Rams sign Easley

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May 24, 2016 at 4:52 pm #44608

zn
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Agamemnon wrote:

RFA in 2017, from a previous post in this thread.

Thanks.

June 6, 2016 at 9:28 am #45445

Agamemnon
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http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/the_blitz/2016/04/patriots_dt_alan_branch_disputes_reports_that_dominique_easley_was

Patriots DT Alan Branch disputes reports that Dominique Easley was a problem
Chris Mason Tuesday, April 19, 2016

After Dominique Easley was released by the Patriots last week, reports surfaced from some anonymous sources saying Easley was an issue in the locker room.

Patriots defensive lineman Alan Branch painted a different picture this afternoon on Herald Radio’s Fargo Street.

“I definitely don’t think he’s a locker room cancer,” Branch said. “There’s plenty of guys that have been labeled like that, and they may be extra in the locker room and all that, but when it comes to Dominique, when he’s in there and he’s talking, he’s always joking around. The guys respect him.”

Easley was flagged as an injury-risk when he came into the league, that’s why he fell to the Patriots at No. 29 in the 2014 draft. He had a pair of ACL tears at the University of Florida, and finished both of his seasons in Foxboro on injured reserve.

One of the reports attacked Easley’s effort in rehabbing from injury. Branch said Easley’s teammates were well aware of how hard he was working to get back on the field.

“This guy was jump-roping for over an hour on one leg, both legs, he was going back and forth. Doing extra work,” Branch said. “Most people had seen it on the team, I felt. He’s a tireless worker. He’s going to put the effort in to be a good player.”

Easley passed through waivers last week unclaimed. He remains a free agent.

Entering his 10th season in the NFL, Branch has seen a lot of defensive linemen come and go. In the film room, he believed Easley was ahead of his peers.

“I’ve seen a lot of young guys at this position in my career, and he was almost a step ahead of guys when it comes to, just preparation and wanting to be a great player and doing the things that he needed,” Branch said.

Bill Belichick is notoriously stern when it comes to punctuality, but Branch saw no red flags with that either.

“Every day we go in there, he’s not a guy that’s late,” Branch said. “He doesn’t come to the meetings late. He doesn’t cause distractions in the meetings either.”

Branch said the respect of Easley wasn’t limited to the defense, but expanded to both sides of the ball.

“The offensive and defensive line, because that’s where our wheelhouse is, people respect him on both ends,” Branch said. “I think he’s a great guy. I was surprised that someone actually put that out there, but from my perspective he’s a really good dude.”

Agamemnon

June 6, 2016 at 2:54 pm #45463

bnw
Blocked

^^^^ That is good to know. I hope its true.

The upside to being a Rams fan is heartbreak.

Sprinkles are for winners.

June 7, 2016 at 11:46 pm #45583

zn
Moderator

Dominique Easley looks for fresh start with Rams after turbulent two years with Patriots

JACK WANG

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/easley-718516-defensive-rams.html

OXNARD – “Locker room cancer.”

“Disrespectful and irresponsible.”

“Entitled.”

This is how Dominique Easley was described eight weeks ago in the Boston Globe, with anonymous sources lambasting the former first-round pick shortly after the Patriots released him. The article detailed a turbulent two-year stint in New England, one marked by clashes with the team over his rehab routine, reliability and other off-field issues.

Combine that with concerns over his long-term health, and his sudden availability as a free agent becomes more understandable.

Which is how the Rams, looking to add depth to their line, found themselves a low-risk addition in the form of a 6-foot-2, 285-pound defensive tackle. As for Easley, he gets a chance to put his NFL career back on track.

Asked about the Globe article during the Rams’ organized team activities, the former Florida standout initially sounded unperturbed: “People are people. I can’t be mad at who they are. If they feel like that, they feel like that.”

But a minute or so later, the 24-year-old’s voice took on more of an edge.

“They don’t know who I am,” he said. “They didn’t grow up with me. They didn’t live with me. They didn’t live through things that I’ve been through. So how are you going to tell me who I am?”

To be fair, Easley has his share of defenders too. In an interview with the Boston Herald, Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch disputed the “locker room cancer” description and praised Easley’s work ethic. Third-year Rams cornerback Marcus Roberson, who also played with Easley in college, said the two of them had only mutual respect for each other in the Florida locker room.

More than a week into OTAs, the Rams’ biggest defensive star also likes what he’s seen of Easley.

“He’s an explosive guy, and he’s been making plays,” defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. “He can pass rush, and he can stop the run. He’s an extra piece, a great piece for this defensive line. He’s going to help us a lot.”

Easley wasn’t entirely surprised when the Patriots cut ties with him, but denied there was any friction between him and the rest of the team. Instead, he cited his medical history: tearing both his ACLs with the Gators, as well as knee and quadriceps injuries in 2014 and 2015. Even in limited action, however, he has shown flashes of promise.

While his statsheet lists only 24 tackles and three sacks over two seasons, those numbers may not fully capture Easley’s impact. On a per-snap basis, Pro Football Focus graded him as the most productive pass-rushing defensive tackle in the league last season – ahead of even Donald, whom the site ranked as its best overall player.

That potential is what made Easley an attractive option for the Rams, particularly at a one-year contract worth $600,000 – none of it guaranteed. They don’t need him to necessarily play like the No. 29 overall pick he was once; they would just like him to become a useful part of the rotation.

As for his reputation, Easley understands if some think he’s trouble.

“That’s what life is now,” he said. “Media, social media. What the fans read, they kind of believe until you show them otherwise. That’s the only thing I can do, is just show them otherwise.”
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