Pittman Hosts Literacy Breakfast

More than 100 community leaders gathered to recognize the individuals and organizations that have supported Project Learn of Summit County and its goal to fight illiteracy in Summit County.

The agency hosted its 7th Annual Leaders for Literacy Breakfast on March 5, 2008 to raise awareness about Project Learn and the services it provides and recognize individuals and organizations that have helped in the agency’s dedication to serving the 45,000 people in Summit County who are illiterate.

This year, Project Learn recognized the Charles E. & Mabel M. Ritchie Memorial Foundation, Akhia Public Relations, Oriana House, Inc., and Teresa Pace.

“This year’s award winners serve as models for how others can get involved in improving our efforts to increase adult literacy here in Summit County,” said Rick McIntosh, Executive Director of Project Learn.

NFL player and former Ohio State University running back, Antonio Pittman served as the fundraiser’s community host, and Terry Pluto, author and Plain Dealer sports columnist, as keynote speaker.

Both talked about the value and importance of literacy, and will shared his personal goals to improve literacy in the community.

Following the breakfast, Pittman visited the agency’s main campus to speak to GED students. During the meet and greet, he shared his education experience with the students.

“I was not always the best student,” Pittman said. “I was suspended 28 times and was expelled twice during my freshman and sophomore years of high school. It was then when I realized if I didn’t straighten up, there would be no football.”

Pittman told the students that without getting an education and obtaining a certain GPA, he wouldn’t have gotten recruited by Ohio State University, nor would he have been drafted into the NFL.

“You can’t do anything without an education,” he said. “You should be commended for going back to get your GED. Without an education, it would be hard to survive in society.”

Project Learn student Tonya Morris enjoyed listening to Pittman, and said she will take what he said back to her son, who is experiencing the same distractions Pittman did when he was a teen.
“Antonio (Pittman) was really down to Earth,” she said. “He didn’t act like he was better than us just because he is in the NFL. He is encouraging and a role model to young guys in this area.”
He is an example to our students of hard work and dedication, McIntosh agreed.

“Antonio understands our students,” he added. “He represents the fasting growing segment of the population that is coming to Project Learn, which is the 16 to 24 year old.”

Pittman said he is honored to serve as encouragement to Project Learn students.

“I have witnessed first-hand the importance of education and literacy and the impact and improvement that literacy programs like Project Learn make in our community,” Pittman said. “It’s a privilege that these students, even though many are older that I am, look up to me. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that are I am a god person for them to look up to.”
McIntosh said he is pleased with the breakfast’s outcome and excited to work with Pittman to reach out to students that need to earn their GED.

“The breakfast was a success,” McIntosh said. “But anytime we can share our mission with the community is a success.”

Project Learn of Summit County is a nonprofit, community-based organization providing Summit County’s non-reading adult population with free, confidential, small group classes and tutoring. For more information, call Project Learn at 330-434-9461 or visit www.projectlearnsummit.org.

Offensive line receives boost as Bell joins up

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, Mar. 04 2008

The Rams took what they feel is a substantial step forward in upgrading their offensive line Monday evening, agreeing to
terms on a six-year deal with Tennessee free-agent guard Jacob Bell.

Bell, who started three of his four seasons with Tennessee, visited Rams Park on Monday, spending time with quarterback Marc Bulger and wide receiver Drew Bennett — a former Titans teammate. He will sign his contract this morning.

It's a six-year, $36 million deal, and includes a $7 million signing bonus and $13 million in guaranteed money.

Bell, who turned 27 on Sunday, will be the Rams' starting left guard next season, moving into the spot occupied by Mark Setterstrom at the start of 2007.

Left guard has been a trouble spot for Rams the past few seasons because of injuries and other factors. Since the start of the 2004 season, 11 players have started at least one game at the position.

Last season alone, Setterstrom, Claude Terrell, Andy McCollum and Milford Brown all drew starting assignments at left guard.

Health permitting, Bell could be a fixture there for years. A fifth-round draft pick by the Titans in 2004 out of Miami (Ohio), Bell missed only two games in four seasons with Tennessee. He missed one game at the end of his rookie season with a torn knee ligament and was inactive for a 2006 contest with a toe injury.

Overall, he has played in 55 regular-season games for Tennessee, including 46 starts. Forty-three of those starts were at left guard, and three at right tackle. In 2005, his only season when he wasn't a full-time starter, Bell also saw duty at left tackle.

"He's a 'four position' player," coach Scott Linehan said, meaning Bell's capable of playing both guard and both tackle positions. "But he's more suited to guard. He's athletic, and strong, with a great ability to get to the second level."

