ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Rams released quarterback Marc Bulger on Monday, perhaps clearing the way for them to take Sam Bradford with the first pick of the draft.
Coach Steve Spagnuolo said it was difficult to make the move and wished the 33-year-old Bulger well. Last month the Rams signed A.J. Feeley, presumably as next year’s backup on a team that was 1-15 in 2009.
“It is always hard to part ways with someone you care for and appreciate,” Spagnuolo said. “I will always be indebted to him for his work ethic, character and leadership.”
The Rams were among the teams impressed by Bradford’s workout last week. Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma, made a convincing case that he would make a complete recovery from shoulder surgery last October, completing 49-of-50 passes.
In nine seasons, all with the Rams, Bulger completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 22,814 yards, with 122 touchdowns and 93 interceptions.
• A police report revealed a gun Cleveland Browns player Shaun Rogers allegedly tried to carry through airport security was cocked with a bullet in the chamber.
According to The Plain Dealer, the police report states the cocked semiautomatic handgun was on safe mode with seven bullets in the magazine and one in the chamber.
Rogers has pleaded not guilty to a concealed weapons charge after authorities said he tried to carry the handgun through airport security in a carry-on bag last week.
• The Seattle Seahawks traded guard Rob Sims to the Detroit Lions for defensive end Robert Henderson.
• Anthony Hargrove has agreed to return to the defending champion New Orleans Saints, who gave the defensive tackle the opportunity to resurrect his career in 2009 after a yearlong suspension for substance abuse.
Pippen, Malone lead Hall class
INDIANAPOLIS — Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, members of the Dream Team in 1992, and two of the best U.S. Olympic teams were selected as part of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010.
Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, high school coaching great Bob Hurley Sr. and WNBA star Cynthia Cooper also were in the class announced at the Final Four. NBA veterans Dennis Johnson and Gus Johnson and international star Maciel “Ubiratan” Pereira will be honored posthumously.
The 1960 and 1992 U.S. Olympic teams, which both won Olympic gold medals, will be part of the induction ceremony Aug. 13.
Footnotes.
Theo Fleury and Sheldon Kennedy, two former NHL players who claim they were sexually abused as teenagers by a junior hockey coach, are among those angered at the revelation convicted sex offender Graham James was pardoned in 2007.
• Texas A&M basketball coach Mark Turgeon agreed to an undisclosed contract extension.
• Dan Hurley was hired as Wagner’s basketball coach, replacing Mike Deane on the same day Hurley’s father joined the Hall of Fame.
• Forward Mike Moser is leaving UCLA after his freshman season.
The Associated Press
