(Ex)Rams news, 5/8

* Defensive tackle Gary Gibson has signed a two-year deal with Tampa Bay. He played for the Rams the past three seasons. He won't be a starter with the Bucs but should give them some high-motor play off the bench. Best of luck.

* Anthony Hargrove says Gregg Williams and Joe Vitt told him to "play dumb" to NFL investigators looking into the bounty system in New Orleans. ESPN.com

Between this and the painkiller scandal, you have to wonder about our old friend and one-time interim coach Vitt, don't you?

* Where are they now? 2006 third-round draft pick Jon Alston's football career ended in 2010 after his fourth concussion. It took him six to eight months away from the game to shake the effects of the last one, and in this article, he talks about that and argues that players who have concussion side-effects serious enough to put them on the injured list should be required to sit out a full year. The article also mentions Alston's new career as owner of a film production company and as an "incredibly talented and ambitious young filmmaker."

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Photo: NBC Sports

Rookie free agent profile: Cory Harkey, TE, UCLA

Cory Harkey 6'4" 260
TE, UCLA

Rankings: 15th-ranked tight end by Pro Football Weekly. Graded as a player slightly better than 50-50 to make a roster or practice squad. Late draftable pick.
NFLDraftScout: 21st-ranked TE, #347 player overall, free-agent grade.
DraftCountdown: 23rd-ranked TE, late-round/free-agent grade.

Biography/honors:
2011: Started all 14 games as a blocking tight end. Only one catch for ten yards all season. Was still invited to the NFL Combine and played in the East-West Shrine Game. Received Jerry Long "Heart" Award and Kenneth S. Washington Award for Outstanding Senior of the Year from coaching staff.  
2010: Started all 12 games. 14 catches for 140 yards. 
2009: Played in all 13 games, starting 4. 8 catches for 41 yards and a TD.
2008: Played in all 12 games, starting 7. 5 catches for 40 yards and a TD.
Father Michael was a pitcher for five different major league teams in the '90s and is currently the New York Yankees' bullpen coach. Brother Tony was a college baseball player.

Major: history.

Injuries: none reported.

NFL Combine stats: (position averages in parentheses)
5.11 40 (4.74 - Harkey the slowest TE to run)
1.66 10-yard split (1.63)
29.5” vertical jump (34” - worst jump)
9'1” broad jump (9'10” - also worst jump)
7.40 3-cone drill (7.08 – worst time)
4.69 20-yard shuttle (4.34 - also worst time)
13 bench press (21 - Harkey the worst TE by 5 reps)

Positives: Best blocking tight end in the country according to Mike Mayock. Massive, gritty, in-line blocker who works hard to sustain his blocks. Powerful run blocker. Alert to blitzers as a pass-protector, quick to get outside and cut off rushers. Physically and mentally tough. Has the mentality of an offensive lineman. Durable, works hard, student of the game. Stood out at the Shrine Game, with commentators noting how much more effective the West team's running game was with him on the field.

Negatives: Limited athlete with short arms, slow feet and almost no value as a receiver. Hands are subpar and he has trouble getting off the line. Well-below-average performance at the Combine, particularly at the bench press, which is a surprise given his specialty.

Compares to: Ben Hartsock.

Fun Facts: Cory's father Mike is bullpen coach for the Yankees, who recently lost Mariano Rivera for the season when he tore an ACL shagging flies in pregame warmups. You'd think father would have known better here: he once blew a knee himself in pregame warmups, attempting a cartwheel in the outfield.

RamView: If you followed RamView throughout the draft process, you know I was hot on Cory Harkey's trail to fill the Rams' massive hole at blocking tight end. The Rams developed a crying need at the position, where Billy Bajema and Stephen Spach, unsurprisingly both now ex-Rams, were all but inadequate, and the Ram running game suffered as a result, especially on critical downs. Harkey comes here as the best blocking college TE and a difference-maker on the field. If Matthew Mulligan can stay onside, he and Harkey could reverse the Rams' embarrassing failings as a goal-line offense. If his poor bench performance at the Combine isn't a red flag, Harkey has a strong opportunity to make the team.

