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Devaney: Rams would like to re-sign TE Daniel Fells

Rams GM Billy Devaney said today that he would like to have pending free agent Daniel Fells back with the team in 2011.
Rams GM Billy Devaney said today that he would like to have pending free agent Daniel Fells back with the team in 2011.

Answering questions after his official media availability, St. Louis Rams GM Billy Devaney revealed a little bit about the team's plans for one their pending free agents. Asked by TST whether they planned to bring back TE Danile Fells, Devaney expressed a desire to bring Daniel Fells back this season.

We'd like to have Daniel back. 

Tight end Daniel Fells has been hit and miss during his time with the Rams. This first two years were pretty tumultuous; some of the more generous watchers would give him a mulligan for '08 and '09. 

Fells had career highs with 41 catches and 391 yards last year, but those numbers were marred by inconsistency. Regardless, bringing Fells back makes some sense for the Rams. Clearly he's lost his role as the starter, replaced by Michael Hoomanawanui, who the Rams hope stays healthy this season. Fells can catch the ball and block, functionally in both areas. 

If the Rams do end up bringing Daniel Fells back, the depth chart will largely depend on how far along Fendi Onobun is. The "project" tight end the Rams picked in the sixth round last year didn't see much time on the field before injury ended his season. He caught two passes and his speed was an asset on special teams.

Devaney, in talking about receivers, noted how the Patriots were able to stretch the field with their tight ends last season. Ideally, Onobun would do that for the Rams. If Onobun can do some damage on the field, Fells would drop to third or even fourth on the depth chart, behind Uh Oh, Onobun and possibly Billy Bajema