Klopfenstein Among Four Released by Rams Tuesday Morning; Tye Hill Traded

To all you Joe Klopfenstein fans out there, if there are any left, I hate to say I told you so.

The former second-round pick out of Colorado in 2006 was one of four players released by the St. Louis Rams Tuesday morning.

The other three were Jarrett Byers, an undrafted free agent rookie wide receiver from Northeastern State in Oklahoma, free agent rookie center Daniel Sanders of Colorado and Marcus Brown, a cornerback from McNeese State, a second-year player who spent last year on Cincinnati’s practice squad.

Klopfenstein is the latest Ram from the disastrous 2006 draft to leave St. Louis.

That draft also included third-round busts Claude Wroten, Jon Alson and Dominique Byrd. Klopfenstein was one of five tight ends the Rams had, but had fallen behind Daniel Fells and Eric Butler on the depth chart.

Incumbent starter Randy McMichael and free agent acquisition Billy Bajema are considered locks to make the final 53-man roster, which the Rams must finalize by

Klopfenstein’s release should not surprise anyone, especially anyone who reads my reports. Just last week, I said Klopfenstein was doubtful to make the team, and that he and Butler were “securely on the bubble.”

I did think Klopfenstein might be safe for Tuesday’s cuts, but knew he was as good as gone by the weekend. 

This is just the latest example of how general manager Billy Devaney and new head coach Steve Spagnuolo want to clean house and start over. And they didn’t see the need in keeping Klopfenstein around a few more days just to let him go Saturday.

The Rams also traded their first-round pick from 2006, cornerback Tye Hill, to Atlanta. Hill had three disappointing, injury-riddled seasons in St. Louis. His trade means Jonathan Wade moves to the starting spot, and Justin King is nearly a lock to make the squad as the nickel back.

The Rams will have one more move to make Tuesday afternoon, as they cut the 80-man roster to 75, as mandated by the NFL.

St. Louis Offensive Line Gelling As a Unit

The St. Louis Rams are expecting a lot more productivity from their offensive line this year.

They brought in free agent center Jason Brown from Baltimore to anchor the middle. They selected Baylor tackle Jason Smith with the second overall pick in April’s draft. They overhauled the entire coaching staff and front office with a tougher attitude and a focus on winning.

With all the changes up front, it hasn’t taken long for the offensive line to really come together as a unit.

Smith has been picking the brains of Rams veterans since he arrived to camp in late July, and even before that during OTAs. He’s even getting pointers from a veteran whose job he’ll eventually take.

“I take that as part of my role,” current right tackle Adam Goldberg told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “But I’ll tell you what, he doesn’t need too many tips. He’s going to be a really good football player.”

Goldberg continued to say that he doesn’t think about the position battle much and knows that, because of his ability to play anywhere up and down the line, he’ll see plenty of playing time. It’s not something that keeps Smith up at night, either.

“Coach (Steve Spagnuolo) told me when I first got here that there are a lot of steps you have to do to be a part of this team, and then there are a lot of steps you have to do to get on the field,” Smith told the Post-Dispatch. “I just want to take the proper steps.”

Brown came in with a swagger and confidence that was contagious among the big uglies. The Rams are counting on his influential leadership to pay dividends.

Add in the fact that players like right guard Richie Incognito have had an entire year to settle into a position instead of playing musical linemen as has been the case in the past due to injuries. Alex Barron knows he’ll be playing left tackle all season, and shouldn’t have to switch sides again. Now, if he can only avoid those false starts.

Incognito said having continuity on the offensive line, with players settled into positions from day one, will help create a stable running game and reliable pass protection.

“I had all last season to play out at guard,” Incognito said. “I had OTAs, had training camp knowing I’m playing right guard.”

Left guard Jacob Bell said the linemen have really bonded this offseason.

“We do everything together,” said Bell, whose been out of commission since suffering a concussion in the Rams’ first preseason game. “When you leave the field, you’re in meetings together. You leave those meetings, and you don’t have to sit next to each other during dinner, but at night meetings, we see each other again.” 

Bell added that pranks between the offensive linemen have become commonplace.

“There’s always a joke,” the sixth-year veteran from Miami, Ohio said. “Our meetings can be pretty entertaining, a little bit of a comedy session.”

What isn’t funny is how the Rams performed last season, ranking 25th in rushing offense, despite having one of the NFL’s best tailbacks in Steven Jackson. Incognito said that will change this year.

“We played well as a unit last year, at times,” Incognito said. “We had times where we played very well, and times where we didn’t play so well. I think that’s the one thing that is a little bit different about this group.

