HARRELL SPEAKS AT COMMERCE BANQUET

JACKSON -- If given a choice between playing professional football for the old St. Louis Cardinals or the new St. Louis Rams, former Cardinal running back Willard Harrell would have no problems making the decision.

"The Rams reflect class, whereas (Cardinals' owner) Bill Bidwell, to me, did not reflex that same kind of class," Harrell said following his speaking engagement.

Harrell addressed the Jackson Chamber of Commerce during their installation banquet Monday night, talking candidly about his 10-year NFL career and his new role as a Rambassador for the Rams organization.

"We're like an extension of the Rams public relations department," said Harrell. "The Rambassadors allow us an opportunity to stay a part of the game."

Harrell is one of four former Cardinals and one ex-Ram known as Rambassadors, who promote the Rams as guest speakers and goodwill ambassadors to area communities. Harrell, who joined the Cardinals in 1978 after three seasons in Green Bay, retired with St. Louis in 1985 before the Big Red moved to Arizona.

Although he enjoyed his NFL career in St. Louis, Harrell was no fan of Bidwell. Harrell said the Cardinal organization never realized how important it was for former players to remain a part of the game after retirement.

"When a player's career is done, they still want to be a part of (football) in some small way," Harrell said. "The Cardinal organization never recognized that, and the Rams do.

"Bidwell was like, `once you're done, you're done.' It's like you never played (for the Cardinals)."

Harrell related a story to the Chamber about how, instead of having free drinks available in the locker room during the season like most NFL teams, Bidwell had a soda machine set up for the players to buy their own.

"We had to pay 25 cents for our own sodas," said Harrell. "And the bad thing about it was they were Vess sodas. He couldn't even get us a brand name machine."

Harrell, who owns his own insurance agency in St. Louis, said the Rambassadors are an important ingredient to the success of the Rams in St. Louis. Especially in a time when outrageous player salaries and high ticket prices tend to drive some fans away from the game.

"The fans can't relate to what's going on now, but they can relate to how it used to be," Harrell said of the importance of the Rambassadors. "It allows us to talk to the fans and not let the fans forget about the history."

Although the Rams are searching for their first winning season in St. Louis after moving from Los Angeles three years ago, Harrell is excited about the coming season. He expects the Rams to finish with at least a .500 record.

"I think they're on the right track," Harrell said. "Dick Vermeil brings credibility to the team. That's something they didn't have with (former coach) Rich Brooks."

Harrell also expressed his opinion about talented, but troubled running back, Lawrence Phillips. Harrell doesn't believe Phillips' short stint in prison this winter helped to straighten out the troubled star.

"Lawrence is a very immature individual," Harrell told the crowd. "If he has nine lives he's already used up eight of them.

"I talked to him once last year and the only common ground we have is we're both from California."

Harrell, who grew up in Stockton, Cal., and led the nation in all-purpose yardage as a junior at the University of Pacific, hopes Phillips is able to straighten up while he still has a chance to enjoy life in the NFL.

"It's an experience I will treasure forever, because not everybody gets to experience that," said Harrell. "The locker room is a totally different world than out in the real world."