EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Before the season-ending knee injury to left tackle Jake Long caused the St. Louis Rams to shift things around on their offensive line, there was a strong possibility that no game on the schedule would be more appealing to the right side of the line than Sunday's matchup against the Oakland Raiders.
The free-agent saga that surrounded guard Rodger Saffold's signing with Oakland then failing a physical only to return to St. Louis is still fresh in the minds of many, Saffold included. But as Rams coach Jeff Fisher pointed out Wednesday, Saffold isn't the only one who might have a little extra chip on his shoulder Sunday.
“You know [OL Joe] Barksdale's also playing a team that was his team for a year," Fisher said. "I'm sure they'll be highly motivated. Rodger's having a great year, had the little setback with the shoulder, but he's back and playing well as is Joe.”
Whatever wounds Saffold might still be carrying around for the Raiders are a bit fresher than Barksdale's. The quick refresher course goes something like this: Saffold agreed to a monster contract with the Raiders, took a physical and before the deal became official Oakland backed out.
The Raiders cited shoulder problems for Saffold, something that wasn't too far out in left field given his past injury issues. But what was strange was that the Rams, who know Saffold's health better than anyone, had no such issues. Conspiracy theorists like to point out that the Raiders took a lot of immediate heat for the size of the deal Saffold received and simply backed out under public pressure.
Regardless of what you believe, Saffold returned to St. Louis on a lucrative five-year deal. As he prepares to face the Raiders, Saffold said he's not too concerned with any sort of revenge scenario.
"I try to stay away from it so I don't get too antsy before the game but of course my energy and my passion for the game takes over when I'm playing, so who knows what I'm going to say when I'm on the field on Sunday," Saffold said.
Saffold then added a bit of a tell that this game might offer something more than his previous diplomatic response.
"All I can say is that just knowing me, knowing the way I play, I'm excited about this game and I can't wait for Sunday to roll around," Saffold said.
For what it's worth, Saffold said he has had no problems with the shoulder this year. He hasn't missed any games though he has had a few scares that have cost him chunks of three games.
Saffold's bigger challenge has been handling the constant moving between left and right guard but he has settled in on the left side since Long went to injured reserve.
"I like guard, I like tackle too," Saffold said. "It doesn't matter. I think staying at guard has helped me get better at guard so that I can see some more things that I haven't been able to see so I'm getting more and more comfortable at guard. Playing tackle is like riding a bike for me."
As for Barksdale, he actually has even deeper ties to the Raiders though he's quick to downplay them. Oakland drafted Barksdale in the third round in 2011. He spent a year and a half there before being unceremoniously released.
The Rams claimed Barksdale on waivers and he has developed into one of their most reliable linemen week to week. Like Saffold, Barksdale is saying all the right things about facing his former team though it's easy enough to gather that it's not just any other game to him either.
"There's always going to be something there because a team cut you," Barksdale said. "But at the same time, I'm trying not to make it personal because it's not about me, it's about the team. If I go out and have a great game but we lose, it's not really going to benefit anybody. So I'm more focused on the team, trying to focus in and win this game."
Although they might not admit it beforehand, a win against the Raiders would taste a little sweeter for both Rams linemen.