Rams report, 5/18: transactions

* The Rams have claimed offensive lineman Jose Valdez on waivers from the Vikings. Valdez is 6'6", 324 lbs and 25 years old. He went undrafted and unsigned out of Arkansas in 2009 until he was picked up late in the season by - guess who? - the Falcons. Looks like he's spent his pro time on theirs and the Vikings' practice squads. Reports say that he had very good training camps with the Falcons in '10 and '11, and obviously, Les Snead remembers him.

Scouting report: Pretty good technician with good size. Competitive, works hard, uses his hands well,  but lacks strength and athleticism. Can't change direction well. He was invited to the 2009 Combine and had some there touting him as a draft sleeper. Pro day results: 5.16 40, 16 benches (ouch), 4.64 short shuttle, 7.49 three-cone, 14 on the Wonderlic.

The Falcons were supposedly pretty high on Valdez as a guard prospect while they had him; he just could never crack the lineup. He becomes the latest entry in what's becoming an intriguing and wide-open race for the Rams' LG position.

* UDFA LB Derrick Choice of Stephen F. Austin has left the team. Head coach Jeff Fisher says Choice "decided he had enough football" and wants to either return to school or get his career started. Fisher says he respects Choice's decision and that he can walk away with his head up. Best of luck to Derrick, but you do realize you just submarined my goal of getting all the UDFA bios up before anybody had to leave the team, right? : )

* Draft picks Brian Quick, Isaiah Pead and Chris Givens, in Los Angeles for NFLPA rookie functions, aren't the only Rams currently missing from OTAs. Punter Johnny Hekker, TE Cory Harkey and Dartmouth UDFA RB Nick Schweiger are all unable to participate because of the stupid NFL rule that keeps rookies out of OTAs if their class hasn't graduated, which affects players from schools that go by the quarter system instead of semesters.

* There's also already an injury list at minicamp: BEN GUIDUGLI has a foot injury; Matt Daniels is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery that was not mentioned in any report I found about him; and, shockingly, Danario Alexander has already been sidelined, with a hamstring injury. DX, you are officially the Mr. Bill of football injuries. I hope you've been keeping an eye ahead to your post-football career. Seriously. He can't even make it through minicamp.

* RamView will be off this weekend to take a quick spin up to Chicago. No, I am not attending the NATO summit, but I'm sure I could offer some suggestions if anybody there wants me to. Back in on Monday.

-$-

Photo: University of Arkansas