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Rams report: Camp wraps up as team supports Ferguson-area prep squads
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_e9451eb5-fe0f-5ad9-bda0-8c5bd13e0c4d.html
The Rams closed out training camp Wednesday afternoon with a dizzy-bat relay race involving the club's rookies and interns.
At the 50-yard line, the relay runners were required to spin while leaning over with their head on a bat. At the same time, the veteran players are there to taunt them and to add water to the race.
“Yeah, that was interesting. Probably one of the best,'' Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “What happens is, the guys run out of water in the beginning. They get too excited and run out of water. But we have a good rookie group.''
Fisher continued; “All in all, from a camp standpoint, I thought we got a lot accomplished. We have a challenge ahead of us right now because typically break-camp week is a distraction. Even though camp's a little different, than it has been in the past, we are breaking camp and now we have to go on the road. So we have to get focused and go into a tough place to play against a team that's going into its preseason home opener.”
The Rams will travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns Saturday night.
RAMS REACH OUT TO FERGUSON-FLORISSANT SQUADS
The football teams from McCluer and McCluer North worked out and watched practice Wednesday at Rams Park.
The other high school from the Ferguson-Florissant School District, McCluer South-Berkeley, was invited but had a scheduling conflict. The Bulldogs are expected to visit Rams Park soon.
Last weekend, the Rams quietly provided tickets for all three teams.
The high school teams open the season this weekend and the teams from McCluer, McCluer North and McCluer South-Berkeley have been practicing in parks.
Before practice, the Rams went to the sideline to welcoming the McCluer Comets. Later in practice, the McCluer North Stars actually helped out by providing crowd noise for a drill near the Rams' end zone.
“We invited them over as our guests and it looks like they had a lot of fun,'' Fisher said. “They participated in the one drill, simulating crowd noise, and we made a bunch of mistakes. I wouldn't say they're Seattle, but pretty close.''
Fisher continued: “It means a lot to us (having them here). We can all imagine what they're going through in addition to everyone in Ferguson. It's just very, very sad and we hope that things get worked as soon as they possibly can.
“But this is different. This is football players and football players. I went over to talk to them before practice and they heard nothing I said because they were looking behind me, watching the players walk by.... This will be something that I hope they'll always remember.''
RAM-BLINGS
According to Forbes Magazine's annual report, the Rams' franchise value rank last in the NFL at $930 million. The Dallas Cowboys, at $3.2 billion, are No. 1 in the league.
A year ago, the Rams were No. 29, ahead of Bufalo, Jacksonville and Oakland.
As Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch pointed out, the Rams were valued at $200 million when they moved to St. Louis, meaning the franchise is 4 ½ times more valuable in 2014 than in 1995.
• The Rams waived/injured running back-special teamer Isaiah Pead, who suffered a torn ACL Saturday against Green Bay. He will revert to the Rams' roster if/when he clears waivers.
Also, the Miami Dolphins waived former Rams tight end Fendi Onobun.
• Hall of Fame defensive back Aeneas Williams watched the Rams practice Wednesday.
• Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis returned to practice and took part in seven-on-seven drills while offensive lineman Rodger Saffold took part in team drills. Players not practicing Wednesday were linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Pat Schiller, defensive end Sammy Brown, cornerbacks E.J. Gaines and Brandon McGee and guard/center Barrett Jones.
• The local Pro Football Writers of America chapter presented plaques to James Laurinaitis and Chris Long as co-winners of the “Good Guy Award'' for their excellent work with the media.
(Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.)
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_e9451eb5-fe0f-5ad9-bda0-8c5bd13e0c4d.html
The Rams closed out training camp Wednesday afternoon with a dizzy-bat relay race involving the club's rookies and interns.
At the 50-yard line, the relay runners were required to spin while leaning over with their head on a bat. At the same time, the veteran players are there to taunt them and to add water to the race.
“Yeah, that was interesting. Probably one of the best,'' Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “What happens is, the guys run out of water in the beginning. They get too excited and run out of water. But we have a good rookie group.''
Fisher continued; “All in all, from a camp standpoint, I thought we got a lot accomplished. We have a challenge ahead of us right now because typically break-camp week is a distraction. Even though camp's a little different, than it has been in the past, we are breaking camp and now we have to go on the road. So we have to get focused and go into a tough place to play against a team that's going into its preseason home opener.”
The Rams will travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns Saturday night.
RAMS REACH OUT TO FERGUSON-FLORISSANT SQUADS
The football teams from McCluer and McCluer North worked out and watched practice Wednesday at Rams Park.
The other high school from the Ferguson-Florissant School District, McCluer South-Berkeley, was invited but had a scheduling conflict. The Bulldogs are expected to visit Rams Park soon.
Last weekend, the Rams quietly provided tickets for all three teams.
The high school teams open the season this weekend and the teams from McCluer, McCluer North and McCluer South-Berkeley have been practicing in parks.
Before practice, the Rams went to the sideline to welcoming the McCluer Comets. Later in practice, the McCluer North Stars actually helped out by providing crowd noise for a drill near the Rams' end zone.
“We invited them over as our guests and it looks like they had a lot of fun,'' Fisher said. “They participated in the one drill, simulating crowd noise, and we made a bunch of mistakes. I wouldn't say they're Seattle, but pretty close.''
Fisher continued: “It means a lot to us (having them here). We can all imagine what they're going through in addition to everyone in Ferguson. It's just very, very sad and we hope that things get worked as soon as they possibly can.
“But this is different. This is football players and football players. I went over to talk to them before practice and they heard nothing I said because they were looking behind me, watching the players walk by.... This will be something that I hope they'll always remember.''
RAM-BLINGS
According to Forbes Magazine's annual report, the Rams' franchise value rank last in the NFL at $930 million. The Dallas Cowboys, at $3.2 billion, are No. 1 in the league.
A year ago, the Rams were No. 29, ahead of Bufalo, Jacksonville and Oakland.
As Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch pointed out, the Rams were valued at $200 million when they moved to St. Louis, meaning the franchise is 4 ½ times more valuable in 2014 than in 1995.
• The Rams waived/injured running back-special teamer Isaiah Pead, who suffered a torn ACL Saturday against Green Bay. He will revert to the Rams' roster if/when he clears waivers.
Also, the Miami Dolphins waived former Rams tight end Fendi Onobun.
• Hall of Fame defensive back Aeneas Williams watched the Rams practice Wednesday.
• Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis returned to practice and took part in seven-on-seven drills while offensive lineman Rodger Saffold took part in team drills. Players not practicing Wednesday were linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Pat Schiller, defensive end Sammy Brown, cornerbacks E.J. Gaines and Brandon McGee and guard/center Barrett Jones.
• The local Pro Football Writers of America chapter presented plaques to James Laurinaitis and Chris Long as co-winners of the “Good Guy Award'' for their excellent work with the media.
(Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.)