Stanley's return to track was news to Linehan ..

[MauiRam]

Stanley's return to track was news to Linehan
By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
05/02/2008

December 20, 2007-- Derek Stanley #19 of the St. Louis Rams is surrounded by James Harrison #92, Anthony Smith #27 and Anthony Madison #37 of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

When Rams wide receiver Derek Stanley asked coach Scott Linehan for permission to return to school this spring to continue work on his degree, he left out one detail.

That is, that he also planned to rejoin the track and field team at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

"I just figured a good way to get back in shape and get my speed back would be to run track," said Stanley, a seventh-round draft pick last year. "Doing track workouts and sprint workouts are essentially the same things I'd be doing back in St. Louis" during offseason drills.

Stanley's last final exam is today; he's scheduled to return to Rams Park on Monday. There, he and Linehan will have a little talk.

"I'll sit down and visit with him," Linehan said. "He and I never

discussed (Stanley running track); this is the first I've heard of it. That's something that probably won't be happening many times again."

Professional teams are extremely careful about protecting their investments and want to be fully aware of their players' offseason exploits. Had Stanley blown out a knee during the track season, his NFL career could have been derailed.

Still, Linehan wasn't particularly angry with Stanley. "He's a good kid, a young guy who probably didn't even know any better," Linehan said.

Whitewater coach Darren Schneider, a St. Louis native and former Lafayette High coach, also was surprised when Stanley laced up his track spikes again.

"Obviously, getting drafted and playing for the Rams is really a special thing, a great achievement," Schneider said. "Being at that level, I kind of expected it would take most, if not all, of his attention. But … I think he had a little unfinished business track-wise, some things he wanted to accomplish."

Stanley's presence on the squad was uplifting, Schneider stressed. "It was really exciting for our guys to have him return," he said. "Some of the guys knew him from previous teams, but for our freshmen, it was an unbelievable experience to have an NFL player on your team. It was really a special situation."

Both teammates and his opponents peppered him with queries. "A lot of people asked me what (the NFL) was like," he said. "You get some interesting questions."

Although Stanley also ran sprints, long jumping and triple jumping "are his forte, without a doubt," Schneider said. Whitewater finished seventh in the NCAA Division III indoor championships March 14-15, and Stanley earned All-America status by placing sixth in the long jump (23 feet, 1 1/4 inches).

The 5-foot-11, 179-pound Stanley is a seven-time All-American: three times in indoor track, two times in outdoor track and twice in football.

Stanley spent the first 13 games last season on the Rams' practice squad before being activated for the last three as a return specialist. He averaged a strong 25.5 yards on 20 kickoff returns, and 5.0 yards on 10 punt returns.

Keeping his spot on the roster won't be easy, however. The Rams signed veteran wide receiver Reche Caldwell as a free agent, and then drafted two wideouts — Houston's Donnie Avery in the second round and Kentucky's Keenan Burton in the fourth.

"You're never safe unless you're a Torry Holt, a big-time guy," Stanley said. "You've got to keep working hard and take yourself to the next level. I just need to take care of myself and prove that I can do it again."

The experience he gained in 2007 "helps immensely. Coming in as a rookie, and especially coming from D-III, your eyes are as wide as they can be," he said. "Having a year under your belt, you can kind of calm down and settle in. ... Going into your sophomore season, you kind of know what to expect and know how things work. It definitely gives you a leg up on the incoming rookies.

"But I wish them the best of luck, and whatever's best for the team, hopefully that's what works out."

Stanley won't complete his degree in health and human performance until next May, but his eligibility is exhausted. So, no more track and field, which pleases Linehan.

But, he mused, "You know, if (Stanley) comes in here in great shape and has a great offseason and training camp … maybe we should have more guys do it."

[RamOfDenmark]

I'll be disappointed if we cut Stanley to make room for Caldwell - what upside does he have? None. I'd rather have all of our young receivers (Stanley, Avery & Burton) than guys like Caldwell and Looker.

[Ramer]

I like Stanley, I hope the Rams keep him. I also think he is a much better receiver than Caldwell. I just can't believe he didn't talk to the coachs before running track. Why would you risk your NFL career.

[moloch41]

Now, I actually do have inside information on the conversation that took place between Stanley and Linehan before he went back to school. Stanley really did ask permission to join the track team, but there was a problem in the translation.

This was the actual conversation...

Hey Coach, I want to go back to school during the offseason and join the track team to stay limber. I would hate not to be active and risk the chance of getting a muscle injury by getting all tight in training camp and winding up on a team's disabled roster. But I'll risk the chance of getting tight if you feel the ends don't justify the means or if it breaks a team rule.

What Linehan heard...

Hey Coach, I want to blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah be blah blah blah blah blah blah blah a blah blah blah blah blah tight blah blah blah end blah blah on a team's blah roster. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah tight blah blah blah blah ends blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah rule.

[RAMarkable]

he mused, "You know, if (Stanley) comes in here in great shape and has a great offseason and training camp … maybe we should have more guys do it."

