FA Sims to visit Rams

***RamWraith*** · -06-11-2008

By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/10/2008

Veteran defensive lineman Barry Sims is scheduled to visit Rams Park on Friday. Sims, 33, started 119 games, mostly at left tackle, in nine seasons with Oakland before the Raiders released him Feb. 29.

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Sims was signed by Oakland during training camp in 1999 as an undrafted rookie out of the University of Utah. He wound up starting 10 games that season and became a full-time starter in 2001. Sims met with ***** officials earlier this week and also plans to make stops at Baltimore and New England.

GRADKOWSKI IN TOWN

The newest Ram, quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, was on the field Tuesday for organized team activities but didn’t take part in team drills. Gradkowski, 25, was signed after the Rams claimed him off waivers last week following his release by Tampa Bay.

The Raiders and Chicago Bears also claimed him, but the Rams obtained his rights because they had the worst record of the three teams in 2007.

Gradkowski, 6-1 and 220 pounds, will compete with Brock Berlin for the No. 3 spot behind starter Marc Bulger and backup Trent Green.

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Each team in the NFC West has been assigned a foreign player who will participate in training camp and then remain as an extra practice-squad player throughout the season.

The Rams will work with Sebastien Sejean, a 6-2, 223-pound linebacker from France. Sejean, 24, is from the University of Laval and has been part of several French national teams.

RAM-BLINGS

OTAs wrap up Thursday, and the players and coaches soon will head off on their summer break. The team will reconvene July 24 at Concordia University in Mequon, Wis., for the start of training camp. . . . The Rams will work out with the Tennessee Titans for several days in Nashville before the preseason opener there Aug. 9. The Titans will visit Rams camp in 2009.