“We always play at a high level, and we played at a high level last year, and had to replace people with injuries, and you get that lull. For offensive linemen, you can’t have that. We’re looking forward to just having five solid starters in there, and just rolling, and not having those lulls like we did last year.”

Through three preseason games, the Rams are 2-1 and 11th in rush offense. But they still rank 24th in total offense, something that needs to improve if they have any hope of a winning season. St. Louis have the sixth worst offense in the league last year while limping to a 2-14 record.

The Rams’ passing game has been awful in the 2009 preseason, but a large part of that is due to injuries in the receiving corps, namely Donnie Avery, and to starting quarterback Marc Bulger. If the skill players can remain healthy, the offense should produce a lot better than last year.

Having an offensive line that knows and respects one another is a good sign that the Rams are on the road back toward respectability.

Tight End Battle Crucial For Rams in Final Two Weeks of Preseason

While there are several roster spots up for grabs with the St. Louis Rams, one of the most interesting competitions is at tight end.

The Rams will most likely keep three tight ends. Incumbent starter Randy McMichael and free agent acquisition Billy Bajema are considered locks to make the final 53-man roster.

So that leaves Daniel Fells, Joe Klopfenstein and Eric Butler vying for the final spot.

As the Rams prepare to take on the Cincinnati Bengals Thursday night, it will be interesting to see how much playing time head coach Steve Spagnuolo gives to those three in a game that is considered the dress rehearsal for the regular season.

“The question will be whether we bring the first group out in the second half,” Spagnuolo said following Sunday’s practice at Rams Park. “A lot depends where the total of plays are at a certain point in the game. We’ll see what happens.”

One of the tight ends could be gone as early as next week. Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney must release five players as part of the league’s first roster trim.

“Like every training camp, you go in with more guys than you’re going to end up having on the roster,” Bajema said. “It just comes down to working hard and competing on the field doing your best.”

Bajema, who had a career seven receptions in his four years in San Francisco, has been a pleasant surprise this preseason. Bajema has made incredible, diving catches in practices and is the team’s second leading receiver in the first two preseason games.

Bajema has always known he could catch, and is glad he’s finally getting his chance in Pat Shurmur’s offense.

“I definitely feel like I have the ability to do more than just block,” said Bajema, who has four catches for 51 yards. “I can make plays in the passing game. I just want to help the team in any way I can, and when I have to catch passes, I believe in myself that I can do it.”

While he relishes the opportunity to have a few balls thrown his way, Bajema also understands his role.

“I take a lot of pride in my blocking, and I know that’s a big thing I’m going to be used for,” Bajema said. “But I see myself as a tight end, and I want to be a great blocker, and a great all-around player. I want to be good at everything.”

The West Coast offense, which Bajema played in as a rookie in San Francisco, has been welcomed by McMichael. The eight year veteran had his most productive seasons in 2003 and 2004, but is looking for a career renaissance in 2009.

“It’s a fun offense to play in,” McMichael said. “Finally I’m getting an opportunity to play in it. And, it’s not just me. We have quite a few tight ends that can get the job done. I’m excited. I’m just going to be patient, and if it comes, it comes. I still have other duties on this team, other than catching balls. I just have to focus on all three phases of what a tight end does.”

And plenty of that comes from new tight ends coach Frank Leonard, who is one of the more vocal coaches in the league.

“Coach Leonard, he’s a fun coach,” McMichael said. “His energy level, he really makes practice a lot of fun for us. And the one thing about him, it’s all genuine. It really doesn’t matter what anybody thinks of him, he’s just going out there to try to make us better players. He’s just a naturally energetic guy, and it rubs off on all of us.”

McMichael is thought of as the pass-catching tight end, and has two receptions for 25 yards in limited play during the first two preseason games. He and Bajema could both play into the second half Thursday night, so it will be interesting to see which player finishes with more receptions.

McMichael called Bajema “a really good dude,” and knows his new teammate can do more than create holes in the running game.

“Everybody wants to say Billy’s a blocking tight end, but Billy can get down and catch the ball really well,” McMichael said. “He’s going to be a really great addition to this team.”

As they compete for the same position, Bajema said he and McMichael help the younger players as much as they can, adding that the relationship between all of the tight ends has been good.

“Randy sets such a great example, and I try to do the same,” Bajema said. “You give everything you got, in the way you prepare in the meeting room and on the practice field.”

The most impressive of the other three tight ends has been Fells, a three year veteran from UC-Davis whom the Rams acquired in the offseason. He’s got two catches for 21 yards, and has put in a solid camp.

Two guys who are securely on the bubble are Klopfenstein and Butler.

