The Rams have signed wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker to a one-year contract. Sims-Walker had 43 catches with a 13.1-yard average and seven touchdowns last year for the Jaguars.

For the first time in 45 years, there will be no Hall of Fame preseason game. It's much more than just a lost preseason game for the Canton, Ohio community. The labor dispute between NFL owners and players forced the league to call off the annual Hall of Fame game between Chicago and St. Louis scheduled for Aug. 7. It's a financial blow to the Hall of Fame, which could lose about $1.5 million out of its $20 million annual operating budget. And it's a big loss for the community, which gets more than just a financial boost from the event. "We're such a football community," said Joanne Murray, director of the Hall of Fame festival for the local Chamber of Commerce. "From the staff to the man on the street, I doubt you'd find a single person who would say they're not disappointed. "We're just going to have to get through this unusual year and embrace the other events."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced Friday that the league has canceled the Aug. 7 Hall of Fame game between the Bears and Rams because of the short timeline that would be required for the game to be played as scheduled. "We are unfortunately going to have to cancel the Hall of Fame game this year," Goodell said from the owners' meeting in Atlanta. "The time is just too short, and we feel it's important for all 32 teams to be operating with the same number of preseason games, and also starting camp at the same date or near the same date."

Rams running back Steven Jackson has yet to take part in any of the team's player-led workouts this offseason, but he's not going to apologize for his absence. Jackson told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he doesn't believe his attendance indicates what type of teammate he is. "One: Just because a particular person doesn't show up for the workouts doesn't mean he's bucking the system or he's not a team player," Jackson said. "Two: I'm a father of two now, and we have no insurance to cover us in case of an injury in those organized workouts. So I put myself in a difficult situation if I do that. And finally, I think I have earned the trust of my teammates who know I'm going to do my job. "So, if I'm missing (from the workouts) or another guy is missing, it's not fair to point out who's not there. It's not reflective of being a team player or not being one. Look, running five-yard routes is not going to make me a better player. But the work I'm putting in during my (private) workouts is going to do that. I think the trust I've built with my teammates lets them know who can be counted on."

Despite the lengthy NFL lockout, the Rams have enjoyed a season ticket renewal rate of 94 percent. According to St. Louis COO Kevin Demoff, that is the highest renewal rate for the team in a decade. The Rams already have sold 4,000 new season tickets, which doubles what they sold in new season tickets a year ago. "Some fans have wanted to wait for a resolution on the labor front, which is understandable," Demoff said. "But from what we can tell, everyone is excited to jump on board once football is back."

The Hall of Fame Game, the NFL's traditional preseason opener, is still scheduled to be played Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed as much to NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Friday night, and a Hall of Fame official said Saturday that most of the legwork for the game is done and the folks in Canton are ready. "We only know what we know," said Joe Horrigan, the Hall's vice president of communications and exhibits. "We had not heard it was canceled (as the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday night, citing two sources), so we contacted Greg Aiello through email ourselves, and he replied that it was not true. Everything, as far as we know, is the same as it was. ... The lockout's continuing, but no games are canceled, and that's the information we have. "That's led us to continue to prepare as if the game is going to be played. Our preparation, at this point, is pretty much complete. There's nothing to suggest it won't be played, so we're probably more anxious than anything else."

The NFL lockout, which has dragged on for four months, may have already led to the cancellation of the Hall of Fame game between the Bears and Rams. Two sources said Friday that the game is already canceled. A source outside the Bears said the teams were informed by the league, and a team source said word was out among key figures in the organization.

The Rams are preparing for the eventual opening of the free agent market by targeting some familiar faces. In addition to veteran free-agent defensive tackle Fred Robbins, who played under St. Louis head coach Steve Spagnuolo in New York, Rams might be very interested in Eagles safety Quintin Mikell, Giants tackle Barry Cofield and Vikings linebacker Ben Leber. Mikell played under Spagnuolo in Philly when the head coach was an assistant with the Eagles.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is still on track to hold the annual Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 7 between the Bears and Rams, the first game on the NFL's preseason calendar, according to hall president Steve Perry. "We're making all plans to have the game on time. We've heard from both parties -- the owners and the players -- and they've expressed their desire to have the game. So, that's our plan," Perry said. "Ticket sales are lagging behind where they were compared to this time last year," Perry acknowledged. "That's understandable. There is some uncertainty out there. But we're planning to have the game. Nobody has told us otherwise. In fact, both sides have told us they want to play the game."

Mark Clayton is pleased with his recovery from the knee surgery that prematurely ended his 2010 season, and now he's looking forward to signing a new deal with the Rams, according to an NFL.com report. Clayton was back on his old campus at the University of Oklahoma last week, catching passes from former Sooners Heisman Trophy winner Jason White. Clayton had hoped to have a new contract signed with the Rams before the NFL lockout hit March 12, but the two sides ran out of time.