Rams News Recap: Mar. 11

[RamBill]

Fresh Start in Philly: Bradford Not Looking Back –PD
As quickly as you can say ”traded to Philadelphia,” Sam Bradford is moving on. The Eagles’ new quarterback had nary a discouraging word for his former employees — the Rams — during an introductory news conference Wednesday afternoon in the City of Brotherly Love.

Bernie: No matter its outcome, trade good for Rams, QB
According to one flash-reaction poll taken of Philadelphia sports fans, 85 percent disapproved of the Eagles’ trade that sent quarterback Nick Foles and a 2016 second-round draft choice to St. Louis for QB Sam Bradford.

Sam Bradford Takes No Shots at Rams On Way Out –Wagoner
Quarterback Sam Bradford took his first crack at handling the Philadelphia media as the Eagles introduced him at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

Rams Officially Re-sign TE Lance Kendricks –Wagoner
The St. Louis Rams officially announced they have re-signed tight end Lance Kendricks on Wednesday night, a day after they had come to terms on the framework of a deal.

New Eagles QB Sam Bradford Press Conference –Video

Is There Any Way the Rams Can Lose the Bradford/Foles Trade? –Audio

Karraker’s Take on the Bradford Trade –Audio

Updating the Rams’ Salary-Cap Situation –Wagoner
For as fluid as all things free agency are with players constantly changing teams and teams constantly changing their minds, the amount of money a team has available under the salary cap is equally mercurial.

Bernie: Getting to Know Nick Foles
Here’s a scouting report on the Rams’ new quarterback acquired from Philadelphia on Tuesday in exchange for QB Sam Bradford…

Rams Show Interest in LB Akeem Ayers –Wagoner
The St. Louis Rams apparently have their eyes on bolstering their linebacker corps.

Peter King on the Bradford – Foles Trade –SI.com

Nick Foles described as “overjoyed he’s out of Philly” –PFT
Nick Foles is glad to be out of Philadelphia.

Morning Ram-blings: A Wild Day –Wagoner
As sports theatre goes, nobody does it like the NFL.

King: Why Chip Kelly might be so high on Sam Bradford –Video

Nick Wagoner Willing to Give the Rams “a Premature Victory” –Audio

Polian: Durability Still A Concern For Bradford –ESPN Video

Greg Cosell Breaks Down Bradford-Foles Trade –Audio

Why the Bradford Trade “took the angst in (Philly) to a whole other level” –Audio

Philly Reaction to the Bradford–Foles Trade –Audio

Balzer Discusses the Bradford-Foles Trade –Audio

Rams Report: Breaking Down the Bradford-Foles Trade –Video

Rams QB Nick Foles 2013-14 Highlights –Video

Is the Bradford Trade Leading up to A Mega-Move to Land Mariota –Video

 

[RamBill]

Morning Ram-blings: Former Rams at FA combine
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16968/morning-ram-blings-former-rams-at-fa-combine

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The NFL is trying a different spin on the NFL scouting combine this year by adding a combine for players who have been in the league but are without a team.

The NFL's first veteran combine is scheduled for March 22 at the Arizona Cardinals' practice facility in Tempe, Ariz. On Wednesday, azcentral.com released a list of those participating in the inaugural combine.

It's relatively old news but in case you missed it, former St. Louis Rams defensive end Michael Sam is among the participants. He'll be doing that in between his appearance on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."

But Sam isn't the only player with experience in St. Louis who is going to be in Tempe. Among the others who had at least a cup of coffee with the Rams are offensive lineman Graham Pocic, cornerback Greg Reid, defensive end Sammy Brown, defensive lineman Adam Carriker, linebacker Phillip Steward and tight end Jamie Childers.

What's interesting about that group is the various backgrounds of its members. Carriker was the Rams' first-round pick in 2007, taken No. 13 overall. The rest of the group is mostly undrafted free agents who never spent time on the team's active roster.

There are also a few players with some local and regional ties. Cornerback Kip Edwards (Missouri), tight end Eric Waters (Missouri), running back Mikel LeShoure (Illinois) and running back Jewel Hampton (Southern Illinois) are all from the area.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Wednesday's Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. ... The Ram-blings started the day with a quick look back at a wild first day in free agency. ... We then looked at an actual quote with Rams owner Stan Kroenke's name on it, albeit from a team press release. ... The Rams have expressed interest in some free-agent linebackers. ... We then updated the Rams' salary-cap situation though that will be changing soon, also. ... We then had a quick sample of Rams' reactions to Bradford's departure. ... Finally, we heard from quarterback Sam Bradford via satellite from Philadelphia, where he had nothing bad to say about the Rams. ... The Rams made it official as they announced they have re-signed tight end Lance Kendricks.

Elsewhere:

Former Rams cornerback Cortland Finnegan retired on Wednesday.

Bill Polian and Tedy Bruschi discussed the issues Bradford has had with durability.

NFL Nation columnist Kevin Seifert with some observations from the early days of free agency.

At 101sports.com, they offered a look at reactions from all over Twitter on the Bradford trade.

At stltoday.com, Bernie Miklasz takes a deeper look into what Foles brings to the table.

Miklasz also offers the Eagles' side of the interest in Bradford with an interesting nugget on Foles' ability as a play-action passer.