Robinson Thinks Flutie Could Play, but Not This Year

Ram Coach John Robinson said he believes that Doug Flutie can play quarterback in the National Football League, but probably not this season for the Rams.

“Timing is the most complicated issue at this point,” Robinson said Friday. “I think he can play in the NFL. He was a great college player. (But) with his lack of size, you must create opportunities for him to succeed and use the assets he has, which are considerable.”

The Rams own Flutie’s NFL rights because they drafted the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner from Boston College on the 10th round in 1985, although he had already signed with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League. All USFL players are now free agents, but Flutie has said he hasn’t decided whether to try the NFL.

“The toughest thing for him is to adapt to an existing system,” Robinson said. “We wouldn’t want to change for someone who is an unknown commodity. If this were January and we were looking ahead, it might be a different situation.”