Rams use time off to visit Stedman Bailey in Miami
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...use-time-off-to-visit-stedman-bailey-in-miami
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Given a few days off after a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night, a handful of St. Louis Rams took the opportunity to visit wide receiver Stedman Bailey at a Miami-area hospital on Saturday. Earlier in the week, Rams receiver Tavon Austin told ESPN.com that he and some teammates had planned the trip, and the group followed through with a visit Saturday morning. Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson was the first to post a picture of Bailey and his Rams teammates in what is believed to be one of the first public pictures of Bailey since he was shot twice in the head on Nov. 24. The Rams' official account eventually took Johnson's Instagram photo and tweeted it out.
Rams players in the picture include Austin, Johnson, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, running back Todd Gurley, end Eugene Sims, linebacker Mark Barron, running back Benny Cunningham and safety Rodney McLeod. Bailey took to Twitter to thank his teammates for the visit.
STEDMAN BAILEY SR @iamSB3
Got my rams brothers that just came down to visit me at the hospital. Did me a lot of Justice ! Love them boys to death
11:37 AM - 19 Dec 2015
Before Thursday's game, Rams coach Jeff Fisher arranged for Bailey to chat with the team via FaceTime. Bailey connected to an iPad at the Rams team hotel and the Rams projected Bailey onto a big screen. “It was something that I’d never experienced before," Fisher said. "It was really special. Really special.
"He was great. We had it set up and really, it was special. Guys didn’t anticipate it and he wished them well. As a matter of fact, gave him a chance to talk and said, ‘Do you have anything to say to your teammates?’, and he said, ‘Yeah, go kick their ass.’ So, must mean he’s getting better.” Fisher also recently said that the hope is that Bailey will be out of the recovery center at the hospital and home in time for Christmas sometime next week.