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I assume the timing of that was to get him under medical coverage. College health insurance expires at the end of the term.
Bud Sasser to be released due to heart condition
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I assume the timing of that was to get him under medical coverage. College health insurance expires at the end of the term.
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CoachO
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Are we really making this thread about $113,737?
This kid just found out his dream is over. Not to mention having a heart condition.
And people want to talk about the merits or alternatives to the Rams signing him?
Have we become that cynical?
This kid just found out his dream is over. Not to mention having a heart condition.
And people want to talk about the merits or alternatives to the Rams signing him?
Have we become that cynical?
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Who is this "we" you are referring to? I've read every post in this thread and most are wishing the young man well.
CoachO
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And just as many have wanted to make it about the $$$$
Please delete my post. Sorry.
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No need to delete it. Just a difference of opinion. No harm done. You're right that this shouldn't be about money but about this young man's health and his future. I feel though that most of the members here get that.
rambone
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The Rams did this kid a solid imho. They put the young man through all the tests and have identified the problem so if he desires the path to fixing this, if it's possible, are known to him. And to sign the guy and get him some money to help him transition to the next step in his life was very nice. From listening to Fishers presser today it doesn't sound like the kid medically will be cleared to play again and Fisher wouldn't discuss what was actually wrong with him said it was Bud's call. Hope he was able to get a degree he can use and better himself. Wish him the best.
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JackDRams
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Yeah after reading this new article and finding that a few different cardiologists cleared him to play is a little upsetting. I really liked Sasser and was hoping he made the team. Maybe another team will give him a shot.
RamBill
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Heart condition ends Sasser's time with Rams
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_0fa3ad7e-769e-59b0-aa99-35b2ec756554.html
At 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.)
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_0fa3ad7e-769e-59b0-aa99-35b2ec756554.html
At 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.)
HometownBoy
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Yeah, better he not play at all then everyone watching on national TV, including his family and friends see him take a hit that ends his life.