Rams News Recap: May 11

[RamBill]

Bernie: Are Players Rams Wanted the Players they Needed?
To adequately evaluate the Rams’ 2014 draft, I’d have to write two columns. There are separate issues in play. One is rather simple, the other more complicated. I suppose in the end it all comes down to the strength of your belief in coach Jeff Fisher and his preferred style of football.

Rams Have An Eventful Draft –PD
Who knows what will be said and written about the Class of 2014 three, four, five years down the line? But in the here and now, this rates as one of the most memorable draft weekends in “St. Louis” Rams history.

Sam Could Fill Role for Rams but Faces Tough Competition –PDThere’s no doubt coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead had a sense of history when making the pick. But in the end, selecting University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam was a football decision Saturday.

St. Louis Rams Draft Grade –Silva

Rams RB Tre Mason Receives High Praise from NFL Radio

Jeff Fisher Talks About His First Round Picks –Radio Interview

NFL Draft Day 1 Report from Rams Park –Video

E.J. Gaines Talks About Getting to Stay in Missouri as the Newest Ram –Radio Inteview

Rams Earn High Marks From Kiper –Wagoner
In what has become a day-after draft tradition over the past 30 years, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. handed out his grades for this year’s edition in the wee hours Sunday morning.

SI.com Grades the NFL Draft

Michael Sam, Rams Are a Perfect Fit –ESPN
The NFL should be thankful the St. Louis Rams ended the last bit of suspense in this year’s draft by selecting defensive end Michael Sam late in the seventh round

Pete Prisco Grades the NFL Draft: Rams A+

Grading the Draft: Rams, Cardinals gaining in NFC West –Rang

Rounding Up Rams’ Day 3 Picks –Wagoner
What was shaping up to be a relatively uneventful Day 3 of the NFL draft quickly reversed course Saturday night when the St. Louis Rams made history by choosing Missouri defensive end Michael Sam with the 249th overall pick.

Fisher: Michael Sam Can’t Wait to Get Here –Video

Rams Among NFL Draft Winners –ESPN Video

NFC West Team-by-Team Draft Review –Video

 

[RamBill]

Morning Ram-blings: Most improved?
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/8362/morning-ram-blings-most-improved

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The day after the draft provides more opportunity for analysis and projection than any other day on the sports calendar. Nearly to a man, the St. Louis Rams are getting rave reviews for what they accomplished in the NFL draft.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay took a little different tact Sunday, providing a team in each division around the league he believes improved the most over the course of the weekend.

In the NFC West, the competition is already tough. The Rams finished 1-5 against Seattle, San Francisco and Arizona in 2013 and finished last in the division. In other words, nobody needed to improve the most from the draft more than the Rams.

Only time will tell if this draft class actually will make the Rams the most improved of the four teams -- San Francisco's draft is also drawing a lot of attention -- but for now McShay believes it has a chance to do just that.

McShay particularly liked the first four draft choices: Auburn tackle Greg Robinson, Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Florida State cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and Auburn running back Tre Mason.

"All four ranked in the top 61 of our prospect rankings, and all four have the potential to contribute as rookies," McShay wrote.

The Rams will need the type of immediate impact McShay thinks this class can provide if they want to keep up in the NFL's toughest division.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of a busy draft weekend full of Rams stories here on ESPN.com. ... The biggest news of the weekend came late in the draft when the Rams made the historic decision to draft defensive end Michael Sam in the seventh round. ... In addition to the news, here's my column on how St. Louis offers a comfortable fit for Sam. ... Lost in the mix of the Sam story is the interesting story of Maurice Alexander, who used to work as a janitor at the Edward Jones Dome and will play safety there in the fall. ... Our complete draft wrap-up takes a look at what the Rams did right and how they rolled the dice over the draft's three days. ... From there, we looked at President Obama's message of congratulations to the Rams and Sam. ... Mel Kiper Jr. offered his draft grade for the team. ... And we did a roundup of the team's Day 3 picks.

Elsewhere:

Columnist Jeffri Chadiha explores the fit of Sam in St. Louis.

The video of Sam being drafted.

Some audio of Sam's conference call with St. Louis reporters.

Sam's emotional reaction to being drafted.

Trey Wingo, McShay, Kiper and Bill Polian discuss draft winners and losers.

All 32 NFL Nation reporters offer a choice for the player on each team with a chance to go from sleeper to starter.

At stltoday.com, columnist Bernie Miklasz writes that Rams coach Jeff Fisher did the right thing by drafting Sam.

Jim Thomas provides his take on the selection of Sam.