I'm quite well aware of that SJ but again, he already has him at training for free. Why pay him?
Hoggs gonna cost 3 months worth of wages and be done by April, Rowe 0. He gets 2 potential future LBs to compare for the price of 1 (if you are looking at this before you compare on field talent). Even then, if he wants to sign them long term, it'll happen in April when Hogg is off contact and Rowe is... (you guessed it) free.
Comparatively, he signs Rowe for 3 months, has already seen him at training and on the field so where does he get an objective evaluation of talent? At least this way Hogg against Rowe head to head, if Hogg can't cut it against Rowe, its more likely Rowe will be signed next year than Hogg. What does Ricki really have to lose from this? ZERO.
Its a no brainer and quite smart. It really is.