Klopfenstein, a second round draft choice by the Rams in 2006 and on his way toward bust status, has just one reception for five yards this preseason. He needs to really impress in the final two weeks to remain with the team. He’ll probably make the first round of cuts, but it’s doubtful whether he’ll be on the final roster.

Butler is trying to make an NFL roster for the first time after spending time in 2008 on both the Indianapolis and New York Giants practice squad. He has one catch for four yards, and could be relegated to practice squad duty again.

Klopfenstein may be the only one without a job when the Rams open the regular season at Seattle on Sept. 13. With two rounds of cuts between now and then, count on some sleepless nights for the bubble players like Butler and Klopfenstein.

“I think a lot of guys have those butterflies in the stomach before cut day,” Bajema said. “It’s a big day for a lot of guys on this team.”

A Real Interview With Rams Tackle Richie Incognito

A few weeks ago, I was asked to formulate questions I would ask a St. Louis Rams player during an interview.

Because of his personality, I figured an interview with Richie Incognito would be interesting.

Well, last week, I finally got the opportunity to talk with the former Nebraska Cornhusker. Instead of writing a story, I will simply provide a transcript of our eight-minute conversation.

Ron Clements: Richie, you’re in your fifth year, and still a pretty young guy. What does it say about the youth of this team that Jason Smith is saying that he’s taking pointers from a guy like you, who’s only 26 years old?

Richie Incognito: I just bring my lunch pail to work every day, and try to get better every day. For a guy like Jason, who is a smart guy, he’s a go-getter. He wants to play as well as possible as soon as possible.

So if he can mold himself after a lot of people, just come to work every day, dig in, don’t get too high, and don’t get too low, and just keep trucking. For him to say that he looks up to me, that’s great, because I definitely put a lot of hard work in.

RC: You guys are similar in that when you both came out of college, I mean, you were considered, and I got it right here, ‘the strongest and most explosive player at the 2005 Combine.’ Hopefully this doesn’t happen to Jason, but you had that knee injury at the Combine. How much did that affect your rookie year?

RI: It threw off my whole rookie year. I spent the whole year on IR, rehabbed. It was kind of a time deal, happened at the Combine. I really didn’t re-injure it until my Pro Day in late April.

So the surgery kind of threw my rookie year into a funk, spent the whole year on IR, just learning. It was a good year, because I learned as much as possible, came back and started that next year.

RC: How frustrating was that year, what should have been your rookie season?

RI: Yeah, it should have been my rookie season, and it kind of, I just kind of took it all in stride. I didn’t get too down and out about it, just really threw myself into rehab, and getting back because I knew I was a good ball player.

I just wanted to, at that time, I just wanted to make the squad. I came in, played well and took over the starting job.

RC: Basically you missed two years of football, right? Because you had transferred from Nebraska, and had to sit out 2004 at Oregon. So, your second year in the NFL, how eager were you to just get back on the field, and how good did that feel?

RI: You know, I was definitely anxious to get the pads on again, and get rolling. I hadn’t played in so long. I sat around and watched a year, and, you know, just seeing if I could play with these boys. I just got rolling and rolling and rolling, and my confidence grew. I just tried to hone my craft, lock into a position, start the whole year and play well.

RC: Kind of shake some rust off?

RI: Oh, definitely, definitely had to shake some rust off. My first year playing was tough, started at left guard, and was at left guard through all of training camp.

Then our center goes down, so I had to play center, a position I had never played before in a game, so it kind of threw me into the fire there.

I played pretty well at center, and towards the end of the year, they wanted to shake the offensive line up a little bit, and give some of the younger guys a shot, so I moved out to right guard, and that’s where I’ve been ever since.

RC: I was going to ask you about that. You’ve played three different positions in the NFL, would you consider your versatility as one of your strengths?

RI: Oh, big time. Yeah. You know, definitely as a young player, that was one of my strengths. I came in on Monday afternoon, and they said, ‘You gotta learn how to play center, and play it by next Sunday, and play it well.’

So, you know, that was definitely one of my strengths as a young guy. It’s still one of my strengths, but now as I get older, and get more years under my belt, it’s nice to be locked in at right guard, and build on the things I did well last year, and become a better player each and every game this year.

RC: Now, just to have you reflect a little bit on college, you came off the all-American, or, the all-Big XII year in 2003, what happened at Nebraska that led to your suspension and then your departure? What went on there?

RI: It just, uh, it was a growing period in my life, and a tough situation for me to transfer out of the University of Nebraska. But, I had pretty much, uh, how do I want to put it? I pretty much burnt through my chances there, and it was time for me to move on.

So, uh, the new coaching staff had come in, and the new regime that had come in, I guess I wasn’t a part of it, and wasn’t a fit for it.

