NFC West: Jerome Johnson
I've addressed the subject in depth across the division -- first May 26 and again July 30 -- and it's worth another look now that teams have reduced to 53 players for the regular season.
This time, I'm going to break down the changes by position, listing players no longer on the active roster at each main position group (with new players in parenthesis). Departures outnumber replacements because some players finished last season on injured reserve, meaning they were not part of the 53-man roster.
Some players no longer on the active roster remain with the team (they could be suspended, deemed physically unable to perform or part of the practice squad).
St. Louis Rams (34 off roster)
Defensive back: Eric Bassey, Quincy Butler, Danny Gorrer, Clinton Hart, Cordelius Parks, David Roach, Jonathan Wade (added Kevin Dockery, Jerome Murphy, Darian Stewart)
Defensive line: Victor Adeyanju, Adam Carriker, Leger Douzable, Leonard Little, LaJuan Ramsey, James Wyche (added Jermelle Cudjo, Fred Robbins, George Selvie, Eugene Sims)
Linebacker: K.C. Asiodu, Paris Lenon (added Na'il Diggs, Josh Hull)
Offensive line: Roger Allen, Alex Barron, Ryan McKee, Mark Setterstrom, Phillip Trautwein, Eric Young (added Renardo Foster, Hank Fraley, Rodger Saffold)
Quarterback: Kyle Boller, Marc Bulger, Keith Null, Mike Reilly (added Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley, Thaddeus Lewis)
Running back: Samkon Gado, Chris Ogbonnaya (added Keith Toston)
Special teams: Ryan Neill
Tight end: Randy McMichael (added Mike Hoomanawanui, Fendi Onobun)
Wide receiver: Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Brooks Foster, Jordan Kent, Ruvell Martin (added Mark Clayton, Dominique Curry, Mardy Gilyard)
Seattle Seahawks (33 off roster)
Defensive back: Jamar Adams, Deon Grant, Ken Lucas, Josh Wilson (added Kam Chancellor, Kennard Cox, Nate Ness, Earl Thomas, Walter Thurmond)
Defensive line: Lawrence Jackson, Patrick Kerney, Cory Redding, Nick Reed, Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill (added Kentwan Balmer, Raheem Brock, Chris Clemons, Dexter Davis, Junior Siavii, E.J. Wilson)
Linebacker: Leroy Hill, Lance Laury, D.D. Lewis (added Matt McCoy; note that Hill is suspended for the first regular-season game)
Offensive line: Trevor Canfield, Brandon Frye, Walter Jones, Damion McIntosh, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto (added Stacy Andrews, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ben Hamilton, Russell Okung, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus)
Quarterback: Mike Teel, Seneca Wallace (added Charlie Whitehurst)
Running back: Justin Griffith, Louis Rankin, Tyler Roehl, Owen Schmitt (added Quinton Ganther, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington)
Special teams: Kevin Houser, Jeff Robinson (added Clint Gresham)
Tight end: John Owens (added Chris Baker, Anthony McCoy)
Wide receiver: Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (added Golden Tate, Mike Williams)
Arizona Cardinals (24 off roster)
Defensive backs: Ralph Brown, Bryant McFadden, Antrel Rolle (added A.J. Jefferson, Trumaine McBride, Brandon McDonald, Kerry Rhodes)
Defensive line: Jason Banks (added Dan Williams)
Linebacker: Monty Beisel, Bertrand Berry, Cody Brown, Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Chike Okeafor, Pago Togafau (added Paris Lenon, Cyril Obiozor, Joey Porter, Daryl Washington; Hayes can return from the physically unable to perform list after six games)
Offensive line: Mike Gandy, Herman Johnson, Reggie Wells (added Alan Faneca, Rex Hadnot)
Quarterback: Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre, Kurt Warner (added Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton)
Running back: Justin Green, Dan Kreider (added Jerome Johnson)
Special teams: Neil Rackers (added Jay Feely)
Tight end: Anthony Becht (added Jim Dray)
Wide receiver: Anquan Boldin, Sean Morey, Jerheme Urban (added Andre Roberts, Stephen Williams)
San Francisco 49ers (24 off roster)
Defensive backs: Dre' Bly, Walt Harris, Marcus Hudson, Mark Roman (added Phillip Adams, Tramaine Brock, William James, Taylor Mays)
Defensive line: Kentwan Balmer, Derek Walker
Linebacker: Scott McKillop, Jeff Ulbrich, Matt Wilhelm (added NaVorro Bowman, Travis LaBoy)
Offensive line: Tony Pashos, Chris Patrick, Cody Wallace (added Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati)
Quarterback: Nate Davis, Shaun Hill (added David Carr, Troy Smith)
Running back: Thomas Clayton, Glen Coffee, Brit Miller, Michael Robinson (added Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook)
Special teams: Shane Andrus, Ricky Schmitt
Wide receiver: Arnaz Battle, Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Brandon Jones (added Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, Dominique Zeigler)
The first chart shows how many players are back -- at least for now -- from Week 17 rosters and injured reserve lists. Seattle has the fewest number back with 26.