Precisely. People get hurt working out at the team's facilities all of the time (just ask Glen Dorsey who injured his leg bumping into a weight machine.) Besides, it's not like Stanley was going back to Wisconsin to play hockey or something.

WHAT SAY YE?

[MauiRam]

I'll be disappointed if we cut Stanley to make room for Caldwell - what upside does he have? None. I'd rather have all of our young receivers (Stanley, Avery & Burton) than guys like Caldwell and Looker.

Reche's experience is his upside. The young receivers (Stanley, Avery & Burton) must earn their spots on the team. I was impressed with Stanley's return abilities last year, but he needs to step it up a notch this year if he is to make the team as a receiver. He will be given the opportunity to beat out Hall as a return specialist as Derek comes much cheaper than Dante. With the loss of Bruce, I believe it was a wise move to grab Reche at a bargain price. He has plenty of experience playing in the NFL, and furthermore has played for Saunders and knows his offense. I would imagine that Al Saunders had a say in bringing him aboard, as Caldwell played for Al last season, and was productive there at the end of the season. I'm hoping Reche has a great year, and takes some heat off of Holt. This may be Looker's last year, as Wilkins is gone, and likely the Rams will try and develop another holder ..

[NFLTopGun]

Now, I actually do have inside information on the conversation that took place between Stanley and Linehan before he went back to school. Stanley really did ask permission to join the track team, but there was a problem in the translation.

This was the actual conversation...

Hey Coach, I want to go back to school during the offseason and join the track team to stay limber. I would hate not to be active and risk the chance of getting a muscle injury by getting all tight in training camp and winding up on a team's disabled roster. But I'll risk the chance of getting tight if you feel the ends don't justify the means or if it breaks a team rule.

What Linehan heard...

Hey Coach, I want to blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah be blah blah blah blah blah blah blah a blah blah blah blah blah tight blah blah blah end blah blah on a team's blah roster. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah tight blah blah blah blah ends blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah rule.

huh? i dont find this funny at all. you continue to post negative posts about the rams or their coach. i find this pathetic.

[HUbison]

huh? i dont find this funny at all. you continue to post negative posts about the rams or their coach. i find this pathetic.

Oh come on. Is the "Linehan likes Tight Ends" angle dated and cliche'? Yes, of course it is. But the Monkey put some effort into that, and it's at least a little funny, no?

[moloch41]

huh? i dont find this funny at all. you continue to post negative posts about the rams or their coach. i find this pathetic.

Awwwww, I'll get you a box of Kleenex...

[KoaKoi]

lmao Moloch....

sorry for your sensitivities top gun, but I found that quite hilarious... ha haha

[ramsanddodgers]

huh? i dont find this funny at all. you continue to post negative posts about the rams or their coach. i find this pathetic.

Just an attempt at humor during this boring time of year. I thought it was mildly amusing. Jocularity, jocularity, jocularity (Father Mulcahey)

[39thebeast]

Now, I actually do have inside information on the conversation that took place between Stanley and Linehan before he went back to school. Stanley really did ask permission to join the track team, but there was a problem in the translation.

This was the actual conversation...

Hey Coach, I want to go back to school during the offseason and join the track team to stay limber. I would hate not to be active and risk the chance of getting a muscle injury by getting all tight in training camp and winding up on a team's disabled roster. But I'll risk the chance of getting tight if you feel the ends don't justify the means or if it breaks a team rule.

What Linehan heard...

Hey Coach, I want to blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah be blah blah blah blah blah blah blah a blah blah blah blah blah tight blah blah blah end blah blah on a team's blah roster. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah tight blah blah blah blah ends blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah rule.

This is real topgun the man said he has inside information, I have to believe him because it looks 100% believable to me.

[jjigga3000]

Guys if you haven't figured out, moloch41 is a braniac, and he thinks of himself a little smatter than others, at times I think it is clever of him, but seriously moloch41 Some of your comments can be kept to yourself. You only piss people off, I get your sarcasm. But most don't, it tends to come off...... how can I say it, NEGATIVE.

[MASSIVE]

Now, I actually do have inside information on the conversation that took place between Stanley and Linehan before he went back to school. Stanley really did ask permission to join the track team, but there was a problem in the translation.

This was the actual conversation...

Hey Coach, I want to go back to school during the offseason and join the track team to stay limber. I would hate not to be active and risk the chance of getting a muscle injury by getting all tight in training camp and winding up on a team's disabled roster. But I'll risk the chance of getting tight if you feel the ends don't justify the means or if it breaks a team rule.

What Linehan heard...

Hey Coach, I want to blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah be blah blah blah blah blah blah blah a blah blah blah blah blah tight blah blah blah end blah blah on a team's blah roster. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah tight blah blah blah blah ends blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah rule.

FUNNY!

[THEFIELDGOAL]

REAL FUNNY. Because it's probably true!!