David

Vobora

IGF-1 is already banned by the NFL, and “other growth factors” sounds like a growth hormone. Jackson previously endorsed the company, but stopped doing so last month. “S.W.A.T.S.” owner Mitch Ross claims to have distributed substances to Bengals S Roy Williams, Ravens LB Ray Lewis, and Jets RBs coach Anthony Lynn. Rams LB David Vobora is suing S.W.A.T.S. after allegedly using one of the company’s sprays got him suspended in 2009.

Signed on October 3, Vobora appeared in six games with Seattle but failed to record a tackle. He suffered the shoulder injury in Week 12 against Washington.

Our friends at Pro Football Focus like him, but the Seahawks apparently didn’t when they waived him a month ago. A special teamer, Vobora is needed after Matt McCoy sprained his knee covering a punt on Sunday.

Vobora was arguably the Rams’ best linebacker working off the strong side last season, but the team signed Ken Flajole-favorite Na’il Diggs to play SAM and plans to use Carpenter on the weak side. Vobora appears ticketed for a fourth linebacker role, as St. Louis’ top backup at all three positions.

Carpenter will be installed as St. Louis’ starting weak-side linebacker, leaving Na’il Diggs and David Vobora to compete at SAM. A bust in Dallas, Carpenter lacked the physicality to excel as a 3-4 inside linebacker. His speed and cover skills figure to make him better fit for the 4-3. Carpenter probably will never be a high-impact starter, but he’s worth a shot for the linebacker-needy Rams. Barron had been supplanted by Rodger Saffold.

Larry Grant and David Vobora are competing for the strong-side job, with rookie James Laurinaitis backing up Draft. We expect Laurinaitis to unseat Draft in training camp, pushing the veteran into a reserve role or the SAM position, where neither Vobora nor Grant would present any obvious upgrade.

According to linebacker David Vobora, the competition at strong side “is a wide-open thing” with Larry Grant and Quinton Culberson also in the mix. Ideally, one of the three would step up and allow Draft to play the backup role.

Chris Draft was in the middle, but that will be James Laurinaitis’ spot in the very near future. Draft is expected to shift to the strong side, but Rams coaches would be happy if either Grant or David Vobora plays well enough to shove the veteran into a reserve/fourth linebacker role.

The Rams take a slight cap hit, but save $1.3 million in cash. Draft lost out to rookie James Laurinaitis for the MIKE linebacker job, but was expected to start on the strong side. Now it looks like David Vobora will start there. The Rams must not think Larry Grant’s knee injury is too serious.

Vobora was the winner by process of elimination. Veteran Chris Draft was released after refusing to take a paycut, and Larry Grant is currently sidelined with a knee injury. Expect Grant to push for the job as soon as he’s healthy.