Former No. 1 draft pick gets another chance with Rams
October 18th, 2007 | by Kevin Morris |
By
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Life was working out just dandy for Travis Taylor in 2000. A few months after
Baltimore made the wide receiver from the University of Florida the 10th
overall draft pick, Taylor caught three touchdown passes in his first two NFL
games.
A broken collarbone ended his rookie season after nine games, however, and
Taylor has struggled since to live up to the expectations that come with being
a first-round draftee. Taylor, who spent five seasons with the Ravens and the
last two with Minnesota, had been unemployed since Sept. 24 before signing
Tuesday with the Rams.
“I got a call on Monday afternoon, I worked out (Tuesday) morning, they said
they wanted to sign me, and here I am,” Taylor said Wednesday after his first
practice with his new team. “It was kind of unexpected, but it’s a blessing to
be here. It’s a great group of receivers here, a great quarterback and a great
system.”
That group of receivers has been whittled by injuries. Last Sunday at
Baltimore, the Rams finished the game with Marques Hagans and newcomer Brandon
Williams as their Nos. 2 and 3 wideouts. Isaac Bruce (hamstring), Drew Bennett
(hamstring) and Dane Looker (thigh) might be available Sunday at Seattle;
still, Taylor is trying to get up to speed quickly.
“He has pretty good knowledge of our system,” coach Scott Linehan said. “He
gives us an experienced receiver, and that’s probably my biggest concern, our
lack of experience there.”
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Taylor has 311 career receptions for 4,013 yards and 22
touchdowns. His best season was in 2002, when he caught 61 passes for 869 yards
and 11 touchdowns. After the Ravens released him in 2005, he led the Vikings in
receiving yards in back-to-back years. Still, he was cut and signed with
Oakland in May. Taylor, 29, played in just one game for the Raiders before he
was released.
