Ravens trade WR Clayton to Rams

Date: Mon, Sep 6, 2010

The Ravens, who agreed to terms with former Seahawks WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh on Monday, traded wideout Mark Clayton to the Rams on Monday. The teams also exchanged undisclosed draft picks, per the club's official Twitter feed.

Clayton, 29, caught 34 passes for 480 yards and two TDs in 14 games (12 starts) last season. He was a first-round pick of the Ravens in 2005. His best season was in '06, when he caught 67 passes for 939 yards and five TDs.

Clayton could help make up for the loss of Rams WR Donnie Avery, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in St. Louis' third preseason game.

For authoritative coverage and analysis of NFL news, free agency and fantasy football, visit ProFootballWeekly.com.

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Rams sign five to practice squad

Date: Sun, Sep 5, 2010

The Rams announced that they have signed the following five players to their practice squad: WR Danario Alexander, DB Marquis Johnson, OT Ryan McKee, WR Brandon McRae and OG Drew Miller.

They have three more spots to fill to reach the maximum allowed by the league.

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Rams announce Bradford as starting QB

Date: Sat, Sep 4, 2010

The Rams have named No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford as their starting quarterback for the regular season.

The move comes as no surprise. Bradford was impressive in the third preseason game after A.J. Feeley, who had taken most of the first-team reps in training camp, went down with an injury.

Head coach Steve Spagnuolo said: "We're confident, the staff's confident, the team's confident. It's well-deserved. He deserves this opportunity."

Feeley will be the backup and Thaddeus Lewis will be the third-string quarterback. Keith Null, who started the final four games for the Rams last season, has been cut.

In other news, the Rams placed S Kevin Payne and OL Eric Young on injured reserve.

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Future is now for Rams' Bradford

Date: Sat, Sep 4, 2010

It was not the kind of throw that makes headlines. It was the kind that raises eyebrows only of those wise in the ways of professional football.

When Rams head coach Steve ­Spagnuolo saw his rookie quarterback rifle a pass between several stunned Patriot defenders in the midst of his first preseason start, Spagnuolo turned to Pro Bowl RB Steven Jackson and asked him a question.

"It was not a long pass and it wasn't something outside," Spagnuolo said of the throw. "It was zipped in between some defenders, and I remember Steven ­Jackson was on my right at the time and I asked him if he saw the same thing I did, and he nodded his head.

"The velocity that it got there with, the fact that it beat some guys that were in real close coverage, that's a sign of a quarterback."

Frankly, Rams fans had been waiting for such a sign ever since the team made Bradford the league's No. 1 draft pick in April, paying him a record $50 million in guaranteed money as part of a six-year, $78 million contract that seemed to shake the football world with its immensity even though rookie quarterback salaries have been escalating every time a new signalcaller rolls off the assembly line.

No one doubts that Bradford has the size, arm and personality to become the NFL's next big thing, but such transitions take time. Spagnuolo knows this, yet barely an hour after Bradford went 15-for-22 for 189 yards and two TDs against the Patriots after struggling in his first two outings, one St. Louis scribe asked, "Now every Rams fan wants to know, is Sam your starter?"

Spagnuolo smiled ruefully and replied, "We will watch the film tomorrow."

The question spoke louder than the answer, and Spagnuolo knows he'll keep hearing it until the day he hands the keys to his franchise QB, which could happen at any moment. For a team that won six games the past three years, the first QB on the depth chart, A. J. Feeley, is not the future. Bradford is, and pressure will mount if he is not also soon the present.

Bradford has accepted this with an admirable levity, but he understands the situation he's in.

"I think I put pressure on myself regardless of the situation," Bradford said.

For Bradford, "the situation" is always going to be intense, not only because of the money he is paid, but because of the weight of expectations resting on his shoulders.

If he's not ready to start by Week One of the regular season, all involved know it's just a matter of time. If he keeps delivering passes that turn Spagnuolo's head, it won't be long.

"Tonight was really the first night that I had fun," Bradford said after riddling the Patriots' secondary. "It felt like I was doing what I'm used to doing, which is moving the offense up and down the field and scoring points.

