Rams trade former No. 1 pick Tye Hill to the Falcons

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams cut ties to their top two picks from the 2006 draft Tuesday, trading cornerback Tye Hill to the Atlanta Falcons for an undisclosed draft pick and releasing tight end Joe Klopfenstein.

Hill missed 20 games the past two seasons, including the last 12 game of 2008 with a knee injury.

"We wish Tye all the best," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "It's not an easy part of the business. We do wish him well. We feel like we did what is in the best interest of the team."

Hill started 10 games as a rookie and had three interceptions and a fumble recovery. He'd been working behind Jonathan Wade, a third-round pick in 2007, during the preseason.

"News like that always shocks you," Wade said. "Because that happened, it doesn't necessarily change anything. It could very easily have been me. When things like this happen, you have to roll with the punches."

In three seasons, Klopfenstein totaled 33 receptions for 386 yards and two touchdowns. He was behind Randy McMichael, Daniel Fells and Billy Bajema.

"I'm not going to go into specifics of why," Spagnuolo said. "All those guys were evaluated, we make our decisions and move on."

The Rams have only two players remaining from the 2006 draft, defensive end Victor Adeyanju (fourth round) and offensive lineman Mark Setterstrom (seventh round). That was Scott Linehan's first season as coach.

The Rams also released three undrafted rookies: center Daniel Sanders, cornerback Marcus Brown and wide receiver Jarrett Byers. Rookie wide receiver Brooks Foster, a fifth-round pick who underwent ankle surgery Aug. 21, was placed on injured reserve.

Noteworthy

* S. James Butler missed practice to attend the birth of a son.

* QB Marc Bulger (finger) worked in the shotgun with the scout team but still has not taken any direct center snaps.

* LB Larry Grant (sprained knee) was hurt Monday and is out at least two weeks.