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March 25, 2015 at 8:57 pm in reply to: OL in free agency … Barksdale, Blalock, Wisniewski, etc. #21510
znModeratorhttp://www.rotoworld.com/recent/nfl/6599/stefen-wisniewski
Free agent C Stefen Wisniewski is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery after playing with a torn labrum last year.
This would explain why Wisniewski remains on the open market after visiting the Bucs, Seahawks, and Bears, while also drawing interested from the Chiefs and Rams. He’s reportedly seeking $4 million a year, but teams need to feel comfortable with Wisniewski medically before doling out that kind of cash.
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Stefen Wisniewski And The Bucs
March 25th, 2015
http://www.joebucsfan.com/2015/03/stefen-wisniewski-and-the-bucs/
Not long after the free agency dinner bell rang, Raiders center/guard Stefen Wisniewski visited the Bucs to talk turkey and maybe a contract. Wisniewski left without a contract and headed to Seattle, which needs a center.
Wisniewski not only didn’t sign with the Bucs, he didn’t sign with the Seahawks and later after visiting the Bears, didn’t sign with them either.
Yesterday, when Joe appeared with his good friend, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, on the weekly JoeBucsFan.com Hour heard exclusively on WDAE-AM 620, Joe speculated that either Wisniewski was asking for way too much cash, or there was something going on behind the scenes.
Turns out, it may be both. Per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Wisniewski had shoulder surgery.
Wisniewski is recovering from shoulder surgery after last season when he played with a torn labrum. The former second-round pick of the Raiders has made visits to the Seahawks and Bucs, and the Rams and Chiefs are also known to be interested. No team has been willing to meet his request of $4 million per season and it could be he winds up on a one- or two-year prove-it contract. At this point, it would be a mistake to rule out the Bears.
Well now, that explains it all. First, his agent is trying to shake down teams for $4 million a year (Ha!) and the dude has a bum shoulder. No team is going to shell out that kind of cash unless they know for sure his shoulder is OK.
No wonder the Raiders passed on Wisniewski and signed free agent center Rodney Hudson.
znModeratorEagles had 2010 Sam Bradford on par with Peyton
By Chris Wesseling
Speaking at the NFL Annual Meeting on Wednesday, coach Chip Kelly said he hopes newly acquired Sam Bradford will emerge as a legitimate franchise quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kelly didn’t have to sell Bradford’s franchise-altering potential to owner Jeffrey Lurie in advance of the March 10 trade in which 2014 starter Nick Foles was sent to the Rams.
NFL Now delivers a non-stop video stream highlighting the next generation of NFL talent in preparation for the 2015 NFL Draft. Start using it now!
In the lead-up to the 2010 NFL Draft, Lurie disclosed Tuesday, the Eagles evaluated Bradford as “the best young quarterback we’d seen … probably since Peyton Manning coming out of college.”
It was not the first time this week that an Eagles operative drew comparisons between Bradford and the cream of the NFL’s quarterback crop.
“When you look at all the great quarterbacks,” Kelly told NFL Media’s Steve Wyche, “Peyton Manning has missed a year, Tom Brady has missed a year, Drew Brees has missed a year. Again, we felt like to get a player of Sam’s caliber, it wouldn’t have happened unless he was injured.”
Kelly watched Bradford’s film “hundreds” of times while researching the trade, Lurie added. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, perhaps the strongest advocate for the trade, was the play-caller during Bradford’s Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign back in 2010.
Multiple teams have placed Bradford’s value as greater than a first-round draft pick.
The Eagles had reportedly decided by last Halloween that Foles was not the answer under center. As we opined after the trade went down, Kelly will come out on the winning side if Bradford succeeds in reaching his franchise-quarterback potential.
If not, the Eagles are back to square one, joining a dozen other teams in the obsessive hunt for that most elusive NFL asset.
“Until you find your quarterback,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff once said, “the search for him consumes you.”
Kelly can identify with that stark sentiment.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast recaps the inaugural Veteran Combine and discusses which star players were helped (and hurt) by free agency. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
March 25, 2015 at 5:52 pm in reply to: Keenum’s late-season success in Houston comes as no surprise to Rams coach #21468znModeratorWhy Rams wanted Case Keenum back
By Tania Ganguli | ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/
PHOENIX — When the Houston Texans were in dire need of a quarterback, they went back to an old well.