So I moved on, and really wanted to get my career going again up in Oregon, and things didn’t work out. It was tough. It was two years sitting around, knowing you’re a good football player, knowing you’ve got a ton of talent, went and shined at the Combine, then had another setback with the injury.

So, it was definitely two years of a lot of growing for me, and a lot of maturing. It’s part of the journey.

RC: Now, you’re far from an introvert, and you caught a lot of flack last year after the Chicago game, does it bother you when your home fans boo you?

RI: Not one bit.

RC: No?

RI: Not one bit. We always joke, we come out for player introductions, and the booing, cheering, whatever you want to call it, I get louder boos and cheers than Steven Jackson.

They introduce the franchise player, the best player in the franchise, and they boo me. I love it. It’s all part of the game for me. I love what I do. I love playing on Sunday, and I love good, bad or indifferent, I love them making noise when they hear my name.

RC: So endearing yourself to the local fans really not a concern?

RI: It was a concern. I grew from it. Definitely something that shouldn’t have been done, in hindsight, and hindsight’s 20/20.

I kind of got caught up in the frustration and negativity from last year, and definitely got myself in a situation that I don’t want to be in ever again. So, learn from it, move on, and winning cures everything.

RC: I was just going to say that.

RI: Winning cures everything, and we just, I’m a professional and keeping moving on. Onward and upward, and work as hard as I can to get this ball club some wins.

RC: Jason Brown and Jacob Bell, they both said that the offensive line, you guys are really gelling as a unit. Is that something that was kind of missed last year?

RI: We played, and it kind of gets lost in the shuffle, we played well as a unit last year, at times. You know, we had times where we played very well, and times where we didn’t play so well. I think that’s the one thing that is a little bit different about this group.

We always play at a high level, and we played at a high level last year, and had to replace people with injuries, and you get that lull.

For offensive linemen, you can’t have that. We’re looking forward to just having five solid starters in there, and just rolling, and not having those lulls like we did last year.

RC: What is the one thing as a player you need to improve the most?

RI: There’s a lot of things I need to improve on. You know, just come out here and get better every day. Every day it’s different. One day, it might be a certain technique, like right now, I’m working on my footwork, my front side footwork and power. Stuff like that.

I understand that, to be the best I can be, you always have to get better. You can’t be complacent in this league. There’s always something to be worked on.

RC: Are you more comfortable at guard?

RI: I’m comfortable wherever they need me. It’s nice. I had all last season to play out at guard. I had OTAs, had training camp knowing I’m playing right guard, and I’m comfortable anywhere. If I was playing center, and had all OTAs, and all last season to play center, I’d play there.

RC: Tight end? (laughter)

RI: Tight end, sure. But, yeah, anywhere I get some time where I can master my craft, I feel really comfortable.

RC: Now, you played with Isaac Bruce, Orlando Pace, Torry Holt, you’ve heard the stories of the Greatest Show on Turf. How do you guys create another winning legacy now?

RI: We create another winning legacy by running the football, getting Steven going. Steven is 100 percent of everything that we do. He’s going to be 100 percent part of our success.

We get Steven going, then we get Marc (Bulger) going. In getting Steven going, we get Marc going, and we get those defenses creeping up like back in ’06, get them off balance, and by getting them out of balance, we, in effect, run a balanced offense.

We get Steven popping, then we hit them with the play-action, but it all boils down to Steven.

RC: You know, sometimes the running backs and the quarterbacks, they’re the glory hounds. As an offensive lineman, do you kind of have to, when Steven Jackson runs for 150 yards and scores a couple of touchdowns, it’s got to be a sense of pride. Do you find yourself living vicariously through his spotlight?

RI: Oh, definitely. It’s a unit. It’s 11 guys on offense trying to get as many yards as possible. We’re definitely excited. The more success he has, the more excited and happy we are.

RC: All right, well, thanks.

RI: No problem, thank you. Have a good one.

Rams Starters Struggle Against Falcons in Preseason Home Opener

As good as the St. Louis Rams looked at times in their preseason opener last week against the New York Jets, the starters sure laid an egg at home Friday night against Atlanta.

It was the Edward Jones Dome debut of rookie head coach Steve Spagnuolo, and his team did not make it a pleasant beginning.

The Falcons scored on the opening drive of their 20-13 victory, riding Michael Turner the whole way. The former Charger and second-year Falcon scored on a one-yard plunge on a third-and-one.

He got in the end zone virtually untouched by the right side of the Rams defensive line despite quarterback Matt Ryan falling down as the hand off was made.

The score was set up by a 43-yard Turner gallop on the second play from scrimmage.

