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Whats your take on Janoris Jenkins?
You probably won’t like my take, which I have offered before.
I think Jenkins is talented, but itchy. He plays best when he is aggressively up in a Man relationship to a receiver. He’s pretty damn good in that role, I think.
When he’s back off the guy, he gets restless and he will bite on double moves. He’ll cheat up, try to jump short routes, and let guys get behind him.
In other words, he doesn’t really match Williams’ system. Williams apparently wants to play off and contain to facilitate his blitzes. That requires disciplined CBs. JJ is a poor fit for that role.
what about not blitzing and trying to cover for the first 2 seconds? Let 4 players rush and try to force the QB to throw the ball quickly. I think we have the players to do that.
AgamemnonWell in general would you agree that GW runs a very ‘risky’ defense?
High risk high reward — that kind of system?And in general, do you ‘like’ that kind of defense as opposed
to what might be called a ‘sounder’ safer defensive scheme?w
vI think it is more high risk medium reward. I think he takes unnecessary risks. I think the Rams were second on percentage of blitzes. I don’t think it is the best strategy to do that when you can generate the pass rush we can with just our front four. He could get almost the same effect by faking the blitz. imo
I believe in being aggressive. But,I don’t like to make plays that can lose the game but not win it. I think this is the type of mistake that Williams tends to make.
AgamemnonI dunno ag. Maybe Givens steps up, but it’s a long step IMO.
They you expect an udfa to make the team in their place or that they just won’t step up?
AgamemnonMistakes can be divided into two categories. The big mistakes that kill you and the mistakes that happen over and over again and kill you. I think it would be easier to correct the reoccurring mistakes, unless the same big mistakes are reoccurring. 😉
AgamemnonI thought it was no holding penalties and one sack. Then I might be having another senior moment?
http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/5/1/8514693/nfl-draft-2015-scouting-report-rob-havenstein-wisconsinHavenstein tied a school record with 54 games played, so durability definitely falls under the “strengths” category for the hulking right tackle. Excellent size for an offensive lineman and surprisingly quick feet for a man of said size. NFL.com’s Gil Brandt noted that Havenstein is, “one of those guys who plays a lot faster than his times would indicate.” Something that doesn’t get reported on often, but Havenstein excelled in, is holding calls. Havenstein had zero holds called against him in 2014 and gave up a mere 2.5 sacks.
AgamemnonLions free-agent profile: Garrett Reynolds
By Sean Yuille
@SeanYuille on Feb 18, 2015, 11:00a 5
Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesShould the Detroit Lions re-sign offensive guard Garrett Reynolds?
http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/2/18/8052233/lions-free-agents-2015-garrett-reynoldsTo get ready for free agency, we’re going to take a look at each of the Detroit Lions’ 2015 free agents. Next up is offensive guard Garrett Reynolds.
2014 stats10 games (4 starts) | Allowed 3 sacks, 2 QB hits, 4 QB hurries (via Pro Football Focus)
How he joined the LionsSigned as a free agent in September 2014 (after first signing in July 2014).
Case for re-signing himReynolds’ versatility proved to be extremely valuable in 2014. He initially joined the team as an offensive guard, and he was brought back just days after the first game of the season as an offensive tackle. He immediately stepped in as the starting right tackle due to injuries to the Lions’ starter and backup, and he helped keep things afloat on the O-line throughout the season with various players going down. Considering he should be a cheap option, the Lions could do a lot worse than Reynolds from a depth standpoint.
Case against re-signing himAlthough Reynolds was versatile, there was a noticeable drop-off when he was in the game at right tackle in 2014. I guess that makes sense considering Reynolds wasn’t at his normal position and was the Lions’ third-stringer, but undrafted rookie Cornelius Lucas jumped him on the depth chart at tackle as the season progressed. It’s true that Reynolds is a better fit at guard, but part of being versatile is being able to perform well at multiple positions. If that’s what the Lions want out of a backup offensive lineman, then there may be better options out there.
Final verdictConsidering the Lions don’t really have any proven depth at guard, it would be wise to re-sign Reynolds. As mentioned earlier, he should be a cheap option, and the fact that he can slide outside to tackle if needed is valuable considering how many injuries the Lions dealt with on the O-line last season. Guard is certainly a better fit for Reynolds, but having someone with experience at multiple positions on the offensive line is important for when emergency situations arise on game day.