Case Keenum, sitting on the St. Louis Rams practice squad, proved to be just what they needed — a quarterback familiar with their offense who could manage it well enough for the Texans to win their final two games. Keenum’s performance impressed the Texans, but not enough to keep them from signing both Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer in free agency. They then traded Keenum to the Rams, gaining a seventh-round pick and giving Keenum a chance with a team that had a less crowded quarterback room.
Here’s what Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday of Keenum:
“We really liked Case and he was making progress. He didn’t get the opportunity I think he would have liked from a practice standpoint because he was our third and usually the third doesn’t get [reps] but he’d stay out after every practice and worked. But when Rick [Smith, Texans GM] called [during the season], obviously they needed a quarterback and it became difficult on them and he knew the system and Case was really going back to an offensive system that you could plug [him] in and play right away. So the season is over and we gave him a call.”
Was he surprised Keenum won two games at end of year?
“Wasn’t surprised at all,” Fisher said.
znModeratorJeff Fisher confident in getting O-line fixed
By Nick Wagoner
PHOENIX — Perhaps the St. Louis Rams haven’t showed the urgency that many would like when it comes to their holes on the offensive line, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t aware of what needs to be done over the next few weeks.
“Yeah, there’s still some spots available, if you will,” coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday morning.
That’s putting it mildly. As it stands, the Rams have just three offensive linemen — left tackle Greg Robinson, guard Rodger Saffold and swingman Garrett Reynolds — with any meaningful NFL game experience. And even out of those three, Robinson is entering his second year with plenty of work to do, Saffold has a lengthy injury history and is coming off surgery and Reynolds was brought in to provide depth.
So the Rams have room for starters at one guard spot, right tackle and center. There are some obvious and known solutions for the Rams that still remain on the free-agent market and Fisher hinted that business could pick back up after this week’s owners meetings.
Heading up that list is right tackle Joe Barksdale. Fisher said discussions with Barksdale are on-going and he remains hopeful that something can get worked out. Barksdale was recently married and has been on his honeymoon so there might not have been a lot of urgency to get a deal done but Fisher pointed to prices early on that clearly exceeded what the Rams or any other team was willing to meet.
“I was a little surprised at their asking price initially,” Fisher said. “I think things have settled down a little bit. We’d like to have Joe back. Joe played well at times, he had some outstanding games. He had some difficult matchups as well. But Joe knows us … and I think it makes sense to get Joe back.”
That coincides with what we heard in February when various league types estimated prices for Barksdale anywhere from as low as $4 million per year all the way up to $7 million per year. If that price was indeed on the high end, it’s not much of a surprise that Barksdale is still available.
The same could probably be said for other free-agent options the Rams are still considering. Guard Justin Blalock and center Stefan Wisniewski remain available and the Rams have expressed at least some interest in both players. It’s unlikely the Rams have the cap space or the inclination to sign all three but they could find a way to make two work if they wanted.
“There’s still several free agents out there that we’re in discussions with but we’re looking toward the draft,” Fisher said. “It’s not one of those things we’re going to panic about particularly because of who we’ve got lined up.”
Fisher called this year’s draft “outstanding” as far as the offensive line is concerned which might also offer another clue as to why they have not been in a rush to sign players that might exceed where they have them valued.
There are also some younger in-house options who could be in the mix though the Rams’ confidence in those players might only be as real as how easily they can find an upgrade elsewhere.
At center, in particular, Fisher again offered an endorsement of sorts for Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney. Jones has played a total of 22 snaps on offense in his first two seasons in the league and Rhaney sat out his rookie year after a knee injury in training camp.
“Barrett showed that he can play and we have confidence in Demetrius Rhaney,” Fisher said. “We have Greg and Rodg. We’ve added Garrett so we’ve got depth and we’re kind of excited about what direction we’re headed.”
Still, it would come as a surprise and be a major step in the wrong direction if the Rams don’t add a legitimate starter or two on the offensive line before the draft.
“Well, it’s either money or ideal fit,” Fisher said. “There are some players out there that still have value at a number of positions. Once we get back from the meetings then things pick up.”[
March 25, 2015 at 4:29 pm in reply to: Keenum’s late-season success in Houston comes as no surprise to Rams coach #21461znModeratorBy John McClain
I didn’t know he was a sports writer too.
znModerator1) made some questionable bets on players’ health and …
2) Failed to support our starters with solid developmental players.
I;m gonna disagree.
I blame you for that. You should write more posts I agree with. I thought it was clear that was the whole purpose of posting things on the net in the first place.
