Rams news, 4/12

* According to Russ Lande on SportingNews.com, and repeated on NFL.com, the top player on the Rams' draft board is... Trent Richardson.

Let's play around with that info a little bit, and say Miami trades up to #3 to take Ryan Tannehill. And follow that with the Browns taking Justin Blackmon and the Bucs taking Morris Claiborne. That sets up the Rams, a 2-14 team that can't protect its passer, to take Richardson over Matt Kalil, the only franchise left tackle in the draft. At the least, it's a plan that sure puts a lot of faith in Jason Smith that his career to date sure doesn't merit.

Let's get even crazier. Vikings stay at 3 and take Kalil. But now the Browns, stressing over entering another season with Colt McCoy at QB, are the team that takes Tannehill. The Bucs oblige my scenario by taking Morris Claiborne again. The Rams, a 2-14 team with the least talent in the league at wide receiver, would then take Richardson over Justin Blackmon? Instead of spending the #6 pick on an every-down player who would start immediately, they would use it on someone who would be a backup for probably two years?

I agree the Rams need a change-of-pace back behind Steven Jackson. I agree the Rams need to have an eye out for Jackson's eventual successor. I even agree that once Kalil is drafted, Richardson is the best player left on the board. I can live with taking him at #6 if Tannehill doesn't sneak into the top five. Would be smarter to trade down again if they could, but that's much easier said than done.

Cleveland can settle this whole mess for the Rams by taking Richardson at #4 like they should. Otherwise, I will have a pretty difficult time with the Rams using a top ten pick on a running back who will be superfluous for two years when they could have had a starting wide receiver or a franchise left tackle.

Interesting articles involving former Rams:
* Jason Whitlock thinks the Saints should ask Dick Vermeil to be their interim coach;

* Kurt Warner, continuing to show too much class to be an actual human being, thinks Greg Williams should be forgiven.

Less-interesting former Rams:
* Adam Goldberg had a free-agent visit with the Bears;
* Bryan Kehl had a free-agent visit with the Dolphins.

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