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Rams' Day 2 free-agent notes
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/6701/rams-day-two-free-agent-notes
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams were completely silent on the first day of free agency. On day 2, they haven't exactly made much noise but there are at least a couple of whispers of potential activity.
Some quick thoughts on what's going on with the Rams as free agency moves past the first wave of expensive, splashy signings.
The Rams aren't swaying from their patient approach to free agency. Wednesday morning, the team saw starting left guard Chris Williams depart for Buffalo while his backup, Shelley Smith, visited the New York Giants. Smith has a visit set up with the New England Patriots for Thursday if he doesn't sign with the Giants. St. Louis had interest in keeping Williams and still has a little (though not much) in retaining Smith. It's likely both will move on. We covered the ground on Williams earlier but for what it's worth, losing Williams and Smith isn't a big deal for the Rams other than it takes away a couple of guys who could provide solid depth. But the Rams can find and develop others to provide that depth. It's the starting five where upgrades are most needed and neither Smith nor Williams would have represented a line getting better had they stayed in St. Louis as starters.
Speaking of the offensive line, the free-agent market simply doesn't offer much in the way of options who actually would provide an upgrade to the team's starting five. But the Rams are kicking the tires on at least one veteran option. Tampa Bay guard Davin Joseph is scheduled to arrive in St. Louis on Wednesday night for a visit. Joseph was once one of the league's best interior players but a knee injury cost him the 2012 season and though he played 16 games last year, he was unable to return to his previous form. Joseph does have ties to the Rams as chief operating officer Kevin Demoff was in Tampa for a few years early in Joseph's career. It's hard to imagine Joseph will draw a big-dollar offer so he might be worth a flier on a one-year "prove it" type of deal but anything beyond that would be extraneous.
Elsewhere on the interest front, the Rams have expressed some in Buffalo defensive lineman Alex Carrington. Carrington has spent his career as a 3-4 lineman, operating more as a space eater type but would transition inside in a 4-3 defense. The Rams would like to add help on the interior to help lighten the load on backup ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims and join the rotation behind starters Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford. Carrington doesn't have much history as a pass rusher, posting four sacks in four seasons, but he might be able to generate more pressure if moved to defensive tackle in an attacking 4-3 defense such as the Rams'. Reports indicate Cleveland also has interest and that might be the more logical fit. Carrington played for Browns head coach Mike Pettine in Buffalo last year.
One quick housekeeping note: The Rams opted not to offer the exclusive rights tender to defensive back Quinton Pointer on Tuesday.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/6701/rams-day-two-free-agent-notes
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams were completely silent on the first day of free agency. On day 2, they haven't exactly made much noise but there are at least a couple of whispers of potential activity.
Some quick thoughts on what's going on with the Rams as free agency moves past the first wave of expensive, splashy signings.
The Rams aren't swaying from their patient approach to free agency. Wednesday morning, the team saw starting left guard Chris Williams depart for Buffalo while his backup, Shelley Smith, visited the New York Giants. Smith has a visit set up with the New England Patriots for Thursday if he doesn't sign with the Giants. St. Louis had interest in keeping Williams and still has a little (though not much) in retaining Smith. It's likely both will move on. We covered the ground on Williams earlier but for what it's worth, losing Williams and Smith isn't a big deal for the Rams other than it takes away a couple of guys who could provide solid depth. But the Rams can find and develop others to provide that depth. It's the starting five where upgrades are most needed and neither Smith nor Williams would have represented a line getting better had they stayed in St. Louis as starters.
Speaking of the offensive line, the free-agent market simply doesn't offer much in the way of options who actually would provide an upgrade to the team's starting five. But the Rams are kicking the tires on at least one veteran option. Tampa Bay guard Davin Joseph is scheduled to arrive in St. Louis on Wednesday night for a visit. Joseph was once one of the league's best interior players but a knee injury cost him the 2012 season and though he played 16 games last year, he was unable to return to his previous form. Joseph does have ties to the Rams as chief operating officer Kevin Demoff was in Tampa for a few years early in Joseph's career. It's hard to imagine Joseph will draw a big-dollar offer so he might be worth a flier on a one-year "prove it" type of deal but anything beyond that would be extraneous.
Elsewhere on the interest front, the Rams have expressed some in Buffalo defensive lineman Alex Carrington. Carrington has spent his career as a 3-4 lineman, operating more as a space eater type but would transition inside in a 4-3 defense. The Rams would like to add help on the interior to help lighten the load on backup ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims and join the rotation behind starters Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford. Carrington doesn't have much history as a pass rusher, posting four sacks in four seasons, but he might be able to generate more pressure if moved to defensive tackle in an attacking 4-3 defense such as the Rams'. Reports indicate Cleveland also has interest and that might be the more logical fit. Carrington played for Browns head coach Mike Pettine in Buffalo last year.
One quick housekeeping note: The Rams opted not to offer the exclusive rights tender to defensive back Quinton Pointer on Tuesday.