Chance of making roster: 45%.

Sources: Pro Football Weekly 2012 Draft Guide, CBS Sports, NFLDraftCountdown.com (Scott Wright), UCLA athletics website, Wikipedia

Photo: Pro Football Weekly

Rookie free agent profile: Austin Davis, QB, Southern Mississippi

Austin Davis 6'1.5" 219
QB, Southern Mississippi

Rankings: 13th-ranked quarterback by Pro Football Weekly. Graded as a player with a better-than-average chance to make an NFL roster.
NFLDraftScout: 13th-ranked QB, #262 player overall, 7th-round/free-agent grade. 
Biography/honors:
2011: School's all-time passing leader, breaking Brett Favre's career records for passing yards, TD passes and completion %. Broke his own single-season passing yards record. Won Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to best player in nation who started out as a walk-on. Team captain. 286 for 475 (60.2%), 3,496 yards, 30 TD, 11 INT. 110 carries for 352 yards (3.2 ypc) and 4 TD.
2010: Started all 13 games. 278 for 442 (62.9%), 3,103 yards, 20 TD, 6 INT. 145 carries for 452 yards and 10 TD.
2009: Limited to 5 starts due to injury. 108 for 156 (69.2%), 1,165 yards, 10 TD, 2 INT. 50 carries for 63 yards (1.2 ypc) and 2 TD. Also caught a TD pass.
2008: Conference USA all-freshman first team. Started all 13 games. 261 for 464 (57.5%), 3,128 yards, 23 TD, 8 INT. 155 carries for 508 yards (3.3 ypc) and 9 TDs. Set school record for single-season passing yards and most TD passes by a freshman, breaking Favre's record. New Orleans Bowl MVP.
2007: Redshirted.

Major: business. Completed his degree prior to 2011 season and has started on his MBA.

Injuries:
2009: missed eight of thirteen games due to a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot.

NFL Combine stats: (position averages in parentheses)
4.76 40 (4.77)
1.71 10-yard split (1.65)
31” vertical jump (33”)
9'1” broad jump (9'3”)
6.73 3-cone drill (7.04 – Davis was fastest QB to run this drill)*
4.11 20-yard shuttle (4.30 - 3rd-fastest)*
DNP bench press
* Robert Griffin III did not run.

Positives: Four-year starter. Dual-threat QB with excellent mobility. Tough, strong runner with a good stiffarm. Moves well in the pocket. Quick, smooth delivery, throws with good touch and accuracy. Accurate throwing short passes. Sells fakes well. Doesn't force passes and isn't afraid to throw the ball away. Reads field and progresses through his options well. Smart, confident, born leader, tough competitor, plays with heart.

Negatives: Short. Throwing motion more suited for darts. Doesn't seem to get much of his body into his throws. Inconsistent on downfield throws, gets too much air under some, underthrows others. Stares down his receiver. Has not taken many snaps from under center. Didn't have to make many defensive reads. Needs to improve footwork. Average-at-best arm strength. Needs to be more secure with the ball when running.

Compares to: Thaddeus Lewis. Similar size, mobility, arm, and college pedigree.

Fun Facts: Austin isn't the only pro athlete in his family; his cousin Jason was a utility player for eight different MLB teams. Austin himself was a former all-state baseball player in high school. His brother Bo was a third-team All-America outfielder in 2009, also the first time Southern Miss made the College World Series.

RamView: RamView liked Austin Davis' pro prospects throughout the draft process. He threw well at the Combine. He was very accurate on shorter routes while showing plenty of arm for deep corner and sideline routes. He doesn't have a cannon but has been a very confident player who can make things happen with his arm or his feet. Rams fans distressed that the team gave Thaddeus Lewis away last season should be happy with Davis as a replacement. Recent seasons tell us the Rams need to keep 4 QBs - Davis should stick here as at least the practice squad QB. He could beat out Tom Brandstater if he shines in training camp with short-pass accuracy and his extra mobility dimension that none of the other Ram QBs really have.

