Rams News

Rams sign 10 rookie free agents
04/20 09:10 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

Just because the draft ended Sunday afternoon didn't mean the Rams -- and the 29 other NFL teams -- were done scouring the college ranks for talent.
One of the most underrated facets of the offseason personnel process is the pursuit of rookie free agents immediately after the draft ends. The late afternoon and early evening hours Sunday are hectic as NFL clubs pan for hidden nuggets among the overlooked and the undervalued.
Toward that end the Rams have agreed to terms with 10 rookie free agents, most of whom will sign two-year deals. The list includes:
> Three offensive linemen: tackle Roger Chanoine of Temple, tackle Jeremy McKinney of Iowa and guard Fred Pollack of Nebraska.
> Three wide receivers: Tyrone Goodson of Auburn, Tony Horne of Clemson and Russell Shaw of Michigan.
> Two defensive backs: safety Billy Austin of New Mexico and corner Omarr Morgan of Brigham Young.
> Defensive end Glen Young of Vanderbilt.
> Inside linebacker Darryl Bush of Florida State.
Bush is the closest thing to a name player in the group. He was a Butkus Award semifinalist last season, and a third-team All-American by The Associated Press. But he's a bit on the short side at 6 feet 1 inches and runs only a 4.9 in the 40-yard dash. Bush, who weighs 248 pounds, averaged nearly 90 tackles a season as a four-year starter with the Seminoles.
``In competitive situations at Florida State, he has always produced,'' said Charley Armey, the Rams' vice president of player personnel. ``He has run their defense. He's highly intelligent. We like his leadership.''
Austin is undersized for a safety at 5-10, 195 pounds, but runs a 4.46 in the 40 and is tough. ``He's an extremely heavy hitter,'' Armey said. ``We were very surprised that he wasn't drafted.''
Morgan was a two-time all-conference selection at BYU and runs a 4.39, but is small (5-9, 170). ``He's one of the better cover backs,'' Armey said. ``What he has done exceptionally well for the last two years is block kicks.''
Morgan was suspended for three games season for violating the school's honor code.
Among the wide receivers, Horne caught 68 passes for 897 yards and nine touchdowns last season for Clemson. He played in only five games in 1996 because of a team suspension. ``He is one of the better punt returners in the draft,'' Armey said. Auburn's Goodson caught 48 passes for 906 yards last season and has 4.48 speed.
Among the offensive linemen, the Rams tried to keep their interest in Temple's Chanoine a secret. ``Sometimes when players are on a losing football team in college, they tend to get lost in the shuffle,'' Armey said. But Chanoine, 6-4, 294, caught the eye of Rams scout Billy Campfield. He will start off at tackle with the Rams but may be tried at guard as well.
All 10 players will be at the team's first minicamp, which begins Friday at Rams Park. All 10 were on the Rams' predraft list of 234 players worthy of being drafted.
``I would expect a couple of these guys to make our football team and contribute,'' Armey said.
That certainly was the case last year. Among the rookie free agents signed after the 1997 draft were safety Billy Jenkins Jr., tight end Mitch Jacoby and defensive end Bryan Robinson.

Free agent signings

Billy Austin      S   New Mexico
Darryl Bush      LB   Florida State
Roger Chanoine    T   Temple  
Tyrone Goodson   WR   Auburn
Tony Horne       WR   Clemson
Jeremy McKinney   T   Iowa  
Omarr Morgan     CB   Brigham Young
Fred Pollack      C   Nebraska
Russell Shaw     WR   Michigan
Glen Young       DE   Vanderbilt

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