Offensive guard: Rodger Saffold (2010-2018) and Jamon Brown (2015-2018)
I know what you’re thinking: “Jamon [expletive] Brown?!?!” I promise I’ll explain the decision, but let’s start by talking about the longest-tenured Ram of the deace, Rodger Saffold.
Saffold aged like a fine wine during his time in horns. He was the best linemen the Rams had during the end of their St. Louis days, but struggled to stay on the field in certain years. His injury concerns were so bad that his contract agreement with the Oakland Raiders in 2014 was terminated due to a failed physical, which resulted in Saffold staying with the Rams.
It was as if fate forced Saffold to stay with the Rams. As soon as the Rams moved to Los Angeles, Saffold was magically healed of all injury ailments, and missed just one game due to injury in his final three years with the team. Saffold turned his game up another level once Whitworth joined the team in 2017 and earned himself a massive payday following the 2018 season.
Back to Jamon Brown. Here are a couple other options for the second guard spot: Harvey Dahl, Cody Whichmann, Adam Goldberg, and Jacob Bell. What do these four players have in common? All four were primary starters at guard for multiple seasons with the Rams, and all four careers ended as soon as they were cut by the Rams (Whichmann is still floating around, but has yet to play a regular season snap since leaving the Rams).
I cannot in good conscience give any of these guys a spot on this team, so we went with Brown for three primary reasons:
- Was a serviceable, starting-level offensive guard
- Was a starter for multiple seasons
- Was a part of the 2017 offensive line that turned the Rams around
Had Brown not been suspended to start the 2018 season, he might still be starting at guard for the Rams. He’s not an inspiring choice. He’s not even a good choice. He’s just what we have.
Honorable Mentions: Harvey Dahl, Austin Blythe