From Mike Sando's Blog today:

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with new Rams tackle Wayne Hunter, acquired from the New York Jets in the Jason Smith trade. Thomas: "Hunter earned the respect of some observers at the end of last season, when the Jets' hopes of making the playoffs and participating in a third straight AFC title game crumbled with three straight losses. It was Hunter who took on wide receiver Santonio Holmes in a huddle scuffle that broke out because Hunter — and undoubtedly some of his Jets' teammates — thought Holmes was dogging it in the team's season-ending loss to Miami."

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tempers expectations for the Rams. Burwell: "I think they're better than Arizona, Miami, Minnesota and maybe Tampa Bay. I wouldn't be surprised if they steal one or two games at home from either Washington or the Jets (maybe both). That means five or six victories. But because the NFC West is not exactly the most daunting division in football, a larger bottle of optimism might not be out of the question."

Howard Balzer offers Rams notes, including one about recently released tight end Mike Hoomanawanui declining a chance to sign with the team's practice squad. Balzer: "Even though Hoomanawanui had played eight games in each of the 2010 and 2011 seasons, he was still practice-squad eligible. However, he elected to join the Washington Redskins' practice squad, the team the Rams play in their home opener in Week 2."