NFL: St. Louis Rams NFL Draft Recap

It’s hard to go wrong with a #1 pick…until you actually see them play and realize that they were a bust.  Not that I’m expecting that from Bradford, but you never know in the NFL.   The Rams had a decent draft overall.  WR Mardy Gilyard in the 4th round was a nice addition.  After that – pretty much just average.  I give them a B+.  First three picks…

Round 1, Pick #1: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

• What he brings: There are concerns about the system Bradford played in at OU and the season-ending shoulder injury he suffered last year, but we still think he’s an excellent value here. His shoulder has clearly healed and his arm may be even stronger than it was before the surgery. We also believe he has the mental aptitude to make a successful transition to the NFL.

Round 2, Pick #1: Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana

• What he brings: Saffold really jumped out at us during the East-West Shrine Game. He didn’t show elite power and doesn’t have as much athletic ability as some of the other tackles in this class, and he’ll have to move from the left side to the right side, but Saffold also has the awareness, foot work and size to become an effective starting right tackle. He’s an excellent value in the second round.

Round 3, Pick #1: Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida

• What he brings: Murphy must work on his route recognition skills. He will bite on play-action and double moves but he has the tools to be an effective corner. He shows good speed on film when asked to turn and run and closes quickly when wideouts catch the ball in front of him.

Rams Could Get New Owners

Looks like ownership for the St. Louis Rams is transferring to Illinois, but the team is staying put. That’s what the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says anyway. Illinois businessman Shahid Khan has entered into an agreement to purchase the team from Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez.

Khan, who is 55, serves as the president of Flex-N-Gate Corp, an auto-parts manufacturer in Urbana, Ill. hopes to be the new controlling stake owner of the St. Louis Rams.

The deal must be approved by NFL owners and Stan Kroenke, who owns 40 percent of the team, has first refusal rights to the others shares. Rosenbloom and Rodriguez own 60 percent of the team after inheriting the shares from their late mother, Georgia Frontiere.

The Rams ended their season with a 1-15 record, the worst in the NFC.

What do you think of the possible sale?

photo courtesy of flickr