By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

(3:30 p.m. Update) Rams Sign Six

-         The Rams opened their offseason program on Monday and running back Steven Jackson was the only player not in attendance. Don’t fret; Jackson’s absence was excused via phone conversation with coach Steve Spagnuolo.

-         The attendance was a good sign but is also pretty common when a new coach is in. Spagnuolo said the guys seemed fired up but hoped they still have that same fire at the end of the offseason and into training camp.

-         The Rams are relatively healthy as receiver Derek Stanley is the only player who won’t be participating right away. Stanley, you might recall, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee on Dec. 14 against Seattle. Spagnuolo said the Rams might have some others who are limited but everyone aside from Stanley would be participating in some capacity.

-         In order to fill out the roster, the Rams re-signed guard Mark Setterstrom and defensive end Eric Moore and added quarterback Jeff Otis, defensive back Marcus Brown, tight end Eric Butler and center Tim Mattran to the roster.

-         Setterstrom, of course, earned a starting job at the end of 2006 and the opening stages of 2007. But he’s suffered season-ending knee injuries that have cost him 29 games in the past two years. He was a restricted free agent that the Rams non-tendered but brought back at a lesser salary.

-         Moore played in seven games for the Rams last year and has been with the team since 2006.

-         Otis has St. Louis connections after growing up in the area and attending CBC High School before attending college at Columbia. Otis is the son of former St. Louis Cardinal Jim Otis. He’s had cups of coffee with Arizona, Kansas City and Oakland and with the Frankfurt Galaxy of the defunct NFL Europe.

-         Brown was an undrafted rookie out of McNeese State who landed in Arizona on the practice squad in 2008. He also spent time with the Bengals, who released him earlier this month.

-         Butler played at Mississippi State and entered the league as a rookie free agent with the Giants. He spent last year on New York’s practice squad and some time with Indianapolis.

-         Mattran played at Stanford and spent last season on the practice squads in Minnesota and Jacksonville.