Wagoner: Brockers hopeful for long-term contract

Michael Brockers hopeful for long-term contract

Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/19079/michael-brockers-hopeful-for-long-term-contract

EARTH CITY, Mo. — As the first draft pick of the Jeff Fisher and Les Snead era in St. Louis, Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers figured to be a building block in the team’s long-term aspirations.

The Rams made Brockers the No. 14 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft after trading down twice to add more picks. He was the third first-round pick added to a defensive line that has since added two more. But while the rest of those picks have had clearly defined roles in their time with the team, Brockers’ job has been more of a moving target.

It has made for a difficult read on where Brockers fits best. He has been asked to gain weight to hold up better against the run and lose weight so he can be a better pass rusher in the span of a year.

But Brockers has at least one fit that he hopes to add to the list for the immediate and long-term future and that’s staying a Ram well beyond the next two seasons.

“I am definitely hopeful I can get a long-term deal,” Brockers said. “Being here with Fish, I love the team. Everybody wants to stay with one team their whole career. I know it’s a business but at the same time, I love these guys here and I would love to stay here in St. Louis and be with these guys.”

The Rams seem to share that opinion after choosing to exercise their fifth-year option to ensure Brockers is with the team at least through the 2016 season. That decision keeps Brockers from becoming a free agent after this year and will cost the Rams $6.146 million against the 2016 salary cap if the two sides don’t work out a deal before then.

It would be a surprise if it came to that. Brockers’ representatives and the Rams have engaged in some initial conversations about a deal, but nothing appears imminent. That doesn’t mean something won’t come together, though. Just last year, the Rams had exercised that same option on defensive end Robert Quinn and then signed him to a lucrative contract extension in Week 2, nearly a full year before the option would kick in.

“I’m going to let agents and GMs do what they have to do,” Brockers said. “I’m going to try to stay back and get my eye on the field and what I have to do to get better.”

Brockers’ pursuit of improvement should be buoyed by the fact he finally seems to have a set role heading into 2015. Midway through 2014, the Rams moved Brockers to more of a nose tackle position, asking him to tie up multiple blockers to help free up rookie running mate Aaron Donald.

The move paid off as Donald posted nine sacks and went on to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Brockers’ numbers took a hit as he dropped to 32 tackles and two sacks after 46 and 5.5 in 2013.

Although his new job doesn’t come with much in the way of glamour or statistics, Brockers is embracing it.

“I’m OK with that,” Brockers said. “I’ll do a great job, whatever they ask me to do, that’s what I do and I do it to the best of my ability. If it’s helping this team win games, that’s all I can ask for.”