Even among professional athletes, the elite of the elite among those to ever play a sport, there are levels of greatness that can elevate you to various levels of immortality. There is single-game (or even single-play) greatness, such as The Tackle that won Super Bowl XXXIV for the Rams and won Mike Jones a hero's welcome in any St Louis establishment. Another level above that is career-long, Hall Of Fame greatness, a ring just cracked by Marshall Faulk with Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt potentially waiting in the wings. You get your number retired and your name hung from the rafters for future generations to see. 

There is yet another level of greatness, even among Hall of Famers. A special circle of honor is reserved for those who change the game itself. Deacon Jones was one of those.

As perhaps the most feared member of the Rams' legendary Fearsome Foursome, the Deacon's prolifics for dropping quarterbacks demanded that a new term enter the football lexicon. THE SACK. Though the sack was not an official stat in his time, researchers at the Pro Football Hall of Fame have accredited him with two seasons with 22 sacks, and a third with 21. No other defensive lineman in NFL history has more than one season with 20. 

Moreover, his trademark helmet-splitting headslap was so lethal in its effectiveness that the league had to rewrite the rulebook to ban it. 

Deacon Jones, also in '09 LA Times piece: "The headslap was not my invention, but Rembrandt, of course, did not invent painting."

— Mike Sando, ESPN.com (@espn_nfcwest) June 4, 2013

When you are so dominant that the league must re-level the playing field for everyone else, you can be recognized as the elite of the elite of the elite. As Bob Gibson's dominance led baseball to lower the pitching mound, as George Mikan and Wilt Chamberlain changed the rules for big men in the NBA, so Deacon Jones changed the NFL. 

We reflect on this on the day of his passing. It is a sad day for Rams nation, but we can be clear-eyed as we celebrate his life. He became a legend in his lifetime and got to enjoy it well into old age, which is as much as any of us can ask for. 

This weekend marked the first time that the Rams rookies got on the field to work with Rams coaches. Seven draft picks, 22 undrafted free agents, and a busload of "tryout" players -- promised nothing but a hotel room and a chance to earn a coach's eye -- made their way to Earth City and strapped on Rams blue and gold for the first time. 

Those that were drafted are pretty well known by Rams fans at this point, but only the die-est of the die-hards have started looking at the rookie free agents. However, Les Snead and Jeff Fisher already put six UDFAs on their roster in year one of their rapid rebuild, so a few of these new names are bound to make an impact. 

Here are three whose names already appear worth watching in the early going. 

We've spent months reading scouting reports, scouring film cutups (most of them by the indispensible Draft Breakdown crew), and debating with each other the games and playing styles of these prospects. But how well do we actually know the newest members of the St Louis Rams? 

("Well," says the twice-divorced itinerant philosopher in the room, "how well do we truly KNOW anyone?" That guy can shut up. We're trying to write an article here.) 

How can we get to know these future millionaires? The easiest channel is their Twitter profile. I'm actually of the belief that a person's social media profile says a lot about them. Not everything, to be sure, but it shows us how they present themselves, and how much they know about how to present themselves. Plus, it's easy stalkings and even easier pickings for someone like you or me that isn't about to be on first-name basis with them otherwise. 

For informed insight, I enlisted the help of Brent Lancaster (@lannyosu), a Rams fan who engages with players on a regular basis and is finely attuned to discrete shades of online personality.  

We looked at players' twitter feeds in the period just before the draft, when online psyches are straining under the stresses of the biggest and longest job interview of their lives. On one hand, they ahve no doubt been implored by their agents to be on their best behavior, as a clumsy offhand remark might get blown out of proportion when every aspect of their lives is under the microscope. On the other hand, the amount of pressure placed on these players during this time begs for a release. 

Ready? Science. Go! 

When Tavon Austin arrived at Rams Park this morning, the first man to greet him was his new quarterback. Sam Bradford was all smiles (and a little bit mustache) as Les Snead and Jeff Fisher just handed him the keys to the most uniquely dynamic playmaker in the draft. 

Imagine how he must feel now that the Rams have added his partner in crime. While Austin piled up the highlight reel runs, Bailey piled up the stats. The two worked defenses ragged inside and out, and personally put 37 of Geno Smith's 43 passing touchdowns in the end zone. The Mountaineers often lined up Bailey on one side, and Austin on the other, and forced defenses to pick their poison. Someone was getting open, and that someone was a threat to score. 

I'm a ST. Louis RAM baby! @tayaustin01 what they gone do with us man! Can't wait to touchdown.#RamsNation talk to me

—STEDMAN BAILEY (@iamSB3) April 27, 2013

After the dust settled from a crazy first round of the draft last night, the Rams were left with two players they highly coveted (Tavon Austin and Alec Ogletree) but also a long wait later today as they have no picks in the second round.  However, with two selections in round three they are still well positioned to fill some of their remaining needs with quality prospects.  As I did earlier in the week for the two picks in the first round, here are my Top 10 likely targets for the Rams in round three.

#10 - Sanders Commings, DB, Georgia

Commings would represent a versatile defensive back that could fill the 4^th corner role and play some safety if needed.  He has good height for the position.

