PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS

Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. of Connecticut said he is not optimistic about luring the Rams to Hartford.

Despite an existing bonding agreement that authorizes a stadium, Weicker said the timing is not right. The state Legislature is adjourned until January, when a new governor will be sworn in. Weicker is not running for re-election.

“Unless we had some extraordinary matter taking place, I’m not prepared to go ahead and speak for the state and saddle the new incoming administration, the incoming Legislature with a deal that size--which is not to say we will not maintain communications,” he said.

The Legislature approved a stadium bonding package to build a stadium last year in hopes of bringing the New England Patriots to Connecticut’s capital city. The Patriots remained in Massachusetts.

Asked if he thought a deal would be completed before January, Weicker said, “I don’t want to say no, but I’m just trying to speak common sense right now. . . . If all of a sudden tomorrow (the team) said ‘Hey, we’re ready to go,’ I’d say hallelujah and try to get it right up there in special session.”