The Rams (1-1 preseason) were without defensive tackle Adam Carriker, but that doesn’t exactly excuse their inability to stop the run.

“Without looking at the tape, I’m not sure where the holes were,” Spagnuolo said. “No matter where the holes were, you’ve got to tackle. That’s defensive football.”

Turner finished with 65 yards on just seven carries. Atlanta’s other two backs, Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling, both averaged better than four yards per carry. Norwood had 36 yards on eight attempts. Snelling gained 61 yards in 12 carries, including a 23-yard scamper off the left side that set up a Jason Elam 27-yarder to give Atlanta a 20-13 lead with 3:23 remaining in the fourth.

The pass defense also left a lot to be desired, unable to generate much quarterback pressure. They struggled containing a mobile quarterback like D.J. Shockley and Ryan was able to carve the secondary apart.

Atlanta (1-1) went to the air on its second possession, moving the ball seemingly at will against the Rams secondary. Ryan completed five consecutive passes on the drive, capped by a 14-yard toss to tight end Tony Gonzalez. The former Chief and future Hall of Famer got Tye Hill turned around before hauling in the pass from Ryan.

“We would have liked to have started the game better,” Spagnuolo said. “I think our guys realized that, but that’s a good football team. When you play a good team like that, you’ve got to come out and take it to them.”

It’s a no-brainer the St. Louis offense suffered without a few of its key players. Quarterback Marc Bulger, wide receivers Donnie Avery and Tim Carter, guard Jacob Bell and tackle Alex Barron all sat out Friday’s contest.

No matter which unit was on the field, they struggled to move the ball with any kind of consistency against the Falcons. All three Rams scores were set up by turnovers inside Atlanta’s own territory.

The Rams’ first play from scrimmage was a nine-yard Steven Jackson run off the left side behind guard Mark Setterstrom and tackle Adam Goldberg. The drive stalled a few plays later, with Samkon Gado dropping a screen pass on third down.

Gado shined in the 23-20 win over the Jets last week, gaining 93 yards on just six carries, including a 77-yard touchdown run. Against the Falcons, it was a different story and Gado’s fumble late in the second quarter squandered a red-zone opportunity.

St. Louis’ second possession was highlighted by a 20-yard pass from Kyle Boller to former Falcon Laurent Robinson, but still ended in another punt.

Boller was able to pick up a first down with his feet, an aspect Bulger is unable to provide. But the former first-round draft pick was just 9 of 16 through the air for 91 yards and a quarterback rating of 72.7.

Robinson was one of the few high points for the Rams against his former club. He was acquired by St. Louis in a draft-day trade after being deemed expendable by the Falcons.

With Avery on the shelf, Robinson is St. Louis’ No. 1 option at wideout, and he took advantage of the opportunity.

“I was excited to play against them,” said Robinson, who finished with five catches for 65 yards. “Nothing against them, it was just an opportunity to play, and it felt good.”

The Rams first-team defense looked good against Atlanta’s No. 2s. One play after linebacker Will Witherspoon nearly picked off a Shockley pass, Marty Booker had a pass go right through his hands and into the hands of St. Louis’ rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis at the Atlanta 26.

St. Louis was unable to move the ball, and instead settled for a Josh Brown 43-yard field goal.

The Rams had four red-zone possessions, and came away with zero touchdowns. Two ended in field goals, one ended on Gado’s fumble and the final offensive play was a Keith Null pass to the end zone that was picked off by Atlanta’s Eric Brock.

“When you get into that area of the field, everybody’s got to be focused and finish,” Spagnuolo said. “We didn’t finish, and that’s something we’re going to work on.”

The Rams were finally able to capitalize on an Atlanta turnover midway through the third. After Larry Grant knocked the ball out of Shockley’s grip, Hollis Thomas fell on it at the Atlanta 22. Two plays later, Brock Berlin found Derek Stanley open in the end zone for a 20-yard score.

Stanley looked pretty quick on his surgically-repaired knee, picking up 20 yards on a reverse that was later called back because of holding.

“Running that reverse felt good,” Stanley said. “Last year that was the play I got injured on, so it was fun running that play.”

He finished with 32 yards on a pair of receptions, and dropped a Berlin pass late in the third.

“I’m always overly critical of myself,” Stanley said. “I started running before I got the ball in my hand. I saw a bunch of open field, and took my eyes off the ball.”

Stanley left the field with his left knee wrapped in ice, but said it was just a precaution, and something he’d do normally anyway.

A handful of injuries came from the game, but none of them appear to be serious. Defensive tackle Gary Gibson, offensive lineman Phil Trautwein, and defensive ends James Hall and Eric Moore were all dinged up during the game.

