Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Rams pass on East grad Nathan Hodel as long snapper replacement

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams passed on Belleville East High School graduate Nathan Hodel, choosing Ryan Neill as their replacement for injured long snapper Chris Massey.

Neill served as the Buffalo Bills' long snapper during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Four long snappers -- Byran Pittman, 32, who was with the Houston Texans from 2003-08; Joe Zelenka, 33, who was with Jacksonville, Washington and San Francisco over his 11-year career, Hodel and O'Neill -- worked out for the Rams on Monday.

At 26, O'Neill was the youngest of the group. He was signed by the Bills as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Rutgers in 2006.

Hodel handled the long snapping duties in every game for seven seasons for the Arizona Cardinals, including Super Bowl XLIII in February.

Hodel, who will turn 32 on Nov. 12, was released a few weeks after the Super Bowl, and picked up by the New England Patriots.

Hodel spent the preseason with the Patriots before being released during roster cutdowns.

Massey injured the ACL in his left knee covering a punt with 5 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter of the Rams' 42-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Massey will undergo surgery a couple of weeks.

The Rams still have a vacant roster spot as rookie cornerback Bradley Fletcher also sustained a season-ending knee injury against the Colts.

Linebacker David Vobora has been reinstated by the NFL after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, but he won't count against the Rams' 53-man roster unless he's active for the team's game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

The Rams were given a one-week roster exemption for Vobora.