THERE’S TROUBLE AT THE CORNERS : LEROY IRVIN : He’s a Ram Suspended in No-Man’s Land

The ongoing saga of LeRoy Irvin took its sharpest turn Wednesday when the Rams suspended the disgruntled cornerback for what Coach John Robinson called “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The decision was made after a Wednesday morning meeting between Irvin and Robinson. It also was made after the coach told his players that Irvin would never return to the Rams and one day after the team failed to grant Irvin’s request to be traded.

But in another twist, Robinson actually left a crack in the door for Irvin to return, providing that he draft a public apology tantamount to Gary Hart’s farewell.

“Ultimately, the word trust has to come in there, and the word commitment, “ Robinson said. “Words that have been lost, or behavior patterns that have been lost.”

Robinson said he will meet again with Irvin Monday to review the situation.

Naturally, that’s hardly the end of it.

Although the Rams won’t confirm it, Irvin’s agent, Ernie Wright, is assuming that the suspension is without pay, meaning that Irvin will lose $15,625 for every game missed--1/16th of his base salary of $250,000.

Before the suspension was announced, Wright was already preparing legal action against the Rams.

Wright said Wednesday he will either file a non-injury grievance with the National Football League Players Assn., if such a body of power actually exists in a post-strike era, or file a civil suit in court seeking an injunction to require the team to immediately reinstate Irvin or release him.

What Wright needed to resolve Wednesday was whether the grievance procedure under the league’s collective bargaining agreement is intact while the players are without a contract.

“I don’t want to file civil action and spend the time and money to do that, only to be told we have to go to grievance,” Wright said.

If grievance is the way, and the NFL Management Council accepts the complaint within 10 days, the issue will be settled in arbitration.

Wright claims that the Rams have no grounds for suspending Irvin, who was put on the team’s inactive list last week after he called in sick just one day before the Eric Dickerson trade and three days before the game against San Francisco.

It is believed that Irvin’s Thursday phone call was the final straw for Robinson, who had been tip-toeing around the sensitive Irvin issue since training camp.

But Wright contends that Irvin was ready for work last Sunday.

“How can you suspend a player that’s playing and healthy?” Wright asked.

But what if the coach didn’t believe he was sick?

“Well, Coach Robinson should check the charts of the doctors he went to last Thursday,” Wright said. “A man gets sick and calls in and lets everyone know he’s sick. How can one be suspended for that.”

What’s the doctor’s name?

“I’ll find that information out for you,” Wright continued. “I told (Irvin) to be sure to call to let everyone know, and that’s what he did.”

Robinson refused to be specific about the suspension but suggested that the evidence of Irvin’s malingering was overwhelming.

It was the first suspension Robinson has handed out since joining the Rams in 1983.

Robinson said there is a way out of the Irvin situation, but it is only clouded by outside factors.

“I’d like to be optimistic about people being able to rectify their differences,” Robinson said. “This is a situation between human beings, not between a players’ association or lawyers. I’d like to believe that it can be solved. When others become involved, it gets more complicated. If we are able as people to keep perspective, there’s a chance.”

Irvin, at the request of his agent, would not comment on the suspension.

“I’ve advised LeRoy in these tender moments not to talk to anybody,” Wright said. “And he has agreed with me.”

Irvin’s story, like Eric Dickerson’s, has become an old one. Last March, Irvin signed a three-year extension through 1990 with the team but was unhappy that the team wouldn’t renegotiate the last year of his present contract, which pays him $250,000 in 1987.

Wright has suggested that Irvin signed the contract extension under duress, some sources speculating that Irvin needed a $300,000 signing bonus to repay a Ram loan.

Wright said all the facts have not been made public.

“To quote Ollie North,” Wright said, “I hope someday I’ll be able to tell the whole story.”

For now, though, he claims the Rams are only interested in sticking it to Irvin.

“For some reason, (Ram vice president) John Shaw is trying to destroy the career of LeRoy Irvin,” he said.

Wright claims that the Rams never seriously considered trading the cornerback, asking teams for a first-round choice and a star player in return.

“One team in the conference, which I will not name, was told by John Shaw that (the Rams) wanted their No. 1 and one of their star defensive backs, who makes three times what LeRoy makes right now,” he said. “It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Ram Notes The Rams reduced their roster to 49 players by releasing tight ends Joe Rose and James McDonald, wide receivers Phil Smith and Stacey Mobley, running back Rick Calhoun and linebacker Sam Anno. For the rest of the season, the team is allowed a 45-man roster with a five-player taxi-squad. . . . Injured reserve players released Wednesday were fullback Bill Stone, linebackers Dan Clark and Jim Kalafat and tackle Hank Goebel. . . . Ram guard Dennis Harrah (back) is doubtful for Sunday’s game, though linebacker Kevin Greene (shoulder) is expected to return. Greene, in fact, hasn’t played since the opener in Houston. . . . Ram cornerback Jerry Gray said most of the team would gladly welcome the return of suspended cornerback LeRoy Irvin. “As a friend, I’d rather see him on the field,” Gray said. “I’d rather have him on my team than see him on someone else’s.”