2011 NFL Free Agency: Rams running back rumors

Teams will start signing free agents at some point soon, and when free agency actually kicks off it promises to be a whirlwind of excitement as three months of business gets compressed into three days. In that climate, a "first phone call" is a merrier formality. Skilled front offices will have multiple lines in the water at any given time. Brian McIntyre from Football Outsiders, writing for ESPN, lays out what the first move should be for each team...first of many moves likely to unfold over a short window of time. 

For the St. Louis Rams, his recommended first move is getting a backup running back, one Darren Sproles. 

Reducing Steven Jackson's workload was an offseason priority for the Rams, who passed on adding a running back in the draft. Sproles has ranked in the top five in receiving DYAR among running backs in each of the past three seasons and could be an ideal third-down back in Josh McDaniels' offense.

Sproles might not be the only target for Rams GM Billy Devaney to fill that need. On the NFL Network last night, as reported by Evan Silva, Michael Lombardi and Jason LaCanfora put the Rams in the hunt for Reggie Bush. 

Bush will almost certainly be cut by the Saints, freeing up much needed salary cap room. There isn't enough time to restructure his deal, not to mention an unwillingness from Bush to make that move. LaCanfora, a long-time Redskins reporter with deep roots in the NFC East, says that it's between the Rams and the Eagles for Bush. 

Lombardi sees Bush as "Kevin Faulk of McDaniels' offense."