Rams Make a Smart Move and Sign Quarterback Nick Foles

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Without having to take one snap in an St. Lois Rams jersey, former Arizona Quarterback Nick Foles inks a deal with the Rams.

After recovering from a heartbreaking broken collar-bone injury early last season with Chip Kelley’s Philadelphia Eagles, Quarterback Nick Foles was traded to the St. Louis Rams for No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford and a fifth-round draft pick. In true Nick Foles humble and classy fashion, he was excited about the trade.

When things go well for Foles, the media sings his praises, and when things fall a little short, they torch him.  Did Mark Sanchez really do a better job than Foles last season in Philly? Their stats were pretty much the same except Foles played one less game and lost two fewer games (8 games 6-2 record) than Sanchez (9 games 5-4 record).

It was too bad that Nick suffered that freak injury, we will never know if he would have improved over the season. Or maybe, as we are all finding out, there were issues in the locker room and the team didn’t have the chemistry it had in the prior season?

Nick Foles threw his way into the Hall of Fame while playing with the Eagles throwing a record seven touchdowns in one game. I will never forget that game, it was a game of redemption. At that point, there were a number of NFL scouts kicking themselves for passing him over in the draft.

While at Arizona, Foles was stellar passing for over 400 yards in a number of games. In 2011 alone, Foles threw for over or very close to 400 yards in seven out of 12 games.

Let’s run through some of Nick Foles Career highlights:

  • Westlake High School, Texas: Foles played for the same high school of star NFL quarterback Drew Brees. A two-year starter for the football team, Foles threw for 5,658 yards and 56 touchdowns, breaking most school records previously held by Brees
  • Westlake High School, Texas: Foles also excelled at basketball, where he started three years, twice received team MVP honors, and was recruited by Georgetown, Baylor, and Texas

  • Michigan State: Played for one year then transferred to Arizona and had to red shirt his 2008 freshman season.
  • University of Arizona: He took over from Matt Scott in 2009 in the beginning of the season, he made 260 of 409 pass attempts for 2486 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions

    University of Arizona: In 2010, his junior year, passed for 3,191 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, and that included missing two games due to injury

  • University of Arizona: In his senior season, 2011, Foles completed 387 of 560 passes for 4,334 yards and 28 touchdowns. He ranked first in the Pacific-12 Conference and fifth among all NCAA Division I FBS players with an average of 352.58 yards of total offense per game. He also ranked second in the Pac-12 and 20th among all FBS players in total passing yardage.
  • Oct 26, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles (9) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (18) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Eagles 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

    University of Arizona: Graduated with a degree in Communications.

  • Eagles: Foles was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round (88th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft
  • Eagles: He became the second quarterback to post a perfect passer rating (158.3) while passing for more than 400 yards in one game (only seven QB’s have reached this goal more than once, Peyton Manning having done it four times) He is in the Hall of Fame for this feat
  • Eagles: Holds the best TD-INT ratio in a single season, with 27 touchdown passes and only 2 interceptions, which he accomplished during the 2013 season

    Eagles:

    More from Cats in the Pros

    I will never forget being at the USC Game in Los Angeles on October 1, 2011. USC was ahead, it was the end of the game, and in true Foles fashion, he started bringing the Wildcats back with a chance to win or tie with a chance to win.

    There was one play in particular where the Trojans left Foles with a wide open field to run, and I was yelling at the top of my lungs from the top of the stands, “Run Nick run!” It was a miracle, he did run, I was in shock! The good news was that he ran for a crucial first down. The Wildcats lost 41-48, but he never gave up and we did have a chance to win.

    I think his college career would have been even more successful if he was allowed to run or wanted to run. I will never know the real reason. He did run three touchdowns into the end zone in 2009, one in 2010 and none in 2011.

    His Eagles 2013 season highlight film is just plain exciting to watch. It is clear that Nick Foles learned how to run with the ball and score running touchdowns when he was with the Eagles making him a more dangerous and dynamic offensive player.

    Here are Foles 2013 highlights for your enjoyment:

    Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher announced on Friday that the team signed a two-year contract extension for and $24.5 million. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter Foles is under contract and his position solidified for the next three seasons as he had one year left from Philly for a total of $26 million.

    Coach Fisher explained it simply, “He wants to be here and we want him here right now. He’s done a lot of good things for us in a short period of time.”

    More here….

    NFL.com captured Foles comments post signing

    :

    "“It’s something the team had talked to my people about, and I want to be here,” Foles said. “I want to focus on my teammates. I want to be all-in. I don’t want to have to worry about contract issues or anything. To me, that can be selfish. I’m very fortunate to be here. I’m fortunate to have a contract. To me, I’m very thankful.”"

    More from ESPN’s Antonietta Collins and Nick Wagner:

    My advise to Wildcats fans, keep up with Nick Foles career, I have a feeling he is going to get back to the Pro-Bowl and more.

    BEARDOWN NICK! You will always be in our hearts, congratulations and good luck this season.

    Next: Time for Wildcat Football...only 26 days..