As much as the Rams struggled stopping the Falcons from moving up and down the field, they did force three turnovers. The last of which was a beautiful, diving, one-handed snare by safety Todd Johnson early in the fourth quarter.

Following a pair of nice catches by tight end Billy Bajema, the drive again stalled in the red zone, and St. Louis settled for a 24-yard field goal from Josh Brown.

“It was a typical preseason game,” Spagnuolo said. “There was some good, and some not so good.”

Bulger’s Broken Pinkie Means Better Looks for the Other Rams QBs

While their fans may have had their heart skip a beat Monday morning when they read that Marc Bulger injured a finger on his throwing hand, the rest of the St. Louis Rams were loose and upbeat during the afternoon session.

Bulger jammed his right pinkie Monday morning taking a snap from center. An X-ray later revealed a “small fracture,” according to head coach Steve Spagnuolo. Bulger will not play in Friday’s preseason home opener against Atlanta, and is doubtful for the following week at Cincinnati.

“He won’t do much in the next couple weeks,” Spagnuolo said Monday afternoon, following a 90-minute practice that saw Kyle Boller work with the first team. “It’s not displaced which is a good thing…you can’t cast it. You don’t do anything to it. He’ll just tape it. We’ll keep him immobilized with the finger for a couple of weeks, and we’ll see where we are after that.”

Boller struggled during the Rams’ preseason opener Friday in New York, but is excited about the opportunity to work with the starters.

“This is why they brought me in here, in case something like this happened,” Boller said. “It’ll be an opportunity for me to get out there with the ‘1s.’ Hopefully, we can go out there and not miss a beat.”

Spagnuolo said the injury moves everybody else up, and will mean more playing time in preseason games for Boller, Brock Berlin and rookie Keith Null.

Boller struggled during 11-on-11 drills, throwing behind receivers, nearly having a ball picked off as he hit Randy McMichael between a pair of defenders, and was picked off by Oshiomogho Atogwe on an out route.

Bulger’s is just the latest injury to hit the Rams. Held out of Monday’s practice were Donnie Avery (ankle), Brooks Foster (ankle), Tim Carter (groin), Jacob Bell (head) and Adam Carriker (ankle).

Despite the injuries, the rest of the players were in good spirits. Chris Draft, Hollis Thomas and Adam Goldberg all had light-hearted jokes for the on-looking media members.

Draft said he’d like to have more sponsors on his jersey, and liked my idea of treating them like soccer jerseys with one big advertisement on the front, and having the player’s number only on the back.

Thomas said one reporter’s orange shirt was becoming too much to look at, and Goldberg made a few joking remarks towards others. Rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis said he may drop by the Scottrade Center “for about 10 minutes” to take in WWE Monday Night Raw, but added that he’s “seen so many of those shows live, it’s really no big deal.”

The players aren’t particularly worried about Bulger’s finger, and Rams fans probably shouldn’t be either.

Rams Preseason Becoming Costly As Injuries Mount

First came a seemingly mild ankle injury to fullback Mike Karney, but since then, the best receiver for the St. Louis Rams is laid up for the entire preseason and a safety is done for the year.

Both Donnie Avery and Eric Bassey were injured during last Friday’s scrimmage at Lindenwood University in St. Charles.

Avery will be back, but will miss four to six weeks after suffering a stress fracture in his left foot. It is unclear whether Avery was injured on one specific play—although he was tackled low by Justin King following a reception—or if it occurred over the course of the evening.

Either way, Avery woke up with discomfort in his foot, and an MRI following Sunday morning’s practice revealed the fracture.

More serious than Avery’s injury was the one suffered by safety Eric Bassey. The fourth-year player from Oklahoma was injured on a non-contact special teams drill. He had 10 tackles last season in 10 games. He was supposed to be an integral part of the Rams special teams this year.

Bassey was placed on injured reserve, and the Rams replaced him on the roster by signing Penn State rookie safety Mark Rubin. Safety Craig Dahl also tweaked a hamstring during Friday’s scrimmage and is listed as day-to-day.

Friday’s scrimmage, which was not all full-contact, also saw defensive tackle Adam Carriker go down with a sprained ankle that will keep him out of action for at least two weeks. Gary Gibson has assumed Carriker’s spot on the first team defense.

Also practicing full-time with the first team “D” is rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis. The rookie from Ohio State is at middle linebacker while veteran Chris Draft moved to the strong side backer position.

It’s unclear when the latest injury occurred, but defensive end Leonard Little was held out of Monday’s practice with a sore neck. Karney’s nagging ankle injury still has him relegated to a bike for the second straight week.