Chance of making roster: 50%.

Sources: Pro Football Weekly 2012 Draft Guide, CBS Sports, Wikipedia, Southern Mississippi athletics website

Photo: Pro Football Weekly

Rams release four

NFL.com reports the Rams released four players yesterday:

WR Dominique Curry
CB Brian Jackson
CB Marquis Johnson
OT Thomas Welch

Couple of familiar names, but none of the cuts come as a big surprise.

Curry was a plus contributor on special teams, but there are a lot of candidates ahead of him on the depth chart at wide receiver and the Rams simply don't have the luxury to use a roster spot on someone who's strictly a gunner. Didn't have the luxury last year, actually. I'd look for him to at least get a shot in Kansas City with former Rams special teams coach Tom McMahon.

Johnson and Jackson were among the million casualties in the Ram secondary last year, and it's been completely re-built since. I'm a little surprised that Johnson, the former 7th-round pick, didn't at least get a training camp invite, because he's shown he can play. He has had terrible injury luck, though, which probably made the Rams' decision for them. With Cortland Finnegan, Janoris Jenkins, Bradley Fletcher, Trumaine Johnson, Jerome Murphy and Josh Gordy already aboard, not a lot of room on the depth chart at corner.

Welch was on the practice squad for a while last year and I believe got some playing time toward the end of the season. Again, a little surprise he wasn't at least brought to training camp, given the effect Jason Smith's lack of durability figures to have on the depth chart. And it's not like he couldn't compete with Kevin Hughes, who, fortunately, has Harvey Dahl, Quinn Ojinnaka and probably Rokevious Watkins and Ryan McKee ahead of him on the depth chart.

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Photo: Fox Sports Midwest

Rams report, 5/3: recognition for Rams

* In the NFL Network's countdown of the top 100 players in the league, voted on by the players, Cortland Finnegan came in at #93 last week, and Chris Long was ranked #84 this week. Neither player was in last year's top 100. Steven Jackson's the only other Ram likely to be rated; he was 38th last year. I'd like to see him get at least into the top 30.

Long's ranking is validation that he should have been in this past Pro Bowl. Unfortunately for Chris, the past one may also be the last one; the NFL is considering getting rid of the game.

* The Rams have won a "Silver World Medal" from the New York Festivals International TV & Film Awards for some of their video work. StLouisRams.com They appear to be the only sports franchise to win any kind of award there, so that's cool.

The winning video was used during pregame intros... here it is on YouTube.

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Photo: Washington Post

(Ex)Rams news, 5/2

* Former Ram Anthony Hargrove received an eight-week suspension from the NFL today for his role in the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal. Hargrove had "submitted a signed declaration" stating that he knew about the bounty program and participated in it. He is currently on the Packers' roster, having signed with them last month.

Saints LB Jonathan Vilma has been suspended for the entire 2012 season in the same matter, along with DE Will Smith for 4 weeks and LB Scott Fujita for 3.

* It did not take long for Josh Brown to land a new job; he was signed by the Jets today. From here it looks like he will compete with Nick Folk for the starting job. Folk didn't have a very good 2011, either, so Brown's got a shot.

* Zach Diles has signed with the Titans. He has yet to catch on anywhere since a failed run in Rams training camp last year.

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Rams news, 5/1

Just a couple of links today...

* How do the Rams plan to keep second-round pick Janoris Jenkins' nose clean? Les Snead's going to call him every day! (or have someone else call him)  NFL.com

* The Rams have submitted their counteroffer to the St. Louis CVC's plan to upgrade the Edward Jones Dome under the terms of the team's lease. ESPN.com It's not clear at this time how much, if any, of the Rams' counterproposal will be released to the public.

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