The second chart shows how many players each team has shed since Week 17 last season. This counts players who were on injured reserve. Teams with lots of players on injured reserve had more players to lose.
Among the confirmed moves in the NFC West to this point Sunday:
- The Arizona Cardinals waived cornerback Marshay Green, fullback Reagan Maui'a and linebacker Pago Togafau. Arizona received fullback/linebacker Jerome Johnson (New York Giants), defensive back Brandon McDonald (Cleveland Browns) and linebacker Cyril Obiozor (Green Bay Packers) off waivers. Arizona’s Chris Johnson, Alfonso Smith and Mark Washington reverted to injured reserve after clearing waivers. It's not clear whether they'll stay there. Teams often reach injury settlements with waived/injured players.
- Speaking of injury settlements, the St. Louis Rams reached one with offensive lineman Phil Trautwein, meaning he is no longer on injured reserve.
- The Seattle Seahawks released safety Kevin Ellison, center/guard Steve Vallos and guard/tackle Mansfield Wrotto. The Seahawks added off waivers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith (Packers) and defensive back Nate Ness (Miami Dolphins). Seattle acquired offensive lineman Stacy Andrews from Philadelphia. The Seahawks also tried to claim running back Kregg Lumpkin, released by the Packers, but Tampa Bay’s waiver claim prevailed. Seattle tried to claim tight end/linebacker/special-teamer Spencer Havner, also released by the Packers, but Detroit’s waiver claim prevailed.
By "confirmed" moves, I'm talking about ones either announced by the teams, confirmed by the teams, processed by the NFL office, or all of the above. As noted before lawn-maintenance obligations intervened, rosters remain quite fluid.
Catching up with the Rams' cut list
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
|
The Rams' depth on the offensive line might be better than anticipated for a team with a 5-27 record over the past two seasons.
The team is carrying 10 offensive linemen, one more than typical, while John Greco recovers from wrist surgery.
An 11th, Phil Trautwein, landed on the Browns' active roster when Cleveland claimed him off waivers. A 12th, Roy Schuening, signed with the Raiders' practice squad. Another, tackle Renardo Foster, would seem to be a candidate for catching on somewhere eventually.
I've gone through the initial NFC West cut lists -- those players released at the 53-man deadline -- to see which ones have returned to their teams or caught on elsewhere.
The chart shows results for St. Louis.
Quarterback Brock Berlin signed to the Lions' practice squad after the Rams released him. Defensive lineman Ian Campbell briefly spent time on the Rams' practice squad before the team released him.
A few veterans -- running back Antonio Pittman, receiver Tim Carter, receiver Ronald Curry and special-teamer Todd Johnson -- remain available.
Ex-Rams with practice-squad eligibility
|
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
NFL teams can begin forming eight-man practice squads once released players clear waivers this afternoon.
I've put together a list of recently released Rams players with eligibility for the practice squad. Each was released on the reduction to 53 players.
