NOTES : Greene Returns to Left Side, Records First Sack

At his urging, the Rams Sunday at least temporarily switched Kevin Greene back to the side from which he has sacked more quarterbacks over the past three years than any other player, and they hinted it might be more than a temporary move.

Greene, held sackless through the first four games lining up as the right defensive end, was a standup left end Sunday and burst past Packer right tackle Tony Mandarich in the second quarter to record his first sack of the season.

After the sack, instead of looking his usual inflamed self, he looked faintly relieved and grateful. After the game, the 250-pound former linebacker made it clear he hopes the defensive staff lets him stay on the left side and away from any position that forces him to grind into 300-pound tackles on every play.

“You know, I think they know how I can play on the left side,” Greene said. “I think they know what I can do on the right side. They know I’m kind of struggling to be a dominant defensive end out there.

“I think they want to get me freed up, do some things that are going to help me out, take advantage of some of my abilities.”

In the Rams’ new defense, the right end has a lot of different responsibilities, from covering backs to keeping containment on running plays. Greene said he wasn’t used to all that.

“Just put me out on the end and come up field, just work smooth and try to get to the quarterback,” Greene said. “Just give me one job and one job only. I’m not really a mental giant. Just go get the guy with the football.”

Coach John Robinson suggested the Rams were considering moving Greene permanently back to the left side standing position, which is very similar to his blitzing-linebacker role of the past seasons.

“(The move) was a game thing that may turn out to be something else,” Robinson said. “Kevin wanted to do it. As you know, he has expressed frustration about having to change over to the right side.

“We feel like the right side is the best side for your best pass-rusher in our scheme, but we needed to get Kevin started, move him back in the direction he’s been, and I think we did some of that today.”

Sudden impact: Ron Brown, who signed Wednesday and started his third tour of duty with the Rams, had a good debut, catching two key passes for 31 yards and returning one kickoff for 32 yards.

Brown’s first catch, an 11-yarder on a third-and-six play in the second quarter, prolonged a drive that ended with a field goal. His second reception, a 20-yarder on a third-and-18 play in the third quarter, kept alive a drive that resulted in another field goal.

“I didn’t feel that clumsy out there,” said Brown, who last played for the Raiders in 1990. “It felt good to be back playing wide receiver with my old buddy (Henry Ellard). He was one of the reasons I decided to come back.”

Brown, a Pro Bowl kick returner in 1985, played four seasons with the Rams (1984-87) before announcing his retirement to pursue a track and field career. He was re-signed by the Rams in October, 1988, but was not protected by the team after the 1989 season.

The Raiders signed Brown as a Plan B free agent and tried to convert him to cornerback, but he never played the position in a game and was relegated to special teams duties. Brown was cut during training camp and had no other tryouts until the Rams called last week.

Perfect game: Tony Zendejas, who kicked field goals of 30, 32 and 28 yards Sunday, has now made all eight of his field goal attempts and all seven of his extra point attempts this season. Two of his kickoffs Sunday went into the end zone and were not returned.

“So far, so good,” said Zendejas, who was signed as a Plan B free agent out of Houston last spring. “It feels good when you’re kicking the ball well and are in good rhythm. I attribute it all to (holder) Mike Pagel and (snapper) Mike McDonald. They make things so easy for me.”

Cold shoulder: Packer quarterback Don Majkowski, who underwent surgery to repair his throwing shoulder last winter, injured his left shoulder diving into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Majkowski didn’t return the rest of the afternoon, but the injury was diagnosed as a slight dislocation, and he could be back for next week’s game against Dallas.

“I hit the ground on the dirt,” Majkowski said. “It’s like playing on the street. I fell on my shoulder and felt it pop out and back in again.”

Gary in Gear: With starter Robert Delpino dinged a little with a slight concussion, tailback Cleveland Gary had his busiest day of the season, carrying eight times for 32 yards, including one vital 10-yard gain on second and 12 late in the game.

Gary also caught two passes for 17 yards.

“I’m contributing. I was part of the victory and that felt good,” said Gary, who is still nursing hamstring and rib injuries. “But I feel like I’m still in that cage. Once Coach Robinson lets me out, maybe next game or whenever, it’ll be great.”