[Bar-bq]

I actually saw it reported on sportsceter thismorning that the Rams sought permission to begin contract negotions with the prospect they so choose...AND WERE DENIED. By this logic, we won't know, anyway, who the pick is until draft day.

It was during their opening segment with Kiper and Mcshay, who both noted the fact. They said they were denied permission, because generally, the exclusive right to negotiations belonged to the team picking first, and that in the past, if a deal was secured, the earliest it had ever been done was on the Friday before.

They did say this time should prove to be beneficial to the Rams even without the ability to sign a player, as they can utilise this time to entertain phone calls and discuss all possible scenarios. They mentioned the Saints as a trading partner, and surprisingly, the Patriots.

I think that unless either team offers the kitchen sink, it wouldn't be a good move. You may be getting a number one next season, but especially with those two teams, who are perhaps only a star player away from the playoffs (or in NE's case 19-0), that #1 pick appears more likely to be toward the bottom of round one than at the top of it. That's why you don't see teams like Atlanta or the Jets getting in with an offer like that...just yet. Too many needs and the unwillingness to give up what could be a very high selection next year.