Linehan said Bell was the highest-rated offensive guard on the Rams'
free-agency board. But the Rams went after Pittsburgh's Alan Faneca first because of the veteran leadership they thought he could bring to the club. Faneca signed with the New York Jets instead.

Bell isn't known as a power blocker, but his strength has improved since his rookie NFL season in 2004. Looking at tape from the 2007 season, Linehan liked the way Bell performed against Carolina's Kris Jenkins and Jacksonville's Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. (Jenkins and Stroud have since switched teams.)

Bell held his own and then some against those big, powerful defensive tackles. And in what undoubtedly ranks as good news for Bulger, he didn't allow any quarterback hits in those contests.

"As the line coaches like to say, he's never on the ground," Linehan said.

In other words, despite being a relatively lean 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, Bell does not get thrown around by 340-pound defensive tackles. Although Faneca is a better run blocker, Bell probably is a better pass blocker, particularly at this stage of Faneca's career. Bell's footwork and athletic ability enable him to recover when beaten by the opponent's first move.

Even with the addition of Bell, the Rams probably aren't done retooling the interior of their offensive line. Whether it be in free agency or via trade, the Rams are still looking for veteran help at center. Last season's starters there, Brett Romberg and McCollum, are unrestricted free agents, and McCollum is contemplating retirement. The only centers on the current roster are 2007 draft pick Dustin Fry and Nick Leckey, who was added to the roster last October as a street free agent.

BROWN'S CONTRACT

Former Seattle kicker Josh Brown's five-year, $14.2 million contract with the Rams includes a $4 million signing bonus plus base salaries of $1 million in 2008, $1.8 million in 2009, $2 million in 2010, $2.7 million in 2011, and $2.7 million in 2012.

GREEN'S UP NEXT

Quarterback Trent Green, the Vianney High product who was with the Rams in 1999 and 2000, is scheduled to pay a free-agent visit to St. Louis on Wednesday.

Green arrived in New Orleans on Monday for a free-agent visit with the Saints.

Another former Ram, Jamie Martin, has been the Saints' backup for the past two seasons but is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

CHILLAR VISITS CARDS

Rams free-agent linebacker Brandon Chillar arrived in Phoenix on Monday night for a visit with the Arizona Cardinals. If Chillar doesn't sign with the Big Red, he's scheduled to leave Arizona today and arrive in Green Bay on Tuesday night.

Rams Team Report

Yahoo Sports

For some, it’s a long time coming, as the Rams jumped headfirst into the 2008 offseason by naming Billy Devaney as executive vice president of player personnel.

Said Jay Zygmunt, the team’s president of football operations-general manager, “I really like the people (he’s) worked for. He’s been around a lot of winning programs. From a football operations standpoint, he’s been in about every area. And he’s very detail oriented.”

Devaney worked under Bobby Beathard in Washington and San Diego, and most recently was assistant general manager of the Atlanta Falcons. He became available when Falcons owner Arthur Blank hired Thomas Dimitroff as general manager.

Aside from running the Rams’ personnel operations, Devaney said he was attracted by the team’s tradition and the people he knew in the organization.

When his agent originally told him of the Rams’ interest and what the job would entail, Devaney said, “When I realized what (the job) was going to be, who I was going to be working with and the people that were going to be here, that really got me excited.

“There’s a good feeling, coming in, that we’ve had relationships over the years professionally and socially where I’ve gotten to know guys. Right now, this feels like a really good fit.”

Despite the team’s 3-13 season in 2007 and the perception that coach Scott Linehan is on the hot seat, Devaney said he came away impressed with what he heard about Linehan.

“Scott’s got a tremendous reputation in league circles,” Devaney said. “I did a lot of research and talked (about him) to a lot of people that I have great respect for. … I think it’s going to be a great working relationship. Just tapping into his knowledge already, the way he’s up on things—he’s up on everything—is really impressive.”

Devaney was hired 11 days before the start of the scouting combine and 20 days before the start of free agency.

He was working mainly in pro personnel with the Falcons, so he will be getting up to speed quickly on the draft. Devaney knows that remains the lifeblood of roster building.

“It could set you up for a long time if you put a couple of good draft classes together, or it could really set you back if you miss out,” he said. “I’m not talking about a player or two. If you have a couple of drafts that really aren’t productive, what it forces you to do, and I’ve seen this happen, you start playing catch-up. You start going the free-agency route and trying to compensate for the lack of nucleus of young players.

“You start signing marginal NFL players to compensate for it. So, like you said, I think everybody has come to that conclusion. You don’t build a championship team through free agency; it’s the draft and it’s a couple of consecutive drafts together. That’s not real enlightening, but I feel strongly about that.”