AgamemnonI thought Reynolds played better at tackle and not so good at guard. But, maybe I am going senile? 😉
Agamemnon49ers get future pick for P … Cleveland has acquired veteran P Andy Lee from San Francisco in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2017. Lee, a three-time Pro Bowler in his 11th year in the league, became expendable when the 49ers drafted former Clemson punter Bradley Pinion of the fifth round of the 2015 draft.
AgamemnonAll the gossip says, Robinson and Saffold on the left side. It will be awhile before the center position is decided. Fisher would like Brown to win the RG position and Havenstein is all ready penciled in at RT.
AgamemnonOf the 22 starters for the #49ers in Super Bowl XLVII vs. #Ravens, only 7 remain on roster (4 on offense, 3 on defense).
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) June 5, 2015
AgamemnonJust on that one article.
It is on a lot of them. But, I can work around it. I was just curious if I was the only one who had the problem. It is a bit strange how it works. I can go to Rambills link, then if it I try to go from there to read the full article, I get redirected to a non existant page.
It only happens here. Not the Herd or ROD.
AgamemnonLT Greg Robinson, coming off offseason toe surgery, is a svelte 319 _ about 20 pounds lighter than last season. Wants to improve quickness.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) June 5, 2015
AgamemnonRams did a lot of situational work Friday, including red zone period and two-minute drill.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) June 5, 2015
Not practicing Fri: WR Damian Williams; S T.J. McDonald; G Cody Wichmann; LT Greg Robinson; TE Alex Bayer, and of course, RB Todd Gurley.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) June 5, 2015
AgamemnonAnd truth is, this year’s is as good a batch of UDFAs as they ever brought in, looks like.
There no players that seem to be just roster filler. They do a good job of attracting udfas even with a roster without a lot of holes.
AgamemnonRanking the St. Louis Rams position groups
June 4, 2015 by Akhil Ganesh
http://isportsweb.com/2015/06/04/ranking-the-st-louis-rams-position-groups/
The St. Louis Rams have been a competitive team since head coach Jeff Fisher took over in 2012. However, there is a good deal of distance between become competitive and being a contender. Fisher opts to have his teams compete with aggressive defense and prefers to have a run-heavy offense. However, the Rams have lacked that offensive identity under Fisher, until this offseason. In an effort to break down how St. Louis will compete in the upcoming season, we rank the squads position groups from best to worst.
1. Defensive Line
St. Louis RamsDefensive end Robert Quinn leads one of the best defensive lines in the league.
Otherwise known as “Sack City”, the St. Louis Rams’ defensive line is as good as it gets in the NFL. With five former first round draft picks and starting caliber depth, the group has the makings to be one of the best in the league again. It all starts with dangerous edge rusher Robert Quinn, who has made a name for himself getting after the quarterback. Offenses attempt to double up protection on his side, but Chris Long’s high-motor rushing style on the other side often helps take attention away from Quinn. If that wasn’t dangerous enough, 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald has pass-rushing ability from his inside position. His speed and quickness on the line also helps stuff running plays before they get going. Michael Brockers is the run stuffer of the group, and clogs up running lanes at a high level.
The group added Nick Fairley this offseason, who will be a great rotational player behind Donald and Brockers. Eugene Sims and William Hayes could both start for other teams in the league, and offer tremendous depth behind Quinn and Long on the edge, and can move inside if need be. The team drafted Martin Ifedi out of Memphis, who will challenge Ethan Westbrooks for the final spot in the group.
2. Special Teams
For most teams, having the special teams as one of the top groups on the squad would be indicative of issues elsewhere on the team. For St. Louis, it’s indicative of just how good their special teams actually are. Johnny Hekker is one of the best punters in the league, and its not just for his kicking ability. Jeff Fisher loves his trick plays, and Hekker’s ability to throw the ball aids that part of the Rams’ attack. Jake McQuaide is as solid of a long snapper as there is in this league, and Greg “the Leg” Zuerlein has phenomenal range on field goals. The problem with Zuerlein has been his accuracy at times, but the Rams seem convinced in moving forward with the strong leg potential he offers.
The return game is no joke either, as Tavon Austin is a blur as a punt returner. When he gets the ball in his hands with space, the game instantly becomes more exciting and he can change the complexion of the game. Benny Cunningham is a tremendous kick returner, despite not having scored a touchdown in his career. He consistently gets the ball past the 25 yard line, and often times is an asset in the field position battle throughout the game.
