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From jail time to Rams Park for rookie Reid
By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_f39aeeef-8a79-5641-b15a-04803621aa1e.html
Even on a Rams offseason roster that numbers 90 players, every player has a story to tell. But none are as compelling as that of cornerback Greg Reid this offseason.
He was a star in a star-studded Florida State secondary two years ago, then was dismissed from the program because of off-field issues. Next came two surgeries — about 8-9 months apart — on his left knee. As a “topper” he spent more than a week in jail for a probation violation just a few days after signing with the Rams in late March.
“It’s a lesson learned,” Reid told the Post-Dispatch earlier this week. “After going through all that, and understanding the opportunity that a lot of kids have out here — well, a lot of men have out here now — it’s a blessing.
“Now, I know how to handle myself and leave everything in God’s hand and become a man. I understand that it doesn’t get any better than playing in the NFL.”
Within a week of signing with the Rams, Reid was a passenger in a car that was pulled over by police in his hometown of Valdosta, Ga., because the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. In the process of running record checks on everyone in the car, Reid was found to be in violation of probation for a past marijuana-related arrest.
As a result of the probation violation, he spent part of his spring in the Lowndes County (Ga.) jail.
“In Valdosta, my name is very popular,” Reid said. “So they didn’t want to treat me any different than anybody else. Things happen in your life where you have to mature and be humble about it.”
After spending parts of 10 days in jail, Reid had a renewed appreciation for the comfort of sleeping in your own bed or the pleasure of sitting down to a good meal. The jail food, he said with a laugh, was “disgusting.”
“I feel like I was never a bad person,” Reid added. “I maybe was kind of young and stupid.”
After doing his research on Reid, coach Jeff Fisher came to the conclusion that he was at least worth a look.
“We were aware of everything that was going on, even prior to when the news came out (of the probation issue),” Fisher said. “He was in a situation where he was gonna go clean up some personal issues. And we knew that was required so it didn’t come as a surprise to us.
“He knows this is an opportunity — maybe not his last — but it’s an opportunity for him and he’s gonna take advantage of it. He’s taken care of his body. He’s gained about eight or 10 pounds since coming here. He’s gonna get a chance to prove himself quite a bit in preseason.”
During the pre-draft process, a couple of former Seminoles teammates — cornerback/safety Lamarcus Joyner and safety Terrance Brooks — both made pre-draft visits to Rams Park. Fisher took advantage of the visits to ask both draft prospects about Reid.
“And each one of ’em said what a great guy he was, and how they would really like to come here and be his teammate,” Fisher said.
Brooks was selected by Baltimore in Round 3; Joyner was taken by the Rams in Round 2.
“I just told (Fisher) how good of a kid he is,” Joyner said. “Gregory’s a great kid, despite what he’s been through off the field. Everyone has their problems. But he’s a great person, and he’s definitely a person that can make a change for himself, and he’s making the best so far with the opportunity he has. That’s always good. And he’s a good football player, point-blank.”
Reid’s last college game came against Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl. That was Dec. 29 of 2011, so he has more than two years of rust to scrape off as he tries to make the Rams’ 2014 roster.
After his Florida State dismissal, the first knee injury sidelined him for the entire 2012 season after transferring to Valdosta State. Even so, he got an invite to the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine, but needed additional surgery on the left knee — which kept him out of football in ‘13.
“After sitting for two years, it was slow at first,” Reid said of his initial time with the Rams. “Understanding the plays, and how they want me to play it, and everything like that. It’s starting to come around.
“I still have a long way to go. But I’m a quick learner and I’m starting to understand. Right now, I’m knocking off some (rust). I feel like I get better every practice. Right now, it’s just building up confidence. That’s what my main goal is right now.”
Reid’s knee is holding up well. There certainly are opportunities at cornerback behind starters Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson. Second-year man Brandon McGee has a leg up for a roster spot based on his time with the team in 2013 but the Rams likely will keep five corners on the 53-man roster.
“We talk about it all the time, how he hasn’t been on the football field in two years,” Joyner said. “We’ve been kind of motivating each other and keeping each other going. So it’s been a great experience with Greg so far.”
Reid played nickel back for Florida State as a freshman in 2009, and then had 23 starts at corner over the 2010 and ‘11 season. He had seven interceptions as a Seminole, and also scored three touchdowns on punt and kickoff returns. In that 2009 freshman year, he led the nation with an 18.4 average on punt returns.
In that 2011 season at FSU, he was part of a secondary that included four current NFL players — the others being Joyner, Brooks, and current Minnesota Vikings safety Xavier Rhodes. Reid fit right in with what was a very talented group.
“He’s very talented,” Fisher said. “He’s got return skills, ball skills. He can play both inside and outside.”
Now, it’s just a matter of making the most of this opportunity.
