Offseason? What NFL offseason?

We had a two week down-ish window between the Super Bowl and the combine (or as NFL Network’s draft guru extraordinaire Mike Mayock calls it the “Underwear Olympics.”) But don’t be mistaken, something is always going on in the NFL and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

1) I think WR Titus Young Sr. must be quite the basket case.

Now you see him then now you don’t. The Rams were the only NFL team to put a claim on Young Sr. after the Detroit Lions said enough was enough. This wasn’t a complete head scratching move on the Rams part because the situation at wide receiver is still very much in flux in St. Louis. So why not take a low risk gamble on a very troubled yet talented player.

Yet Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and company decided Young Sr. wasn’t worth the headache after nine days.

We just felt like he was not the best option for us at that position. We went into detail. We felt like we’ve got a good young group, and we feel like perhaps Titus is better suited for another organization.

And this coming from a coach that took chances on some non-Four Pillar-esque players such as Janoris Jenkins, Chris Givens and Trumaine Johnson.

If Fisher didn’t give you a chance you might be done playing in this league, Mr. Young.

2) I think I am optimistic about the Tim Walton hire as the Rams new defensive coordinator.

Rams new Defensive Coordinator Tim Walton (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

Walton comes to the Rams after serving as the Detroit Lions’ secondary coach and has 18 years of overall coaching experience.

More here from St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Jim Thomas:

During his 14 seasons in college coaching at Miami, Louisiana State, and Memphis, he coached nine players that were drafted in the first or second round.

All but one of those nine (Devin Hester) are – or were – cornerbacks or safeties in the NFL, a group that includes safeties Idrees Bashir, LaRon Landry, Brandon Meriweather, Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle, and cornerbacks Kelly Jennings and Corey Webster.

3) I think RB Steven Jackson won’t be a Ram for much longer.

Sorry. I know many of you don’t want to hear it but there’s a real possibility that Jack has played his last game as a Ram. Jack(son) has the option to void his 2013 contract and become a free agent. But he needs to make this decision by March 12. I suspect he will do so and test the free agent market at that time.

As central as Jack has been for this offense, I just can’t see the Rams ponying up $7 million next season for him. Nor do I see Jack taking a big pay cut to play out his career in St. Louis. The Rams have a Plan B in place just in case. They have Isaiah Pead, Daryl Richardson and Terrance Ganaway already in queue.

But hey, stranger things have happened.

4) I think WR Danny Amendola might be out of St. Louis as well.

Obviously the Rams think it’s a tentative situation with the wide receivers otherwise they wouldn’t have claimed Titus Young Sr. off of waivers. Amendola is in a similar boat with Jack. Both are a big part of the Rams offense but with potentially big ticket salaries.

Amendola could get franchised for nearly $11 million – but I highly doubt this. If they aren’t willing to pay Jack $7 million they certainly aren’t going to pay Amendola a big wad of cash – especially since he only played 12 games the past two seasons due to injuries.

Danny Amendola’s Career Statistics (Courtesy ESPN.com)

That leaves Austin Pettis, Brian Quick and Chris Givens as the only wide receivers under contract. Sam Bradford‘s back up security blanket Brandon Gibson is also a free agent and may not be back with $1 million price tag according to Brian McIntyre.

Is it me or does it seem like the Rams are pretty much in the same boat as last year when it comes to stocking up weapons for Bradford?

Rams should be taking a good look at the combine this weekend at wide receiver prospects. I know some Rams fans have West Virginia’s Tavon Austin on their own draft boards.

5) I think I like this Terrance Ganaway kid. *Jon Gruden voice

How many NFL players do you know that take a second job at Jimmy Johns making sandwiches during the offseason? Only one that I know of.

They scheduled me 5-8 tonight. SmH already getting my hours cut down. I need a tutor on how to make subs. This can’t be a good sign.

— Terrance Ganaway (@RepChrist24) February 15, 2013

Former Baylor Bear RB Ganaway was originally selected in the sixth round (202th pick overall) by the Jets in 2012. But then he was waived in August and then claimed off waivers from near the end of the preseason. But most won’t recognize Ganaway’s name or his face. He is the fourth string running back for the Rams who didn’t see hardly any playing time last season waiting in line behind Jack, Pead and Richardson.

From Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

But the Rams were intrigued enough with Ganaway to keep him on the roster all season. And if Jackson voids his contract and ends up playing elsewhere, Ganaway could fill a big-back role at 6-1, 240, in what could be a running back-by-committee approach with Richardson and Pead.

I am intrigued as well. I’ve been mentioning him all season but no one really paid much attention.

Let’s hope his running skills are better than his sandwich making skills. Maybe he should just stick with his day job. That said, I wonder if he can make a pretty decent Billy Club.

Peter King’s 2013 NFL Combine Tweetup

I am heading to Indianapolis Saturday morning for my annual pilgrimage to a combine tweetup hosted by Sports Illustrated’s Peter King.

Tweet at me (@thepigskinarch) or email me (thepigskinarch at gmail dot com) questions you may have about anything NFL or Rams and I will do my best to get some answers for you.