"The first two weeks I never really felt like I got myself in rhythm. Before I went out there (to face New England), I just took a deep breath and said, 'Stay in rhythm. Do what you do.' "

Spagnuolo is telling him the same thing — and Spagnuolo will be doing the same heavy breathing until Bradford does.

Ron Borges is a columnist for the Boston Herald.

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Rams high on rookie TE Hoomanawanui

Date: Fri, Aug 27, 2010

We're told there hasn't been a more surprising player for the Rams this offseason than fifth-round TE Michael Hoomanawanui, who, aside from WR Danny Amendola, has been the team's most reliable receiver. "He did not catch a lot of passes at Illinois, but to the Rams' scouting department's credit, it looks like they've found themselves a guy with real good all-around potential," one team insider said of Hoomanawanui. The rookie showed off his steadily growing chemistry with QB Sam Bradford with a pair of TD catches in the Rams' victory over New England in the third preseason game. "With Daniel Fells out after suffering a hyperextended knee, he did a lot of damage against the Patriots' starters. He's got really good hands — he made one great one-handed catch against New England — and while he's not a speedster, he's pretty athletic and just seems to find ways to get open."

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Rams WR Avery out for season

Date: Fri, Aug 27, 2010

The Rams received the worst possible prognosis, Friday, in regards to their No. 1 WR. Donnie Avery will miss the entire 2010 season with a torn ACL.

Avery crumpled to the turf after attempting to catch up to a deep pass from QB Sam Bradford with 1:32 remaining in the second quarter and was helped off the field.

Avery, who was playing well against New England before suffering the injury, was widely considered the top candidate to be Bradford's No. 1 wide receiver. With Avery out of the mix, it would appear Laurent Robinson probably is the best bet to become the team's primary receiver, although there is a large group of candidates that can't be ruled out, right on down to perhaps even newly acquired Danario Alexander, a University of Missouri product with strong local appeal.

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Kroenke gives Rams badly needed stability

Date: Wed, Aug 25, 2010

Although nobody can ever be totally sure about exactly what Stan Kroenke has in mind for the Rams after officially becoming the seventh majority owner in the team's 73-year history Wednesday morning, the reaction in St. Louis appears to be overwhelmingly positive.

Such was not the case this past April, when the low-key, often-elusive Columbia, Mo.-based billionaire generated major shock waves in St. Louis and beyond with his decision to exercise his right of first refusal on a bid to buy the Rams by Urbana, Ill.-based auto parts manufacturer Shahid Khan.

It wasn't long before rumors started sprouting that Kroenke, who already owned 40 percent of the team, could be thinking about moving the Rams back to Los Angeles. Eventually, though, Kroenke went public with his intention to keep the Rams firmly entrenched in St. Louis.

"We are delighted with today's vote by NFL owners. It is one of the very high points of our long association with the NFL," Kroenke said. "We look forward to working with our fellow owners and Commissioner (Roger) Goodell as the transaction is finalized and in the years ahead.

"The Rosenbloom family deserves our thanks for all their efforts on behalf of a great football organization and a great city.

"Building organizations that win consistently is a challenge that we understand. We are excited about the opportunity as principal owner of the St. Louis Rams."

The PFW spin

If Kroenke stays true to his normally low-key form, it's likely he won't start making his presence felt in a big way as the Rams' new majority owner. That said, team insiders suspect that Kroenke's chief lieutenants with the Rams — general manager Billy Devaney and executive vice president of football operations/chief operating officer Kevin Demoff — will begin operating with a greater sense of urgency moving forward.

One big thing worth wondering about is just how quickly Kroenke's extremely deep pockets might come into play in terms of acquiring possible talent in the coming weeks and months for a team that continues to have sizable holes on both sides of the ball.

Beyond that, there is the question of how quickly either new digs for the Rams or a dramatically improved Edward Jones Dome will become a reality with the well-heeled Kroenke calling the shots.

