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Rams Notes: Curtis takes steps to get a new agent
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/06/2007
Free agency has been a bumpy road so far for Rams wide receiver Kevin Curtis. After visits to Minnesota over the weekend and then Detroit, Curtis informed a representative of agent Tom Condon that he no longer wishes to be represented by Condon's CAA Football agency. In essence, Curtis was firing Condon, one of the top agents in the National Football League.
According to league sources, Curtis' decision had little or nothing to do with money. And contrary to some speculation, it wasn't because Curtis is dead set on signing with Mike Martz and the Detroit Lions. Detroit is probably the slight favorite, but Curtis — deliberate by nature — was hoping for more than two options to consider before making his decision.
Representatives from CAA Football were in the damage-control mode Monday afternoon, trying to continue their relationship with Curtis. Any chance that Curtis might return to St. Louis ended Saturday, when the Rams signed Tennessee free agent Drew Bennett to a six-year, $30 million contract.
While Curtis was wrapping up his visit with the Lions on Monday, another Rams wide receiver, Shaun McDonald, was scheduled to arrive in Detroit for a free-agent visit. McDonald's agent, St. Louisan Jim Steiner, told the Post-Dispatch over the weekend that McDonald would not be returning to the Rams.
Rams sign punter
The Rams have signed punter B.J. Sander, a street free agent, to a contract. Terms were not immediately available. Sander, 26, was the Ray Guy Award winner in 2003 as the nation's top college punter at Ohio State. He was selected in the third round, No. 87 overall, by the Green Bay Packers in 2004.
Sander struggled in training camp in '04, and the Packers signed veteran Bryan Barker to handle punting chores that season. In 2005, Sander averaged 39.2 yards a kick for Green Bay, 30th in the NFL. In 2006, Sander was cut two games into the preseason.
Rams sources say the team remains optimistic about re-signing free agent Matt Turk. But adding Sander may indicate that the Rams are looking at potential alternatives in case Turk goes elsewhere.
Smith goes to Denver
Fullback Paul Smith, who played in 10 games last season for the Rams, including three starts, has signed a three-year free-agent deal with Denver. In his only season in St. Louis, Smith was an effective special-teams player. He was fearless as a wedge-buster on kickoff coverage, but that also led to injury problems. Smith was slowed by eye, hamstring, and neck injuries in St. Louis.
Ram-blings
Free-agent cornerback Travis Fisher visited Washington over the weekend and completed a trip to Arizona on Monday, but apparently is still looking. "I had a great visit in Arizona," Fisher said. "I've got a lot of things set up."
Free agent Tully Banta-Cain, a defensive end-linebacker, visited San Francisco on Monday. He got a contract offer from the Rams over the weekend but chose to continue shopping the market.
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