Anyway.
1. I think the only questionable bet was Long, and even then, the bet was that he could still play after 2 arm surgeries. No one predicted knee surgeries. As for people who say “well once a guy start’s getting injured it goes on,” actually, I think there’s more assumptions there than fact. I would like to see numbers on it. In terms of his play–Long was not a swift-footed dancer LOT type, but he was good in a play-action offense, especially as a run blocker. And having said all that, to be fair, I was against it when they first signed him.
2. They provided developmental players, they just didn’t draft them all. That’s what Barksdale was. A couple of other guys like Smith and Turner left, because apparently, once someone has been coached by Boudreau, the league buys them up on the free agent market and runs up their price (and more often than not they don’t play as well as they did in St, Louis). And it continues. This year it’s Person.
Against all odds, they got guys like Hunter and Richardson to play better than they had ever played before. Admittedly the magic ran out with Joseph, who didn’t live up to that.
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I will stand by this–cause numbers back it. When this OL (or, these OLs) have been relatively healthy, they play well. Heck PFF ranked the Rams OL 13th after the 2013 season.
As for JOnes. Remember to me “injured” does not mean “will be injured again in a different way.” Jones fell to the 4th round in the first place because he had the foot. The Rams do that–they take players they call “redshirts.” They did it last year with Christian Bryant. IMO it’s a wise use of lower picks–take a guy who will have a “redshirt” year but is valued higher than where you pick him. There was no way to predict that JOnes would then have a back injury and that that would set him back…it’s a freak thing. If Jones pans out (and I am not saying he will, not every draft pick does) then they will have gotten a player whose draft value without the foot was way higher than the 4th round.
And not only is Jones’s back injury not predictable, what’s even worse—going beyond “not predictable” territory into “now that’s just freaking weird” territory—who could have predicted Wells would get a rare infection, and then on top of it they would get injuries to BOTH Rhaney AND Barnes beyond just the injury to Jones.
And then in the same season Long would have a 2nd NON-CONTACT injury to the same knee. While Robinson somewhere along the line got an injury requiring off-season surgery (toe).
Maybe one or two of those events are due to poor planning, but, jeesh…all of them? At once? Long Wells Saffold Robinson Barnes Rhaney Jones?
7 players. No one in the league has the depth to replace an entire injured OL + 2. And it can’t be planned for.
That’s Twilight Zone stuff.
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znModeratorJohn McClain @McClain_on_NFL
Jeff Fisher on LA situation being a possible distraction for his players “I’ve had some discussions with the players.”
Jeff Fisher on trading to bring back Case Keenum “He was available and we wanted him back.”
Jeff Fisher on Case Keenum, who’ll compete with Austin Davis behind Nick Foles: “We really like Case.”
Mary Kay Cabot @MaryKayCabot
#rams HC fisher said #browns never offered the No. 12 pick for bradford. Several things discussed, never a player.
ryan van bibber @justRVB
Fisher says Rams will use Nick Fairley in a similar role as Kendall Langford last year
Fisher says it “would not be inconceivable” for the Rams to draft a DE at 10th pick
znModeratorI wrote a whole post and it got lost when I hit submit.
When that happens keep hitting the back button till you find it.
The board has been a little glitchy today. I said something to RM.
znModeratorOne more quick housecleaning item: Fisher said CB E.J. Gaines is fully recovered from late-season concussion. Will compete for outside job.
It just keeps getting interestinger and interestinger.
.
znModeratorfrom off the net…I obviously post this cause I agree with it, er I mean it is the complete unadorned pure truth, er I mean it’s an opinion I share
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CoachO
I agree that the Offensive Line is crucial to any success. The plan they put in place hasn’t produced the results they hoped for. Bottom line, the plan hasn’t worked out because of injuries, but the “plan” was sound.A unit of: Long – Robinson – Wells (prior to contracting a tick disease) – Saffold – Barksdale for 16 games would have been a VERY GOOD unit.
The only 1st round value on the OLine is LT. J. Long (former 1st overall election). Chris Williams (former 1st round pick) Greg Robinson (#2 overall) R. Saffold (#33 overall) J. Barksdale (3rd round). They have addressed this unit, and have brought in so many guys in the 3 years they have been here, I have lost count.
No team has been hit with injuries to one unit like the Rams have been at OL throughout that past few years. It doesn’t matter what they do in terms of building this unit, when one team is forced to play so many different players throughout a season, it will never be effective.
