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Rams notes: Rookies, Sam included, hit the practice field
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_6af6b057-a6f8-5173-b8e5-49bbff9364f4.html
There was finally some football Friday as defensive end Michael Sam and 24 other rookies took the field for a 90-minute practice at Rams Park.
There was a large media contingent on hand, more than most regular-season practices. With apologies to first-rounders Greg Robinson and Aaron Donald — and the rest of the group — most were there to watch Sam, the University of Missouri All-American who made history and headlines May 10 as the first openly gay player drafted in the NFL.
It was strictly a watch-and-observe session; no players or coaches were available for interviews afterward.
Normally this is the weekend for the team’s rookie minicamp, which features full-fledged practices and includes a couple of dozen undrafted rookies competing on a tryout basis. But coach Jeff Fisher is doing it differently this year, with only the Rams’ 11 drafted rookies and 14 recruited rookie free agents participating.
As a result there were not enough players for 11-on-11, or 7-on-7 work. Fisher is calling this weekend a rookie development camp. Basically the rookies are learning how to practice the Rams’ way. There will be another rookies-only session today, but next week the rookies get mixed in with the veterans as the overall offseason program continues.
The first full-fledged, full-squad practices — featuring 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 periods — don’t take place until the first week of June.
Naturally, all eyes were upon Sam on Friday. After stretching as a group, Sam and the rest of the defensive line rookies broke off into positional drills, bag work, etc.
In the middle of practice, all players ran a series of 20-yard sprints by position. Running with the offensive and defensive linemen, Sam appeared to be in good shape, usually leading his group.
Sam also participated in a couple of special teams sessions. If he is to make the final roster, special teams will be part of his ticket to the NFL.
After practice, Sam stayed late for a few minutes along with a few teammates working with special teams coordinator John Fassel. Sam and Fassel slapped hands at the end of that extra work, and then Sam walked off the field and into the locker room.
RICHARDSON TO JETS
It didn’t take long for running back Daryl Richardson to find a new job. Twenty-four hours after being released by the Rams, Richardson was claimed off waivers Friday by the New York Jets.
He joins a Jets backfield that includes former Tennessee Titan Chris Johnson, as well as Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell.
“We appreciated the Rams drafting Daryl and giving him the opportunity to play in the NFL,” said Scott Casterline, Richardson’s agent. “Daryl loved St. Louis and he loved playing on that team. But he’s looking forward to the opportunity in New York.
“That was a really tight team in St. Louis. Playing for the Rams was a pretty unique experience for Daryl.”
PLAY DOUGH
Signing rookie free agents can be very competitive in the hours after the conclusion of the draft. Each NFL team is allowed to spend just over $80,000 in signing bonus money to entice undrafted players to sign with them.
The Rams used $62,500 of that allotment on just four players: West Texas A&M defensive tackle Ethan Wesbrooks received a $20,000 bonus; New Mexico State wide receiver Austin Franklin got $17,500; Florida cornerback Marcus Roberson received $15,000; and Bowling Green tight end Alex Bayer got $10,000.
Westbrooks also had $30,000 of his 2014 base salary guaranteed. He had 26½ sacks and 49 tackles for loss over the past two seasons.
RAM-BLINGS
• CB Christian Bryant, a seventh-round draft pick last week from Ohio State, has changed jersey numbers, taking the No. 26 worn by Richardson.
• LB Jonathan Stewart, who opened the 2013 season on the Rams’ active roster for one week and then spent six weeks on the practice squad, was signed by Dallas.
• After being released by the Rams on Thursday, offensive linemen Graham Pocic and Emmanuel McCray both cleared waivers Friday.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_6af6b057-a6f8-5173-b8e5-49bbff9364f4.html
There was finally some football Friday as defensive end Michael Sam and 24 other rookies took the field for a 90-minute practice at Rams Park.
There was a large media contingent on hand, more than most regular-season practices. With apologies to first-rounders Greg Robinson and Aaron Donald — and the rest of the group — most were there to watch Sam, the University of Missouri All-American who made history and headlines May 10 as the first openly gay player drafted in the NFL.
It was strictly a watch-and-observe session; no players or coaches were available for interviews afterward.
Normally this is the weekend for the team’s rookie minicamp, which features full-fledged practices and includes a couple of dozen undrafted rookies competing on a tryout basis. But coach Jeff Fisher is doing it differently this year, with only the Rams’ 11 drafted rookies and 14 recruited rookie free agents participating.
As a result there were not enough players for 11-on-11, or 7-on-7 work. Fisher is calling this weekend a rookie development camp. Basically the rookies are learning how to practice the Rams’ way. There will be another rookies-only session today, but next week the rookies get mixed in with the veterans as the overall offseason program continues.
The first full-fledged, full-squad practices — featuring 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 periods — don’t take place until the first week of June.
Naturally, all eyes were upon Sam on Friday. After stretching as a group, Sam and the rest of the defensive line rookies broke off into positional drills, bag work, etc.
In the middle of practice, all players ran a series of 20-yard sprints by position. Running with the offensive and defensive linemen, Sam appeared to be in good shape, usually leading his group.
Sam also participated in a couple of special teams sessions. If he is to make the final roster, special teams will be part of his ticket to the NFL.
After practice, Sam stayed late for a few minutes along with a few teammates working with special teams coordinator John Fassel. Sam and Fassel slapped hands at the end of that extra work, and then Sam walked off the field and into the locker room.
RICHARDSON TO JETS
It didn’t take long for running back Daryl Richardson to find a new job. Twenty-four hours after being released by the Rams, Richardson was claimed off waivers Friday by the New York Jets.
He joins a Jets backfield that includes former Tennessee Titan Chris Johnson, as well as Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell.
“We appreciated the Rams drafting Daryl and giving him the opportunity to play in the NFL,” said Scott Casterline, Richardson’s agent. “Daryl loved St. Louis and he loved playing on that team. But he’s looking forward to the opportunity in New York.
“That was a really tight team in St. Louis. Playing for the Rams was a pretty unique experience for Daryl.”
PLAY DOUGH
Signing rookie free agents can be very competitive in the hours after the conclusion of the draft. Each NFL team is allowed to spend just over $80,000 in signing bonus money to entice undrafted players to sign with them.
The Rams used $62,500 of that allotment on just four players: West Texas A&M defensive tackle Ethan Wesbrooks received a $20,000 bonus; New Mexico State wide receiver Austin Franklin got $17,500; Florida cornerback Marcus Roberson received $15,000; and Bowling Green tight end Alex Bayer got $10,000.
Westbrooks also had $30,000 of his 2014 base salary guaranteed. He had 26½ sacks and 49 tackles for loss over the past two seasons.
RAM-BLINGS
• CB Christian Bryant, a seventh-round draft pick last week from Ohio State, has changed jersey numbers, taking the No. 26 worn by Richardson.
• LB Jonathan Stewart, who opened the 2013 season on the Rams’ active roster for one week and then spent six weeks on the practice squad, was signed by Dallas.
• After being released by the Rams on Thursday, offensive linemen Graham Pocic and Emmanuel McCray both cleared waivers Friday.
