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By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
INDIANAPOLIS — The St. Louis Rams own the first overall pick and a likely draft-day quarterback quandary.
The consensus best prospects among evaluators of this draft class are defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska and Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma.
But if healthy, former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is considered the top quarterback and the 1-15 Rams are a franchise without a face.
They seem set on moving on from the battered and beaten-up Marc Bulger and are in desperate need of a long-term answer at quarterback to energize their fan base.
FROM THE COMBINE: Top prospect Dez Bryant won't work out
DRAFT ORDER: How teams will select in the first round
On Thursday, ESPN's Adam Schefter guaranteed on-air that the Rams will select Bradford first overall in the April 22-24 draft.
One problem. Bradford, who is rehabilitating his throwing shoulder following Oct. 28 AC joint reconstructive surgery, won't throw for teams until his March 25 personal pro day in Norman, Okla.
Only then will teams have a better idea about the status of the shoulder of the top-rated quarterback prospect.
PHOTOS: NFL scouting combine
"That took a lot of pressure off us right away when Dr. Schefter cleared him medically," Rams general manager Billy Devaney cracked Friday. "We feel really good about the health status of Sam Bradford now with Dr. Schefter giving him a clean bill of health and guaranteeing our pick. So we're on to the second round right now."
Devaney did concede the team is considering Suh, McCoy, Bradford and Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. "I think we pretty much know who the potential candidates are," he said.
He also conceded the organization is still mulling which position can help the team most.
"Sure," he said. "When you're 1-15, there's a lot of different directions you can go and we're still trying to figure that out. There are four guys that will be given consideration. But we have to be prepared for anything (a trade down).
"Those four guys, we like everything about them so far."
The Rams have taken a defensive linemen near the top of the draft in two of the last three years, with defensive tackle Adam Carriker (2007) and defensive end Chris Long (2008).
No team has called yet with any offers for the top pick. What's more, the Rams have not talked to the Philadelphia Eagles about quarterback Michael Vick.
"I can tell you this, we have not talked to Philadelphia about any of their players," Devaney said.
Devaney did insist: The Rams can't overdraft for position.
"If it gets down to we think the defensive tackles, these two kids, are far and away the highest-rated players in the draft, you can't force it and say, 'Hey, we've got to get a quarterback and drop way down on your value," the Rams GM said. "That's what we're trying to figure out right now."
So the draft-room question for the Rams: Quarterback or quarterback disruptor?
"At some point, we have to address the quarterback situation," Devaney said. "For me the physical skills are almost the easy part now because there's so much that goes into being a quarterback in the NFL.
"The work ethic you have to have, the leadership, the time you put in, the media scrutiny. If you can't handle that stuff, you're going to have a hard time."
How does a team distill those intangibles?
Devaney said one way is to sit down over dinner after the pro days of Bradford, Clausen and even former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy with the Rams brain trust, including head coach Steve Spagnuolo.
He said that in addition to renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery on Bradford, the Rams orthopedist and an independent third-party doctor would help the team make a final decision on clearing the quarterback's shoulder.
What if Bradford's shoulder isn't all the way ready at his March 25 pro day?
"It makes you pause," Devaney said, noting that a quarterback taken first overall would become the face of the franchise. "Sure it does. You're projecting, 'Yeah, I think he's going to be OK.'
"That's a hell of a projection.
NFL Network analyst Charley Casserly, who was the Texans' GM when they selected defensive end Mario Williams first overall in 2006, said deciding whom to select likely will come down to signability.
"On the days they (the Rams) want to be positive about their life, 'Hey, we can't lose on this decision,'" Casserly said. "Clearly, Bradford's physical is huge in this. You start there. You have to cross that bridge, then, you say, now we have all the pieces, now we can decide if we're going to take him.
"Of the two defensive tackles, they have to find who best fits their system.
"And certainly signability will enter into it. Kevin Demoff is their negotiator ... He's going to negotiate with more than one player in that negotiation."
