Shane Conlan

Shane Conlan and Cornelius Bennett, a pair of first-round draftees who were linebacker phenoms in college, were sensational Sunday as the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets, 17-14. Conlan led the way with 10 tackles, while Bennett had 5 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. Helped by gusting winds and fierce pressure by linemen Bruce Smith and Fred Smerlas, the Bills shut down New York's passing attack for most of the game.

The Rams want to move, and quickly. But Roman Phifer won't let them. Phifer, an outside linebacker who has displayed star qualities while becoming one of the team's most productive performers, has ignored the team's persistent overtures to sign a new deal before he becomes a free agent at season's end. "I don't know why the Rams didn't go ahead and pay the man when they had the chance," defensive end Robert Young said. "It was probably a dumb move on their part. I just hope we don't lose him."

The Buffalo Bills announced that first-round draft choice Shane Conlan ended his holdout and agreed to contract terms. The Bills had threatened to reduce their offer unless the linebacker accepted it by Sunday.

"Pathetic," was Shane Conlan's word for it. "Stupid," Chris Chandler said. "Ridiculous," Todd Lyght muttered. And in another corner of the locker room, Jackie Slater sadly shook his head and noted, "A little bit of dishonor was involved here." Surprisingly, these Rams weren't talking about the Rams' playbook. Or the Rams' play in Sunday's dreary 20-17 loss at home to the Raiders.

Kudos to Rich Roberts for his profile of Shane Conlan. It's great to read about an athlete who, whether he likes it or not, can serve as a role model while so many are ducking the public and dirtying their images. It's not impossible to believe Conlan's aversion to drugs and steroids, but this guy likes playing in Buffalo. He's too good to be true. MATT PURDUE Santa Monica

Salary figures obtained Monday from the National Football League Players Assn. help explain why Buffalo linebacker Shane Conlan was so eager to sign with the Rams last week. The Rams will pay Conlan a $2.35-million guaranteed salary for this season. Quarterback Jim Everett, the team's highest-paid player, will receive a base salary of $2 million and a $430,000 roster bonus. Everett's base pay, however, is not guaranteed.

The Rams have called an 11 a.m. news conference today to announce the signing of Buffalo linebacker Shane Conlan. Conlan, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, agreed to a three-year contract to play for the Rams on Saturday night. He was scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles from Pittsburgh on Sunday night. Conlan, 29, has started 76 games during his six-year career, and has at times been limited by injury.

Coach Chuck Knox said after Friday's practice that the team has downgraded linebacker Shane Conlan (groin) and cornerback Darryl Henley (shoulder) from probable to questionable for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. Conlan ran briefly for the team's training staff Friday, but he did not practice throughout the week. If Conlan can't play, Tom Homco will make his first NFL start at middle linebacker.

Buffalo middle linebacker Shane Conlan has reached an agreement on a three-year contract with the Rams, a Ram team official said Saturday night. "I'd say it's likely we will sign him in the next day or two," the official said. Conlan, 29, visited Rams Park recently and afterward Coach Chuck Knox let it be known that the three-time Pro Bowler was the ideal player to start at middle linebacker in the Rams' 4-3 defense.

The system freed him, made him rich, and upon reflection, he said, "It stinks." A year ago this week, the Rams paid linebacker Shane Conlan $5.4 million for three years to leave behind the cold winters in Buffalo. No regrets, he said. Conlan profited from NFL free agency, but in Year 1 of the new collective bargaining agreement between NFL players and management, there was no salary cap. "Perfect timing," Conlan said. "Obviously, it was great last year--especially for me.

Ram fullback Tim Lester pondered the question, silently rolling through a mental checklist of the toughest linebackers he has blocked in the NFL. * There was New Orleans' Rickey Jackson and no list would be complete without the Giants' Lawrence Taylor. But wait . . . Lester's list had one more addition. "Oh, and on this team it's Roman Phifer," Lester said, recalling some of the bruising matchups they had during training camp last summer. "He's so strong for his size and he has great quickness.

The Rams, who have lost seven of their last eight games, continue to be hit by injuries. The latest victim: linebacker Shane Conlan. Coach Chuck Knox said Conlan will sit out Sunday's game with the Saints in New Orleans because of a sprained medial collateral knee ligament. "It's a little loose," said Conlan, who is second to Roman Phifer on the team in tackles with 69. "It's not that bad . . . I'll be out one game at the most."

Almost from the outset, linebacker Shane Conlan looked like a man who had tried to run against traffic in the Lincoln Tunnel. He didn't play against the Pittsburgh Steelers a week ago because of a groin injury, and it was obviously bothering him Sunday while playing the New York Giants. But Conlan remained in the game and finished as the Rams' leading tackler with 15 stops.

The skinny legs look as if they belong to a sprinter or dancer. Dan Fouts had twigs like this, but he was a quarterback. These legs belong to middle linebacker Shane Conlan, and on them, as the Ram advertisements in the newspapers have suggested recently, ride the promise for a successful 1993 campaign. Conlan, a highly regarded run-stuffer who played in the past three Super Bowls for the Buffalo Bills, received $2.

The trauma of job-hunting behind him, Shane Conlan is now dealing with the stress of house-hunting. He's looking for a place in Newport Beach. The realtors keep telling him it's a great time to buy in Southern California, but they're talking to a guy who just sold a home in Buffalo. Of course Conlan makes about $2 million a year now, so he shouldn't have much trouble finding a place to live. And now he's a Ram, so finding a role he can live with might prove more difficult.

Free agency has helped make Shane Conlan a rich man, but the process was no joy ride. Conlan, the 29-year-old, three-time Pro Bowler was introduced as the newest Ram Monday at Rams Park and said he felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Which means his father feels as if he had just been dug out from under a collapsed skyscraper. "Every time I would call my dad, he would ask, 'Got a job yet?' " Conlan said. "I'd say, 'No, but we've got some offers.'

Salary figures obtained Monday from the National Football League Players Assn. help explain why Buffalo linebacker Shane Conlan was so eager to sign with the Rams last week. The Rams will pay Conlan a $2.35-million guaranteed salary for this season. Quarterback Jim Everett, the team's highest-paid player, will receive a base salary of $2 million and a $430,000 roster bonus. Everett's base pay, however, is not guaranteed.