The consensus seems to be that if the league had decided not to approve Kroenke — who had to make yet-to-be-disclosed concessions to abide by the NFL's cross-ownership guidelines — the Rams' future in St. Louis would have been in grave danger. Seventeen years ago, Kroenke was the lead investor of a St. Louis expansion team group but was beat out when franchises were awarded to Jacksonville and Carolina.

With Kroenke saying all the right things, though, and a buzz for the team building around first-round QB Sam Bradford, the new face of the franchise, optimism seems to be the order of the day in the Gateway City halfway through the preseason.

Kroenke's extremely successful track record as a majority owner of other professional sports teams is the biggest reason why.

The National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche have been to the playoffs for all but two years since Kroneke bought the team in 2000 and has won one Stanley Cup under his direction. In Kroenke's 10 seasons as the owner of the National Basketball Association's Denver Nuggets, the team has won three division titles and made seven playoff trips.

The Pepsi Center in Denver, also owned by Kroenke, hosted the 2001 NHL All-Star game and the 2005 NBA All-Star game. This facility also played host to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

In addition to the Avalance and Nuggets, Kroenke also owns the Colorado Rapids (MLS) and the Colorado Mammoth (NLL) and is the largest shareholder of Arsenal FC of the English Premier League.

Kroenke's extensive business interests include serving as chairman and owner of The Kroenke Group, a private real estate investment and development company with offices throughout the United States and Canada. Kroenke is one of the nation's leading developers of shopping centers and commercial real estate.

"Stan has been a familiar and respected figure in the National Football League for more than 15 years," Goodell said. "He is a proven businessman and has experienced success in all of his sports franchises, as well as serving as a responsible community leader. We look forward to him continuing to uphold the goals and values of the NFL as he becomes the majority owner of the St. Louis Rams."

So what's the next big development in St. Louis going to be? The guess here is that Kroenke will exert his considerable influence and expedite the announcement that Bradford will be the Rams' undisputed No. 1 QB by Week One of the regular season.

There are few businessmen any smarter than Kroenke, and you know he has to realize that Bradford could be the Rams' biggest asset.

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Kroenke officially named Rams' new owner

Date: Wed, Aug 25, 2010

E. Stanley Kroenke has officially become the seventh majority owner in the team’s 73-year history. The decision was made by a vote by the league’s owners at a meeting in Atlanta Wednesday morning.

“Stan has been a familiar and respected figure in the National Football League for more than 15 years,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “He is a proven businessman and has experienced success in all of his sports franchises, as well as serving as a responsible community leader. We look forward to him continuing to uphold the goals and values of the NFL as he becomes the majority owner of the St. Louis Rams.”

Prior to becoming the majority owner of the Rams, Kroenke was a minority owner of the team. He was vital in the effort to bring professional football back to St. Louis in 1995. With his real-estate development expertise, Kroenke was instrumental in the building of Rams Park, now known as the Russell Training Center.

“We are delighted with today’s vote by NFL owners. It is one of the very high points of our long association with the NFL,” Kroenke said. “We look forward to working with our fellow owners and Commissioner Goodell as the transaction is finalized and in the years ahead."

For authoritative coverage and analysis of NFL news, free agency and fantasy football, visit ProFootballWeekly.com.

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Rams' Jackson a back to build around

Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010

This is the 45th in a series of opinionated fantasy football columns that will be posted daily in July and August, providing fantasy owners with some insights to consider as they prepare for their drafts. You can get an in-depth preview of the upcoming fantasy football season with the purchase of the Yahoo! Sports / Pro Football Weekly Fantasy Football Guide 2010, available now in newsstands and bookstores, or online at PFWstore.com.

It's hard to be overly excited about a running back who (1) has played all 16 games just once in six NFL seasons; (2) is the centerpiece of an offense that could start a rookie quarterback; (3) had 375 touches last season and (4) played through a painful back injury in the second half of the campaign — and comes off back surgery.

And, I must add, the aforementioned running back likely will be a first-round pick in most formats.

In short, there are many reasons to pass on the Rams' Steven Jackson, and especially if you hold a top-four pick. In that case, choose from Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice and start planning for Round Two.

But if you don't have one of those picks, you're going to have to find another No. 1 running back. And Jackson, despite the red flags I've detailed above, still fills the bill.

