PETE FLEPS: Ram tough

[PonyPride]

When the NFL Draft came and went and SMU linebacker Pete Fleps had not heard his name called, he thought his playing days were over. He parlayed his SMU degree into a job offer, but after the NFL lockout was lifted, he got a call from the St. Louis Rams. Fleps visited with PonyFans.com to discuss what factors played into his decision to put his business career on hold, and who has helped him the most to get acclimated to life as an NFL player.

Enjoy!

Webmasters
PonyFans.com

http://www.ponyfans.com/features/index.php?id=304

[HorsePower]

So glad to see Pete enjoying some success at the NFL level.
Thanks for catching up with him, and good luck, Pete!

[Junior]

Great to see another Mustang doing well.

[Hilltopper]

I'm an unabashed Fleps fan.
Call me crazy but I think he's playing in the NFL this year (or at the very least, on a practice squad).

[smustatesmen]

I'm a Fleps fan too. In today's STL Post-Dispatch, an article about people on the bubble looked at the different positions, and personnel rankings. Regarding linebackers, there are 10 people vying for a position and it is felt the Rams will keep 6 or 7 players. It is felt that Pete will not be one of those 6-7. Didn't say anything about practice squad teams yet.

[ponyscott]

Good luck to Pete and I know that he will do well in whatever he does, football or not.

[Big Hoss]

That guy has got a lot of heart, so I would be surprised if he didn't land on his feet somewhere in the NFL.

[cutter]

Pete doesn't appear to be included in the cuts today. so, he still has a chance to make the team.

http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/transactions.html

of course, it is a little troubling that his jersey # is '64B'.

[Lefty]

Coach Spags is a smart guy — hopefully he appreciates the greatness of Pete Fleps and keeps him.

[Junior]

their starting MLB, James Laurinitis, is nursing a chest injury. i just hope they're not keeping him solely for MLB depth in the final preseason game. some other veteran LB's have been cut, so there's a good chance he's going to make it a while.

he's a heady guy with a lot of talent and drive. my bet is worst case, practice squad. best case, 3rd string MLB. with a full season of pro practice and and prep, he could make it as a backup LB in this league i think.

[cutter]

I think he played the entire 2nd half -- at least, I kept seeing him on the field whenever I glanced back at the game. stats sheet show he only recorded an assist.
hard to guess what the coaches are thinking, but I wonder if there were mostly warm bodies on the field for a final half of the final preseason game.
I hope it makes it. I agree he has a lot going for him.
I think you have to clear waivers before making onto the practice squad (?), so I hope he at least gets there.

[Ponymon]

Pete was one of the first cuts today. It was probably more of a numbers game than any other reason for him getting cut.

http://tinyurl.com/3czja9c

[cutter]

bummer.

[cutter]

okay, I'm going to remain optimistic (maybe, foolishly).
perhaps, it's a maneuver to get him to the practice squad, since a player has to clear waivers before being placed on the practice squad. and, since every other team is preoccupied with cutting down their own rosters, it's unlikely they will pick up any one else. by the time the Sat cut deadline is met, he would have cleared waivers and be signed to the practice squad.
yeah....it's a long shot, but hey.

[Peruna94&07]

But given he already has a good job squared away, does he take a position on the practice squad? I know it worked out for McCann but how often does that happen?