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.