The St. Louis Rams traded the recently-demoted former No. 2 overall pick Jason Smith to the New York Jets on Monday in a potentially risky move that returned only 31-year-old Wayne Hunter.
The Rams initiated the trade talks and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer wanted to work with Hunter, via a pair of tweets from the NFL Network's Albert Breer:
More on Jets/Rams trade. St. Louis initiated talks, both clubs think players could use fresh starts. Both players will be in 3rd OT roles.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 28, 2012
.... Schottenheimer played a role in Hunter's arrival, believing he could add a lot in jumbo TE/swing OT role. Jets keep Howard as starter.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 28, 2012
Ryan Van Bibber of Turf Show Times added that both Hunter and Smith could benefit from having reduced expectations and pressure, as "a fair shake in either city would have been next to impossible".
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