You don't have to be a meteorologist to appreciate watching the fickle fan winds blow. Now that Tank Johnson will not receive a DUI of his very own since he was below the legal limit, there are a lot more Rams fans eager to be the team that signs him, waits out his 8 game suspension, and injects a member of what looked like a Super Bowl caliber defense (until the Super Bowl) into their lineup come week 9.
I still don't think the Rams would sign a player nailed to Goodell's Cross of Good Behavior, and I also think they're truly committed to Carriker assuming the number one job at that position this season. However, it is awfully tempting to think about.
Schedule wise, the signing works out well. The Rams have their bye in week 9, giving Tank a good two weeks to practice with the squad after coming off his suspension. Then, in week 10, the Rams have a tough game in New Orleans against the offensively minded, Reggie Bush-led Saints. The first half schedule, conveniently divided with the bye week, is a tough one, with the Rams playing the Cowboys, Ravens and Seahawks on the road, and they could be 3-5 heading into their week 9 bye just as easily as they could be 4-4 or 5-3. The good news is that the second half schedule gets a little better, with the only non-divisional seriously looming opponent being the criminally minded Bengals (on the road).
We'll get into the schedule more in another post, but you have to think that the Rams need at least 10 wins to be a playoff team. Tank being suspended for the toughest part of the Rams schedule, doesn't necessarily offer optimal timing anyway. However, with a softer second half, featuring running teams like the Steelers, 49ers, Saints, and the Falcons, the NFL's least offensive outlaw from this offseason could be a real boon, particularly if injuries take a toll on the d-line's depth.
I still don't think it's going to happen and I don't think that's the worst thing in the world. However, if he came cheap...well, to forgive is divine, right?