St. Louisans check out FieldTurf, Clarrett, Zgonina

[ZigZagRam]

St. Louisans check out FieldTurf

A St. Louis delegation that observed the installation of FieldTurf last week in
Toronto's SkyDome came away impressed.

Rams executive vice president Bob Wallace remains optimistic that a new turf
will be installed in the Edwards Jones Dome in time for the season. He's just
not sure it will be one with the tray system being used in the SkyDome.

"We'll just continue to sort through the process," Wallace said. "I think there
are some other companies that we will look at, to see where they're at. . . .
But obviously, getting a new field has been a very high priority for the Rams."

Bruce Sommer of the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission, Brian
McMurtry of the America's Center convention facility, and Rams vice president
of operations John Oswald watched the installation in Toronto.

Sommer said the visit left him neither more nor less optimistic about replacing
the 10-year-old AstroTurf surface in time for the season. "It's simply a matter
of waiting until somebody's got a system that we know works both for the
football team and for us," Sommer said. "And as soon as that's done, we'll get
one."

Sommer wants to see how the FieldTurf in Toronto holds up under use this spring
by the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.

"It's got a lot of seams in it, so we're kind of curious as to how that's going
to work out," Sommer said. "And we have to wait and see what it's like when
they try to take (the turf) out."

Sommer says a St. Louis group probably will make a return trip to Toronto to
observe FieldTurf being removed.

The FieldTurf in the SkyDome is installed and removed using a tray system.
About 800 sections of FieldTurf, each measuring eight feet by 14 feet, are
installed or removed using a special attachment on a forklift. Each tray weighs
about 1,500 pounds, according to Field Turf CEO John Gilman.


Rams among teams at Clarett workout

The Rams were among eight teams attending running back Maurice Clarett's
workout Thursday in Youngstown, Ohio. The Rams have liked Clarett for some
time, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the team use a second-day draft pick
on the former Ohio State star.


Is Zgonina next?

Defensive end Jay Williams might not be the last Miami Dolphin to return to St.
Louis. The Rams remain interested in defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina. He played
for the Rams in 1997 and from 1999-2002.

He had career-high totals of 101 tackles and five sacks last season for Miami,
but the Dolphins are switching to a 3-4 alignment under new coach Nick Saban, a
scheme that doesn't suit Zgonina. April honored

Buffalo's Bobby April, who was dumped by the Rams following the 2003 season,
was named NFL special teams coach of the year for 2004 in voting by his peers.

[Nick]

I wonder how long installation of the field turf in a new facility for the first time takes. I mean, how long would it take for the Ed to be converted to this system? The attitudes of those involved don't seem like this is something urgent, which makes me wonder if this is a rather quick installation.

[GSOT]

Ewwww clarrett, we should go after the canadan(college) super star jesse lumsden. He will be the first draft choice in the cfl but is also in the nfl draft and is content on playing in the nfl. This guy seems to be very athletic at 6-2 1/2 235 running a 4.45 at his privite work out. His private work out included the rams btw. Lumsden rushed for 1800+ yards with a 10.5 yards percarry average with 21 tds btw in there college system its 12 v 12 not 11 v 11.

[ZigZagRam]

I'll take a gamble on Clarrett in the 5th-6th Rd. but no sooner.

[AvengerRam]

The Rams don't need the type of attention and distraction that Clarrett would bring. He's not worth the trouble.

[general counsel]

But i think adrian mchperson is worth it. Terrific article in espn the magazine, he really appears to have straightened out his act.

ramming speed to all

general counsel