Notes, Quotes

• Most of the changes are over in the team’s coaching staff after the promotion of Ron Milus to secondary coach. Milus was the assistant there last season under Willy Robinson, who was fired following the season. He would up as defensive coordinator at Arkansas.

Mike Cox might become the assistant secondary coach after being the defensive quality control coach last season. With Doug Nussmeier expected to be named offensive coordinator at Fresno State, Terry Shea will be his replacement. Shea was Miami’s quarterbacks coach in 2007, and previously was in Kansas City when new offensive coordinator Al Saunders was with the Chiefs.

There have also been rumblings that Bob Saunders, son of Al Saunders, will have a spot on the Rams’ staff. Both were with the Redskins last season.

The Rams also have a potential opening for an assistant strength and conditioning coach after Brad Roll left for the Raiders.

• Samir Suleiman, the team’s director of football administration, was considered for a job as the Packers’ lead contract negotiator, but Green Bay hired Russ Ball of the Saints. Suleiman was also said to have interest from the Ravens.

Quote To Note: “I think I got Jay nervous. Because the first thing I said was, ‘Have we traded that first-round pick yet? What the heck, what’s taking you so long?’”—New executive vice president of player personnel Billy Devaney, joking with president of football operations-general manager Jay Zygmunt and referring to his days working with Bobby Beathard, who would frequently trade out of the first round.

Strategy And Personnel

With K Jeff Wilkins uncertain about returning for another season, the Rams signed Justin Medlock, who was Kansas City’s fifth-round pick in 2007. Medlock was released after the season opener when he missed a short field goal.

TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY

With the second pick in the draft, the Rams have to figure out how to get value from a player that will command a large amount of guaranteed money. With much debate revolving around players like DE Chris Long and OT Jake Long, the Rams wonder if they are true difference-makers worthy of being selected that high.

They also have several offensive linemen returning from injuries, so it complicates the decisions to be made in the coming weeks. They would like to add a veteran offensive lineman to the mix that would also bring some leadership. There could be an interest in Steelers guard Alan Faneca, depending on what the market is for him.

1. Defensive end: Leonard Little and James Hall are in their 30s and Little is coming off toe surgery. Another pass rusher is needed.

2. Offensive line: So many players are coming back from injury, it’s impossible to know who will be healthy for 2008. But some depth is needed at tackle, and don’t be surprised if the Rams pursue guard Alan Faneca, especially for his leadership.

3. Wide receiver: A big, young receiver is needed for an offense where top pass catchers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce are aging.

Medical Watch: LT Orlando Pace has been working out at the team facility and is said to be 80 percent recovered from a torn labrum in his shoulder, suffered in the 2007 season opener … LG Mark Setterstrom is also estimated to be about 75-80 percent after undergoing knee surgery for an injury suffered in the third game of the season … RG Richie Incognito is nearly totally back from a knee injury that ended his season. … DE Leonard Little is expected to begin jogging soon following toe surgery that ended his 2007 season … CB Tye Hill is expected to have the pins removed from his broken wrist this month and will then be able to start concentrating on rehabbing.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

• G Milford Brown started at three different positions during the 2007 season, and was at left guard for most of the second half of the season. He was in Arizona when new line coach Steve Loney was there.

• LB Brandon Chillar made tremendous progress in his fourth season and could hit it big in free agency. The Rams would like him back, but not at an outrageous price.

• T/G Adam Goldberg is a solid backup, but suffered a knee injury in Week 4 against Dallas and missed the rest of the season.

• T Brandon Gorin started on the right side at the end of the season because of massive injuries on the line. Might be brought back for depth.

• DE Trevor Johnson made some contributions during the 2007 season, and could be re-signed for depth.

• C/G Andy McCollum started at left guard and center during the ‘07 season, but hasn’t made a decision whether he wants to play another season.

• S Hanik Milligan played mostly on special teams when he was on the field.

• RB Travis Minor was one of the team’s best special teams players until a knee injury ended his season late in the year.

• C Brett Romberg won the starting job from Andy McCollum in last year’s training camp, but was hampered a good part of the season by an ankle injury. New offensive line coach Steve Loney might want to go in a different direction.

• LB Raonall Smith is a solid special teams player and backup linebacker, but ended the ‘07 season on injured reserve with a knee injury.

• T/G Todd Steussie wants to return for another season, but it’s unknown where he fits on the line. Suffered a broken foot at the end of the preseason and came back for the final six games of the season.

• TE Aaron Walker is a decent blocker who saw his season end because of a shoulder injury.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

• S Oshiomogho Atogwe tied for the NFC lead with eight interceptions, and could be pursued by other teams unless the Rams put a first-round tender on him.

• S Jerome Carter has never been the hitter the Rams expected, but he has been solid on special teams. Ended the ‘07 season on injured reserve.