Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Rams' trade for Eagles receiver Brandon Gibson will be a success if Gibson helps the team immediately and continues to develop.
General manager Billy Devaney said as much Tuesday when speaking with 101ESPN St. Louis.
The Rams would not have sent linebacker Will Witherspoon to the Eagles for a receiver they thought might need three or four weeks to become acclimated, Devaney said. That raises the short-term expectations for Gibson, a rookie who has yet to catch a regular-season pass.
Devaney pointed to Gibson as a tough player with good hands, good size, slightly above-average speed, good route running and blocking skills. The Rams can use more of those things, for sure.
On the surface, this move suggests the Rams have given up on this season. I say that because Witherspoon is an established starter, while Gibson hasn't proven anything. But if Devaney is right and Gibson upgrades the offense in the short term, the Rams have made themselves better now and for the future (they also picked up a fifth-round draft choice).
Witherspoon has two years remaining on his contract. His deal was going to count $6.8 million against the cap in 2010 and $5 million in 2011. Any thoughts that Witherspooon fit the system in St. Louis proved a little off-base. Ken Flajole, the Rams' defensive coordinator, was with Witherspoon in Carolina. That didn't make Witherspoon a player the Rams wanted to build around on defense, particularly at that price. Expect coach Steve Spagnuolo to target another linebacker or two in the next offseason.
The Rams' trade for Eagles receiver Brandon Gibson will be a success if Gibson helps the team immediately and continues to develop.
General manager Billy Devaney said as much Tuesday when speaking with 101ESPN St. Louis.
The Rams would not have sent linebacker Will Witherspoon to the Eagles for a receiver they thought might need three or four weeks to become acclimated, Devaney said. That raises the short-term expectations for Gibson, a rookie who has yet to catch a regular-season pass.
Devaney pointed to Gibson as a tough player with good hands, good size, slightly above-average speed, good route running and blocking skills. The Rams can use more of those things, for sure.
On the surface, this move suggests the Rams have given up on this season. I say that because Witherspoon is an established starter, while Gibson hasn't proven anything. But if Devaney is right and Gibson upgrades the offense in the short term, the Rams have made themselves better now and for the future (they also picked up a fifth-round draft choice).
Witherspoon has two years remaining on his contract. His deal was going to count $6.8 million against the cap in 2010 and $5 million in 2011. Any thoughts that Witherspooon fit the system in St. Louis proved a little off-base. Ken Flajole, the Rams' defensive coordinator, was with Witherspoon in Carolina. That didn't make Witherspoon a player the Rams wanted to build around on defense, particularly at that price. Expect coach Steve Spagnuolo to target another linebacker or two in the next offseason.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.
