Rodger Saffold returns to Rams after 'painful' experience with Raiders
Jim Corbett and Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports 4:33 p.m. EDT March 13, 2014
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...-saffold-re-signs-five-years-raiders/6373633/
Rodger Saffold has gone home after a long trip to get there
Despite a pay cut of more than $1 million, Saffold is glad to be back where he started his career given his disappointing trip to the Bay Area.
"Rodger is happy to be back here considering what went down there — what a crazy experience," Saffold's agent Alan Herman told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday.
"It was painful. Let's put it that way."
The free agent offensive lineman flunked a physical with the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday after agreeing to a five-year, $42.5 million contract that was subsequently voided.
The Rams welcomed him back Thursday with a five-year, $31.7-million deal with $19.5 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the contract told USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not disclosed the deal.
"Rodger was initially shocked," Herman said of the Raiders fiasco.
"I think it was an ownership decision and not the general manager (Reggie McKenzie). That's my gut feeling. And that's unfortunate."
Saffold, a second-round pick in 2010, had played left tackle for most of his NFL career but moved to the right side in 2013 after the Rams signed Jake Long in free agency. Saffold kicked inside to guard midway through last season and played some of his best football. He is expected to remain at the new position moving forward.
Saffold has not played a 16-game schedule since his rookie season, dealing with shoulder, pectoral, knee and neck injuries. But the Rams are comfortable with him medically.
"Kevin Demoff already called and told us they have no problem with his physical at all," Herman said, referencing the Rams executive vice president.
"For some reason, the Raiders took issue with his medical. ... We have a shoulder specialist who said he's 100% fine. And we have the Rams, who passed him on his exit physical and then provided a significant amount of guaranteed money to prove they were fine with it.
"And we've got a team out in Oakland where I truly believe the GM wanted to go forward with it. ... We met with the attorney and the CFO. And they said based on their medical, they were not going to go forward with a contact, which under the CBA is their right."
The position switch means the Rams, who currently own the second pick of the 2014 NFL draft, may remain in the market for an elite tackle prospect such as Auburn's Greg Robinson or Texas A&M's Jake Matthews.
