By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/24/2006
It was strictly unintentional, but the Rams couldn't have drawn more attention to Stephen Davis' free-agent visit had they tried.
About 20 reporters were gathered in the hallway outside the Rams Park locker room Wednesday afternoon for the daily interview session with players. Here came Davis, the three-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFC rushing champion, in for his workout with the team.
Cameras and tripods set up in the indoor practice facility for the regular interviews, were quickly ushered outside the room so Davis could run in privacy for Rams coaches and front-office personnel.
Normally media-shy to begin with, Davis left Rams Parks later in the afternoon without speaking to the media. And without signing a contract.
League sources said Davis received a contract offer.
Rams president of football operations Jay Zygmunt would only confirm that discussions will be ongoing with Davis, 32, who visited Philadelphia on Monday.
From 1999 through 2003, Davis was one of the most highly regarded running backs in the NFL for Washington, and then, Carolina. He topped 1,300 yards
rushing four times in that stretch, recording a franchise-record 1,444 yards in 2003 for the Panthers' NFC-championship squad.
But Davis also averaged 300 carries a year over that stretch. And that kind of workload takes a toll. He played in only two games in 2004 because of a right knee injury that required microfracture surgery.
He started 11 games in 2005, rushing for 549 yards and 12 touchdowns. But the knee problems cropped up again, and Davis eventually was replaced in the Carolina starting lineup by DeShaun Foster. Davis was placed on the injured reserve list Dec. 17. On March 1, he was released by the Panthers two days before he was to receive a $1.05 million roster bonus.
The knee apparently checked out OK in St. Louis. Davis is believed to have passed his physical here, but he left town before the results of all tests were completed.
As if to free up a roster spot for the addition of Davis, the Rams released cornerback Dwight Anderson on Wednesday afternoon. Anderson played in three games with the Rams last season, recording five special teams tackles.
The interest in Davis is believed to be more of an attempt to shore up the No. 2 spot rather than a reflection of concern about
Steven Jackson's durability. Jackson received an injection in his foot earlier this week to calm down what coach Scott Linehan described as a tendinitis problem in the heel. But Jackson practiced Wednesday.
The current top backups are Tony Fisher and Moe Williams. Fisher has eight carries for 35 yards and a TD in the exhibition. Williams has 12 carries for 30 yards and a TD.
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