Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold ended up back with the St. Louis Rams after a free agent contract he and the Oakland Raiders agreed to was voided when he failed a physical.
The Raiders had an issue with Saffold’s shoulder and wanted him to have surgery, while the Rams obviously did not have a medical issue with the lineman. It was later reported that the real reason the Raiders failed Saffold on the physical is because team owner Mark Davis “pulled the plug” on the deal. In other words, the Raiders may have had second thoughts about the big free agent contract offered to the lineman, wanted out, and used the physical as an excuse.
Saffold hurt his shoulder during the preseason last year but played in Week 1.
According to St. Louis football reporter Howard Balzer, Saffold admitted to the media Friday that a Raiders doctor told him he passed the team’s physical.
Rodger Saffold admits to media Friday that a Raiders doctor told him he had passed the team's physical.
— Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) March 15, 2014
If that is indeed true, it lends credence to the report that Davis killed the deal.
Saffold received a five-year, $42.5 million contract from the Raiders that included $21 million guaranteed. After that deal was cancelled, he signed a five-year, $31.7 million deal that included $19.5 million guaranteed. Not bad money for a mediocre lineman.
