Tweet
Rams sign ex-49er to bolster secondary
BY STEVE KORTE
[email protected]
ST. LOUIS - Safety Zach Bronson has switched sides in the St. Louis Rams-San Francisco ***** rivalry.
Bronson, who spent the previous seven seasons with the San Francisco *****, was signed by the St. Louis Rams on Sunday to provide depth to their secondary.
"I wouldn't say it's like being with the enemy," Bronson said of joining the Rams. "This is a business, and I have a business approach. I am here to help this team win, and that's my approach."
Rams defensive captain Tyoka Jackson said Bronson might need some deprogramming after being with the ***** so long.
"I'm sure his head is spinning right now with all this blue and gold around," Jackson said. "He'll adjust. He's a good player, and I'm glad to have him here. All that *****-Rams stuff, we'll work on that. He'll be fine in a couple of weeks. I'm sure by the time that first 49er game rolls around, he'll hate them as much as we do."
Bronson said he was well-aware of how players from both sides get extra fired up for Rams-***** games.
"The outcome was probably going to decide who was going to win the division, so I think that definitely made the rivalry and the meetings between the two teams more intense," Bronson said.
Rams coach Mike Martz said he was interested in Bronson after having seen him on film so much in preparation for playing the *****.
"He's a veteran who has played at a high level for a long time," Martz said. "I'm excited about having him."
Bronson has a couple of footballs in his trophy case from his exploits at the Edward Jones Dome.
He recovered a fumble on a punt by Eddie Kennison that set up the winning touchdown in the *****' 15-12 victory over the Rams in 1997.
"We punted the ball off and I had a holding penalty, so we brought the ball back and we had to re-punt," Bronson said. "Then we went down and Kennison fumbles and I recovered it."
Bronson also intercepted a Kurt Warner pass in the *****' 27-14 loss to the Rams during the 2001 season.
Bronson was released by ***** on June 2 in a salary cap move.
"A lot of the guys I had been there with were released also, so it was kind expected," Bronson said. " I enjoyed every bit of the experience I had there. I'm thankful for the opportunity I had there."
Dishman back practicing
Right guard Chris Dishman's ankle injury has turned out to be gout.
Dishman said he turned his ankle in the Rams' preseason game against the Washington Redskins. A couple of days later, the ankle swelled up and the pain intensified.
"I rolled it, but the ankle wasn't really the problem," Dishman said. "The pain was going into my toe and the joint of the ankle itself."
Dishman's ankle stopped bothering him once he started taking medicine for gout. He was out on the practice field with the first-string offensive line Monday.
"As soon as I took the right medication, it was fine," Dishman said.
Dishman weighed in at 370 yards when he came out of retirement to sign with the Rams during training camp. He said the diet he went on after joining the team might have contributed to his gout attack.
"The high protein thing, that's what it is," Dishman said. "I guess I have to change up my diet."
Quick hits
Linebacker Tony Newsom, who started the Rams' preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, has been released to make room on the 53-man roster for left tackle Orlando Pace.
Safety Tom Knight (finger-hamstring) and tight end Erik Jensen (knee) have been placed on injured reserve, meaning they'll miss the entire 2004 season.
• The Rams signed four players that they cut on Sunday to their practice squad on Monday. They were: quarterback Russ Michna, running back Dusty McGrorty, cornerback Dwight Anderson and wide receiver Michael Coleman.
The Rams wanted to sign offensive lineman Ben Noll to their practice squad, but the rookie out of Pennsylvania was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys.
Practice squad players can practice with the team, but they aren't eligible to play in games. They earn $4,350 each week they're with the team for all 17 weeks of the regular season.
• The early line has the Rams as 10 1/2 -point favorites in their season opener against the Arizona Cardinals at noon Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
It marks the 73rd time in their last 81 games that the Rams have been favored.
BY STEVE KORTE
[email protected]
ST. LOUIS - Safety Zach Bronson has switched sides in the St. Louis Rams-San Francisco ***** rivalry.
Bronson, who spent the previous seven seasons with the San Francisco *****, was signed by the St. Louis Rams on Sunday to provide depth to their secondary.
"I wouldn't say it's like being with the enemy," Bronson said of joining the Rams. "This is a business, and I have a business approach. I am here to help this team win, and that's my approach."
Rams defensive captain Tyoka Jackson said Bronson might need some deprogramming after being with the ***** so long.
"I'm sure his head is spinning right now with all this blue and gold around," Jackson said. "He'll adjust. He's a good player, and I'm glad to have him here. All that *****-Rams stuff, we'll work on that. He'll be fine in a couple of weeks. I'm sure by the time that first 49er game rolls around, he'll hate them as much as we do."
Bronson said he was well-aware of how players from both sides get extra fired up for Rams-***** games.
"The outcome was probably going to decide who was going to win the division, so I think that definitely made the rivalry and the meetings between the two teams more intense," Bronson said.
Rams coach Mike Martz said he was interested in Bronson after having seen him on film so much in preparation for playing the *****.
"He's a veteran who has played at a high level for a long time," Martz said. "I'm excited about having him."
Bronson has a couple of footballs in his trophy case from his exploits at the Edward Jones Dome.
He recovered a fumble on a punt by Eddie Kennison that set up the winning touchdown in the *****' 15-12 victory over the Rams in 1997.
"We punted the ball off and I had a holding penalty, so we brought the ball back and we had to re-punt," Bronson said. "Then we went down and Kennison fumbles and I recovered it."
Bronson also intercepted a Kurt Warner pass in the *****' 27-14 loss to the Rams during the 2001 season.
Bronson was released by ***** on June 2 in a salary cap move.
"A lot of the guys I had been there with were released also, so it was kind expected," Bronson said. " I enjoyed every bit of the experience I had there. I'm thankful for the opportunity I had there."
Dishman back practicing
Right guard Chris Dishman's ankle injury has turned out to be gout.
Dishman said he turned his ankle in the Rams' preseason game against the Washington Redskins. A couple of days later, the ankle swelled up and the pain intensified.
"I rolled it, but the ankle wasn't really the problem," Dishman said. "The pain was going into my toe and the joint of the ankle itself."
Dishman's ankle stopped bothering him once he started taking medicine for gout. He was out on the practice field with the first-string offensive line Monday.
"As soon as I took the right medication, it was fine," Dishman said.
Dishman weighed in at 370 yards when he came out of retirement to sign with the Rams during training camp. He said the diet he went on after joining the team might have contributed to his gout attack.
"The high protein thing, that's what it is," Dishman said. "I guess I have to change up my diet."
Quick hits
Linebacker Tony Newsom, who started the Rams' preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, has been released to make room on the 53-man roster for left tackle Orlando Pace.
Safety Tom Knight (finger-hamstring) and tight end Erik Jensen (knee) have been placed on injured reserve, meaning they'll miss the entire 2004 season.
• The Rams signed four players that they cut on Sunday to their practice squad on Monday. They were: quarterback Russ Michna, running back Dusty McGrorty, cornerback Dwight Anderson and wide receiver Michael Coleman.
The Rams wanted to sign offensive lineman Ben Noll to their practice squad, but the rookie out of Pennsylvania was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys.
Practice squad players can practice with the team, but they aren't eligible to play in games. They earn $4,350 each week they're with the team for all 17 weeks of the regular season.
• The early line has the Rams as 10 1/2 -point favorites in their season opener against the Arizona Cardinals at noon Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
It marks the 73rd time in their last 81 games that the Rams have been favored.
Comment