said. “He’s here in a support role initially, we hope, and feel from what we’ve seen, that he’s capable of playing in a responsible way in the NFL his first year, which doesn’t happen very often for offensive linemen. He’s probably just as well off to be in a support role.”
Brostek, 6-feet-3 and 300 pounds, said he hopes to catch up with his teammates quickly. He spent one month after the April draft working out with the team in Anaheim. He’s ready to work.
“Wherever they want me to play, I’ll play,” he said. “I heard center. I’ll help any way I can.”
Ram Notes
Receiver Flipper Anderson bruised his tail bone Sunday and was held out of the evening practice. . . . The Rams have yet to sign their second-round draft choice, safety Pat Terrell, and four veterans--defensive end Kevin Greene, safety Michael Stewart, defensive lineman Doug Reed, and tight end Damone Johnson. Running back David Lang, the team’s 12th-round choice, is also unsigned, but he probably won’t play this season because he’s serving out a prison sentence for receiving stolen property.
With Brostek’s signing, the team must release one player to meet the roster limit of 80. The Rams depart for Berlin, Germany, next Saturday for an Aug. 11 exhibition game with the Kansas City Chiefs.
