Rams sign Al Harris

The Rams have signed veteran cornerback Al Harris to a one-year deal. He's the second defensive back the Rams have signed this offseason who was coached by Steve Spagnuolo in Philadelphia.

Harris is 6'1", 190 and will turn 37 on Pearl Harbor Day. He has 21 career interceptions, not including his most famous one, a 52-yard pick-six in the 2003 playoffs against Seattle in overtime, minutes after Seattle won the coin toss and Matt Hasselbeck declared for the whole world to hear, "We want the ball, and we're going to score!"

In November 2009, Harris blew out his left knee so severely, it was described by his rehab specialist as "a very rare injury." He tore his ACL, his LCL, a couple of other ligaments I've never heard of, and his lateral hamstring. He wasn't expected to be able to play football again at all, but got back into football through determined work in rehab. He started the 2010 season on the Packers' PUP list, was eventually waived from there, and played in three games for the Dolphins late in the season before going back on injured reserve for a hamstring injury. He's also had chronic problems with his ankles.

The Packers still thought enough of Harris to give him a Super Bowl ring even though he didn't play a down for the team in 2010, probably out of respect for his long career with the team and his mentoring of the young players in a secondary that had some terrific performances.

Harris started all 102 games in his first seven years in Green Bay after being acquired from Philadelphia. His Packers totals are 14 interceptions and 108 passes defended. Before his injury in '09, he'd played in the Pro Bowl two straight years. He was very good in man coverage and jamming defenders at the line at his height; as he lost a step with age, he started picking up more and more pass interference penalties. Still, before his injury, he was a Pro Bowl-caliber CB.

Pretty classic formula signing here. Veteran with impeccable leadership credentials who the head coach knows well. He'll likely be more important here as a mentor to young Rams DBs like Bradley Fletcher, Justin King, Jerome Murphy and this year's late-round picks. But if he's anywhere close to full recovery from his devastating knee injury, he could be a short-term answer for the Rams at nickel. It'll be interesting to see what he's got left in camp.

Photo: WTMJ.com (WTMJ-AM, Milwaukee)

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