The decision to keep rookie quarterback Keith Null on the 53-man roster meant releasing Brock Berlin. Does that mean Berlin is finished with the Rams? It could, but the quarterback does remain eligible for the practice squad.
Running back Chris Ogbonnaya seems like a natural candidate. With a new coaching staff and relatively new front office, the Rams could be more likely to consider players from other rosters. Coach Steve Spagnuolo was with the Giants last season. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur was with the Eagles. Defensive coordinator Ken Flajole was with the Panthers. Those ties could influence the Rams' thinking.
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Biggest surprise: The Rams cut former special-teams captain Todd Johnson, a safety, and they also flushed out two veteran receivers they hoped would contribute, Ronald Curry and Tim Carter. Keeping rookie quarterback Keith Null over the more experienced Brock Berlin made sense because the Rams' top two quarterbacks, Marc Bulger and Kyle Boller, have lots of seasoning. The biggest roster surprise came when the team traded 2006 first-round cornerback Tye Hill to the Falcons. Free-agent addition Quincy Butler stuck on the 53-man roster after a strong training camp and preseason. He looked better than Hill, frankly, and the Rams' new leadership wasn't afraid to part with symbols of past failures. Placing defensive tackle Adam Carriker on injured reserve cleared another spot.
No-brainers: The Rams also released linebacker K.C. Asiodu, defensive tackle Antwon Burton, tight end Eric Butler, defensive end Ian Campbell, linebacker Dominic Douglas, tackle Renardo Foster, fullback Jerome Johnson, center Tim Mattran, running back Chris Ogbonnaya, cornerback Cord Parks, running back Antonio Pittman, safety Mark Rubin, guard Roy Schuening, tackle Phil Trautwein and receiver Sean Walker.
What's next: The Rams still need to make one move by the 6 p.m. ET deadline for complying with the 53-man limit. With only four running backs on the roster, counting fullback Mike Karney, the team probably needs to seek help at the position. Backup Samkon Gado suffered injured ribs in the final exhibition game. The Rams lack quality depth and they are starting over. As a result, the team could pursue players released from other teams.
Update: The Rams placed defensive lineman Eric Moore on injured reserve to comply with the 53-man limit.
Quick notes on potential NFC West cuts
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
While receiver Ronald Curry's brief run with the Rams could be in jeopardy, the Seahawks plan to keep their entire 2009 draft class and veteran receiver Deion Branch, whose status was not in serious jeopardy.
A few of the Rams' cuts are also trickling out. Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides this list: quarterback Brock Berlin, guard Roy Schuening, center Tim Mattran, offensive tackle Renardo Foster and fullback Jerome Johnson.
No surprises there. Keeping Berlin on the 53-man roster and signing Keith Null to the practice squad could have made sense, but with two experienced quarterbacks already on the roster, Null can become the developmental No. 3 passer without the team exposing him to waivers.
The Seahawks' decision to sign 31-year-old Edgerrin James and confer upon him "complementary" status behind "workhorse" Julius Jones showed what the team thought about its quality depth at running back: not a great deal.
The move upgraded the position, in my view, because James is better suited than was T.J. Duckett to step into the lineup on a full-time basis if needed.
But the Seahawks still might be chasing the rest of the NFC West at the position.
James' signing provides an opportunity to size up the position across the division.
I ranked each team's situation at running back in my mind before calling Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. to talk through each situation. He felt more strongly than I did about ranking the Rams' situation No. 1, ahead of the 49ers' situation. We agreed on ranking the Cardinals' running backs third, ahead of the Seahawks' backs.
Rankings and explanations follow:
1. St. Louis Rams
Current backs: Steven Jackson, Samkon Gado, Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby, Chris Ogbonnaya, Mike Karney (FB), Jerome Johnson (FB)
Williamson's take: "Adrian Peterson is the best back in the league and I would probably give the No. 2 honor to DeAngelo Williams right now, but then Steven Jackson is right there -- if healthy, of course. I think he'll get a ton of touches there. They are installing more of an Eagles-type offense. He'll be a bigger, badder version of Brian Westbrook and catch a lot of balls. He will also be the focus of every defense and there could be a greater chance of injury. Karney is a little more athletic than some of the pure straight-ahead hammer blockers. He has had injury problems, too."
