Rams News
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Rams News |
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By Steve Schoenfeld
The Arizona Republic
April 7, 1998
St. Louis Coach Dick Vermeil confirmed Monday that the Rams have talked with Cardinals officials about acquiring the third pick in the April 18 draft.
The Rams, who choose sixth, are interested in moving up to pick Florida State defensive end Andre Wadsworth, considered the the best defensive player in the draft.
The Rams aren't the only ones coveting the pick. The Chicago Bears, who pick fifth, confirmed that they also have called about moving up to the third spot in the draft.
Cardinals officials wouldn't comment about either report.
The team did confirm Monday that it has signed punter Scott Player, who was in the Cardinals' training camp two years ago. He has had brief stints with the New York Giants and New York Jets since being cut by the Cardinals.
Vermeil said he thought it was unlikely the Cardinals will trade their third pick to the Rams.
"Moving to the third spot looks like an improbability to me because of the asking price," Vermeil said. "We used a third, fourth (and seventh) last year to move from No. 6 to No. 1, and they (the Cardinals) want much, much more than that for us to move from 6 to 3."
The Rams gave up third-, fourth- and seventh-round picks to move from No. 6 to No. 1 in a trade with the Jets. St. Louis then used the first choice on Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace.
Vermeil wouldn't say what the Cardinals were demanding to move down three spots. But there has been speculation in St. Louis that the Cardinals asked for a third-round pick, offensive tackle Wayne Gandy and another player.
An NFL source said the Cardinals' demands were far greater than that.
The Cardinals have traded down once in the first round. They received a second-round pick, a 1999 No. 1 and two players from San Diego last month to move down from the second pick to the third.
"They got such a good price to move with San Diego," Vermeil said. "I don't think it's distorted their thinking. It's just made (the Cardinals) think, "We got that much for this. We'll get this much for doing that.'
"I believe personally they don't want to trade, but if they get what they're asking for, they'll do it."
If the Cardinals don't trade the pick, they are expected to take Wadsworth.
Bears officials said they have talked about trading with the Cardinals and the Rams.
If the Bears trade with the Cardinals, they will use the pick on Wadsworth.
If the Bears and the Rams trade, the Rams will move up one spot to take Penn State running back Curtis Enis.
Bears executive Mark Hatley said the team still is talking with the Cardinals, "but not as much as before they made the trade with San Diego."
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