3. Running Backs
If there’s one thing Jeff Fisher loves, it’s running the football. He proved that in each of his four drafts since taking over the Rams, as he has drafted a running back every year. Now, the position is loaded with first round draft pick Todd Gurley, Tre Mason, and Benny Cunningham all viable options to take snaps. Gurley in particular is a game changing threat out of the backfield, as long as his recovery from an ACL injury goes according to plan. In his absence, Mason offers more than enough ability out of the backfield, with tremendous speed and burst through the hole to propel the offense.
The one thing the group lacks is experience, but it’s safe to say that the team is more than capable of winning ball games with the backfield they have in place. Undrafted rookie Malcolm Brown could also challenge for a spot on the final roster, and provide special teams help and depth in a loaded backfield. While they may be exceedingly young, they could end up being one of the better running back groups in the entire league.
4. Linebackers
St. Louis RamsLinebacker James Laurinaitis leads a group that should be better than ever.
With a defensive line like the one the Rams have, the linebackers job always gets a little easier. However, St. Louis has plenty of talent at the second-level to get the job done when needed. James Laurinaitis is the veteran statesman of the group, and was consistently the top tackler for the team until the arrival of Alec Ogletree. Ogletree is a converted safety, and offers the perfect blend of speed and toughness that the position requires. After a phenomenal rookie season, Ogletree seemed to regress a bit early last year, but finished the season strong.
After having a weakness at the third spot in the linebacking rotation, the Rams went out and signed Akeem Ayers to take that role. Ayers is a versatile linebacker with plenty of speed, and should thrive in the Rams’ front seven. The defensive line should be able to keep him clean, allowing him to show off the speed and tackling ability that he has. The team also drafted Bryce Hager out of Baylor, and he should be solid depth behind Laurinaitis. However, he needs to improve both his strength and coverage before he can be considered a viable alternative.
5. Secondary
The Rams didn’t make any spectacular moves to improve the secondary, but they didn’t really need to. The interesting thing with most of these bottom position groups is that they aren’t actually all that bad. The problem with them isn’t a lack of talent, it’s the timing of their development. When certain players improve, others tend to regress. These lapses are what cause these groups to slip. No where is that greater than in the secondary. With Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, E.J. Gaines, and LaMarcus Joyner, the Rams have a solid group at cornerback that just needs to develop and produce more consistently. Jenkins is the most talented of the group, but mental lapses last year led to problems in coverage. Johnson had an injury that opened the door for Gaines, and Gaines proved to be one of the steals of last year’s draft, and should challenge for the starting role this year. Joyner didn’t see the field as often as fans would have liked, but in year 2, he should be a big part of the rotation.
The safeties are the same story as the corners, as T. J. McDonald made huge strides last year in his strong safety role. However, Rodney McLeod Jr. was not the picture of consistency, and had his share of issues when it came to developing as a free safety. Mark Barron offers an alternative, but Gregg Williams started showing a tendency to bring Barron in with the front seven in a “big nickel” package. It will be interesting to see how the development of McLeod affects the rest of the group, but this is not a true deficiency for the team.
6. Quarterbacks
The age old question for St. Louis Rams fans over the last number of years has been the quarterback position. Sam Bradford was drafted to be the answer, but after only two full seasons as a starter in five years, it was time to move on. Enter Nick Foles, acquired via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles for Bradford. Foles had a tremendous 2013 campaign where he threw 27 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, but regressed last year before getting hurt. Now, he enters a St. Louis Rams offense in which he will not be asked to throw the ball as much as was in Philadelphia, but also lacks the support of Chip Kelly’s dynamic offense.
If Foles can return to 2013 form in the St. Louis offense, it will bode well for the entire team. He loves throwing the ball deep, and that’s what the Rams will want once they set up the play-action from the run game. Backing him up is a three quarterback competition, with Austin Davis, Case Keenum, and newly drafted Sean Mannion. Davis played tremendous football early last year when taking over for an injured Shaun Hill, but threw far too many interceptions in close games to be the everyday starter. Keenum has proven that he can win football games, but is still very much a mystery. Mannion requires development but has the frame and arm strength to be an NFL-caliber quarterback.
7. Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Wide receiver Tavon Austin needs to finally prove that he was worth a top ten pick in 2013.Wide receiver Tavon Austin needs to finally prove that he was worth a top ten pick in 2013.
