Jason Brown Picks the Rams

Coming off a stellar 2008 season, Baltimore's Jason Brown wanted to be paid as if he was a top NFL center. The Ravens balked at that idea; St. Louis did not. So even though there were rumblings that Brown did not really want to be a Ram, he couldn't turn down a whopping five-year, $37.5 million contract when St. Louis put it on the table.

According to ESPN's John Clayton, Baltimore topped out its offer to Brown at about $6 million a year -- a number that St. Louis flew past. Of Brown's new contract, $20 million will be guaranteed.

Let's be honest: St. Louis needed this, even if it did come at a premium cost. The Rams offensive line has been miserable over the past couple of seasons -- just ask Trent Green and Marc Bulger. Better yet, ask the training staff that works on them repeatedly.

Brown can slide in at the guard position if Richie Incognito leaves via free agency, but he can also take over the center position. It's that versatility that made Brown such a commodity to begin with.

Back in Baltimore ... tough day for the Ravens. They lost Bart Scott to the Jets early, then lost Brown to the Rams late. If Ray Lewis takes off for another destination this weekend, it's going to be a disappointing last straw.

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LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches as Mo Williams #2 takes a shoe to the face by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a steal in the closing seconds of the first half at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 8, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images)

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Brazil's Diogo (L) vies for the ball with Paraguay's Hernan Perez during their U-20 South American Championship football match in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela on February 8, 2009.(Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images )

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A Dalmatian looks at its handler as a judge goes to touch the dog during the first day of the 2009 Westminster Dog Show in New York February 9, 2009.(Lucas Jackson, Reuters)

Lucas Jackson, Reuters

Denver Nuggets forward Chris Anderson touches his head during a time out in the first half of their NBA basketball game with the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey February 7, 2009. (Ray Stubblebine, Reuters)

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Margarita Marbler, of Austria, skis to a bronze medal finish the ladies moguls freestyle FIS World Cupskiing qualification at Cypress mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP)

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West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant (25) is fouled by Providence guard Jeff Xavier (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. West Virginia won 86-59. (Don Wright, AP)

Don Wright, AP

Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, top, celebrates the Tigers' 62-60 win over Kansas in Columbia, Missouri, Monday, February 9, 2009. (Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT)

Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT

David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils fights Erik Reitz #4 of the New York Rangers during their game on February 9, 2009 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (Al Bello, Getty Images)

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Driver Patrick Sheltra (60) begins to spin coming out of the fourth turn during the ARCA 200 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.

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Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives serves the ball, in this multiple exposure, to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their Fed Cup tennis match in Brno February 7, 2009.

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