Adding pieces such as Wells, who prior to becoming a Ram, had been the model of consistency both in terms of the level of his play, and more importantly, his durability. So I for one, was excited about them getting him. Then they bring in J. Long, and he proved to be a definite upgrade at the position when on the field.
Wells had never had a history of injuries, and his knee wasn’t considered serious when they signed him (it was a scope). And the knee wasn’t the reason he missed 9 games that first season. He suffered a FREAK broken foot. Prior to that, he was the epitome of durability in Green Bay. Then he played well, when he returned.
In 2014 there was absolutely no way of knowing that Wells would contract a serious life threatening illness weeks before training camp. Then he was forced into action last year while undersized (lost 30 lbs with his illness), should have been a clue as to how banged up the position was. Jones goes down with back surgery.
While even knowing about Wells illness, they had Jones, Barnes and Rhaney all in line to step in until Wells recovered. But who could know that Jones would suffer a back injury that would require surgery, Rhaney would end up on IR the LAST WEEK of the preseason, and that Barnes would incur both a shoulder injury in camp, and then a rib injury 4 games into the season. Just to be able to get thru the Preseason they give Person a crash course at Center.
Drafting Barrett Jones is now looked upon as a huge mistake. But other than the foot injury, he had never shown to be a player with a history of injuries. How could anyone predict a back injury from lifting weights?
This is just one position as an example for LAST YEAR. I don’t care what team you are looking at, there just isn’t any way to prepare for that kind of “bad luck”.
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znModeratorFisher says Akeem Ayers will be versatile piece and will compete with Jo-Lonn Dunbar for starting job.
Interesting.
Well it’s all interesting. (Meaning all the wag-tweets were interesting)
But that one was particularly noteworthy.
Williams arrives, and after building the defense for 2 years, he changes some of their plans.
He wants his kinda guys.
If Ayers can start at WLB then what they will have, I guess, is Ayers on a certain percentage of the plays and Barron as the Big Nickel on certain percentage of the plays.
If you look up stats on the Rams run defense, interestingly, they were not vulnerable (as a rule) in the middle. It was the outside. Particularly to the weakside (the defensive right). To me that says “linebackers.”
March 25, 2015 at 10:55 am in reply to: reporters on the trade (Wagoner, Thomas, Clayton, King, & many more) #21411znModeratorMaking an appearance a little later in the day at the owners meetings, former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner called the Foles-Bradford trade “interesting to me from a couple of different standpoints.”
Warner continued: “St. Louis has been behind Sam from Day 1, and Coach (Jeff) Fisher taking over we just heard: ‘He’s our guy. He’s our guy. He’s our guy.’ You kind of thought St. Louis would stay behind Sam.”
That changed on the first day of free agency two weeks ago when the trade went down.
“You also understand the health issues,” Warner said. “It’s tough to play without having that position on the field for 16 games or close to it. And him not being able to do that, I think has been tough. So you see it from that perspective.”
The fact that the Eagles re-signed quarterback Mark Sanchez, who played relatively well for them last season, at least gives Philly a backup plan should Bradford stumble or get injured, Warner said.
And from the Philly perspective?
“Here’s a guy two years ago that went 27-2 — 27 touchdowns and two interceptions,” Warner said, speaking of Foles. “That doesn’t happen very often. And I know it doesn’t happen twice very often. (But) last year was a little bit of a struggle.”
The uncertainty with Foles, as Warner sees it, is which Foles are the Rams getting. The outstanding performer of 2013, or the guy that scuffled last season and then got hurt.
“Who is he? What are we gonna get for the long term?” Warner said. “But we’ve seen that he can be really, really good and I think that’s the thing that excites you. . . You just don’t have a very big sample size on what he’s going to be.”
Warner agreed with Lurie’s notion that acquiring Bradford was an upside gamble.
“I think a lot of people have seen that,” Warner said. “Physically, you know that he’s got all the ability to be a top-notch quarterback. He’s a young kid that has the right attitude. A guy that can lead your franchise. I think all that stuff is in play.”
Warner said one of his concerns about Foles “is just the speed by which he plays. I’ve always believed that you have to be able to see and react very quickly.
“I felt in Philly’s system, he thrived because things transpired a little bit slower. A lot of the stuff was down the field where he could take his time to get through reads. And he was very good in that kind of system. But I also wonder how does that translate to another system; a system that maybe wants you to get it out on time.”
Interesting.
