Sure, there was a moment or two of concern by offensive tackle Rodger Saffold as the days went by this summer without a contract.

"I knew that things were moving slowly at first," Saffold said. "Then at one point, they just started picking up. That's when I knew I was close to finishing, so I was real happy about that."

Saffold and the Rams reached the finish line contract-wise early Wednesday afternoon, when he signed a four-year, $6.278 million deal with incentives that could max out the contract at just under $6.6 million. Saffold, a second-round pick from Indiana University, receives $3.9 million in guaranteed money.

"I'm so happy that it's all finished," Saffold said, as he checked into the team hotel Wednesday for the start of training camp. "All the business stuff is out of the way, now we can play."

So for the Rams, it's one down, one to go. As in No. 1 overall draft pick Sam Bradford.

Even while the Saffold deal was getting finalized Wednesday, Rams executive vice president for football operations Kevin Demoff remained in frequent contact with the agents for Bradford, the quarterback from Oklahoma.

"Things are progressing," Demoff said Wednesday.

But there were no talks Wednesday night, meaning no repeat of last year's late night agreement with No. 2 overall draft pick Jason Smith. And that means Bradford will not be on the field this morning when rookies and selected veterans take part in the first practice of training camp. The first full squad practice doesn't take place until Saturday.

Last season on the eve of the first practice day for rookies and selected vets, Smith and the Rams agreed to a deal at about 1 a.m.

Smith didn't actually sign until about 3 p.m. that day once all the paperwork was finalized, meaning he missed two practices - involving less than half the 80-man camp roster, since most of the vets weren't around.

Demoff provided no other details about the Bradford negotiations. Although there were no indications of major hang ups, there's still no deal.

While Bradford is absent, Saffold won't miss a minute of camp.

"I'm actually excited about being here just a little bit early - to make sure we can get warmed up for the veterans," Saffold joked.

All told, the rookies will have three practices - two today and one on Friday - before the full squad arrives. To make room for Saffold on the 80-man training camp roster, the team released offensive lineman Brandon Joyce of Duchesne High and Illinois State University.

The Rams also officially announced the signing of sixth-round draft pick Fendi Onobun, the tight end from the University of Houston. Onobun agreed to terms more than a week ago.

Saffold had been working out in Bloomington, Ind., but drove to St. Louis Tuesday after learning his agents were heading to St. Louis that day to close the deal. There were a couple of unresolved issues Tuesday evening according to agent Alan Herman, who along with Jared Fox, represents Saffold. But those issues were resolved Wednesday morning after another meeting with Demoff.

"Everything worked out exceptionally well," Herman said. "It's very important for a guy who's projected to start to be there the first day."

Saffold is taking nothing for granted when it comes to opening the season as the Rams' starting right tackle.

"You never want to go and assume anything," said Saffold, the first player taken in the second round and the No. 33 overall pick in the draft. "Nobody's going to give you a job; you definitely have to work towards what you're going to have."

But it's clear the Rams are counting on Saffold and Smith to protect Bradford from pass rushers for years to come at the tackle spots.

Rams offensive line coach Steve Loney liked what he saw from Saffold during the spring minicamps and OTAs (organized team activity).

"First of all, he's a knowledgeable guy," Loney said. "Excellent work ethic. He's a guy that wants to do well. I shouldn't say I was surprised, but he's very athletic. ... That's one of those things that you wait to see until he's actually here. But I was pleased to see that the athleticism you saw on college film I think will translate to what you see on pro film."

Saffold has the footwork and athleticism to recover if he makes a blocking mistake. And that's a skill not every tackle possesses - not even in the NFL.

Saffold suffered a sprained right knee during a June 3 practice. Although it wasn't a serious injury, Saffold missed the final two weeks of OTAs.

"The knee feels great," Saffold said. "I'm not going to be held out of anything."