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Pitt in the Pros

Former Pitt Defensive Back Paris Ford Released By Los Angeles Rams

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Paris Ford was part of the roster cuts made on Monday by the Los Angeles Rams.

The former Pitt defensive back was fighting an uphill battle to make the Rams roster after not getting selected in April NFL Draft and joining them as a non-drafted free agent.

Ford did not record a tackle in the Rams first two exhibition games so this move does not come as any surprise. Ford will have to wait and see whether he is able to stay with the Rams organization as a member of their practice squad.

The talented safety made headlines back in November when he decided to opt out of the Pitt football season after seven games to concentrate exclusively on preparing for NFL Draft. At the time of that decision, Ford was leading Pitt in both tackles (45) and interceptions (3). He led the Panthers in both those statistics during the 2019 season as well (97 tackles and 3 interceptions).

Two other members of Pitt’s 2020 secondary are working to make the roster of their respective team as safety Damar Hamlin is with the Buffalo Bills and cornerback Jason Pinnock with the NY Jets.

 

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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James from Florida
James from Florida
2 years ago

No surprise here, he is talented but so are many others in the NFL.

Tyler Purkey
Tyler Purkey
2 years ago

I always want to ultimately see Pitt guys succeed, but I can’t feel bad for him. Hopefully this serves as a lesson to anyone who would look to opt out mid-season. Teams want to see what you do on the field, not at the combine. Take this as a humbling moment, and now work harder than you ever have in your life, because talent alone won’t make you successful as a pro.

Realitychek
Realitychek
2 years ago
Reply to  Tyler Purkey

so you don’t think he had enough tape in his career for them to “see what you can do on the field”? The reality is he’s just not that good, and tape showed that at Pitt. Too small to play NFL safety, Slow and a below average tackler. Likes to freelance too much and break off assignments.

Tyler Purkey
Tyler Purkey
2 years ago
Reply to  Realitychek

That wasn’t a comment exclusive to Ford…more for anyone who plans to opt out in the future. Ford had a decent body of work but simple fact is that the optics of quitting on a team mid-season is going to be a major red flag for any NFL team, regardless of the reasoning. The “too small to play in the NFL” is a pointless argument, as its been repeatedly proven wrong, and we had one of the best off-script safeties play here with the Steelers so not sure that’s a huge negative, but Ford wanted to rest on his laurels… Read more »

Realitychek
Realitychek
2 years ago
Reply to  Tyler Purkey

You aren’t comparing Ford to Troy are you? Players opted out for the whole year, it’s crazy times. With Ewers skipping his senior year of HS and going to Ohio State it’s only a matter of time before you see kids with one year entering the NFL at 18
Ford just isn’t an NFL player, and nothing wrong with that. Had a nice little college career.

Realitychek
Realitychek
2 years ago
Reply to  Tyler Purkey

And do you know how many first rounders opted out? No red flags for Sewell, Parsons, Chase, etc. if you can play they will take you.

TheDL
TheDL
2 years ago
Reply to  Tyler Purkey

Well I think that teams were hoping that a guy who opted out mid-season would be in great shape for the combine, but Ford had some of the worst speed times of anyone there. Not a good look for his commitment level. Hope the best for him though.

Tyler Purkey
Tyler Purkey
2 years ago
Reply to  TheDL

Agreed. That’s two strikes against him before he even made it to the draft.

Justin Dietrich
Justin Dietrich
2 years ago

Quitters never win.

Let's Believe
Let's Believe
2 years ago

Undersized, for every big hit, he misses a tackle, ran a horrible 40 at the combine after quitting on his team to focus on the draft, unable to control his temper and can be uncoachable, arguing with coaches on the sidelines isn’t a good look.

PittBand
PittBand
2 years ago

Expect advice from NFL coaches probably goes like this “you took advice from those who didn’t know what they were talking about, it shows poor decision-making”. Goes for the big tackle cut by Minnesota who opted out from the whole year, too.

TheDL
TheDL
2 years ago
Reply to  PittBand

The big tackle cut by Minnesota, Jalen Twyman, got shot as an innocent bystander and is recovering from gunshot wounds. Slightly different circumstances from Ford.

kevin
kevin
2 years ago
Reply to  TheDL

Yes, but I don’t think he was drafted either.
He had the talent to have been a top 3 rounder, if he would have played last year.

Pittyeah!
Pittyeah!
2 years ago
Reply to  PittBand

WAYYYY DIFFERENT. Jalen Twyman got shot. That’s why he was released!!! It had NOTHING to do with him sitting out. Jamar Chase sat out the whole year and he was the NFL Offensive rookie of the mon in September. If you can play they keep you.

kevin
kevin
2 years ago

I have said this for years; I’m not sure who’s giving Pitt players advice on the NFL.
As far as Ford goes, he is way to slow for the NFL to play freelance, and not coachable to fit in a system. If he ran a 4.3, then he would still be on a team!

It’s nice to know that replacing him shouldn’t be that difficult. He was always out of position waiting to make a big hit.

I really do wish him the best. H2P!!!

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