PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Bettis Says He’s 100% and Ready to Play

Ram running back Jerome Bettis ran at full speed in practice Monday and reported himself to be 100% and ready to play, if needed, against Green Bay Sunday.

“The ankle is fine,� Bettis said. “No pain. No problems. I pushed myself hard just to make sure I was ready. I ran, I cut and I drove off my ankle and everything was fine. At least now I’ve put myself in position to be available.�

Bettis ran eight times for 29 yards in exhibition play before the injury. He is expected to back up Cleveland Gary in the opener.

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Running back Anthony Thompson, who had pins inserted into the back of his hand to repair a fracture, suffered a setback when he bumped his hand over the weekend. “He didn’t have a cast on,� Coach Chuck Knox said. “It’s a little puffy, and he’s been doing some squeezing with that hand, but couldn’t do it in the morning. He can do it this afternoon, though, and they’ll put a special protective pad on it.�

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Linebacker Henry Rolling, expected to start on the outside, worked in place of injured middle linebacker Shane Conlan (groin) Monday. “I did a little in college,� Rolling said, “but I think we were just doing this for today because Shane was hurting.� Rolling signed with the Rams as a free agent after spending three years in San Diego. . . . A Chicago newspaper is reporting today that the Bears and Rams are talking about a deal that would bring Gary to Chicago, reuniting Bear Coach Dave Wannstedt and Gary, both of whom were at the University of Miami. A Ram official said: “That’s a new one on me. Who are we getting in return? Mike Ditka? . . . As far as I know, there’s no deal.