PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Gerald Perry: Taylor Isn’t Superman

Gerald Perry, who will rotate with starter Rob Jenkins at left tackle again Sunday when the Rams play the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, says he has almost recovered from the knee injury suffered in training camp and is eager to take on Lawrence Taylor.

“I’ve played the Giants before,” Perry said. “It’s always going to be a challenge, that’s what the game is about. You want to play people like that just to see the level of play you’re capable of.

“Lawrence Taylor is a great player, but you know, we’ve got great players too. It’s not like the guy has an S on his chest.

“What do you want me to tell you, he’s a great player, but he’s not playing the game by himself.”

Rookie linebacker Roman Phifer, slowed by a hip injury, will be held off the first-unit defense again, mainly because the Rams want to use the bigger Brett Faryniarz against the Giants’ power running game.

“As we get into teams that probably pass more and orient themselves to that, Phifer would reassert himself, I think,” Coach John Robinson said.

“(Against) the physical football team, right now, we’d prefer Brett in there. I see them coming up to sharing that job.”

Robinson, while conceding that quarterback Jeff Hostetler gives the Giants an added dimension with his running, still made sure that everybody knew how much he respected the man Hostetler has replaced, Phil Simms.

“Phil Simms, when he played in the (1987) Super Bowl, was 24 for 28 (actually 22 for 26), was MVP, played absolutely the greatest game you could ever imagine,” Robinson said.

“Are (the 1991 Giants) better than that team? No. Phil Simms and Hostetler are different. I think Phil Simms at the top of his game is a really good passer, understands the game, can move the squad, but he can’t run for 45 yards like Hostetler can. (Simms) doesn’t have the mobility.

“I would be reluctant to say very much negative about Phil Simms.”