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Rams notes: Club signs 11 draft choices
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_3d8d5041-6547-58ec-ac8b-81cdb4d53d0c.html
The final team in the National Football League to sign a draft pick, the Rams took care of their entire 11-man class Thursday, announcing that all signed contracts following the OTA practice session.
There is little suspense to signing draft picks these days, with all the money basically slotted by draft position. The Rams followed a similarly patient approach a year ago.
“With the new rookie cap and everything, it’s really not difficult to get the deals done,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said earlier this week. “So we just felt like this time would be better served putting them in situations from an educational standpoint — financial planning and those kinds of things. We’ve done a lot of that.”
Tony Pastoors, senior assistant to executive vice president Kevin Demoff, did the legwork on getting the rookies signed. Terms of the deals were not released.
“At first, it felt like it was going to take forever, but it’s a good feeling to finally get it over with,” said Greg Robinson, the Auburn guard/tackle who was selected with the No. 2 overall pick last month.
HUS RETURNS
Jorgen Hus, a long-snapper from Canada, is back with the Rams after a short offseason stint in Seattle.
“I was (with the Seahawks) for about a month, we were just working out before OTAs started,” said Hus, 24, who was with the Rams in training camp as a rookie last year. “They said it was a numbers thing — it’s a business — but I’m happy to be here, that’s for sure.
“This feels like home to me. None of the nerves from last year. I know what to expect and I’m really comfortable here.”
The 6-foot-1, 232-pound Hus, who played for the University of Regina Rams in Saskatchewan, feels like he’s more consistent than a year ago and that he’s more at home in the American game.
“Coming from Canada, the big adjustment for me last year was the blocking,” he said. “There, it’s more about getting downfield. Here, everything is straight back, so I’ve really worked hard on my footwork.”
Hus, who was drafted last year by the Edmonton Eskimos, said he has considered the Canadian Football League, but isn’t about to give up on his dream of playing in the NFL.
“At the end of the day, if I were to play a number of years in the CFL, I’m not going to regret missing out on a shot at the NFL,” he said. “I can’t see myself, or anyone, turning down an NFL offer.”
With fourth-year pro Jake McQuaide entrenched as the team’s long snapper, Hus is realistic about his chances of making the 53-man roster.
“It’s a tough spot, but I’m happy to compete anywhere,” he said. “Jake’s a really good guy and a great snapper, so, for me, it’s really just about building that resume. It may take two or three or four times to get your shot, but that’s the life of a specialist.”
Hus, you may recall, created a bit of internet buzz last summer with a trick-shot long-snapping video that featured a snap through the window of a moving car and another from the roof of a garage into a trash can in the middle of the street.
“The funny thing about the video is that it was posted two or three years earlier and then just kind of blew up last year when I signed with the Rams,” Hus recalled, adding that there are no plans for a sequel. “It was a lot of fun to do, but for now, that was a one-time deal.”
RAM-BLINGS
• Quarterback Sam Bradford got in plenty of work Thursday, taking part in a pair of 7-on-7 sessions. He threw scoring passes to Austin Pettis and Tavon Austin in a red-zone drill. Being blitzed in an 11-on-11 two-minute drill, his pass for Stedman Bailey in the flat was picked off by Janoris Jenkins for what would’ve been a pick-6.
• Alex Bayer, a rookie free agent tight end from Bowling Green, had a solid day catching passes Thursday.
• Tight end Jared Cook returned to practice after sitting out Tuesday. Sitting out Thursday were left tackle Jake Long, defensive end William Hayes, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, running back Chase Reynolds, receiver Jamaine Sherman and safeties Matt Daniels, Christian Bryant and Maurice Alexander. A Eureka High product drafted in the fourth round, Alexander is recovering from a knee ‘scope.
• After watching Thursday’s workout, coaches from about 40 area high schools took part in a coaching clinic conducted by Fisher.
• The Rams will work out four times next week, with the Tuesday and Thursday sessions open to the media. That will wrap up their 10 OTAs. Following a summer break, they will open training camp in late July.
Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.