My take: The 49ers' overall depth at running back appeals, but Jackson is unquestionably a special player athletically, more so than any back in the division. Special traits always appeal to the scout, which might explain why Williamson was quick to rank the Rams' running backs ahead of those in San Francisco. From my perspective, the Rams' situation at running back might be best in the division while it lasts. I question whether Jackson can hold up for a full season. The drop-off from Jackson to the next guy -- whoever it might be -- will be more dramatic than elsewhere in the division. That's another reason I'm a little nervous about ranking the Rams' running backs No. 1.
2. San Francisco 49ers
Current backs: Frank Gore, Glen Coffee, Michael Robinson, Kory Sheets, Moran Norris (FB), Bill Rentmeester (FB), Brit Miller (FB)
Williamson's take: "I like Gore as well. I would say he is more of the fifth- to 10th-best back in the league. I do not think his skills are as impressive as Jackson's skills. He is also going to be a jack-of-all-trades and get a ton of touches, but his job will be a little easier because I think their passing game will be more respectable than St. Louis' passing game. Of the fullbacks, I like Norris probably the best in the division. He will help Gore's cause. I don't think that is a determining factor one way or another, though."
My take: Gore has shown signs of wearing down late in seasons. He could be at additional risk as the team commits more fully to a run-oriented power scheme. But his toughness and running style earn him high marks. He's enjoying a sensational summer and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye has said Gore will matter more than the quarterback. All signs point to Gore revisiting the production level he enjoyed during the 2006 season. And with Coffee breaking out in the preseason, the 49ers appear better protected than the Rams if their starter gets hurt.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Current backs: Tim Hightower, Beanie Wells, Jason Wright, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Chris Vincent, Dan Kreider (FB), Tim Castille (FB), Reagan Maui'a (FB)
Williamson's take: "James is more proven than Hightower, but Hightower is cheaper. I don't think he is a special player at all. He has had a better preseason than I expected, but he does not bring any special quality to the table. He is not an extremely powerful player, he is not going to wear down defense, his pass-catching skills are ordinary, he is not a make-you-miss guy and he is not a speed player. Wells has the most talent of any back in Arizona or Seattle."
My take: Cutting James and adding Wells is like moving money from a savings account into something riskier. James was never going to pay off big at this stage of his career. Wells has the talent to complete an already productive offense, but it's tough to believe he'll be healthier in the NFL than he was in college. I know he didn't miss many games at Ohio State, but he's already missed a bunch of training camp. The burden of proof is on Wells at this point. Hightower has been more productive in the preseason because he has taken the opportunity seriously. He looks leaner and quicker than he was last season. The Cardinals can get more from this position by resisting the temptation to throw so frequently.
4. Seattle Seahawks
Current backs: Julius Jones, Edgerrin James, Justin Forsett, Devin Moore, Owen Schmitt (FB), Justin Griffith (FB), Dan Curran (FB), David Kirtman (FB)
Williamson's take: "I don't trust Jones to carry the load. I probably like him better than Hightower, though. I don't like him as a No. 1, but I don't know if either team has a No. 1 right now. Wells has the best chance. Jones is a complementary player, a gets-what-is-there kind of back. I don't think he is a great receiver or anything. He is not tremendously powerful or elusive. Justin Forsett is probably the most intriguing back between Arizona and Seattle. With Edgerrin James, I don't have a lot of faith in him. One thing people don't understand about his game, though, is that he is a great pass-protection back. He will be used more out of the backfield than he was the last couple years, especially with Seattle's offensive line being shaky. He can grind out some yards and could be good in the red zone."