Let's go over the concerns with Jackson. The big one is durability; note that he missed four games in both 2007 and '08. However, he missed just one game last season, when the Rams had nothing to play for, and he played without practicing at times toward the end of the campaign as he dealt with a herniated disc. He had surgery to repair the problem in April, and he has participated in training camp.

Those considering drafting Jackson will have to be up-to-date on his health. They will also have to be familiar with the progress of rookie QB Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft. Veteran backup A.J. Feeley and Bradford are competing for the starting job, and fantasy owners have to hope the ultra-accurate Bradford wins the job and keeps his growing pains to a minimum.

No matter who the Rams' quarterback is, he'll be looking frequently for Jackson on swing passes, screens and check-downs. Jackson caught 51 passes for 322 yards a season ago and is an ideal safety valve for a quarterback.

The catches are also a bonus for owners in PPR leagues, and owners who draft Jackson in yardage leagues know that even if he doesn't score as much as other elite backs (18 TDs in the past three seasons), he'll rack up some points in other ways.

On the surface, there is plenty of reason to be leery of spending a first-round pick on Jackson, and owners are advised to wait until the later part of the round to take him, if possible. But upon further review, he looks capable of having another very productive season. Note that the Rams' early-season schedule is loaded with favorable matchups, with games at Oakland (Sept. 19), vs. Seattle (Oct. 3), at Detroit (Oct. 10) and at Tampa Bay (Oct. 24) in the first seven weeks.

For authoritative coverage and analysis of NFL news, free agency and fantasy football, visit ProFootballWeekly.com.

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Bradford, Tate lead NFC West rookie crop

Date: Sun, Aug 22, 2010

This is the 44th in a series of opinionated fantasy football columns that will be posted daily in July and August, providing fantasy owners with some insights to consider as they prepare for their drafts. You can get an in-depth preview of the upcoming fantasy football season with the purchase of the Yahoo! Sports / Pro Football Weekly Fantasy Football Guide 2010, available now in newsstands and bookstores, or online at PFWstore.com.

You'll be making a mistake if you're counting on youth to serve up much of a fantasy impact from the NFC West in 2010.

Midway through the preseason, there are really only two NFC West rookies who appear to have any kind of a shot at becoming fantasy forces — Rams first-round QB Sam Bradford and Seahawks second-round WR Golden Tate.

And considering the way the offenses in St. Louis and Seattle performed in '09, the probability of both Bradford and Tate shooting fantasy blanks is considerable.

Then again, you never really know, particularly in the case of Bradford, who has done little so far this preseason to diminish the long-range potential the Rams believe the first overall pick in the 2010 draft possesses.

"He puts the ball on the money," Rams second-year WR Brooks Foster said of Bradford, who stuck around St. Louis right up to the end of June in an effort to get more up to speed with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur's West Coast scheme. "His play-calling is really good, and he carries himself like he's been there before."

That said, a possibility exists that the Rams will treat their prized first-round possession with kid gloves and start the season with veteran A.J. Feeley under center.

Rams head coach Steve Spagnulo ended the early portion of the offseason by designating Feeley as the starting QB, but the consensus among PFW sources close to the team is that Bradford will be named the starter by the end of the preseason and never look back.

To hear Bradford tell it, he's getting increasingly confident he could handle that scenario with every passing day.

"I feel very comfortable with everything we have in right now," Bradford said even before the Rams' OTAs concluded. "Obviously, having 13 or 14 practices and the minicamp, I've got a lot of reps. I've got a lot of experience with the plays. I feel good with everything we have, and I feel like the more I continue to do it, the more I study it, the more comfortable I'll become."

You can be forgiven for rolling your eyes over any confidence Bradford might have in an offense that scored one or fewer TDs in 13 of the Rams' 16 games last season.

But Bradford's optimism appears genuine.

"I think this offense has great potential," said Bradford, who also thinks he is 100 percent recovered from the reconstruction of the AC joint surrounding his throwing shoulder in late October. "I think the one thing that this offense has, too, is a great attitude. We've come out here every day, (and) I feel like we've gotten better every practice.