The Rams have invested plenty of picks in their receivers over the past four years, but are still waiting on the payoff from this group. Kenny Britt is the veteran in the group, but he is the same age as third year receiver Brian Quick. Quick made strides early last season, but couldn’t deliver when defenses focused on him before hurting his shoulder against Kansas City. Britt and Quick will be relied upon as the top two targets, and open up the slot options with Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin. While Austin provides a dangerous threat in the return game, his quality as an offensive gadget player hasn’t really materialized after the Rams traded up to get him in 2013. Bailey may be the best pure receiver of the group, with great hands and route running ability, as well as a fair amount of speed. Chris Givens is the leftover, who has failed to deliver after a sensational rookie season. The Rams did draft Bud Sasser this season, but a pre-existing heart condition has led to his release from the team, and more than likely an end to his career.
St. Louis resigned Lance Kendricks this offseason, and he will return to fulfill the second tight end role behind Jared Cook. Both are reliable pass catchers, but nothing to change an entire offense. Their blocking will be more important than ever this year with the team’s transition to a run heavy offense, and Cory Harkey is currently the best blocking tight end on the roster. However, Harkey usually fills a fullback role, so it falls on Kendricks and Cook. Cook needs to be the game changer the Rams brought him on to be, but the entire receiving corps needs to be better in general.
8. Offensive Line
Any success of the previous two groups hangs on how the offensive line does. Entering this offseason, the Rams lacked any form of success on the line, and returned only two starters from the end of the season in Greg Robinson and Rodger Saffold. St. Louis recognized this deficiency, but didn’t address it via free agency. After signing and then releasing big name offensive linemen over the past few years, they recognized that the team needed to get younger. They addressed this by spending four picks on the line in the 2015 draft, including Rob Havenstein, Jamon Brown, Cody Wichmann, and Andrew Donnal.
The team has questions at the center position, but expect a winner to emerge from the three current centers on the roster. Demetrius Rhaney, Barrett Jones, and Tim Barnes are all fighting for that starting role, and the rest of the line figures to have Robinson, Saffold, Brown, and Havenstein starting. The vision for the line is clear: get big and be nasty. However, the issue is whether or not the line will develop enough to actually perform up to that level. I have them as the Rams’ worst position group, but that’s entirely dependent on the way these men perform. Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau has his work cut out for him.
The common thread throughout all of these rankings is that every group needs players to develop and perform. The squad has the talent, but it’s all about how they get coached and how they play. Jeff Fisher has made a team in his personal image, and this season’s success is largely dependent on that. In that effort to leap from competitive to contender, this season will be pivotal.
Has anybody else have problems with Rambill’s links here. Take this link. I works on the Herd, but not here. Is it me or this board?
I get redirected here: http://www.si.com/2014/02/12/nfl-power-rankings-offseason-outlook/3
It happens when I try to use the “read the complete article” on Rambill’s site.
It happens in Firefox and Explorer.
Agamemnonhttp://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-report/updated-heart-condition-ends-sasser-s-time-with-rams/article_0fa3ad7e-769e-59b0-aa99-35b2ec756554.html
Heart condition ends Sasser’s time with Rams
1 hour ago • By Jim ThomasAt least as far as the Rams are concerned, wide receiver Bud Sasser’s NFL career is over before it started because of a heart condition.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher confirmed after Thursday’s OTA practice what has been rumored for several weeks, namely that Sasser could not pass his physical because of the heart condition — known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM.
In layman’s terms, it’s a thickening of the heart muscle that can make it more difficult to pump blood.
“We did some extensive studies after the draft,” Fisher said. “And it was determined and concluded by numerous physicians that he had a pre-existing condition that we don’t feel will allow him to play.”
The Rams placed Sasser on the non-football illness list, and then placed him on waived/non-football inury on Thursday. The Rams did pay the former University of Missouri star his signing bonus of $113,000. It’s possible he could be claimed by another team, but his time with the Rams is over.
Sasser was not at Rams Park on Thursday, but told the Post-Dispatch via phone: “I’m all right. It’ll work out. I’m not down. You can put that out there.”
Sasser stopped just short himself of confirming the heart condition, saying, “it’s not 100 percent true,” and adding, “we’re going to figure it out.”
Those later comments by Sasser no doubt are related to encouraging medical reports he received from a cardiologist in Dallas as well as specialists from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
“The Mayo Clinic doctor did say Bud was such a low risk, he should be able to play,” said Scott Thiel, Sasser’s agent. “The doctors at the Mayo Clinic said they had several patients that came in with that exact case that are currently playing in the NFL.”
Thiel said the Dallas cardiologist also provided a letter in which he states Sasser should be able to play.
“He said it’s not an issue,” Thiel said, speaking of the Dallas cardiologist. “He said Bud’s stress test, and different tests like that were in the 99th percentile — that he has an extremely healthy heart.”
