As camp begins, Rams know they want Foles long-term

ST. LOUIS -- Before playing a down, Nick Foles has made a big impression on the St. Louis Rams.

They like what they've seen so much that even before the start of training camp Friday, they were talking about a contract extension.

General manager Les Snead said the Rams have been in contact with the agent for Foles, due for free agency after the season. He thought it "definitely realistic" that Foles could be signed.

"I always go to this: "Hey, if a quarterback is playing well and you're winning, having team success, you have no problem asking your owner to write the check," Snead said.

After the first full-squad workout Friday, coach Jeff Fisher said the team was discussing deals with other players, too. Foles has to top the list.

"I'm not really involved other than I'd like to see us get something worked out at some point with him," Fisher said.

Foles is staying out of the talks and concentrating on mastering the offense.

"Honestly, I just zone it out," Foles said. "We hire agents so that clears the clutter out of our brain and I trust them to do the job."

Just as in OTAs earlier this year, Foles expressed optimism he'd be with the Rams for a long time.

"I love it here, I love the players, I love the coaches, it's a great place to play," Foles said. "I haven't even played a game here yet and i love it.

"That'll take care of itself, I'm just excited to be out here playing."

If the parties can't get something done before the opener, Foles seemed fine with continuing talks into the season. The former third-round pick out of Arizona is due for his first big contract.

"It's just never been a distraction," Foles said. "I know we're fortunate to play this game, so whatever happens, happens and we'll go from there."

Snead predicted that if Foles stays healthy, which has been a big if for Rams quarterbacks lately, the franchise should end a 10-year playoff drought.

Foles missed the last half of 2014 with the Eagles due to a broken collarbone, an injury he said back in OTAs had been long healed. He has a much cleaner medical chart than Bradford, the one-time franchise quarterback who has missed the last 25 regular-season starts, plus balked at a restructured contract after last season.

Snead gives the Rams credit for rallying behind backups Austin Davis, Shaun Hill and Kellen Clements the last two seasons. But he also believes the injuries toll on the supporting cast.

"As a fan you admire, 'Hey, this team's scrappy,"' Snead said. "But they've got to have something with it."

Adding Foles and running back Todd Gurley with the 10th overall pick should help. Opening with two rookie starters on the offensive line seems to be a concern, but Fisher seems pretty confident in tackle Rob Havenstein and guard Jamon Brown, the second- and third-round picks.

Gurley began camp on the active roster, although he'll probably be restricted to individual work for a while while rehabbing from left knee surgery that cut short his final season at Georgia. Passing the rookie conditioning test, he said, was a beast nine months into rehab.

"It was brutal, it was hot, I was laid out," Gurley said.

Fisher wasn't sure whether Gurley would be ready to play "in Week 1 or Week 6," but didn't want to put him on the PUP list to start camp to keep him involved.

"We're not going to take any chances or any risks or subject him to any danger, but you can kind of read the tea leaves -- we think he's ahead of schedule," Fisher said. "This is going to give him a chance to know the offense inside and out."

Gurley said he last met with the team doctor about two weeks ago for a routine checkup.

"Everything's been going good and I'm progressing, that's the main thing for me," Gurley said. "It's about to be nine months, I think I'm doing pretty good."