Rams working top rookies into the mix

   It came down to the wire as it often does with high draft picks in the NFL, but when the Rams took the field for their first full-squad practice July 31, both first-round pick Jason Smith and second-round pick James Laurinaitis were on the field.

   And, both lined up with the second unit as they did through most of the OTAs, although both did take some limited reps with the first team during the first three days of practice.

   Laurinaitis signed July 29 and was able to participate in one day of work with a small group (34 players) of rookies, quarterbacks and selected veterans. Smith missed that day, but signed in time for the first team meeting and the opening practice.

   "It's nice to have all that out of the way," Laurinaitis said after signing. "That's an area I don't like, kind of like thinking about all that money stuff. For me, it's all about playing football ever since I was little. So the fact that we get paid for this now is just a bonus. But I'll never be one of those guys that gets caught up in those numbers and such."

   Smith has the same attitude, and it was big part of why the Rams drafted both. Aside from being potentially excellent players, they each have a passion for the game coaches love.

   When Smith was asked if he urged his agents to get a deal done, he said, “Well obviously as offensive linemen, you want to be a part of the team. I have never done a deal before so I don’t know. But what I know is that to play football you got to be here, you can’t be at the house wanting to be a part of a team. You got to be here being a part of the team. That’s what’s were doing here at the Rams, building a team that we can go out and play in the NFL.”

   Agent Ben Dogra lives in St. Louis, and as part of CAA with Tom Condon represents both Smith and Laurinaitis.

   Of Smith, Dogra said, "Jason Smith's a football player. He really wanted to be here on time. The Rams are trying to build something with these new group of guys, and he wants to be a part of that."

   Laurinaitis, who is expected to win a job at middle linebacker, was just anxious to get the pads on.

   "A lot of guys look good in shorts, you know what I mean?" Laurinaitis said. "And when you're a linebacker, wearing shorts all the time is kind of hard for you. Your whole position is kind of based on physicality and going out there and showing them what you can do. We'll get plenty of that these next few weeks."

   Smith is at right tackle, as opposed to left tackle, where he played in college.

   He’s fine with that. “Whether it’s right tackle, left tackle, serving water, making sure the Gatorade is cold, or handing out towels; whatever it is, I’m ready.”

WR Curry dealt to St. Louis

WR Ronald Curry has been traded to St. Louis for DL Orien Harris, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Curry was traded before ever playing a down in Detroit after signing as a free agent earlier this offseason. He had been expected to be in the receiving rotation, but the Lions have more depth after acquiring Dennis Northcutt. Curry spent the past seven seasons with Oakland. He caught 19 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns last year.

Harris on the move again

DL Orien Harris is on the move again, having been acquired by Detroit from St. Louis in exchange for WR Ronald Curry, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He has now been traded twice this offseason, with the Rams getting him from Cincinnati in May for FB Brian Leonard. Harris has bounced around the NFL since being drafted by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2006 draft. From training camp to practice squads is how it went for Harris for two seasons, until playing 14 games for the Bengals last year. Harris was made expendable by Cincinnati's signing of defensive tackle Tank Johnson.

For the Rams, there is opportunity with little depth behind starters Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan, and this year's fourth-round pick, Darell Scott.

"It always feels good to be wanted," Harris said after he was acquired by the Rams.

Rams sign rookie Fletcher to 4-year deal

CB Bradley Fletcher signed a four-year deal that includes an $892,298 signing bonus, according to ProFootballTalk.com.

Fletcher was not a "risk" pick in the third round because he didn't start fulltime until last season at Iowa according to GM Billy Devaney.

"(He) played really well this year, played well in the East-West game," Devaney said after the draft in April. "He was outstanding so it wasn't like we took a flier on a height, weight, speed guy. We really think that he's a good, solid football player."

Holdouts hurting Rams and Jags

What do Steven Jackson and Derrick Harvey have in common? The Rams' star running back and the Jaguars' first-round draft pick are the lone remaining holdouts in the NFL.
And they're both gaining more leverage by the day.
News regarding Jackson's situation has been hard to come by, with few reports of talks between the sides. Coach Scott Linehan did say “There have been some talks and they are moving along.” But there has been no sign that Jackson is close to getting a new deal or reporting to the team.
Meanwhile, the first-string offense has failed to produce a touchdown through two preseason games without Jackson. In fact, the Rams' only touchdown in either game was engineered by a third-string quarterback. Marc Bulger threw a pair of interceptions before being pulled from Saturday's game against San Diego following a big hit.
The Jaguars took their own hit in negotiations with Harvey when their defensive ends combined for just four tackles against Miami. They didn't register a single sack and applied only very occasional pressure.
Quentin Groves, drafted a round after Harvey, got his first start against the Dolphins. But you wouldn't know it by looking at the box score, because he didn't show up in a single statistical category. Neither did the man he replaced, Kenny Pettway.
Jacksonville has veteran Paul Spicer at one end, but the position has been further thinned by Reggie Hayward missing the first two games with a sore hamstring and reserve James Wyche landing on season-ending injured reserve.
Harvey is now the longest rookie holdout in franchise history, passing the 19 days of quarterback Byron Leftwich.
According to published reports, the Jaguars are offering Harvey a $16.885 million guaranteed package with a base package of $21.140 million. Sedric Ellis, drafted seventh overall by New Orleans, received $19.5 million guaranteed and $32 million base, while Keith Rivers, selected ninth by Cincinnati, got a reported $15.445 guaranteed, $20.125 base package.
Ken Kremer, Harvey’s agent, is looking for a deal closer to what Ellis received. As a result, the two sides are at an impasse. The Jaguars have made two offers to Harvey, the first on July 1 and the most recent on July 28. The two sides spoke twice early last week but remain in a stalemate.