But the Rams obviously didn’t want to take the risk, which is something Sasser and Thiel totally understood.
“The Rams have been great, I want to make sure that’s known,” Thiel said. “They’ve been nothing but class. But at the end of the day, any risk for them was too much risk.”
According to Thiel, Sasser’s condition is genetic. He’s had it from birth. To his knowledge the heart issue either didn’t show up in tests at Mizzou, or wasn’t deemed a problem.
Privacy laws prevent the university from commenting on Sasser’s medical history, but Mizzou athletics spokesman Chad Moller said the Tigers wouldn’t clear a player to play if it suspected he had a serious health issue.
Following his Mizzou career, Sasser didn’t get invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, so he didn’t undergo the exhaustive battery of medical tests that take place there in February.
In addition, Sasser didn’t work out or pay a predraft visit to the Rams, so the team didn’t have much medical information on him prior to the draft.
“Typically what you do is you contact the university, which we did,” Fisher said. “And this was just one of those things that kind of slipped through the cracks.”
During the predraft process, Sasser paid visits to Green Bay, Houston, Kansas City and Oakland. (Reports that he also visited Denver were erroneous.) There were rumors that some teams backed off Sasser in the draft because of the heart issue. But if that was the case, Thiel said he was unaware of it — no team alerted him about any health concerns.
There’s no doubt the Rams wanted to make it work with Sasser. There was no guarantee he’d make the final roster on a depth chart that returned the top five wide receivers from 2014. But the Rams liked his size (6-3, 219), strong hands, catch radius and ability to come down with the contested throw.
Despite a breakout 2014 season, which saw Sasser finish among the Southeastern Conference leaders in both catches (77) and yards (1,003), plus score 12 touchdowns, it was surprising that he didn’t get a Combine invite. In addition, he was not invited to any of the postseason all-star games, such as the Senior Bowl.
It all added to the chip on Sasser’s shoulder and the determination to make it in the NFL. When he finally got the call May 2 in the sixth round at No. 201 overall, Sasser could hardly contain his enthusiasm.
“Oh my gosh, if this isn’t the greatest feeling I’ve ever felt in my life, then I don’t know what would be,” Sasser said that day on a conference call with reporters.
It was hoped that he could provide some of the “sixth-round magic” that former Mizzou teammate E.J. Gaines provided as a rookie sixth-rounder a year ago — having an immediate impact at cornerback.
But then came the results of his Rams physical, follow-up results and then Thursday’s release. Sasser never took part in a Rams practice.
“You definitely have to feel for the guy,” veteran Rams wideout Kenny Britt said. “Especially when you’re this close to making your dreams come true.
“He worked so hard from grammar school, to high school and to college. You know that you get this next step and your dreams come true. Something like that is kind of sad. My heart and prayers go out to him.”
(Dave Matter of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this story.)
Update on Bud Sasser heart condition story; apparently Mayo Clinic specialists felt it was OK for Sasser to play. http://t.co/dgYo05GsqC
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) June 5, 2015
That sounds like he is OK. imo
AgamemnonRams OTA nuggets: As expected, defense dominates
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/18971/rams-ota-nuggest-as-expected-defense-dominatesEARTH CITY, Mo. — Some thoughts and observations from the St. Louis Rams’ first open Organized Team Activity on Thursday afternoon:
Defense wins the day — As you might expect when you combine the continuity the Rams have on defense and the moving pieces they have on offense, the team portion of Thursday’s OTA was extremely one-sided. The defense looked sharp with all of the pieces in place and humming as though they were in midseason form. Safety T.J. McDonald did not participate but the team plugged Mark Barron in for him and had new addition Akeem Ayers getting plenty of work with the first unit at linebacker. More often than not, the first-team offense barely had a chance to even get a pass off before the Rams’ defensive line closed in. It’s going to take some time for things to come together for the offense with a new coordinator, new quarterback and so many moving parts so it’s probably safe to expect this to be a trend that continues through OTAs and into training camp.
Expansive offensive tweaks? — Perhaps there are more changes to the offense coming than we might have expected after the team promoted Frank Cignetti Jr. to offensive coordinator earlier this offseason. Earlier Thursday, we discussed the possibility of the team adding more zone blocking schemes to the mix and while that is likely to be part of the process, multiple Rams players hinted at more elaborate changes. As part of the agreement with the Pro Football Writers of America, we can’t go into specific schemes and concepts we see on the practice field but some Rams offensive players weren’t shy about indicating there’s more in the offing than what we’ve seen the past three years under Brian Schottenheimer.