"Everyone comes ready to work. Everyone is positive. … I think there's a lot of talent, and I think we're going in the right direction right now."

Long before training camp began, Bradford said the Rams' playbook would be his constant companion.

"Yes, no doubt," he said. "It's going to be a lot (of studying). Obviously, we did put a lot in, so I'll go over everything."

As for Tate, he should get a golden opportunity to become a fantasy factor in Seattle, as he is widely considered the Seahawks' second-best option at wide receiver behind T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

It won't hurt that Tate performed in a pro-style offense at Notre Dame, where he racked up fantasy numbers to die for in his final collegiate campaign — 93 catches for 1,496 yards and 15 TDs.

At the very least, Tate looks like a solid fantasy third receiver in the making.

But at the very most, only he and Bradford figure to provide any kind of fantasy punch this coming season among NFC West rookies.

For authoritative coverage and analysis of NFL news, free agency and fantasy football, visit ProFootballWeekly.com.

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Grant raises eyebrows as Rams' starting WLB

Date: Fri, Aug 13, 2010

It looks like the Rams' "All-Former-Buckeye" starting LB corps will remain intact for a while. It's somewhat surprising, however, that Ohio State alum Larry Grant, who was widely expected to remain a backup on the strong side, has jumped ahead of former Buckeye Bobby Carpenter, a former first-round pick obtained in a trade with Dallas, as the starter at the "Will" position along with former Buckeyes James Laurinaitis and free-agent addition Na'il Diggs in the middle and on the strong side, respectively. "Grant has been very strong on the other side," a team insider said. "He's always been very physical. Maybe it just took him some extra time to absorb the defensive scheme. Having Laurinaitis next to him helps." Carpenter, meanwhile, just hasn't done much in comparison. "It's taking a little while because it's a little bit different for him," head coach Steve Spagnuolo said of Carpenter.

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Rams’ Bradford prepares for first big test

Date: Fri, Aug 13, 2010

ST. LOUIS — The rookie quarterback who has enough money to buy a chunk of his new team isn’t above running a lap when the offense makes a mistake.

Meet Sam Bradford — $50 million man and football junkie.

The top pick in April’s draft has been charged with turning around the state of a 1-15 Rams franchise that last season bottomed out after setting the league on fire at times during the glory days of 1999 to the middle of the next decade. Playing at a first-rate program like Oklahoma prepared him for a lot, but the biggest hurdle of his football life lies ahead of him.

Right now, Bradford knows his place. He’s the second-string quarterback behind A.J. Feeley, just trying his best to find a place on this team in transition without attracting too much extra attention to himself. If you ask Bradford, he’d try to tell you he’s just one of 80 players in camp trying to carve out a role.

“We ask everyone on the team that,” Bradford said of his penalty lap. “If you mess up, to take a lap. I messed up, took a lap, and that’s part of it.

“It keeps everyone accountable for their actions. It makes sure everyone is on the same page.”

Everyone watching Bradford thus far is on this page: He really can throw the football.

After his breakout performance of camp, a scrimmage at nearby Lindenwood University last week in which Bradford barely let a ball hit the ground, the stakes have risen even more. There hasn’t been this much anticipation for a preseason opening game in St. Louis in a long time. Bradford will make his debut Saturday against the Vikings. Although Feeley will start, head coach Steve Spagnuolo said Bradford would get time with the first team.

“Everybody should have an opinion (on when Bradford should start),” Spagnuolo said. “We’ll do what we think is right and we’ll do it based on what’s (happening) on the field.”

It’s only a matter of time before Bradford takes over the starting role for good. Usually the concern with a rookie quarterback is that coaches don’t want to crush a kid’s confidence by throwing him to the wolves before he’s ready. But with Bradford, he looks mature beyond his years and in control of the action, even when things don’t go perfectly.

“He’s definitely more than capable, mentally and physically, of handling it,” C Jason Brown said. “The work ethic, discipline, toughness, responsibility, ability … the kid has it all.”

Spagnuolo said that Bradford has more than met his expectations in most areas of his game, and in some cases exceeded them.

