Barron no-show for Thursday practice at dome

ST. LOUIS -- The Rams' first-round draft pick Alex Barron was a no-show at Thursday's practice, one day after ending a two-week holdout and agreeing to a five-year contract.

Rams coach Mike Martz was not pleased with the situation.

"I have no idea where he is or what he's doing or if he's coming in September or October or November, who knows?" Martz said. "I don't know what to expect. If the kid really wanted to be here, he'd be here. I'm upset with the whole thing."

A phone message was left for Barron's agent, Roosevelt Barnes, seeking comment.

Barron ended a two-week training camp holdout Wednesday and signed a contract.

As a senior at Florida State, the offensive tackle was one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, which recognizes the country's top college offensive lineman. He was taken 19th overall in April by St. Louis.

Martz had said he did not expect Barron to be a starter by the beginning of the season. Martz gave Barron the job shortly after the draft, but demoted him to second team after the rookie struggled in a minicamp.

"You don't ever want to box a guy in, but it's going to take him some time no matter how good he is," Martz said late Wednesday after the signing. "No way he'll be ready for the opener.

"It's just too bad, but it's done. What's done is done and let's move on."

He has also been critical of the agent, saying he thought the agent was placing his own interests over the need to get the player to practice.

Barron is the first offensive lineman taken by the Rams in the first round of the draft since they made tackle Orlando Pace the top overall pick of the 1997 draft.