Here is the latest on the Sam Bradford contract negotiations. The two sides are still talking. Yep, that’s it. There is still some hope that Bradford will be ready to go on Saturday, but we really don’t know at this point. So, to sum up… Talks between the two sides are still ongoing. Can’t find insight like that anywhere else on the net.

Now, moving on to rookie camp. Jerome Murphy was in town today, and it looks like he put his arrest behind him. According to reports, Murphy was pulled over in Florida for having his music too loud, and apparently he didn’t have a valid driver’s license. The situation has been taken care of, and apparently it is no big deal.

With Rodger Saffold in the house today, talks centered on where he is going to play this season. Coach Spags said that Saffold and Jason Smith will both work at RT and LT in camp, but I expect Saffold to spend most of his time on the right side, with Smith staying on the left. Considering the contract that Smith is sitting on, he better be good enough to start on the left side.

And then there was one. The Rams announced today that they have agreed to terms with second-rounder Rodger Saffold on a four-year deal worth $6.3 million ($3.9 mil guaranteed). We here at Ramblin’ Fan were pretty sure the deal would be completed today, and we were correct. The team also announced that they finalized a deal with sixth-round tight end Fendi Onobun. Onobun apparently agreed to the deal a week ago, but it was made official today. Both players will be in camp for practice tomorrow, so that’s good news.

The Saffold signing means there is just one rookie who hasn’t signed a deal yet, but unfortunately it is the big one. Adam Schefter reported just a few minutes ago that negotiations between Sam Bradford and the Rams has hit a bit of a snag, which is the first negative news we have heard. A deal could still get done in the next 24 hours, but that is far from a sure thing at this point. It won’t be a huge deal if Bradford misses a few rookie practices, but he needs to be in camp when the full team opens work on Saturday. You should still look for this to get done, but my nervous meter has gone from 0 to about 2 or 3 over the last few hours.

Can you feel it? Football season is hurtling toward us like a freight train, and I have to admit that I already have the fever. Rookies report in just a few short hours, so let’s take a look at some guys who aren’t yet under contract who hopefully will be in the next 48 hours.

First, the all-important Sam Bradford. It’s funny to be how little we have heard about negotiations between the Rams and Bradford, as everyone around the league just expects this thing to get done. Sources said today that the Rams are hopeful that Bradford will be signed, sealed, and delivered sometime in the next 24-48 hours, and I have been given no reason to doubt those claims as of yet. If the Rams were concerned, we would know by now, so expect “Sam the Savior” to be wearing the horns sooner rather than later.

Bradford isn’t the only draft pick negotiating with the team right now, as second-rounder Rodger Saffold is reportedly close to getting his deal done. According to Brain Stull, Saffold and his reps arrived in St. Louis earlier tonight and they are hopeful that a deal will be done sometime tomorrow. Once again, I haven’t heard anything that would make me believe this won’t get done, so expect an announcement sometime Wednesday on a completed contract.

Before I go, I wanted to touch on something that Coach Spags said earlier today. He was asked about free agent running back Brian Westbrook, and he said that both sides are still talking and that he is “hopeful” that Westbrook decides to come to the Gateway City. I haven’t heard much on the Westbrook front for several weeks, so it is interesting to note that he is still a possibility. I’ve touched on this previously, but for the right price I would love Westbrook to join the squad. Don’t hold your breath, but it is still on the table.

I have talked to plenty of Rams fans over the last few days, and I found that the consensus was that most people did not want Owens to be a part of this team in 2010. Well, your prayers have been answered. Sources indicated today that the team has decided to pass on T.O. Can’t say I’m surprised, and I can’t say that I’m too disappointed either. He wasn’t the right fit for this team, and it certainly wasn’t worth the risk. It looks like we will be heading into the season with the receiving corps we have right now, and even if we bring in a veteran, it likely won’t be anyone of significance.

Training camp is nearly upon us, so everyone needs to know the upcoming significant dates. Rookies report tomorrow, and there will be rookie only practices on Thursday and Friday. Everyone reports on Thursday, and the first full-squad practice will be Saturday. The practices are open to the public, so stop on by if you have some time.

Finally, it looks like the future of Rams ownership could become more clear soon, as it is expected that the league will vote on Stan Kroenke’s proposal at a special meeting on August 25. It looks like all signs point to the vote favoring Kroenke, but nothing is for sure just yet. I can’t wait for this to get settled, so let’s hope everything goes smoothly.

Most of you have heard the rumors about Terrell Owens to the Rams by now, so everyone has had some time to for an opinion on the subject. I would really like to hear what Rams Nation has to say on the subject. My opinion is… Well, I just can’t decide. I have been outspoken on this site that the most glaring need on this team is a number one wide receiver, (not even close to the only need, but the biggest one) and although T.O. has lost a step or two, he would be the most talented receiver on this team.