“He sees the field really well,” Spagnuolo said. Things are starting to … the game is slowing down. (But) this is practice now. I should say, the practice is slowing down for him. We’ve still got to get him in a game.”

In Tuesday’s practice, Bradford, running with the second-team offense, went against the first-team defense and immediately impressed. He faced a blitz on his first play, stood in the face of the pressure and fired a dart to undrafted rookie WR Brandon McRae. A few plays later, Bradford tossed a gorgeous fade to another rookie receiver, Dominique Curry, though Curry couldn’t hang on to the catchable pass.

So what did Bradford do? He went back to Curry, his hot read, on the next play facing more pressure. Drops were an issue all day, as was blocking. DEs Chris Long and George Selvie closed hard on Bradford on a rollout to the right, but he smartly turfed the ball when no receivers were open. That said, there were rookie mistakes, too. He threw high to an open Brooks Foster on a slant and later badly overthrew Danny Amendola on a post pattern.

Even with the occasional misfire, Bradford said that, to date, the pass-protection concepts have been the most difficult thing to grasp fully in the pros.

“I think that’s definitely one of the tougher things and one of the last things, maybe, for me to really get through my head,” Bradford told PFW. “I think now, a week and a half into (camp), I feel more comfortable knowing the protections that might have issues, knowing the protections that I might have to make adjustments to.

“It’s a matter of getting reps, but it’s also a matter of getting reps against blitzes. You can come out here all day against regular defenses and not have to make a single change. But to come out here against blitzes and actually have to go through your mechanics and change your protections — and knowing you changed it for the right reason — I think that’s the only way I am going to get better at it. And I feel I have gotten better at it.”

Of course, it’s not a bad thing to have a defensive-oriented head coach like Spagnuolo who has a reputation for dialing up exotic blitzes. Bradford said he has seen the kitchen sink in terms of coverages, blitzes and different looks so far.

“During OTAs, I definitely saw some blitzes and some coverages that I just had never seen on the college level. And I know that they have got stuff they’re saving for me that I have not seen yet,” he said. “But I think now, for the stuff that they have run through camp, I feel comfortable knowing everything that could come at us.

“It’s different than it is in college. It’s a lot more complicated. Guys come from everywhere; more guys come than usual. So you do have to be ready to get rid of the ball quickly.”

What Bradford hasn’t struggled with is his demeanor. He appears calm, in control. Never too high or low. After throwing what was believed to be his first interception of camp on Wednesday, a pass on which he never saw Quincy Butler squatting on the route, Bradford never put his head down, instead going straight over to QB coach Richard Curl for another of many lessons along the way to becoming a star.

Bradford has impressed his teammates so far with how he has handled the spotlight.

“He reminds me a lot of Matt Ryan. I had a chance to train with (Ryan) in the offseason,” said WR Keenan Burton, one of several wideouts trying to earn a place on this team. “It’s his demeanor. I couldn’t say where (Bradford) is at as a quarterback, but I know as a teammate he’s exactly where he needs to be.”

The Rams’ playmakers leave a bit to be desired right now. RB Steven Jackson is a force as a runner, but he’s also by far the team’s most established pass receiver, too. Donnie Avery is coming off a disappointing second season, and many of the other wideouts are unproven. The same thing goes pretty much at tight end.

So who will be Bradford’s go-to pass catcher?

“Whoever is open,” he says with a smile, echoing words often heard from seasoned pros such as Drew Brees.

It’s true, too. On Tuesday, Bradford’s favorite targets were McRae and Jordan Kent. On Wednesday, it was Amendola, Burton and Foster. As far as Bradford is concerned, everyone here is on even footing. If they’re open, that is.

“All of us (receivers) are fighting for position,” Burton said. “It has been great knowing that (Bradford) is going to look to the guy who can make something happen on that play, on any given play.”

Bradford has gone out of his way not to act like a 22-year-old who just received $50 million guaranteed. When approached about posing for a local magazine cover story, he passed, preferring they use an action shot. He has turned down several public appearance offers that he thought could be construed as a distraction from football and insisted, when the baseball Cardinals invited him to throw out the first pitch at a recent game, that Feeley and Keith Null, the other Rams quarterbacks, be right by his side.