#9 – Shamarko Thomas, S, Syracuse

While I love his speed and aggressiveness, I don’t like his height.  However, he was in for a pre-draft visit so the Rams must have at least some interest in this hard-hitter.  He would be a candidate to replace Mikell at strong safety.

#8 – David Quessenberry, OL, San Jose St

Quessenberry is a versatile prospect who could play almost anywhere on the line and would serve as an ideal backup at guard and center because, let’s face it, every projected starter on the line missed time with injuries last year. 

What seems like an eternity ago during the Devaney and Spagnuolo regime, draft day was tightly regimented, sacrificing athleticism to avoid character risk in draft pick after draft pick. 

A few picks like James Laurinaitis and Rodger Saffold worked out, but the others fell flat and ultimately failed in building the foundation the “four pillars” approach was supposed to provide. 

Enter Les Snead and the new four pillared mantra of St. Louis Rams football: athleticism, risk, potential and speed. 

Beginning with the 2012 draft, the Rams took chances on unfinished products (Michael Brockers) and character risks (Janoris Jenkins), but the gambles paid off. 

The song remained the same as the 2013 first round came to a close as the Rams traded up for West Virginia dynamo Tavon Austin and nabbed Georgia outside linebacker Alec Ogletree with the 30th pick. 

Austin’s detractors cite his diminutive size, predicting injury in the hard hitting NFL. 

But, Snead and Jeff Fisher saw the potential gamebreaker and explosive receiver that dominated defense after defense in college, catching over 100 passes, amassing nearly 3,000 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns. 

Size be damned. 

Ogletree had more significant concerns, finding himself in trouble over and over at Georgia, but his potential is undeniable with ridiculous closing speed and the potential to keep the athletic tight ends and rushing quarterbacks that have proliferated the NFC West in check. 

Character questions be damned. 

It’s obviously too early to judge how Austin and Ogletree will perform in the NFL, but the potential is there, be it to boom or bust. 

Snead has made one thing clear in St. Louis, he’s going by the beat of his own drum and will move up and down in the draft to get the players with the most potential to make the Rams better. 

Some picks will inevitably fizzle out, that’s the reality of the draft, but you have to admire Snead for just taking a chance that Billy Devaney avoided like the plague. 

The four pillars approach is firmly in the rearview mirror and the “R” in Rams stands for a new word: Risk.

Follow @BrennanJSmith

Say this for Rams GM Les Snead, he is not afraid of the moment. You might even say he lives for it. Our young GM was a key part of the Falcons war room that went all-in for Julio Jones in 2011; he just made his first big bet on an offensive playmaker tonight. 

The Rams just did exactly what they wanted to do in the first round. Exactly.

— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) April 26, 2013

For the second year in a row, the St Louis Rams have found themselves at the center of the NFL Draft's most dramatic moment, making a huge deal involving its most highly sought-after player. Last year, the rebuilding Rams had to step away from the tantalizing prospect of Robert Griffin III; this year, they reversed course and outfought a number of teams -- including the heartbroken New York Jets -- for Tavon Austin.  

Then, as the Rams held the 22nd pick, a mad panic of offensive linemen (Justin Pugh? Kyle Long?) swept through the lower half of the round pushing highly desireable defensive playmakers down the draft board. This, and the easy connection between Snead and his former boss Thomas Dimitroff, led to a trade down to pick #30, and yet another moment in the prime time spotlight. 

After ignoring frantic calls from Minnesota (who traded most of the rest of their draft to take Cordarelle Patterson at pick 29), they used that moment on an intimidator, Georgia's hard-hitting linebacker Alec Ogletree. While not the most polished player at the position, Ogletree fits the Rams' "bigger, stronger, faster" profile to a tee. He also brings some problem-child baggage to Rams Park with him, continuing another pattern under Jeff Fisher's tenure.   

RGiii for Brockers, Jenkins, Pead, Rok, Ogletree, 3rd and 6th this year, 1st rd in 2014.... Yes, Les Snead is awesome. #ramsdraft #rams

— T. Shields, Esq.(@Shields3L) April 26, 2013

Both Austin and Ogletree are linked in some fashion with the Redskins' iconic quarterback. Ogletree as a significant part of that bounty of picks, and Austin as a member of the fraternity of new-breed (and high-risk) NFL playmakers. 

Longtime friend of the site Brent (@LannyOSU) said it best after the Austin pick: the Rams are building a roster based on creating athletic mismatches.

On offense, with Chris Givens able to win deep routes within five steps, Jared Cook and Brian Quick able to overtop most any defensive back out there, and Tavon Austin able to out-quick any slow-footed linebacker left underneath, the Rams suddenly have the raw pieces of a schematic nightmare for opposing defenses. 

On defense, Ogletree (6'2", 240 lbs) brings the same physical demeanor as fellow enforcer Jo-Lonn Dunbar (6'0", 225 lbs), but delivers a bigger, faster, heavier package of hurt. 

Now it remains for the Rams' coaches to get the most out of these talents, but that work begins next week. As a GM, Les Snead has done his job of giving them game-changing raw material to work with.