“Oh man, we have some stuff,” receiver Brian Quick said. “It’s going to take some time but it’s coming. He has a lot up his sleeve and together as an offense we are going to put it together and it’s going to be fun.”
Sitting it out — With some players still recovering from offseason or previous surgeries, the Rams weren’t exactly working with a full deck during the team portion of Thursday’s practice. Quick (shoulder), tackle Greg Robinson (toe), guard Rodger Saffold (shoulder) and running back Todd Gurley (knee) were among the notables not participating in the team portion of practice. Coach Jeff Fisher made it clear that some of those returning from injury wouldn’t be rushed back. Saffold, Robinson and Quick did participate in individual drills, however. Of that trio, only Quick appears to be set to take extended time to return.
Line dancing — With Robinson and Saffold out, the Rams had to make do with Brandon Washington and Garrett Reynolds on the first-team offensive line. Barrett Jones got some snaps with the first team at center with rookies Jamon Brown at right guard and Rob Havenstein at right tackle. That group will clearly change as Robinson and Saffold return healthy and the team takes a longer look at center options Tim Barnes and Demetrius Rhaney. But for now, that was the first five and certainly contributed to the problems of the offense.
Odds and ends — Gurley did a little work on the side himself, mostly straight line stuff with athletic trainer Byron Cunningham. He also stuck around after to catch some passes from rookie Sean Mannion, though he wasn’t running full speed. … The biggest offensive highlight of the day came when quarterback Austin Davis hit receiver Kenny Britt on a long pass down the right sideline over safety Cody Davis and cornerback Imoan Claiborne. Britt then tossed the ball at Davis to let him know about it and Davis threw it back and hit Britt from about 35 yards away. All in good fun, of course. … Quarterback Nick Foles didn’t have much luck as part of that first-team offense but did connect and a well-thrown slant over the middle to tight end Jared Cook during seven-on-seven. … Cornerback Janoris Jenkins was all over the place during team and seven-on-seven, including an impressive pass breakup on a quick slant intended for receiver Tavon Austin. … The Rams have their third OTA scheduled for Friday. That session will also be open to the media.
AgamemnonFWIW, defense looked very good Thursday. Not unexpected due to talent on that side of ball, but acclimation period for Foles and WRs.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) June 4, 2015
AgamemnonFolks, please don't feel sorry for me bc I am already taken care of! So many opinions and only one matters #GodsPlan #NothingToWorryAbout
— Bud Sasser (@budsasser21) June 4, 2015
AgamemnonRB Todd Gurley did some limited work on the side. He's still a ways away from practicing.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) June 4, 2015
Rams 6th-round draft pick Cody Wichmann didn't finishThurs. OTA session. Had ice on left calf.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) June 4, 2015
WR Brian Quick (shoulder) was limited Thurs. for Rams, but did run some routes against air.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) June 4, 2015
AgamemnonWorth noting that Sasser was not invited to the scouting combine, where extensive physicals usually take place. Incredibly tough deal.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) June 4, 2015
AgamemnonRams to release rookie Bud Sasser due to pre-existing heart condition
Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff Writer
EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams rookie wide receiver Bud Sasser’s career with the team is over before it ever got started.
According to league sources, the Rams plan to release Sasser on Thursday afternoon because of a pre-existing heart condition. After multiple tests, he was not physically cleared to play. Sasser will be waived with a nonfootball-related illness designation.
The Rams signed Sasser to his rookie contract Tuesday, and he will receive his signing bonus of $113,737.
Sasser took the required physicals from the team before last month’s rookie orientation but wasn’t cleared at that time. Sasser has since sought multiple opinions, but none cleared him to play.
During the orientation, Sasser said he hoped to get his clearance in the coming weeks.
“It’s a little frustrating, just have to wait for this whole physical thing to go through and that’s all I can do is just wait,” Sasser said then. “That’s for them, their whole staff to be looking at that. I have to play the waiting game. I’m just waiting on the physical at this point.”
The Rams used a sixth-round choice on Sasser in this year’s NFL draft, but he never had the opportunity to participate in so much as a single practice. He sat out the team’s rookie orientation and was not present for the start of the team’s organized activities that began Tuesday.
Sasser played at Missouri, where he had 77 catches for 1,003 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2014. Despite that production, he was not invited to participate in the NFL scouting combine or any of the postseason all-star games.
Coach Jeff Fisher is scheduled to speak to the media later Thursday afternoon.
Agamemnon