The injury to Avery gives head coach Steve Spagnuolo more looks at some of the other receivers. With the team’s No. 1 option out of commission, the other wideouts have the challenge of impressing the rookie coach.

St. Louis has one of the most inexperienced receiving corps in the league, and Avery—just a second-year player from Houston—was the team’s deep threat and most accomplished wideout.

Seven-year veterans Ronald Curry and Tim Carter, along with rookies Keenan Burton, Brooks Foster, Jarrett Byers and Sean Walker, are competing for roster spots with free-agent acquisition Laurent Robinson, second-year player Nate Jones, and return specialist Derek Stanley.

Robinson, a third-year veteran whom the Rams acquired on draft day from Atlanta, has been the most impressive in camp. Jones spent last year on the Rams practice squad, a spot where he could very likely find himself again this season. Stanley should be a shoe-in to make the club. He is St. Louis’ best kick returner, but is coming off a knee surgery that ended his 2008 season.

Why Ted Thompson Needs to Be Fired as GM of the Green Bay Packers

Reports are circulating that the Green Bay Packers and their general manager Ted Thompson are interested in signing maligned quarterback Michael Vick. Should that doubtful scenario actually come to fruition, it will just be a nail in the coffin for Thompson as GM of the Pack.

While Thompson has made some good moves, like bringing in Charles Woodson, re-signing Nick Barnett and drafting Jason Spitz, some decisions he’s made make you wonder if the guy sees the big picture.

Justin Harrell, and even BJ Raji are two guys I would not have drafted. Raji still isn’t in camp, and Aaron Maybin would have been a better fit in the 3-4 this year as an outside linebacker. And there were plenty of other players who were better than Harrell last year.

The Packers had one guy in double digit sacks last year: Aaron Kampman. So how does Thompson fix the lack of a pass rush? He and head coach Mike McCarthy cut the team’s all-time sack leader in Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Dumb.

As far as Bush, the Titans signed him to an offer sheet, and Thompson MATCHED IT! Why? The guy makes Ahmad Carroll look like a Pro Bowler.

He is easily the worst player the Packers have had in the last 20 years, and Thompson re-signed him? That’s reason enough to be canned.

Bush’s bonehead moves on special teams cost the Packers the Bears MNF game, and probably another one in there as well.

And, with Favre, Thompson and McCarthy both underestimated Favre’s value in the locker room. Players play harder with Favre on the roster. You’re not going to pussyfoot around with a bum toe when Favre’s out there with a broken thumb.

Another aspect of Favre’s game in how he could take a game over. While Rodgers played well last year, he never did that. He never once led the Packers on a winning drive in the fourth quarter. When you go from 13-3 to 6-10 with essentially the same players, except for one, chances are that one guy made a huge difference.

Favre would lose a game with a late pick, and Rodgers could be blamed for two losses last year because of poor play. But when you lose seven games by four points or less, that’s on coaching and also the quarterback’s inability to take control.

I put more of the onus on McCarthy. Losing that many close games is inexcusable. Not to mention the fact that both he and Thompson let their egos get in the way of allowing the best quarterback in franchise history to return to the only team he had ever started for.

When you say no to the most beloved player the club has ever had, don’t expect to get any love from Packers fans.

Jason Smith Now Just Another St. Louis Rams Rookie

He’s got a brand new contract that will pay him $62 million over the next five years.

He’s got the charisma and media savvy of a seasoned veteran.

He’s been lauded for his skills, which earned him the distinction of being the second overall pick in April’s draft.

But, even with all that going for him, Jason Smith is just another rookie.

The St. Louis Rams opened training camp over the weekend, and their rookie offensive tackle from Baylor was there on Friday—the ink on his new deal not yet dry. Smith’s high-profile status still doesn’t prevent him from his duties as a rookie.

“Whether it’s playing right tackle or left tackle, serving water, making sure the Gatorade’s cold, handing out towels, whatever it is, I feel that I’m a little better at it now,” said Smith, who added that he feels comfortable playing right tackle.

He’s also grown accustomed to another rookie task: carrying the helmets of the veterans.

“I carried the usuals,” Smith said. “All five starters on the offensive line, Mr. (tight end Randy) McMichael’s, Mr. (running back Steven) Jackson. Every once in awhile, I’ll try to grab (quarterback Marc) Bulger’s, but he won’t let me. Mr. Bulger, Mr. Bulger.

“But, you know, I’ve got these big arms, I just wrap them up and go. It is what it is.”

Smith knows his place. Asked when he’ll get to call Bulger by his first name, Smith said, “Probably when I hit retirement.”