JaMarcus Russell, this is not, and people are taking notice.

“A lot of people, you get that sort of money, you could almost put it in the tank because you have enough money to retire that day,” said a fellow rookie, OT Rodger Saffold. “But he has a real passion for the game. He wants to play. He wants to be great. He’s a football junkie, like a lot of us.”

When asked about it, Bradford said he’s not intentionally trying to deflect the white-hot glare of being a quarterback, a franchise savior and, well, a very rich young man.

“I am just trying to be myself, to be honest with you,” he said. “If my teammates like me for who I am and like my personality, that’s great. I am really not going to change that. I feel like I am trying to do things the best way that I know how to do them.

“You can say that (I'm the center of attention), but at the end of the day we’re still a team. Everyone is going to look at this whole offense and what this offense produces. I don’t think they’re just looking at me.”

On Saturday, though, they most certainly will. Bradford hasn’t played in a real game since reinjuring his shoulder against Texas for the Sooners early last season. Everyone is curious to see how the rookie fares in his first action. So far, all signs point to him performing quite well.

“I’m probably going to be a little nervous,” he said. “I’m definitely going to be excited.

“It’s been a long time. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m really not sure how I’m going to feel, but I definitely know I’m going to be excited for it.”

For authoritative coverage and analysis of NFL news, free agency and fantasy football, visitProFootballWeekly.com.

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Rams S Butler out with sprained MCL

Date: Sat, Aug 7, 2010

The injury gods continue to inflict more pain than pleasure on the Rams, one of the league’s more injury-plagued teams last season. Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo said after the team's Saturday-morning practice session that starting SS James Butler could be out for a prolonged period with a knee injury. Newly acquired safety Kevin Payne is also currently limited by a quad injury.

“He does have a knee sprain; it’s on the inside,” Spagnuolo said of Butler, who led the Rams with three interceptions in 2009 despite missing three games with a knee injury. “It’s a MCL, similar to … well, I’m not going to do that. I mean, it’s one that’s going to keep him out a little while.

“I don’t want to classify it as significant. I don’t know all the terms, but he … I don’t know that we’ll get him back again … I’m not going to say that. He’s going to be out for a while. We’ll take it day-to-day, but I think it will be an extended injury.”

Spagnuolo was also asked for a progress report on featured RB Steven Jackson, who is coming off surgery to repair a herniated disc in April and was expected to be sidelined for the team’s Saturday-evening scrimmage.

“He seems to be fine,” Spagnuolo said of Jackson. He said … that it feels exactly where it should be. He’s no worse, no better. He does want to push it a little bit next week, and we’ll do that.

“I think he’s right about on track where we thought, and then knock on wood we can stay that way. We’ll see what we’ll do when we get to that first game, have to make that decision.”

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Rams place Hovan on I.R.

Date: Fri, Aug 6, 2010

With a need to have players practicing and competing for jobs in training camp, the Rams have placed DT Chris Hovan on injured reserve with a back injury, head coach Steve Spagnuolo said Friday.

"Hovan's going to go on I.R.," Spagnuolo told reporters after practice Friday. "It was one of those ... I talked with Chris today and he's really a terrific person and been in this league a long time. It's one of those 'Is it going to be five days?' 'Is it going to be three weeks?' 'Is it going to be five weeks?' ...

"We need the guys out practicing, and Chris understands that. Rather than play the waiting game, we decided to put him on I.R."

Hovan, 32, was about to start his 11th season. The Rams signed him June 9 after he was released by the Buccaneers following five seasons in Tampa Bay, where he had started all but one game during that period.

Hovan had figured in the team's DT rotation along with Clifton Ryan, veteran newcomer Fred Robbins, second-year man Darell Scott and Gary Gibson.

"It could be one of those it's-a-five-day-rest deal and he bounces back, but then he gets set back," said Spagnuolo when asked if Hovan was likely to need back surgery. "What you don't want to do is go through three weeks of training camp and wear the other guys out because we don't have enough bodies."

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