St Louis Rams: Friday's Rams News and Notes at Noon

Welcome to Friday's St. Louis Rams "News and Notes at Noon" the one stop location for all major Rams headlines and other updates of interest for Rams Nation. 

Mike Freeman of CBS Believes Chad Ochocinco Will End Up in St. Louis; Jeff Gordon Is Intrigued by the Possibility of Adding the Quotable Wide Receiver 

Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes in his Tipsheet column that the Rams should investigate the possibility of signing the 34-year-old Chad Ochocinco, the former Pro Bowl wide receiver. 

Interestingly, Gordon writes that the word is that Ochocinco's struggles last season (he caught just 15 passes for the New England Patriots) were more about his supposed inability to sufficiently learn the Patriots complex offense offense rather than diminishing skill. 

Mike Freeman of CBS Sports believes that Ochocinco will end up with St. Louis. 

That would be interesting, if nothing else. 

Amendola Ready to Put Lost Season in the Past 

According to a report from Andrew Astleford of foxsportsmidwest.com, Danny Amendola is ready to put last season behind him after missing essentially the entire season due to injury: 

"

Coming off injuries, I've never had to sit out a full year. That was tough. I'm hungrier than ever, and I'm ready to get back out there and start competing and start moving into camp and preseason and into the season.

Not being able to be in the locker room and travel and play the game and just be around the guys was hard. But injury is a part of the game, and it's unfortunate. I'm moving on, and I'm ready to go.

Dealing with adversity would be the main thing. I never had to sit out a full year – I never sat out a game in my life from injuries. Dealing with that adversity was tough.

"

St. Louis is happy to have Amendola, who hauled in all of 85 passes in 2010 during Sam Bradford's rookie season.  

I expect Amendola and Bradford to connect on a frequent basis and to torture defenses from the slot in the coming campaign. 

Amendola will be a key cog in the Rams' offense and help steady Bradford and keep the chains moving in 2012.  

St. Louis Signs First Round Selection Michael Brockers

Yesterday, the Rams inked first round pick Michael Brockers.  The 6'5", 322-pound defensive tackle is expected to be a key figure on the St. Louis defensive line this year.  

Brockers signed a four year contract worth $9.52 million with a $5.36 million dollar signing bonus, according to Brian McIntyre for nfl.com.  The contract has an option for a fifth year, according to the aforementioned piece, citing sources for Albert Breer of the NFL Network. 

I expect Brockers to help bolster the interior run defense. In addition, I expect the big DT to aid the pass rush of Chris Long and Robert Quinn due to his ability to push the pocket. 

For more on Brockers signing from Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com, please click here. 

Kevin Demoff Chatting Live With Rams Nation at 1PM Central Time Today 

St. Louis Rams Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Football Operations Kevin Demoff will be chatting live at 1PM central time today and answering questions from many members of Rams Nation. 

If you would like to chat with Demoff or scan through the live chat as it occurs, please click this link from stlouisrams.com. 

Turf Show Times Says Rams Are Not For Sale 

Yesterday, in various tweets from Howard Eskin of NBC 10 in Philadephia's asserted the Rams either are for sale, might be for sale or are probably for sale.  

Which is it, Howard? 

In one tweet, Eskin said that the Rams are for sale: 

"Howard Eskin‏@howardeskin

‪#Eagles‬@ProFootballTalk hear Ex Eagles Pres Joe Banner interested in putting group 2gether 2 buy Buff Bills. Also hear StL and Clev 4 sale

"

In another tweet, he said the Rams may be for sale: 

"Howard Eskin‏@howardeskin

Hear Ex ‪#Eagles‬ Pres Joe Banner interested in putting group together to buy Buff Bills. Also hear Cleveland Browns and St Louis may b 4 sale

"

Finally, Eskin tweeted that the Rams are probably for sale: 

"Howard Eskin‏@howardeskin

@TAngelo930@tomahawk1151@ProFootballTalk I expect denials from teams. was told by NFL source that heard Buff, Clev, and St prob for sale.

"

Whatever it is/was Eskin was trying to say is blurry. However, Turf Show Times confirmed on good "authority" that the Rams are not for sale. 

For the full report from TST, please click here. 

Rookie Trumaine Johnson Working to Learn Fast

According to a fine piece by senior writer Nick Wagoner on stlouisrams.com, third round rookie cornerback Trumaine Johnson is working to learn things fast as he works to prepare for his first NFL season:

"

Outside of here, I take my playbook home every day and try to get at least an hour in. I’m usually exhausted from practice and I like basketball so with the playoffs on, I try to make sure I still get in my hour, sneak it in any way I can. You’ve got to get it in where you can fit in.

The biggest difference is just the speed of the game. Everything else is football and having fun. There was no wake up call; it’s just studying the game. This is a whole new level from college.

Cortland Finnegan is a hell of a player and a good guy off the field, also. I try to look at him and see what he is doing play in and play out; see how he plays, what he is reading, take everything I can from him every day.

"

According to Wagoner's above-lined piece, head coach Jeff Fisher likes what Johnson brings to the table: 

"

First off, he’s got great ball skills. He can go get the football, had a bunch of interceptions. He’s a big corner, he’s got long arms, he can press, he’s going to work at the off coverage and he’s physical and he’ll tackle.

"

In describing himself, Johnson speaks of his versatility, something that could be appealing to the Rams sooner or later: 

"

I can play corner and safety. If the coaches want me at corner, I can play corner. If he wants me at safety, I can play safety. I love tackling, that’s why I say I can do safety. But I also like coverage so wherever coach needs me, that’s what I will do.

"

Although Fisher has talked of Johnson exclusively as a cornerback, as of now, St. Louis has more depth there than at safety. 

Even though the odds would suggest that Johnson stays at CB, I would not be shocked to see him moved to safety at some point down the road, even as a hybrid player who could slide back and forth from corner to safety as wanted or needed.  

Judge Orders Release of More Documents

According to a report from Todd C. Frankel for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis circuit court judge Bryan Hettenbach has ruled that the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission must release additional documents related to discussion between the CVC and the St. Louis Rams and the ongoing lease negotiations regarding proposed upgrades to the Edward Jones Dome. 

Please click the above-linked article much more on this story. 

Have a great day as always, STL Rams Nation. 

Follow @ShaneGmoSTLRams

Shane Gray covers the St. Louis Rams daily as a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You are encouraged to check out the rest of his work here. Gray also owns and operates stlramscentral.com.