Rams Have a Passion for This Free Agent

Scott Linehan, former Miami Dolphin offensive coordinator who is now coach of the St. Louis Rams, sees positives in picking up running back John David Washington as a free agent.

Washington, a prep star at Campbell Hall in North Hollywood and a record-setting running back at Division II Morehouse College in Atlanta, is the son of actor Denzel Washington.

“This is a good story,” Linehan said. “I hope he’s a good running back.”

Coincidentally, Linehan’s brother-in-law is actor Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ.”

Linehan envisions Denzel Washington and Caviezel possibly showing up at training camp the same day.

“I hate to tell Jim, but I think most of them will be looking for Denzel’s autograph,” Linehan said. “But they should start with Jesus first.”

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A forgotten team: Maybe the younger Washington should have signed with another NFL team. Wrote Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “Tennessee fans were stunned that he didn’t remember the Titans.”

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Trivia time: What famous actor began his career as the public address announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field? (Hint: He was heard but not seen on an old ABC show.)

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A NASCAR fan too: Reader Bill Jacoby points out that on NASCAR’s website, the rumor mill indicates Kobe Bryant is changing his jersey number next season from 8 to 24 because he has switched allegiances from Dale Earnhardt Jr., who drives the No. 8 Budweiser car, to Jeff Gordon, who drives the No. 24 DuPont car.

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Crashing, NBA style: Mike Downey of the Chicago Tribune, on the Miami Heat’s James Posey -- suspended for his Game 3 hit on the Chicago Bulls’ Kirk Hinrich -- claiming it wasn’t intentional: “Oh, please. The last time anybody got blindsided like that, an air bag came out.”

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He’s everywhere: Bob Costas, speaking at Monday night’s “Sports Emmy Awards” in New York, had this to say about Keith Jackson’s retirement: “Great, another job Cris Collinsworth is going to want.”

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The table is full: NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol, in announcing Tuesday that Sterling Sharpe would be an NFL studio analyst, working with Costas and Collinsworth, said Sharpe was the last piece of the puzzle.

“We stopped ordering chairs,” Ebersol said.

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Looking back: On this day in 1986, Bill Shoemaker, 54, won his fourth Kentucky Derby, riding longshot Ferdinand to a last-to-first dash for a 2 1/4 -length victory over Bold Arrangement.

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Trivia answer: John Forsythe, who was on a “Dynasty” reunion show on CBS Tuesday night. Forsythe, the voice of Ebbets Field in 1948, was the voice of Charlie on the 1970s hit “Charlie’s Angels.”

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And finally: TNT’s Kenny Smith, to guest analyst Doc Rivers, the Boston Celtics’ coach: “We’d better not see you [in the studio] next year. If we see you next year, we might see you for a long time.”

Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com