Because you laid it out already, the Rams wanted him. And they didn’t draft Simpson just to keep the Cards from getting him. They might have taken him at 13 because they were worried that someone would beat them to him, sure, but they didn’t draft him just to poach him from the Cards like I have seen suggested.
I never used the word ‘poach’ to describe what the Ram did prior to the draft to both recruit Simpson and to keep their interest in him secret. Not sure how you are using the word here or how you got the impression that I (or others) were implying that the Rams ‘poached’ Simpson. He was not an ‘employee’ of the Cards and so it would be a stretch to claim that the Rams ‘poached’ him. Cards had an interest and it was public knowledge. Rams on the other hand kept their own interest hid and had Simpson help with the deception. The Rams did block the Cards from being available to them by taking him at #13---not sure if 'poach' is the right term. I believe teams do this all the time to keep a player from going to a rival and get him for themselves.
Now, the Cards did ‘poach’ their new HC from the Rams (LOL).
Here’s some investigative reporting on what the Rams did (Note how it refutes a lot of the lies that came out from both the Rams and QB Simpson):
Upon further review, maybe the Alabama QB landing with the Rams was already in the works
www.cbssports.com
I did not have any direct knowledge of this type of behind-the-scene manuvers—what I did have is a conviction that it goes on ALL TIME with every team trying to get the ‘one-up’ on every other team. That CBS reporting just confirms my suspicion.
It should also educate the naive Card fans here who think the Rams didn’t attempt to hide their interest from the Cards or that they didn't consider the Cards into their equation. That notion is about as simple-minded silly as anything ever posted here when it comes to billion-dollar organizations trying to outmaneuver one another for coveted players.
I’ll have to dig into the NFL regs to see where the pre-draft visit with Simpson—off the record and with the collusion of Simpson—falls. Perhaps someone will jump in with that section of the agreement. Teams are given 18 minutes at the Combine and then have the ‘30' visits. Rams do not attend the combine and do not ‘do’ the ‘30' visits. Both of those become public knowledge and let other teams know where a given team’s interest lie. How much time can the teams meet with draft prospects outside those two events? Rams were at the Rose Bowl with an early interest in Simpson.
Recall that the MO got hammered when the Cards had contact with JG while he was prepping for the Eagles playoff run. Cards paid the price for that—which probably was closer to the definition of ‘poaching’ than what the Rams did.
Cards meet with Simpson with their last ‘30' visit just before the draft. Simpson took that visit and assisted the Rams by keeping his mouth shut—even after the draft. Simpson lied about meeting with the Rams and also when more info came out. Wonder if Simpson remained silent when meeting with the Cards—which makes him as much a snake as the Rams FO. MO/MB had to feel like they were 'played' by both the Rams and Simpson. He was all set to go to the Prom with someone else.
Recall that when wildfires swept through LA, the Cards and MB stepped up and invited the Rams here to have their playoff game. Wonder how quick MB will want to make that offer again?
