Rams Giving Ex-Coug Rypien Another Look
Last July, The Spokesman-Review ran a headline: “Rypien’s playing days appear over - in St. Louis.” That applied last season, but maybe not in 1997.
Rypien talked on the phone Wednesday with new Rams offensive coordinator Jerry Rhome, who coached Rypien when he was with the Redskins.
The Rams’ interest in Rypien appears sincere. Asked which free-agent quarterbacks the team is considering, a Rams public relations staffer said: “Rypien. That’s it.”
St. Louis and Rypien parted on unfriendly terms before last season because of snags during contract negotiations. The Rams fired head coach Rich Brooks after last season and hired Dick Vermeil.
“That would be the irony of it all,” Rypien said by telephone from his home in Post Falls. “I really had no regrets at all about St. Louis. I loved the people, the town itself. We just had a run-in with management.”
The former Washington State Cougar would love to play in Seattle, but he acknowledged, “They’re not showing a heck of a lot of interest.”
Seattle apparently is eyeballing former Washington Husky Warren Moon, if he’s released by Minnesota, as a backup to John Friesz. Former Seahawk Dave Krieg and Chris Miller also are being considered.
Last year’s backup and part-time starter Rick Mirer was traded by Seattle to the Chicago Bears Tuesday, leaving the Seahawks backup spot open.
Tony Banks was St. Louis’ starter as a rookie last season. The Rams’ other QBs include former starter Steve Walsh and ex-Weber State Wildcat Jamie Martin. Walsh is a free agent and he’s not expected to return to the team.
Rypien joined the Philadelphia Eagles five games into the ‘96 season and played in two games.
49ers grab Gogan
The San Francisco 49ers and free-agent offensive lineman Kevin Gogan reached contract terms for a reported $12 million over six years. When the team will sign him and how the club clears room under the salary cap remains to be seen.
Gogan, the starting right guard on the Dallas Cowboys’ 1993 team that won the Super Bowl, has been with the Oakland Raiders the past three seasons.
Rams’ troubled back has more legal woes
Two people who were at a party with Lawrence Phillips filed lawsuits, accusing the St. Louis Rams running back of assault, battery and false imprisonment.
The former Nebraska football player was arrested early Sunday at the party in Omaha and was charged with disorderly conduct. Police said party-goers restrained him from attacking officers. Phillips was released on bail pending a hearing next month.
The lawsuits filed in Douglas County District Court by Lisa Bateman and Arthur Stallworth seek unspecified damages.
Bateman’s lawsuit alleged Phillips touched intimate parts of her body with his hands and a champagne bottle.
In his lawsuits, Stallworth accused Phillips and another former Nebraska Cornhusker, Clinton Childs, of beating him at the party. Stallworth is Bateman’s boyfriend.
Leigh Ann Retelsdorf said the county had not filed criminal charges against Phillips based on the accusations in the civil lawsuits.
, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Jim Meehan Staff writer The Associated Press contributed to this report.