Physically, he has everything we need at the position: good size, good hands, big-play ability, and he would be a great target for our rookie quarterback. With that being said, I have to wonder if this would be the right move. T.O.’s faults are well-known at this point, and considering how Spags has put a premium on having only high-character guys on this team, I can’t believe the Rams are even considering this. Do we really want “Team Obliterator” to be another thing for Sam Bradford to worry about? If we are going to give Bradford $50 million guaranteed, do we really want to take the chance that T.O. throws him under the bus in his first season? I don’t think anyone actually believes T.O. would make us a playoff team, but is it worth the risk to win 5 games instead of 3? These are all questions that need to be asked before making this decision. It is tempting, but I still can’t decide whether or not I want this to happen.

I am putting up a poll to gauge your opinions on the matter, so go vote and make your voice heard in the comment section. Also, for your viewing pleasure, I have included a picture of T.O. standing with the gorgeous Erin Andrews at the ESPY’s in the post, so enjoy!

For all those who haven’t made their way over to the Fansided home page, I will give you an update on how the All-Star tournament is going. We will start with our own first round matchup with the NFC East. I have to admit, we probably don’t deserve to beat anyone in this tourney, but I would still like to stick it to the other divisions if possible, especially the East. Well, that didn’t happen. The score is currently 275-99 in favor of the East. Typical East Coast media bias.

In the second matchup, we put the AFC North up against the AFC West. Now, I thought this one was pretty cut and dry going in, as I consider the AFC North to b one of the better conferences in the league. The Fansided voters obviously don’t agree, as the West has 101 votes to just 33 for the North. Either the West is much better than I thought, or the voters in those cities really came out to vote.

Moving to the third matchup, the NFC North is dominating the NFC South to the tune of 159-23. Now that is complete and utter domination. I was surprised on this one as well, maybe not so much by the winner, but by the dominance in favor of the North.

I encourage everyone to continue to participate in all of the matchups, so make sure to make your way over to the homepage to cast your vote.

I know this isn’t the contract news you hoped you would be hearing, but it is important nonetheless. It looks like negotiations between the Rams and second round pick Rodger Saffold are heating up. According to beat writer Brian Stull, negotiations are expected to really get going over the next few days, and it sounds like the Rams have an idea of what it will take to get him in. There has only been one second round pick signed as of yet, so this is also nothing to be worried about. It looks like it might take about $6 mil a year to get something done, so expect it to happen soon. This is no Sam Bradford signing, but it is pretty important for the team. After the trade of Alex Barron, there is no doubt that we need some depth on the line, and many people think Saffold could be ready to contribute right away. As long as this gets done and he is in camp on time, I fully expect him to be given a chance to win a starting spot. I will keep everyone update on this and on the Bradford negotiations, so stay tuned.

The All-Star Tournament has officially started, and our NFC West team is up in the first round. We are taking on the NFC East, and I think we all know that the East-Coast bias has probably stacked the deck against us. That is why we need your vote to help us advance. Head on over to the Fansided home page to cast your vote. When I last checked, we were already behind, so we need your vote. For those wondering, our Rams are represented on the squad by Steven Jackson and Chris Long. I know it’s a big shocker that we only have two reps on the team, but that’s what happens when you go 1-15. Get on over and cast your vote, and maybe we can take down those East-Coasters and put them in their place.

Well everyone, it has been a few days, but I’m back! Sorry for the lack of content here at Ramblin’ Fan, but the weekend was loaded with work and a little bit of illness. I’m going to hit a few different things here that happened while I was gone, so here it goes…

First, I must say that I was a little surprised the Rams didn’t give Harvey Unga more of a look in the supplemental draft. We had been rumored to be high on him since it was announced he would be available, and he didn’t go until the seventh round where he was taken by the Bears. I think this guy would have been worth a seventh, but I guess the front office didn’t agree. Also, Josh Price-Brent was the only other player selected, as he also went in the seventh to the Cowboys.

On the Sam Bradford front, it looks like negotiations have started between the two sides. Once again, there isn’t much urgency there, but they have started talking numbers. I’m still not at all concerned here, but I will keep a watchful eye out over the next week or so. The team has also reportedly signed sixth-rounder Fendi Onobun, and the team is expected to make an announcement soon.

Finally, the team is apparently going to introduce a mascot this season, and they want your input on what to name it. If you head over to stlouisrams.com, you can cast your vote. The options are Archie, Rammer, Rampage, Ramsey, and Rush. I’m partial to Rampage, but to be honest I could really care less what they call the thing.

While the actual NFL draft has long since past, Thursday’s supplemental draft could impact the Rams roster for the 2010 season. We have reported here that the team is interested in BYU running back Harvey Unga, and we will find out soon if they are willing to sacrifice a 2011 pick to get him. I like Unga, and I think he would be a good fit here in St. Louis if the team is going to use him. It makes me nervous to sacrifice a pick in next year’s draft, but this kid might just be worth it.

There are three other players eligible for selection tomorrow, but the only one really worth a serious look is Josh Price-Brent, a DT out of Illinois. Price-Brent has been projected by some as a 3rd-4th round talent, but I don’t think the Rams will look at him that high. He was ruled ineligible for next season at U of I, but it is definitely possible that he could develop into a serviceable NFL player.

I will make sure to keep everyone updated if the Rams make a move tomorrow, and as much as I would like to see Unga in the horns, I hope they don’t take him too high.