My take: The Seahawks haven't targeted the position early in the draft recently and it shows. Paying Shaun Alexander all that money a few years ago set back the position. The team wasn't going to immediately invest as much in a replacement. Jones and James are both very good in pass protection, though, and I think that will help the offense more than the running stats will show. This looks like a pass-first team on paper. We'll find out whether the zone blocking scheme can manufacture production. Having the same five offensive linemen for more than a week or two would certainly help. Forsett has been the Seahawks' most impressive back this summer.
|
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
More Rams players are eligible for the practice squad this summer after the team parted with a long list of aging veterans this offseason.
The chart shows all 33 current Rams players with eligibility, arranged by position. The team had 24 players eligible when I produced a similar list nearly one year ago.
The lists come in handy when analyzing battles for the final few roster spots. I've added loose status descriptions for eligible players based on my general expectations.
To review: NFL teams must reduce rosters from 80 to 75 players Sept. 1. They must reduce to 53 players Sept. 5. They can begin forming eight-man practice squads Sept. 6 at noon ET.
The league explains the process this way:
"After 12 noon, New York time, clubs may establish a practice squad of eight players by signing free agents who do not have an accrued season of free-agency credit or who were on the 45-player active list for less than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s). A player cannot participate on the practice squad for more than three seasons."
The Rams have only one running back, seventh-round choice Chris Ogbonnaya, with practice-squad eligibility. Eight other NFC West running backs have eligibility.
I'll break out corresponding lists for the rest of the division, answering a frequently posed question that follows a familiar format: "Is so-and-so eligible for the practice squad?"
Numbers games: Rams roster in perspective
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Rams' roster requires additional study after a thorough house-cleaning this offseason. With so many new faces, I feel less familiar with the Rams than with the other teams in the division. This initial look at the roster will hopefully help bring some focus.
Donnie Avery's injury and overall health concerns at receiver could influence how many players the Rams carry into the season at the position.
Marc Bulger's broken pinky shouldn't affect the roster as long as he recovers on schedule. Teams must reduce to 75 players by Sept. 1 and 53 players by Sept. 5. Those initial 53-man rosters sometimes change by Week 1 kickoffs. For that reason, I've been focusing on Week 1 rosters when setting baseline expectations for each position.
|
T
he chart provides a framework for how many players the Rams might keep at each position heading into the regular-season opener against the Seahawks.
Here's a quick look at which Rams players I might keep on the cutdown to 53 players:
Around the NFC West: Fitzgerald and Boldin
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports sees Anquan Boldin's extended post-practice autograph sessions as an attempt to reconnect with fans and repair a damaged image. Boldin: "You're either way too happy about what you're doing or upset. To me, it's better to be happy about it. In a couple of years, when my contract comes up, we'll see. If they want me back and we can work something out, great. If not, I'll move on. That's the way it goes."
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Larry Fitzgerald has emerged as a Cardinals leader. The way former offensive coordinator Todd Haley challenged Fitzgerald at camp one year ago resonated with the star receiver. Haley mocked Fitzgerald as a "one-trick pony" who needed to diversify his game. Fitzgerald responded in a big way.
Also from Somers: Steve Breaston appears to be the preferred choice for Arizona as a punt and kick returner. Catching the ball is the most important task for any returner. Breaston did that better than anyone in the practices I watched.
More from Somers: Early Doucet could miss about one week after suffering a sprained shoulder in practice. That means the injury isn't serious, but Doucet missing even a week could prove costly for him as he tries to earn a spot in the receiving rotation.
More yet from Somers: an unofficial Cardinals depth chart.
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says safety Antrel Rolle, a playmaker with the ball in his hands, would welcome a chance to return punts.
Also from Urban: thoughts from Clark Haggans and Bertrand Berry on the art of the pass rush.
More from Urban: Darnell Dockett prefers "nine-oh" as a nickname.
Kevin McGuire of KTAR.com says the Cardinals are fighting through injuries early in camp.
