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Rams notes: Rams not expected to make run at Johnson
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_cdd13b05-eb90-5955-9b93-d034c2080922.html
Chris Johnson came into the NFL under Jeff Fisher as a first-round draft pick by Tennessee in 2008. He spent his first three seasons with Fisher, including a magical 2009 campaign in which he rushed for 2,006 yards.
He’s one of only seven players in NFL history to top the 2,000-yard rushing mark in a season.
But after Johnson’s release Friday by the Titans, a reunion with Fisher doesn’t seem likely in St. Louis. Those familiar with the situation say it’s not impossible, but there doesn’t seem to be much if any interest in Johnson at Rams Park.
Plenty of Titans have followed Fisher from Nashville to St. Louis, a group that includes Cortland Finnegan, William Hayes, Jared Cook and Will Witherspoon. But the Rams like what they have at running back, specifically Zac Stacy, who fell just short of 1,000 yards rushing as a rookie in 2013.
Johnson turns 29 next September, close to the age many running backs start to wear down. This past season, he rushed for 1,077 yards, the second-lowest total of his six-year NFL career, and averaged a career-low 3.9 yards a carry.
Money could be a factor as well. Johnson was scheduled to make $8 million next season had he stayed with Tennessee. He certainly won’t make that much on the open market but probably could earn half that total, which would be too much for the Rams, particularly for someone who would share the backfield with Stacy.
EALY VISITS
University of Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy paid a pre-draft visit Friday to Rams Park. Ealy generally is considered the second-best DE prospect in the draft behind South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney and will be a sure first-round pick in the draft next month.
Ealy’s visit is another signal that the Rams appear to have a fair amount of interest in upgrading their already strong defensive line. If that’s the case, Ealy could be an option with the team’s No. 13 overall pick.
Because Ealy grew up in St. Louis (before moving to New Madrid County in southeast Missouri), he counts as a local visit, as opposed to a top 30 visit. As a local visit, Ealy was allowed to work out for the Rams on Friday. Those making top 30 visits aren’t allowed to work out at team facilities.
Assistant head coach Dave McGinnis was among the Rams’ contingent in Columbia two weeks ago when Ealy was clocked around 4.6 seconds at Mizzou’s pro day. One team had him as low as 4.57.
INTEREST IN SAVAGE
While Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles have grabbed most of the pre-draft headlines at quarterback, there’s a growing buzz around Tom Savage of the University of Pittsburgh.
At 6-4, 228, Savage has one of the strongest arms in this year’s draft pool. The Rams are expected to take a quarterback somewhere in the draft, and Savage is on their radar. One league source said the Rams are considering both a top 30 visit and a private workout with Savage.
Savage began his college career at Rutgers, then transferred to Arizona before settling in at Pitt. He’s projected as a middle-round pick.
RAM-BLINGS
The Rams have talked to Murray State WR and return man Walter Powell, who is from Hazelwood East High. But as of yet, he has not been invited on a local visit.
Powell caught 160 passes for 2,050 yards and 23 touchdowns over his last two seasons at Murray State, while also scoring 4 TDs on punt and kickoff returns.
• Florida State WR Kelvin Benjamin visited Rams Park on Friday.
• Another Florida State product, CB and return man Greg Reid, remained in Lowndes County (Ga.) Jail after being arrested a week ago for a probation violation. The judge has yet to set bail.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_cdd13b05-eb90-5955-9b93-d034c2080922.html
Chris Johnson came into the NFL under Jeff Fisher as a first-round draft pick by Tennessee in 2008. He spent his first three seasons with Fisher, including a magical 2009 campaign in which he rushed for 2,006 yards.
He’s one of only seven players in NFL history to top the 2,000-yard rushing mark in a season.
But after Johnson’s release Friday by the Titans, a reunion with Fisher doesn’t seem likely in St. Louis. Those familiar with the situation say it’s not impossible, but there doesn’t seem to be much if any interest in Johnson at Rams Park.
Plenty of Titans have followed Fisher from Nashville to St. Louis, a group that includes Cortland Finnegan, William Hayes, Jared Cook and Will Witherspoon. But the Rams like what they have at running back, specifically Zac Stacy, who fell just short of 1,000 yards rushing as a rookie in 2013.
Johnson turns 29 next September, close to the age many running backs start to wear down. This past season, he rushed for 1,077 yards, the second-lowest total of his six-year NFL career, and averaged a career-low 3.9 yards a carry.
Money could be a factor as well. Johnson was scheduled to make $8 million next season had he stayed with Tennessee. He certainly won’t make that much on the open market but probably could earn half that total, which would be too much for the Rams, particularly for someone who would share the backfield with Stacy.
EALY VISITS
University of Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy paid a pre-draft visit Friday to Rams Park. Ealy generally is considered the second-best DE prospect in the draft behind South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney and will be a sure first-round pick in the draft next month.
Ealy’s visit is another signal that the Rams appear to have a fair amount of interest in upgrading their already strong defensive line. If that’s the case, Ealy could be an option with the team’s No. 13 overall pick.
Because Ealy grew up in St. Louis (before moving to New Madrid County in southeast Missouri), he counts as a local visit, as opposed to a top 30 visit. As a local visit, Ealy was allowed to work out for the Rams on Friday. Those making top 30 visits aren’t allowed to work out at team facilities.
Assistant head coach Dave McGinnis was among the Rams’ contingent in Columbia two weeks ago when Ealy was clocked around 4.6 seconds at Mizzou’s pro day. One team had him as low as 4.57.
INTEREST IN SAVAGE
While Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles have grabbed most of the pre-draft headlines at quarterback, there’s a growing buzz around Tom Savage of the University of Pittsburgh.
At 6-4, 228, Savage has one of the strongest arms in this year’s draft pool. The Rams are expected to take a quarterback somewhere in the draft, and Savage is on their radar. One league source said the Rams are considering both a top 30 visit and a private workout with Savage.
Savage began his college career at Rutgers, then transferred to Arizona before settling in at Pitt. He’s projected as a middle-round pick.
RAM-BLINGS
The Rams have talked to Murray State WR and return man Walter Powell, who is from Hazelwood East High. But as of yet, he has not been invited on a local visit.
Powell caught 160 passes for 2,050 yards and 23 touchdowns over his last two seasons at Murray State, while also scoring 4 TDs on punt and kickoff returns.
• Florida State WR Kelvin Benjamin visited Rams Park on Friday.
• Another Florida State product, CB and return man Greg Reid, remained in Lowndes County (Ga.) Jail after being arrested a week ago for a probation violation. The judge has yet to set bail.
