White Returns to Rams, Has Little to Say
Ram tailback Charles White released a short statement to the media Wednesday morning, went to afternoon practice, but afterward refused further comment on the circumstances involving his arrest and booking last Friday for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
White, in fact, ran off the practice field to the safety of the locker room without saying a word to waiting reporters.
Coach John Robinson said that White will have no comment other than what was released in his statement, which read:
“I’m sorry for the embarrassment I caused my family, my teammates and the Ram organization. I’m determined to make up for this by my actions on and off the field. I’m grateful for another chance and will do all that is asked of me. Statements don’t mean much, actions do. My actions will reflect my progress.”
White was arrested by Brea police on misdemeanor charges last Friday when he was found wandering in a field, screaming incoherently and carrying a trash can lid.
He was allowed to return to the team under the conditions that he undergo daily drug testing and enter a rehabilitation center as an out-patient under the care of Dr. Forest Tennant, National Football League drug adviser. The out-patient plan, devised by the Tennant and the Rams, got NFL approval Wednesday.
“We are aware of the situation and it is being monitored by our drug adviser in accordance with our drug policy,” league spokesman Roger Goodel said.
White, 29, had his first counseling session with Tennant Wednesday morning at Community Health Projects, Inc., a general medicine and substance-abuse treatment center in West Covina.
Because of the length of that meeting, White arrived 45 minutes late for practice at 2:15 p.m.
White ran onto the field, met briefly with Robinson and then exchanged a few words with cornerback LeRoy Irvin before beginning his stretching exercises.
Who will monitor White’s daily drug testing is one of many questions which remain.
Ram trainer Jim Anderson, who said that he could not comment on White, confirmed that he wasn’t involved directly in the testing.
Robinson later said that White will be tested all this week at Tennant’s offices in West Covina but that further testing will be done daily at Rams Park.
White is scheduled to appear Sept. 23 in North Orange County Municipal Court and faces a maximum prison sentence of one year if convicted.
Ram Notes In this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated, Tim Brown, Notre Dame flanker-kick returner, is quoted as saying that Ram running back Eric Dickerson tried to recruit him for Southern Methodist University with the following sales pitch: “He (Dickerson) said to me, ‘Hey man, when I was here, I got a car and I got so much money a month. And there’s no reason you can’t get those things too.’ ” Dickerson said after Wednesday’s practice that he has never spoken with Brown. “I never heard of this boy,” Dickerson said. “He’d better be careful about what he says, because I’m in the law suing mood. I’ll sue anybody.” . . . The Rams released quarterback Kevin Brown, tight end Rick McIvor, kicker Tim Lashar, running backs Mark Templeton and Chris Hardy, wide receivers James Hardy and Steve Marks and offensive lineman Dave Toub. Reserve punter Barry Bowman was traded to Seattle.
