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The Ironic Relationship Between Kevin Payne & Chris Harris - @Kevin_Payne

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What's up St. Louis and my Rams Family!?  

I'm just sitting here thinking about how crazy this trade between myself and my friend, Chris Harris, was.  You may not be aware of this, but him and I have had an interesting history together when it comes to team transactions.  Seriously, I could one day write a book about this insane and totally ironic ride we've been on together throughout our NFL careers; and it wouldn't surprise me if it actually sold a few copies - Ha!

Okay, so try and follow me here, aight.  This story is a wild one.

Star-divide

  1. Chris and I both grew up in Arkansas (Thanks for the reminder, CaliRamMan!)
  2. Chris and I both attend college at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM).
  3. Chris and I both play football for the ULM Warhawks.
  4. Chris and I both play the position of safety.
  5. Chris and I both signed with the same sports agent: Albert Elias of Elias Sports Management, LLC.
  6. Chris is drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2005 and becomes their safety.
  7. I'm drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2007 to become their safety.

Let's stop right there for a moment.

By this time, Chris had been playing safety for the Bears for two seasons.  But now that I was coming on board, there was suddenly one too many safeties on the team.  

So, one summer day during training camp, all of us were working out, doing our thing, when we suddenly looked up and realized that Chris wasn't at practice.  Everyone was like... "Where's Chris?"

Chris had been traded to the Carolina Panthers.

I was really sad he was traded, because he's such a good friend of mine.  After having gone to school with him, I truly enjoyed being around the guy and didn't want to see him go.  He was always "that guy" who I looked up to on the field, because he was the first person to make it to the NFL outta our small school, ULM.  So - understandably so - he was someone I wanted to continue playing ball with.

So both Chris and I go on to enjoy some fun seasons with each of our teams, and then 2010 rolls around...

On April 27, 2010 Chris is traded BACK to the Chicago Bears to play the position of safety.  And you guys remember what position I play, right? <Haha>

Now that Chris was back in the Bears' picture, my agent began hitting the market to see what teams were interested in me (And I'm flattered to say there were many ;-)  Ultimately, St. Louis offered the best opportunities for me, and I'm now proud to call myself a Ram.

So do you see how crazy things have been between Chris and I?  ...Albert (our agent) helps Chris get drafted by the Bears out of ULM / Albert helps me get drafted by the Bears out of ULM and I take Chris' spot at safety / Years later, Albert helps Chris during his trade back to the Bears, where he takes the spot I originally took from him / Finally, Albert helps me get traded to the Rams.

If all of the above isn't already crazy enough for ya, get a load of what would have been an even CRAZIER coincidence, had it happened...

If I remember correctly, while Albert was shopping me around to teams, he said something about the CAROLINA PANTHERS possibly being interested in me!  

Seriously, before Albert even told me that I had wondered how crazy it would be if I ended up going to the Panthers to take over Chris' former position.  Obviously it didn't happen.  But what if it had!?  That would have been SUPER CRAZY.

(FACTOID: I've said a variation of the word "crazy" four times in the last three paragraphs of this post. Yup.)

Stick around this week, aight.  I'm gonna fill you in on how my trade to the Rams went down.

--------------------

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so the next move

Payne wins the number one job for the rams and we have a respectable defense again. payne and atogwe would be a pretty sick combo. but where does that leave james butler. back up role? he was a good starter for us til he got hurt. its gonna be interesting to see how this all turns out. hey payne do you think you can work some rotational dt or de cuz we could really use some help there. lol joking. Love the way the secondary is looking with the depth being provided.. but up front needs an overhaul. no pressure equals open receivers. love to have you on board tho payne. time to bring respect back to stl

by mh39 on May 10, 2010 12:00 PM CDT reply actions  

I want to know how you feel about maybe playing Free.

I’m guessing you prefer Strong, Kevin? But it looks (to me) like the more likely playing time is available at Free.

(because Atogwe is rehabbing from an injury and hasn’t signed yet, that’s the way it looks right now anyway)

I guess any position on the field is better than your favorite position off the field…..but I’d love to hear, how do you feel about playing Free?

by CoachConnors on May 10, 2010 12:32 PM CDT reply actions  

Perhaps ...

In certain sub packages, we play with Butler, Atogwe AND Payne and either Butler or Payne can play as LB in passing downs.

I dunno. I just want the season to hurry up and start.

I can take a beating ... I'm a Rams fan.

by Midasknight on May 10, 2010 12:46 PM CDT reply actions  

Dont forget to tell everyone about how both y'all

are from the same state: Arkansas
It keeps getting wierd!

by CaliRamMan on May 10, 2010 9:18 PM CDT reply actions  

Aaaaaaaand...

…noted.

Thanks for the reminder, man.

by KevinPayne on May 11, 2010 7:33 AM CDT up reply actions  

Ok seriously

That’s kinda wild. Like this is a small world and all, but when a story like that happens … combined with the % chance to be able to play in the NFL?

Wow

by Option27 on May 10, 2010 11:45 PM CDT reply actions  

Double the "OK Seriously"

For one a small school in which not one but TWO athletes are drafted into the NFL within a 2 year time span now that is something. Yet alone both being from the same state that is and I quote “CRAZY”.
1. From same state
2. Both play same position
3. Both from small time school (no offense)
4. Both go to same team

by BurnoutJoeB. on May 11, 2010 12:13 PM CDT reply actions  

So...
(FACTOID: I’ve said a variation of the word “crazy” four times in the last three paragraphs of this post. Yup.)

 Kevin “Crazy” Payne…

Pretty cool nickname for a hard-hitting safety…

by Le Ram on May 11, 2010 1:23 PM CDT reply actions  

most hard-hitting safeties

called crazy are…. scary… in a good way of course

Rasmus can hit lefties
cardinalred
St. Louis Sports blog

by stlcardsfan4 on May 12, 2010 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions  

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