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07.25.2008 10:24 am

Camp Day 1: Jackson, Avery fail to show (updated)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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MEQUON, Wis. — The first official day of training camp didn’t start off the way coach Scott Linehan would’ve preferred. Neither running back Steven Jackson nor wide receiver Donnie Avery attended the opening meetings or practice, officially making them holdouts.

Jay Zygmunt, the Rams’ president of football operations and general manager, reported after the 2-hour practice at Concordia University that Jackson had turned down an offer of a new, long-term contract that would’ve put him in the “top group” financially of NFL running backs. Zygmunt said he informed agent Eugene Parker that no further negotiations would take place until Jackson, entering the final season of his original five-year deal, reported to camp. Also, Jackson will be fined, Zygmunt added ($15,000 per day, per the NFL collective bargaining agreement).

Avery, a second-round draftee this past April, hadn’t come to contract terms. The only other player missing after most of the team arrived Thursday afternoon, wideout/returner Dante Hall, was at the meeting and practice.

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These players lined up with the No. 1 units Friday:

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Marc Bulger

Running back: Brian Leonard or Antonio Pittman

Wide receiver: Torry Holt and Drew Bennett

Tight ends: Randy McMichael and Joe Klopfenstein

Center: Brett Romberg

Right guard: Mark Setterstrom

Left guard: Jacob Bell

Right tackle: Alex Barron

Left tackle: Orlando Pace

DEFENSE

Tackle: Adam Carriker and La’Roi Glover

End: Leonard Little and Chris Long

Linebacker: Will Witherspoon (middle), Chris Draft (strongside) and Pisa Tinoisamoa (weakside)

Defensive back: Fakhir Brown and Tye Hill

Safety: Oshiomogho Atogwe (free) and Corey Chavous (strong)

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During his first two seasons with the Rams, Claude Wroten often sought advice from fellow defensive tackle La’Roi Glover, an NFL veteran and former Pro Bowler. Apparently Glover’s words didn’t sink in for Wroten, who earlier this week was suspended for a year for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Wroten apparently missed a drug test, appealed, then didn’t show up for his hearing.

“A bit disappointing,” Glover said Friday. “But adversity hits every ballclub. We got ours early. We’re going to worry about the guys that are here.”

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Many of the players are getting around campus on brand-new 21-speed Fuji bicycles, which makes for some interesting sights. As he wobbled to a stop in front of the dining hall, tight end Randy McMichael acknowledged that he’d “forgotten how to ride one of these things.”

Not wideout/returner Dante Hall, who was on foot at the time. “I like riding bikes,” he said. “I’m going to get one right now. So, can I go?”

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Just visiting: Former NFL general manager Charley Casserly, now working for CBS Sports; Molly Knight of ESPN the Magazine; Jay Glazer of Fox Sports.

Be sure to click here to see Chris Lee’s camp photos…

All for now. . . more Saturday, the first two-practice day.

14 comments

Comments are closed.

Hope we can get a Jackson deal done soon.

— Rampage
12:04 pm July 25th, 2008

Get Jacksons deal done and tell the punk kid Avery to get in camp. These guys have no time to screw around when you are coming off of a 3 win season. Linehan needs all the time possible to save his job this year.

— Eric B
12:18 pm July 25th, 2008

How on earth is it ok to not show up for work when you are under contract. This reminds me of Marc Bulger’s “holdout”. I’m stunned that fans, media, players and the team thinks this is just the order of business. Grow up and do your job!

— Laura
12:56 pm July 25th, 2008

Jackson is in the last year of his original 5 year contract, not 4 year.

— RamBill
2:01 pm July 25th, 2008

After Jackson taking a “holier than thou” stance and giving the fans hell for selling their tickets to fans of other teams last year, someone needs to inform this premadona that his hold out will definately not endear him to the fans who didn’t sell theirs. What is wrong with this guy that he thinks he is entitled to a contract extension and not work until he gets it? I for one am getting a little fed up with this man and his kind.

— Pete
2:23 pm July 25th, 2008

Bulger’s hold out from last year showed Jackson that the team will cave!

— Dave
3:55 pm July 25th, 2008

I’m sorry, but doesn’t Mr. Jackson have a contract for this season? And doesn’t that contract require him to be at training camp? I don’t understand how negotiating a contract extension excuses you from fulfilling your current contract. Pro athletes obviously live in a world very different from mine. If I fail to fulfill the contract I have with my employer, I will be penalized — either by fine or termination. Must be nice to be in the NFL.

— Cindy Riley
5:50 pm July 25th, 2008

premodona ?

— steve
7:01 pm July 25th, 2008

sorry I misspelled premadona

— steve
7:04 pm July 25th, 2008

Steven Jackson should realize he is an employee and just show up for work like everyone else.Nobody really cares about his opinion so just shut up and play football.If not, try another job and see how long they will put up with his antics.

— Lenny Rabon
7:40 pm July 25th, 2008

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