During the weekend practices, while coaches were calling the veterans by their first names, tight ends coach Frank Leonard referred to Smith as “guy with the bag” during a blocking drill.

“It is what it is,” Smith repeated his favorite phrase. “I went to the rookie symposium and that was the only thing I remembered. It is what it is.”

Rookies were to report to camp on Thursday, and Smith was ready to go.

“I was sitting by the phone waiting for them to say come on over,” Smith said. “I was happy with the way things got done so I could be on the field with the team, and do whatever Coach Spags asks me to do.”

Smith drove the deal, saying that getting to camp on time was a priority.

“I know that, in order to play football, you gotta be here,” Smith said. “You can’t be in the house. In order to be a part of the team, you’ve got to be with the team. I’m a football player, and I’ve got to be on the field playing football.”

“Football is football,” Smith said. “There are a lot of big physical guys running around real fast, and you gotta be ready for it.”

Smith waited all day Thursday for the call to come, receiving an early morning phone call to tell him he was “on notice.” The deal finally came to fruition late Thursday night, but Smith said he had no butterflies about his first practice.

“I woke up this morning, and was like, wow, I woke up,” Smith joked Friday afternoon. “So I was happy.

“I wake up every morning thankful of what I have because of the ability I was given. At the end of the day, I’m just happy that I get to play football every day. Oh, and they’re going to pay me to do it? Cool.”

With his new contract in hand, Smith is settling into St. Louis, and has “pretty much” found a permanent place to live.

“I was thinking about the Holiday Inn, and making the top floor a penthouse,” he quipped.

He said he would treat the team to dinner, adding that his new teammates were “a great group of guys.”

Both Smith and second-round pick linebacker James Laurinaitis are expected to work themselves into the starting lineup by the end of camp. Both rookies continue to work with the second team, but it’s not something that concerns Smith.

“It is what it is.”

Spagnuolo Pleased With First Full Day of Rams Camp

Now that day one of camp is in the books, St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo likes what he’s seen.

“They gave a good effort,” Spagnuolo said Friday at Rams Park in Earth City following the team’s first official day of training camp. “It was a quick 85-minute practice. The challenge will be (Saturday) when they go live.”

Friday also marked the official start to Spagnuolo’s first training camp as a head coach. He admitted to being anxious and excited, which resulted in a restless night’s sleep.

“I just think about the next thing, so it’s usually at the end of it, that I look back and say that was pretty special,” Spagnuolo said. “But, right now, I’m so wrapped up in it.”

The Rams had all 80 players in camp Friday, thanks to the late Thursday signing of Jason Smith. The Rams first-round draft choice, and second overall pick in April’s draft, inked a five-year deal that will pay him nearly $62 million, with $33 million guaranteed.

“It was great to have them all here,” Spagnuolo said, giving kudos to general manager Billy Devaney for getting the deal done.

Smith was also relieved, saying that getting to camp on time was a priority.

“I was just sitting by the phone waiting for them to say, ‘Hey, come over,'” Smith said. “I was happy with the way things got done, and I could be here with the team.”

Smith said he had fun during his first official NFL practice.

“It was exciting,” the 6-foot-5, 306-pound tackle from Baylor said. “I had an opportunity to be around the offensive linemen, the team, get out here in this sunny weather and play a little football.”

Spagnuolo said he liked what he saw from the big rookie.

“I saw some of them skill guys running around, and it was hard to see the big men,” Spagnuolo said. “In the couple of peeks I took at him, I was pleased.”

Aside from Smith, the news of the day was the crisp execution of the receivers.

“I thought they stood out and did some real good things,” Spagnuolo said. “Brooks Foster made a big catch, and I saw some other catching the football. We’ve got a long way to go, but we’ve got our eye on every position.”

Veteran receiver Ronald Curry caught Spagnuolo’s eye catching punts as the competition for a return man kicked into full swing. Free agent acquisition Tim Carter also impressed the coaching staff. The young receiving corps caught everything thrown their way, which added to the coaching staff’s optimism.

“If they’re catching the ball, their hands are OK,” Spagnuolo said. “We’ll worry more when they drop them.”

Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson said he’s excited by what he saw from the first day of practice.

“We were really smooth, and the transition from OTAs was good,” Jackson said. “There weren’t a lot of mental mistakes. There’s definitely a different feel. We’re looking forward to the season, and what we can do.”

The first official day of camp was injury-free, with the exception of guard John Greco, who sat out practice after cramping during the morning run. He is expected to fully participate in Saturday, which will be the first day of two-a-days. The Rams will be in full pads for Saturday morning’s practice, but practice in helmets and shoulder pads in the afternoon.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010