Steve Dils

Scouting director Tony Razzano of the San Francisco 49ers told the Sporting News that he and John Ralston, then the team's vice president of administration, both wanted to draft Joe Montana in the third round in 1979, but Bill Walsh wanted Steve Dils, who had played for him at Stanford. Said Ralston: "We kept going back and forth, and Tony kept insisting on Montana. "Bill yelled at me and said, 'Get me one more recommendation on Joe Montana.'

Scouting director Tony Razzano of the San Francisco 49ers told the Sporting News that he and John Ralston, then the team's vice president of administration, both wanted to draft Joe Montana in the third round in 1979, but Bill Walsh wanted Steve Dils, who had played for him at Stanford. Said Ralston: "We kept going back and forth, and Tony kept insisting on Montana. "Bill yelled at me and said, 'Get me one more recommendation on Joe Montana.'

Had fate and the waiver wire not intervened about 6 weeks ago, Steve Dils still would be a Ram. His itinerary for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons probably would have read: Bring baseball cap for sideline use.... Wear sun block No. 7. . . . Play catch with starter Jim Everett. . . . Position self near Ram Coach John Robinson for maximum television exposure. . . . Neatly fold uniform and return to equipment manager at game's end. That about covers it.

Steve Dils couldn't help but savor the moment. The Rams called two days ago and wanted him . The same Dils they had cut loose like a kite in the wind last season. This Dils is older, 33, grayer and hadn't thrown a ball to anyone but the neighborhood kids in months. This Dils was several months removed from football and was selling commercial real estate in Atlanta. And the Rams called him.

As Marc Wilson will be glad to testify, a quarterback's statistics are not always a good measure of his success. Steve Dils, the man who starts at quarterback for the Rams while Steve Bartkowski's old knees keep him out and rookie Jim Everett's youth holds him back, proved that point again on a chilly Monday night at Soldier Field.

Steve Dils assumed his rightful place as a backup quarterback Tuesday, the only problem being that the place is now in Atlanta, not Anaheim. Much to the surprise of the Rams, Dils was claimed Tuesday by the Falcons, the same team that acquired Hugh Millen, another Ram cut, just minutes after his name was placed on the waiver wire Monday. That left Coach John Robinson with a grand total of one quarterback, Jim Everett, but with another one, Mark Herrmann, just a signature away.

Coaches John Robinson of the Rams and Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears announced Friday that they would not risk starting injured quarterbacks Steve Bartkowski and Jim McMahon in Monday night's game at Soldier Field. So, for the second week in a row, Steve Dils will start in place of Bartkowski for the Rams, and the Bears will go with Steve Fuller in place of McMahon.

Ram Coach John Robinson waited and waited, but Friday he finally named a starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons at Anaheim Stadium. It will be Steve Dils, pinch-hitting for a limping Steve Bartkowski. Bartkowski, noticeably favoring his battered right knee, tried to convince Robinson this week that he could start. But it didn't work. Robinson has said that he wants six or seven quality starts from Bartkowski during the rest of the season.

Coaches John Robinson of the Rams and Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears said Friday that they will not risk starting injured quarterbacks Steve Bartkowski and Jim McMahon in Monday night's game at Soldier Field. So, for the second week in a row, Steve Dils will start in place of Bartkowski, and the Bears will go with Steve Fuller. Bartkowski said this week that he felt good enough to play against the Bears, but Robinson has decided to rest his quarterback's ailing right knee for another week.

Rams Coach John Robinson waited and waited and waited, but Friday he finally named a starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons in Anaheim Stadium. No, not Henry Ellard. It will be Steve Dils, who will be asked again to pinch-hit for an ailing Steve Bartkowski. Bartkowski, who is limping noticeably on his battered right knee, tried to persuade Robinson this week that he could start. But it didn't work.

Steve Dils couldn't help but savor the moment. The Rams called two days ago and wanted him . The same Dils they had cut loose like a kite in the wind last season. This Dils is older, 33, grayer and hadn't thrown a ball to anyone but the neighborhood kids in months. This Dils was several months removed from football and was selling commercial real estate in Atlanta. And the Rams called him him.

Mark Herrmann isn't sure what the fuss is about. While the Rams were scrambling to find a replacement for the backup quarterback, who cracked a rib in Monday night's game, Herrmann spoke matter-of-factly about being in uniform for the Sept. 10 opener in Atlanta. "I'm real confident," he said Wednesday. "That's 2 1/2 weeks away. I think I should be ready."

Had fate and the waiver wire not intervened about 6 weeks ago, Steve Dils still would be a Ram. His itinerary for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons probably would have read: Bring baseball cap for sideline use.... Wear sun block No. 7. . . . Play catch with starter Jim Everett. . . . Position self near Ram Coach John Robinson for maximum television exposure. . . . Neatly fold uniform and return to equipment manager at game's end. That about covers it.

Steve Dils assumed his rightful place as a backup quarterback Tuesday, the only problem being that the place is now in Atlanta, not Anaheim. Much to the surprise of the Rams, Dils was claimed Tuesday by the Falcons, the same team that acquired Hugh Millen, another Ram cut, just minutes after his name was placed on the waiver wire Monday. That left Coach John Robinson with a grand total of one quarterback, Jim Everett, but with another one, Mark Herrmann, just a signature away.

Once again, the Rams went tightrope walking on the league's waiver wire Monday as they juggled their roster to get down to today's mandatory 47-player limit. There were risks involved; Donald Evans, a former top draft choice, was released, and there were promises for more changes ahead. The team made 14 moves in all, some complicated, others more clear-cut. For starters, the Rams released reserve quarterbacks Steve Dils and Hugh Millen.

Three more Rams--quarterback Steve Dils and running backs Mike Guman and Charles White--crossed the picket line and returned to practice Thursday in Anaheim. That makes four who have crossed, nose tackle Alvin Wright having returned to practice Wednesday. "I think you'll see other guys cross," Dils said. "I don't think there's any question about that. How many I don't know. There are a lot of guys who feel the same way that I do, only they decided to give it one more week.

Once again, the Rams went tightrope walking on the league's waiver wire Monday as they juggled their roster to get down to today's mandatory 47-player limit. There were risks involved; Donald Evans, a former top draft choice, was released, and there were promises for more changes ahead. The team made 14 moves in all, some complicated, others more clear-cut. For starters, the Rams released reserve quarterbacks Steve Dils and Hugh Millen.

Mark Herrmann isn't sure what the fuss is about. While the Rams were scrambling to find a replacement for the backup quarterback, who cracked a rib in Monday night's game, Herrmann spoke matter-of-factly about being in uniform for the Sept. 10 opener in Atlanta. "I'm real confident," he said Wednesday. "That's 2 1/2 weeks away. I think I should be ready."

In the race to the Super Bowl, nothing has changed from last week. If the New York Giants could beat the San Francisco 49ers, 49-3, they can beat anyone. At the end of the season, the 49ers were probably the National Football League's second-best team. The Denver Broncos may be in the top five or six. And it is true that with John Elway, they have the league's liveliest quarterback. Going into the Super Rose Bowl Jan. 25, it is Elway who creates the illusion that the Broncos have a chance.

As Marc Wilson will be glad to testify, a quarterback's statistics are not always a good measure of his success. Steve Dils, the man who starts at quarterback for the Rams while Steve Bartkowski's old knees keep him out and rookie Jim Everett's youth holds him back, proved that point again on a chilly Monday night at Soldier Field.