Jeff Legwold of the Denver Post checks in with Broncos defensive coordinator and former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan. The Broncos, Rams and Lions are the only teams to have surrendered at least 400 points in each of the past three seasons.
Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury-News says Nolan answered only one 49ers-related question before a Broncos public relations staffer ended the interview. On facing the 49ers during the exhibition season: "Um, it will different. A couple of my children still live out there so I'm looking forward to that. As you all know when you have a job, it's all about relationships and people. So if there's anything I miss at all it's the relationships with some of the people. But I'll see them in good time."
Also from Brown: checking in with 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye.
Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says 49ers coach Mike Singletary challenged leaders to emerge from the offense. Singletary: "I'm challenging them every day. Until it becomes theirs, it doesn't matter. Nothing really matters until it becomes their team, their scheme, their offensive, their defense. When that happens, it becomes special." Left tackle Joe Staley says he expects to be a leader.
Also from Maiocco: New 49ers tackle Marvel Smith isn't used to competing for a starting job in camp. He must beat out Adam Snyder to earn a spot in the lineup at right tackle. Maiocco: "The 49ers are being cautious with Smith. He did not work with the team during 11-on-11 work in the offseason program. He has also not taken part in coach Singletary's 'nutcracker' drills during training camp. Smith was held out of Monday afternoon's practice."
More from Maiocco: The 49ers' quarterbacks fared well in practice Monday. Also, Glen Coffee showed good hands out of the backfield. I thought so, too.
John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers coach Mike Singletary ordered tight end Vernon Davis to take a break from nutcracker drills Monday.
Also from Crumpacker: 49ers running back Frank Gore isn't shying away from work at training camp. He says he wants more reps to gain additional confidence in his line.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee checks in with 49ers fullback Brit Miller, who went to Panthers camp as a linebacker earlier this offseason. Barrows: "The 243-pound Miller is one of four fullbacks in training camp who are competing for perhaps two roster spots. One of them promises to go to Michael Robinson, a jack-of-all-trades type of runner who has received the most first-team snaps early in training camp. Robinson said he's been asked to do more lead blocking this offseason than he's done in the past."
Taylor Price of 49ers.com passes along a funny story about defensive lineman Isaac Sopoaga "borrowing" defensive coordinator Greg Manusky's sunglasses. Manusky had no idea where they had gone and became frustrated until Sopoaga let him in on the joke. Price: "When the team huddled up to break for individual drills, Sopoaga ran over to Manusky while wearing the glasses. At that moment everyone on the sideline began laughing."
The 49ers' Web site checks in with return specialist Allen Rossum, who counts his computer among his most cherished camp possessions. It allows him to use iChat for staying in touch with his children.
Also from 49ers.com: a look at the receiver position, minus any mention of that guy the team drafted from Texas Tech.
Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Jerome Johnson, an undrafted free agent from Nevada, has impressed as a fullback at Rams camp. The team could save a spot for him on the practice squad if there's not room on the 53-man roster behind starter Mike Karney.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says new Rams receiver Ronald Curry is finding his bearings while playing for his third team in the last five months. Curry didn't like the way the Raiders "jerked" him around last season.
Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa dropped by Rams practice. Also, first-round choice Jason Smith is showing good technique and quick feet.
Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat says Rams defensive end Leonard Little expects to be an every-down player. Can Little hold up physically as such? Little hasn't played more than one-third of the Rams' total defensive snaps since the 2006 season.
VanRam of Turf Show Times says the Rams' defensive line is looking good in camp.
Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says Little is embracing a leadership role.
Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Seahawks cornerback Josh Wilson picked off two passes during the Monday night practice. This was the most physical session of camp to this point, with coach Jim Mora reminding backup Michael Bennett of the difference between tackling and "thud" work.
Also from Williams: The Seahawks welcomed fans to practice.
Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks will rely more heavily upon running back T.J. Duckett this season. Boling: "So, fans, you'll see a lot more of T.J. Duckett. And I'd wager you'll like what you see out of a humble player, one eager to play whatever role will best suit the team, and a man who is focused on community involvement and the fight against cancer -- the disease that took his mother nine years ago."
Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Lofa Tatupu stood out during pass-rush drills during the Seahawks' night practice. On offense, the team entertained fans with a few trick plays.
Also from O'Neil: T.J. Houshmandzadeh brings high expectations to Seattle. Houshmandzadeh: "I feel like this should be my best season as far as yards and touchdowns, give or take one or two." Making such declarations before the season puts pressure on the Seahawks to get him the football. They plan to do that anyway, I'm sure, but Houshmandzadeh isn't taking any chances.
More from O'Neil: what Aaron Curry's absence from Seahawks camp means.
Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times says new Seahawks defensive lineman Cory Redding calls himself a "man's man" for whom his word means everything. Brewer: "Redding must show that he's fully recovered from a right knee surgery that kept him off the field for seven months. Just as critical, however, is that he must move past the embarrassment of finishing 0-16 in Detroit last season. Go back to the final eight games of the 2007 campaign, and the Lions are 1-23 over the last season and a half. Those struggles began just months after Redding signed what was then the richest contract ever for a defensive tackle, a seven-year, $49 million deal that included $16 million guaranteed."
John Morgan of Field Gulls explains why he thinks the Seahawks moved Rob Sims back to left guard after Mike Wahle's injury-induced retirement.
John Boyle of the Everett Herald says Brandon Mebane was working out with a trainer during Seahawks practice while recovering from a knee bruise.
Also from Boyle: Justin Forsett is thankful to be in an NFL camp after becoming accustomed to hearing about how he wasn't big enough.
More from Boyle: Seahawks players interact with fans. A photo shows Houshmandzadeh signing one fan's shaved head.
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Brian Leonard's two-year run with the Rams ended when the team traded him to the Bengals for defensive lineman Orien Harris. The move, which the Rams confirmed, was another reminder that the team is rebuilding.
Two years ago, Leonard was a promising second-round choice, a player then-coach Scott Linehan thought had the size to hold in pass protection as a third-down back in addition to getting carries as Steven Jackson's backup. Linehan envisioned Leonard as a durable backup and situational player. Instead, injuries slowed and sidelined Leonard, limiting him to two games last season.
In retrospect, the coaching change from Linehan to Jim Haslett to Steve Spagnuolo diminished Leonard's value to the Rams. In Harris, the Rams are getting a 300-pound defensive tackle who played sparingly for the Bengals last season. Harris entered the NFL as a fourth-round choice of the Steelers under Bill Cowher in 2006. Is he a 3-4 end or a 4-3 tackle?
Harris has bounced from the Steelers to the Browns to the Saints to the Bengals to the Rams in less than four NFL seasons. Perhaps he can earn a spot in the Rams' rotation.
For the Rams, this trade appears to be about getting something in return for a player who didn't fit into the team's plans under a new staff. Leonard was listed as a fullback, but at 226 pounds, he wasn't a bruiser in the Mike Karney mold. The Rams used a seventh-round choice on Chris Ogbonnaya from Texas. They also have Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby and Sam Gado behind Jackson. Jerome Johnson, a rookie free agent from Nevada, gives the Rams two true fullbacks.
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Rams have announced the signings of 15 undrafted free agents:
- Roger Allen III, G, Missouri Western State
- Ray Feinga, G, BYU
- David Oswald, T, Brigham Young
- Daniel Sanders, C, Colorado
- Phillip Trautwein, T, Florida
- Jarrett Byers, WR, Northeastern (Okla.) State
- Quentin Chaney WR Oklahoma
- Ekenemchukwu Asiodu, LB, Central Oklahoma State
- Dominic Douglas, LB, Mississippi State
- Jerome Johnson, FB, Nevada-Reno
- Ian Campbell, DL, Kansas State
- Mike Newkirk, DL, Wisconsin
- Kirston Pittman, DL, Louisiana State
- Cordelius Parks, CB, Northeastern
- Mark Rubin, SS, Penn State
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.