By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_f39aeeef-8a79-5641-b15a-04803621aa1e.html
Even on a Rams offseason roster that numbers 90 players, every player has a story to tell. But none are as compelling as that of cornerback Greg Reid this offseason.
He was a star in a star-studded Florida State secondary two years ago, then was dismissed from the program because of off-field issues. Next came two surgeries — about 8-9 months apart — on his left knee. As a “topper” he spent more than a week in jail for a probation violation just a few days after signing with the Rams in late March.
“It’s a lesson learned,” Reid told the Post-Dispatch earlier this week. “After going through all that, and understanding the opportunity that a lot of kids have out here — well, a lot of men have out here now — it’s a blessing.
“Now, I know how to handle myself and leave everything in God’s hand and become a man. I understand that it doesn’t get any better than playing in the NFL.”
Within a week of signing with the Rams, Reid was a passenger in a car that was pulled over by police in his hometown of Valdosta, Ga., because the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. In the process of running record checks on everyone in the car, Reid was found to be in violation of probation for a past marijuana-related arrest.
As a result of the probation violation, he spent part of his spring in the Lowndes County (Ga.) jail.
“In Valdosta, my name is very popular,” Reid said. “So they didn’t want to treat me any different than anybody else. Things happen in your life where you have to mature and be humble about it.”
After spending parts of 10 days in jail, Reid had a renewed appreciation for the comfort of sleeping in your own bed or the pleasure of sitting down to a good meal. The jail food, he said with a laugh, was “disgusting.”
“I feel like I was never a bad person,” Reid added. “I maybe was kind of young and stupid.”
After doing his research on Reid, coach Jeff Fisher came to the conclusion that he was at least worth a look.
“We were aware of everything that was going on, even prior to when the news came out (of the probation issue),” Fisher said. “He was in a situation where he was gonna go clean up some personal issues. And we knew that was required so it didn’t come as a surprise to us.
“He knows this is an opportunity — maybe not his last — but it’s an opportunity for him and he’s gonna take advantage of it. He’s taken care of his body. He’s gained about eight or 10 pounds since coming here. He’s gonna get a chance to prove himself quite a bit in preseason.”
During the pre-draft process, a couple of former Seminoles teammates — cornerback/safety Lamarcus Joyner and safety Terrance Brooks — both made pre-draft visits to Rams Park. Fisher took advantage of the visits to ask both draft prospects about Reid.
“And each one of ’em said what a great guy he was, and how they would really like to come here and be his teammate,” Fisher said.
Brooks was selected by Baltimore in Round 3; Joyner was taken by the Rams in Round 2.
“I just told (Fisher) how good of a kid he is,” Joyner said. “Gregory’s a great kid, despite what he’s been through off the field. Everyone has their problems. But he’s a great person, and he’s definitely a person that can make a change for himself, and he’s making the best so far with the opportunity he has. That’s always good. And he’s a good football player, point-blank.”
Reid’s last college game came against Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl. That was Dec. 29 of 2011, so he has more than two years of rust to scrape off as he tries to make the Rams’ 2014 roster.
After his Florida State dismissal, the first knee injury sidelined him for the entire 2012 season after transferring to Valdosta State. Even so, he got an invite to the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine, but needed additional surgery on the left knee — which kept him out of football in ‘13.
“After sitting for two years, it was slow at first,” Reid said of his initial time with the Rams. “Understanding the plays, and how they want me to play it, and everything like that. It’s starting to come around.
“I still have a long way to go. But I’m a quick learner and I’m starting to understand. Right now, I’m knocking off some (rust). I feel like I get better every practice. Right now, it’s just building up confidence. That’s what my main goal is right now.”
Reid’s knee is holding up well. There certainly are opportunities at cornerback behind starters Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson. Second-year man Brandon McGee has a leg up for a roster spot based on his time with the team in 2013 but the Rams likely will keep five corners on the 53-man roster.
“We talk about it all the time, how he hasn’t been on the football field in two years,” Joyner said. “We’ve been kind of motivating each other and keeping each other going. So it’s been a great experience with Greg so far.”
Reid played nickel back for Florida State as a freshman in 2009, and then had 23 starts at corner over the 2010 and ‘11 season. He had seven interceptions as a Seminole, and also scored three touchdowns on punt and kickoff returns. In that 2009 freshman year, he led the nation with an 18.4 average on punt returns.
In that 2011 season at FSU, he was part of a secondary that included four current NFL players — the others being Joyner, Brooks, and current Minnesota Vikings safety Xavier Rhodes. Reid fit right in with what was a very talented group.
“He’s very talented,” Fisher said. “He’s got return skills, ball skills. He can play both inside and outside.”
Now, it’s just a matter of making the most of this opportunity.