Former Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets wide receiver Jericho Cotchery will be working out for the St. Louis Rams, along with Jerome Simpson. Steelers free agent backup quarterback Dennis Dixon will be throwing to them, according to Adam Caplan.
The Rams have been looking for veteran backup quarterbacks since the start of free agency. The list of players they talked to or visited with includes Jason Campbell, Brady Quinn and Shaun Hill. All of those guys ended up signing elsewhere. Exclusive rights free agent Tom Brandstater re-signed with the Rams, but they still need a veteran to backup Bradford. Enter Dixon.
Dixon is just 27-years old, and has not seen much playing time backing up a quarterback that plays though virtually anything. He started two games in 2010, completing 22 of 32 passes for no touchdowns and one interception.
As for Cotchery, Brian Schottenheimer should know him well after coaching him from 2006-2010 in New York. He's a possession-type, and caught just 16 passes last year. Cotchery fits the pattern of the Rams trying to find receiver help among players looking to rebound from a variety of career maladies.