The Rams were thrilled to add tackle Jason Smith their offensive line. He brings vast potential and impressive leadership ability to Rams Park.

But it sounds like Eben Britton would have been a fine second-round pick at offensive tackle had the Rams gone for linebacker Aaron Curry first.

Jacksonville took him with the 39th overall pick.

“I couldn’t be happier than to be picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars but I was [ticked] off,” he said, according to the Orlando Sentinel. “There isn’t a better organization that I could have asked for, but every team that passed on me will regret it for the rest of the history of their franchise.”

Wow. That sounds more like a professional wrester than an offensive tackle. And he was just getting warmed up.

“I was always told I wasn’t big enough, fast enough to play,” said Britton, who carries 317 pounds on his 6-foot-5, 317-pound frame. “Well, the chip just got a little bigger and somebody’s going to pay.

“I want to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Super Bowl and I want to become the greatest tackle in the history of the NFL.”

As for those draft pundits who downgraded him . . .

“You know what, if one of these draft guys lined up across from me they’d be dead, so that’s not something I’m really concerned with,” he said. “If you want to line up across from Eben Britton you’re going to know what’s happening to you, I guarantee you that.”

Yeah, this guy would have worked out just fine.

KNOW YOUR RAMS

When the best parts of covering the NFL Draft is learning little things about the athletes coming to your town.

Tipsheet now has a connection with middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, who is afraid of spiders. Defensive tackle Darell Scott is “scared of the dark, a little bit.” Also, Clemson misspelled his name “Dorell” during his entire time there.

Offensive tackle Jason Smith has never been to the beach – a streak he could easily extend playing in St. Louis. (Pontoon Beach doesn’t count.)

AMERICA’S TEAM IDLE SATURDAY

Which gave these Cowboy followers a chance to get creative.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while wondering what the Rams are going to do for wide receiver depth this year:

• After drafting receiver Brooks Foster on the ‘05 Tar Heels basketball team, should the Rams have gone for tight end Tyler Hansbrough next?
• When was the last time Mizzou was this popular with NFL scouts?
• Will Ray Maualuga make NFL teams regret passing him out of the first round, due to character concerns?
• Will the Browns regret passing on Michael Crabtree because of his alleged diva-like behavior?
• Will Todd Wellemeyer ever deliver a quality start for the Cards this season?
• Did the Cubs really want to plunk Albert Pujols? Could he make them pay for this later iin the season?

DR. BILL COSBY NEEDS A NAP

This bit didn’t work as it could have for ESPN.

CATCHING UP WITH DAVID ECKSTEIN

Tipsheet brings you this update because we all know how St. Louisans like scrappy.

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “The hapless Detroit Lions, picking first in Saturday’s NFL Draft after their historically inept 0-16 season, unveiled a redesigned uniform featuring a fiercer-looking lion on the helmet. This was an alternative to a prevailing opinion that the Lions would be better off changing their name altogether, wearing a disguise instead of a uniform and relocating as part of the Witless Protection Program.”

Dan Daly, Washington Times: “ ‘Never play cards with a man called Doc,’ a wise man once said. To which I might add: And never draft a defensive tackle nicknamed Ziggy (Hood, the 295-pound bruiser from Missouri). It just doesn’t fit the position; it’s too light, too breezy. It’s like nicknaming a middle linebacker Cuddles.”

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, on Magic shooter Rashard Lewis: “We’ve seen Lewis for two years now and it’s abundantly clear: the Magic vastly overpaid for him when they signed him to a six-year, $118 million deal. They handed a superstar contract to a complementary player. The Magic paid for an Escalade and got a Ford Explorer. They paid for a mansion in Isleworth and got a really nice condo in Metro West. They paid for a Ruth’s Chris filet and got the Outback Special.”

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “Michael Phelps has redesigned his freestyle stroke, which he will unveil May 14. I predict he’ll come out smoking.”

Mike Lupica, New York Daily News: “The Yankees aren’t out of April yet and they have been rung up for those 22 runs by the Indians, 10 by the Indians at the opening of the new Stadium. The Rays have scored 15 on Yankee pitching, a game that ended up with Nick Swisher on the mound. Saturday the Red Sox got them for 16. The Yankees have been the Game of the Week for two straight Saturdays on Fox. And have given up a total of 38 runs. You wonder if that ever happened to anybody in the whole long history of the Game of the Week.”

MEGAPHONE

“Playoff hockey is not exactly hockey. It’s hockey’s older, snarling brother who just got out of prison.”

Fox Sports Detroit broadcaster John Keating, describing the difference between the NHL regular season and the playoffs.