RAMS ACQUIRE VETERAN TACKLE
By Rams Nation's Barry Waller
August 19th 2002
Rams head coach Mike Martz saw enough of untested right tackle John St. Clair
Friday against the Bears to realize the fortunes of his offense could not be
jeopardized with a risky project trying to protect NFL MVP Kurt Warner. After
announcing that St. Clair was “not ready” after the game, Martz
moved quickly to find a more seasoned veteran to be his starter while St. Clair
is groomed more slowly to possibly eventually start.
The Rams dealt an undisclosed future draft pick for 6 year veteran right tackle
Grant Williams, who started four games for the World Champion Patriots in 2001,
started 8 games after signing as an unrestricted free agent in 2000 following
23 total starts in his four years with the Seahawks, who signed him as a rookie
free agent out of Louisiana Tech in 1996.
Williams is a huge man at 6’7 320 pounds, and he started at right tackle
all but one game of the 1999 season in Seattle, a season in which Ricky Watters
gained 1210 yards rushing, and Williams gave up just 3 sacks in 15 games starting.
Williams is capable of playing both tackle positions, but will surely start
at right tackle in St. Louis.
Williams is very active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, so he should
fit in well with what the Rams want in a player as far as character off the
field. With three young offensive tackles, Adrian Klemm, Matt Lyght, and Greg
Robinson-Randall on the roster, Williams became expendable for Bill Belichick
and the Patriots.
Williams is in the final year of a three-year contract and is scheduled to
make $525,000 this season, so his acquisition will not create any cap problems
for the Rams, though they will release a player from the roster to make room
for the newest Ram.