More rams history-the best player the Rams ever let get away

[general counsel]

Dick Night Train Lane played two seasons for the Rams (1952 and 53). As a rookie, he had 14 int's in 12 games. The Rams traded him to the cardinals and got basically nothing (money issues). Lane was a six time all nfl first team corner, and in the opinion of many, the greatest corner in the history of the game (68 career int's). This was the worst move the rams ever made, bar none.

Dont say warner. He had deteriorated at the point we let him go. There is no reason to believe he would have been as successful if he stayed with the rams with all their crappy players around him. Van Brocklin was traded at the peak of his career which didnt work out too well either, and of course many will cite the dickerson deal (which might come in second on my list). But trading a way a first ballot HOF'er after two years in an era before free agency and getting essentially nothing for him was an unmitigated disaster.

Worst release for no compensation at all of a player under contract that i can think of? Madison Hedgecock.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[BIG-BLUE]

Kevin Greene, Jerome Bettis & Hacksaw are all names that come to mind.

[Truth]

What this post shows, without prejudice, is the Rams historic inability to evaluate and manage their player personnel.

[laram0]

Ron Jaworski...maybe?

[PeoriaRam]

London Fletcher? He merely led the NFL in tackles for the 2000 decade.

[Ramzee]

Dick Night Train Lane? Sure, terrible move.

Madison Hedgecock? Hell no. I can't buy that one.

[PeoriaRam]

Dick Night Train Lane? Sure, terrible move.

Madison Hedgecock? Hell no. I can't buy that one.

Hedgecock was pretty bad, simply because we gave up our only blocking back for a tight end that Linebaka never used.

It didn't help that he became the starting fullback for the Super Bowl-winning Giants that season. I wonder if he mailed a gift basket to Rams Park after the season.

[Ramzee]

Hedgecock was pretty bad, simply because we gave up our only blocking back for a tight end that Linebaka never used.

It didn't help that he became the starting fullback for the Super Bowl-winning Giants that season. I wonder if he mailed a gift basket to Rams Park after the season.

His replacement might not have been any better but he surely was a marginal player at best that imo is lucky to have been in the league as long as he has. Nothing noteworthy to write home about there as blocker, runner or receiver.

As for the gift basket, he should have. They gave him the greatest gift ever in his release. Although he's held a grudge over it.

[mde8352gorams]

I think you can include Eric Dickerson in this discussion as he was traded for draft picks that went totally to waste. The reason he withered in Indianapolis was that they had no line for him to run behind, despite that he was on the downside of his career.

I do like your Night Train Lane assessment. Whomever mentioned Jaworski was right too, we let a good QB fall into Vermiel's hands. He did pay us back with a SB win.

Go Rams!

[PeoriaRam]

His replacement might not have been any better but he surely was a marginal player at best that imo is lucky to have been in the league as long as he has. Nothing noteworthy to write home about there as blocker, runner or receiver.

As for the gift basket, he should have. They gave him the greatest gift ever in his release. Although he's held a grudge over it.

Marginal players aren't 2nd team All Pros, integral components of a Super Bowl-winning rush attack, and don't get sniffed at for Pro Bowl mentions.

And most people do consider him to be among the league's best blockers.

[AvengerRam]

How about Drew Hill?

After 5 unremarkable seasons with the Rams, he went on to average 1,068 receiving yards/season over the next seven years with the Houston Oilers.

The Rams definitely didn't figure out what they had in Hill.

[eldfan]

London Fletcher? He merely led the NFL in tackles for the 2000 decade.

Allot on names come to mind but Fletcher lost hurt the most IMO the D was never the same after he left and the D been going down hill since.

[RealRam]

Let's see, Rams to be considered here.

Jerome Bettis
Isaac Bruce
Kevin Curtis
Eric Dickerson
London Fletcher
Roman Gabriel
Drew Hill
James Hodgins
Deacon Jones
Dick 'Night Train' Lane
Madison Hedgecock
Kurt Warner
et al...


Wow. What could have been. Sure, it happens to every team but ... what could have been.

Fletcher: "Who's responsible for letting me go from MY TEAM?!? ...AAAAARG!"

[general counsel]

Fletcher is a great one for sure, but he left as a free agent, we didnt cut him. I would put him in the category of a ryan pickett, guys we never should have let walk.

Drew Hill is a tremendous call. Big screw up there.

I dont understand that comment on hedgecock as a marginal player. He is one of the better fullbacks in the nfl and an excellent special teams player. I believe that he has played in a pro bowl. I dont count that as marginal at all.

We had a starting caliber player (proved by the fact that he started and did well for a super bowl champion team) who was making no money and we cut him for a guy that wound up never playing for us, resulting in our need to go find another fullback. Is there anyone that would rather have mike kearney and all his injuries (and thats not a criticism of him) than hedgecock right now (especially when you consider the salary difference). Absolutely moronic roster move, the single worst one of the linehan era (worse than the bennett signing, which at least seemed like a good idea at the time)

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[RealRam]

True, we didn't cut Fletcher but we sure could have done something to retain him! Pickett also a good name.