INDIANAPOLIS — The St. Louis Rams own the first overall pick and a likely draft-day quarterback quandary.
The consensus best prospects among evaluators of this draft class are defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska and Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma.
But if healthy, former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is considered the top quarterback and the 1-15 Rams are a franchise without a face.
They seem set on moving on from the battered and beaten-up Marc Bulger and are in desperate need of a long-term answer at quarterback to energize their fan base.
FROM THE COMBINE: Top prospect Dez Bryant won't work out
DRAFT ORDER: How teams will select in the first round
On Thursday, ESPN's Adam Schefter guaranteed on-air that the Rams will select Bradford first overall in the April 22-24 draft.
One problem. Bradford, who is rehabilitating his throwing shoulder following Oct. 28 AC joint reconstructive surgery, won't throw for teams until his March 25 personal pro day in Norman, Okla.
Only then will teams have a better idea about the status of the shoulder of the top-rated quarterback prospect.
PHOTOS: NFL scouting combine
"That took a lot of pressure off us right away when Dr. Schefter cleared him medically," Rams general manager Billy Devaney cracked Friday. "We feel really good about the health status of Sam Bradford now with Dr. Schefter giving him a clean bill of health and guaranteeing our pick. So we're on to the second round right now."
Devaney did concede the team is considering Suh, McCoy, Bradford and Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. "I think we pretty much know who the potential candidates are," he said.
He also conceded the organization is still mulling which position can help the team most.
"Sure," he said. "When you're 1-15, there's a lot of different directions you can go and we're still trying to figure that out. There are four guys that will be given consideration. But we have to be prepared for anything (a trade down).
"Those four guys, we like everything about them so far."
The Rams have taken a defensive linemen near the top of the draft in two of the last three years, with defensive tackle Adam Carriker (2007) and defensive end Chris Long (2008).
No team has called yet with any offers for the top pick. What's more, the Rams have not talked to the Philadelphia Eagles about quarterback Michael Vick.
"I can tell you this, we have not talked to Philadelphia about any of their players," Devaney said.
Devaney did insist: The Rams can't overdraft for position.
"If it gets down to we think the defensive tackles, these two kids, are far and away the highest-rated players in the draft, you can't force it and say, 'Hey, we've got to get a quarterback and drop way down on your value," the Rams GM said. "That's what we're trying to figure out right now."
So the draft-room question for the Rams: Quarterback or quarterback disruptor?
"At some point, we have to address the quarterback situation," Devaney said. "For me the physical skills are almost the easy part now because there's so much that goes into being a quarterback in the NFL.
"The work ethic you have to have, the leadership, the time you put in, the media scrutiny. If you can't handle that stuff, you're going to have a hard time."
How does a team distill those intangibles?
Devaney said one way is to sit down over dinner after the pro days of Bradford, Clausen and even former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy with the Rams brain trust, including head coach Steve Spagnuolo.
He said that in addition to renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery on Bradford, the Rams orthopedist and an independent third-party doctor would help the team make a final decision on clearing the quarterback's shoulder.
What if Bradford's shoulder isn't all the way ready at his March 25 pro day?
"It makes you pause," Devaney said, noting that a quarterback taken first overall would become the face of the franchise. "Sure it does. You're projecting, 'Yeah, I think he's going to be OK.'
"That's a hell of a projection.
NFL Network analyst Charley Casserly, who was the Texans' GM when they selected defensive end Mario Williams first overall in 2006, said deciding whom to select likely will come down to signability.
"On the days they (the Rams) want to be positive about their life, 'Hey, we can't lose on this decision,'" Casserly said. "Clearly, Bradford's physical is huge in this. You start there. You have to cross that bridge, then, you say, now we have all the pieces, now we can decide if we're going to take him.
"Of the two defensive tackles, they have to find who best fits their system.
"And certainly signability will enter into it. Kevin Demoff is their negotiator ... He's going to negotiate with more than one player in that negotiation."
SUH<3) but with our weak division, its the perfect time for us to turn around quickly and try to go positive.
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