ASHBURN, Va., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Washington Redskins acquired running back Trung Canidate from the St. Louis Rams Friday for guard David Loverne and a 2003 fourth-round draft pick.
The trade came just two days after the Redskins released Stephen Davis, who is third on the club's all-time rushing list, in a salary cap move.
"This was a hard decision," said St. Louis Coach Mike Martz. "I do like Trung a great deal. I think we had to make a decision between the two backs. I prefer to do that now, when we could get another draft pick. Trung didn't appear to be real happy here throughout the season. I was disappointed in him in some respects. That being said, I felt very good that he would come back and play very well this year. I think Lamar (Gordon) is a guy that fits what we do. He's a bigger back, and here was an opportunity to pick up a possible starter at guard, if not a quality backup. Obviously, with Stephen Davis being gone (from the Redskins), this is a tremendous situation for Trung."
Canidate, who turns 26 on Sunday, is a faster back than Davis, a viable threat as a receiver, and would seem to be a fit in the offense of Washington Coach Steve Spurrier.
A 2000 first-round pick, Canidate fell out of favor in St. Louis with Coach Mike Martz and dropped to third on the club's depth chart last season at running back.
Gordon gained 228 yards on 65 carries last season, caught 30 passes for 278 yards, and had three touchdowns. His playing time increased dramatically after Canidate went into Martz' doghouse and superstar Marshall Faulk tried to play through injuries.
Canidate saw a majority of playing time on special teams in 2002, when he carried 17 times for just 48 yards.
When Faulk missed two games in 2001, the Rams' high-powered offense did not miss a beat with Canidate. He carried 78 times for 441 yards and six touchdowns that season while adding 17 receptions for 154 yards.
In his first NFL start against the Jets in October 2001, Canidate rushed for a career-high 195 yards and two touchdowns. Overall, he has rushed for 495 yards and six scores during his career.
Loverne, 26, started 11 games at left guard last season after playing in 32 games the previous two years in a backup role with the New York Jets.
"He's only 26 years old," Marts said. "He started 11 games last year for them. As we looked at him on tape, he's a very physical player, he'll fit into the scheme of things for us very well."
Loverne was the second addition to the Rams' offensive line in one day after the club agreed to terms with veteran center Dave Wohlabaugh.
"This came up just within the last two days," Martz said. "I was able to look at some tape on him. We had our line coaches look at him and we're very, very excited about his play. We felt like this would be a tremendous addition, so we went ahead and did the deal."
St. Louis has five free agents along its offensive line.
Atlanta cornerback Ashley Ambrose, Philadelphia linebacker Shawn Barber, Cleveland linebacker Earl Holmes, Miami fullback-tight end Rob Konrad, Indianapolis linebacker Mike Peterson and Denver cornerback Denard Walker.
