St. Louis Rams Sign Ricky Manning Jr.

The St. Louis Rams will sign Ricky Manning Jr. Both parties agreed to a contract on Sunday. Manning was released by the Chicago Bears on Tuesday. The Rams will need to release another player once Manning Jr. officially signs. Eric Bassey would be the most likely person cut after the Manning signing. Manning will add some much needed depth to the Rams secondary. The Rams already have had preseason injuries to staring CB Fakhir Brown (shoulder), and starting FS O.J. Atogwe (hamstring). Manning will be a huge upgrade over Jonathon Wade or Ron Bartell at Nickel Back, and can also start at Cornerback if the injury to Fakhir Brown lingers.

Ricky Manning Jr. has played 79 games in the NFL making 265 tackles, 14 interceptions and 3 sacks. Manning has had some off-field issues with a couple of assault charges. The 2008 St. Louis Rams draft class seemed to revolve around player character so we will see how long Manning can stay clean in a Rams uniform. He is a very emotional player so that should help the defense as well. Many Rams fans believe the Rams lost their spark on defense when they let London Fletcher go in 2002.