Not long ago, Willie Parker was regarded as one of the best young tailbacks in the NFL. But then, late in the 2007 season, he broke a leg against the Rams, and he really hasn’t been the same since.
In 2008, injuries limited Parker to 11 games, and he rushed for under 800 yards for the first time since his rookie year of 2004. Last year, he lost his starting job after three games -- and he never started again.
One of the younger free-agent tailbacks on the market, Parker has generated little interest in free agency. He visited the Redskins, who later signed Larry Johnson.
Now, he’ll visiting the team against which his career became derailed more than two years ago: the Rams. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the visit will occur on Thursday and Friday.
In St. Louis, Parker would serve as a backup to Steve Jackson. And this suggests that Parker has given up on any shot at being the top dog in 2010, or beyond.