Rams sign Saalim Hakim to practice squad, yes Az Hakim little brother

[mcpeepants232003]

Like AZ he's smaller 5'11" 188 lbs but has insane speed, 4.31 forty, he's supposed to be a ridiculous athlete but very inexperienced. He didn't start playing until he was HS senior and didn't play much in college(Actually left early to sign with the UFL).

Rams sign Saalim Hakim, get Scott Wells back at practice - Turf Show Times

[MauiRam]

By Jim Thomas jthomas@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8197
0

Pro Bowl center Scott Wells is back on the field at Rams Park. The free-agent pickup from Green Bay has been out since suffering a fractured foot in the season opener against Detroit and was placed on the new injured reserve/designated for return list.

Wells practiced Wednesday, beginning a three-week period in which he can practice with the team but doesn't count against the 53-man roster.

The Rams also made a couple of roster moves Wednesday. Cornerback Quinton Pointer was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, filling the spot created when safety Matt Daniels (knee) was placed on the injured reserve list last week.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Saalim Hakim was added to the practice squad, filling Pointer's slot. Hakim, who was timed in 4.23 seconds in the 40-yard dash at his college pro day, is the younger brother of former Ram Az-Zahir Hakim.

"He used to bring me up here when I was real little," Saalim Hakim said. "He brought me up here a lot."

Hakim worked out for the Rams on Wednesday morning and was signed in time to practice in the afternoon.

[citr92]

so far, from what i've seen of him, he looks decent, not as raw as i'd thought he'd be

he was against a corner 10 yards off the line and still ran past him...woo he's pretty quick

if his UFL quarterback didn't suck maybe we could see more of his catching ability

hope he gets good enough to become another speedy threat...with hands of course

[VegasRam]

I have three teams- Rams, UCLA and UNLV. We all know all 3 have sucked for a long time.
Point is, (pun intended), Quinton Pointer was one of UNLV's brighter spots in the last 4 years. Hope he takes advantage of the chance.

[Fortuninerhater]

A 4.23 forty has to be a misprint, but I get the point, he has blazing speed. Let's just hope he can catch, or at least return punts like his brother.

Wonder if Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt have much younger brothers.

[Rambos]

Here is Saalim Hakim looks fast.

[mcpeepants232003]

also like someone else noted the last time we signed someone Dallas let go was Danny Amendola.

[citr92]

i'm sure it was a 4.32, just a mistype

and i love watching 6:05 in that video

[sosa39rams]

I've seen him anywhere from 5'11 - 6'2. If he's 6'2, thats just scary. Even if he's little, he's the bugger type. Hopefully he can step in as a KR/PuntR/STGunner, and perhaps even improve as a WR. Looks dangerous.

[Rambos]

By Dan O’Neill [email]doneill@post-dispatch.com[


Maybe Thomas Wolfe was wrong. Maybe you can go home again, once removed.

The Rams did so in a manner of speaking Wednesday. They signed a young receiver named Saalim Hakim to their practice squad. If the last name sounds familiar, it should. Saalim is the younger brother of Az-Zahir Hakim, once the explosive slot receiver in the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf.”

From 1998-2001, Az Hakim scored 19 touchdowns for the Rams, doubling as a receiver and return specialist. Regarded as one of the fastest players in the league, he had touchdown plays that covered 86, 84, 80 and 75 yards. In 1999, he averaged 18.8 yards a catch and scored nine touchdowns.

Az Hakim was part of the spectacular skill group that included Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, a group that went to two Super Bowls and captured St. Louis’ only NFL championship.

The 5-foot-11, 191-pound Hakim running pass patterns at Rams Park on Wednesday was wearing No. 15, not the No. 81 his brother wore. But the vapor trail was the same.

“Ask Cortland (Finnegan),” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “Cort said, ‘Where did you get that guy? He ran by me three times.’ So, yeah, he can really run.”

When it comes to shots in the NFL, Saalim Hakim is as long as they come. He has played only five seasons of organized football, covering four different levels, including high school, junior college, college and pro. He has never been a starter at any of those levels.

He was a running back at Palo Verde High in Las Vegas, with career totals of nine carries and 97 yards. He attended Palomar Community College, where he caught three passes as a freshman, 28 as a sophomore. He transferred to Tarleton State in 2010 and had 18 receptions as a backup receiver.

Hakim hoped to make himself available for the 2011 NFL draft but didn’t file the necessary papers. He signed instead with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League.

Several NFL teams expressed interest in him as a free agent, including the Rams. But Saalim signed with Dallas, where he caught one ball for 15 yards in preseason before being released. With cornerback Quinton Pointer activated for Sunday’s game, with practice squad receiver Nick Johnson injured, the Rams worked out Hakim on Wednesday and signed him to the practice squad.

The raw 22-year-old has a ways to go to establish himself. But he has one dynamic element going for him that makes his potential so intriguing – the Hakim speed. During his first pro day, Saalim ran a 4.23 in the 40. Later, after using up some gas in the tank, he still ran a 4.25. Like brother, like brother.

Saalim lives in San Diego with his older brother Az, who is now 35. And while Saalim is a new kid to this Rams regime, he knows the block quite well.

“Oh, yeah,” Saalim said, excitedly. “When I was little, my brother used to bring me up here, he brought me up here a lot. I used to see the field and they had a basketball court over there before they made it a cafeteria.

“Ever since then, I’ve loved football. This is a blessing to be here. I pray fives times day, thankful to be here and just trying to get better.”

As the day ended, Saalim was eager to call his older brother and give him the news. “The thing is, when I left the house yesterday, I didn’t even tell him,” Hakim said. “I wanted to wait to see if I would have some good news.”

[citr92]

so the 4.23 wasn't a misprint...jeez...what was his 100m time? he HAS to have run track at some point, and his quickness looks like a 100 guy, curious

and if finnegan is impressed, i like his chances...just show your hands bro and welcome to the nfl

[laram0]

Every time I see the name Hakim I have flashbacks of that muffed punt against the Saints!

[VegasRam]

...and I think of Holt escorting him down the field against (I think) Denver?

[gap]

Every time I see the name Hakim I have flashbacks of that muffed punt against the Saints!

I missed that, as I was driving to my parents house. When I got there, they told me what an exciting finish I had just missed. When I left the house, it looked like the RAMS wouldn't have a chance to win the game. Maybe is was a good thing that I missed that heartbreaking muff after they almost pulled off the comeback.

When I see the name Hakim, I remember that Monday Night TD with him and Torry running side-by-side. I also think of that almost muffed kick/punt return at Cincy, but I believe that was Horne. Don't know why I get those two confused. Maybe it's the propencity to muff punts.


gap

[Ram Dragoon]

The ideal WR, 6'4 with 4.4 40yard, and shifty moves who can catch a ball. Wess Welker of the Pats is what again? Thing is speed kills a defensive secondary like no other save for a bruiser 250 RB who is loose in the backfield--ha!

If the Rams can get some serious spead on offense, everything opens up--the ground game, short crossing routs--the deep ball; its just too hard to defend everything. It would be interesting to see how this move might develop into--so far I like