Rams News

Rams, Priester agree to contract terms
07/13 08:23 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

The Rams have agreed to terms with running back Raymond Priester, meaning seven of their eight draft picks are under contract.
The exception is first-round pick Grant Wistrom, the defensive end from the University of Nebraska. Negotiations continue between Rams executive vice president Jay Zygmunt and Wistrom's agent, Kansas City-based Tom Condon of the International Management Group.
Priester, a fifth-round draft pick from Clemson, agreed to a three-year, $650,000 contract, which includes a signing bonus of $108,000.
The Rams also have agreed to terms with safety Billy Jenkins Jr., an exclusive rights free agent. Jenkins will sign a two-year deal, although contract terms weren't immediately available. Jenkins, an undrafted rookie from Howard, led the Rams in special teams tackles (23) last season and was a pleasant surprise in two late-season starts at strong safety in place of the injured Toby Wright.
The Priester and Jenkins deals mean that Wistrom and cornerback Ryan McNeil are the only Rams not under contract. So far, McNeil has declined to accept the team's franchise player designation offer of $3.2 million for 1998, or a long-term offer of $13 million over four years.
Rookies report to training camp Saturday at Western Illinois University in Macomb, with veterans reporting July 23.

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