Warner chimes in.
.
March 25, 2015 at 10:36 am in reply to: reporters on the trade (Wagoner, Thomas, Clayton, King, & many more) #21410znModeratorEagles gamble Bradford has upside
By Jim Thomas
PHOENIX • Philadelphia owner Jeff Lurie said the Eagles were gambling on upside when they traded Nick Foles and a pair of draft picks to the Rams for Sam Bradford and, ”You hate to give up a No. 2 (second-round) pick in a future draft — that’s a tough one to swallow,” Lurie told reporters Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings. “But if you can gain a franchise quarterback out of it that puts you in a position for other things — that’s what you do.”
Besides the QB swap, the Rams get a fourth-round pick this year and a second-round pick in 2016. The Eagles get a fifth-rounder from the Rams this year. If Bradford misses the entire 2015 season or plays fewer than 50 percent of the snaps, Philadelphia gets a conditional pick in 2016 from St. Louis.
In doing homework on the potential trade, Lurie said Eagles coach Chip Kelly watched Bradford “hundreds of times. He talked to every coach he ever had. This is well-researched; it wouldn’t satisfy me if it wasn’t.”
Going back to the 2010 draft when coach Andy Reid’s staff was in place in Philly, Lurie said, “We thought (Bradford) was the best young quarterback we had seen in a long, long time. Probably since Peyton Manning coming out of college.
“Rookie of the year his first year. Pat Shurmur had him as an offensive coordinator. We confirmed everything we had heard about him in the draft process. Extraordinary competitor. Incredibly accurate. And needs to stay healthy.”
Shurmur is now Philadelphia’s OC.
WARNER WEIGHS TRADE
Making an appearance a little later in the day at the owners meetings, former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner called the Foles-Bradford trade “interesting to me from a couple of different standpoints.”
Warner continued: “St. Louis has been behind Sam from Day 1, and Coach (Jeff) Fisher taking over we just heard: ‘He’s our guy. He’s our guy. He’s our guy.’ You kind of thought St. Louis would stay behind Sam.”
That changed on the first day of free agency two weeks ago when the trade went down.
“You also understand the health issues,” Warner said. “It’s tough to play without having that position on the field for 16 games or close to it. And him not being able to do that, I think has been tough. So you see it from that perspective.”
The fact that the Eagles re-signed quarterback Mark Sanchez, who played relatively well for them last season, at least gives Philly a backup plan should Bradford stumble or get injured, Warner said.
And from the Philly perspective?
“Here’s a guy two years ago that went 27-2 — 27 touchdowns and two interceptions,” Warner said, speaking of Foles. “That doesn’t happen very often. And I know it doesn’t happen twice very often. (But) last year was a little bit of a struggle.”
The uncertainty with Foles, as Warner sees it, is which Foles are the Rams getting. The outstanding performer of 2013, or the guy that scuffled last season and then got hurt.
“Who is he? What are we gonna get for the long term?” Warner said. “But we’ve seen that he can be really, really good and I think that’s the thing that excites you. . . You just don’t have a very big sample size on what he’s going to be.”
Warner agreed with Lurie’s notion that acquiring Bradford was an upside gamble.
“I think a lot of people have seen that,” Warner said. “Physically, you know that he’s got all the ability to be a top-notch quarterback. He’s a young kid that has the right attitude. A guy that can lead your franchise. I think all that stuff is in play.”
Warner said one of his concerns about Foles “is just the speed by which he plays. I’ve always believed that you have to be able to see and react very quickly.
“I felt in Philly’s system, he thrived because things transpired a little bit slower. A lot of the stuff was down the field where he could take his time to get through reads. And he was very good in that kind of system. But I also wonder how does that translate to another system; a system that maybe wants you to get it out on time.”
March 25, 2015 at 10:15 am in reply to: How do people feel about Foles right now, before anything else happens? #21408znModeratorFoles sounds like he could be a roller coaster. Some big plays. Some INTs that vex us. I think he’s a place holder at QB. I’m not excited, but also know he was likely the best option for 2015. This year should show us whether he’s the best option moving forward.
I think he can be better than that even. I don’t think of him as a placeholder.
I just thought I would intervene here, and put your opinion in its place as NOT THE TRUTH, and instead put the focus back on WHAT IS THE TRUTH.
Kidding. Obviously.
Different opinions. It will be interesting to see how it evolves.
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znModeratori don’t know what the key to unlock tavon is, but if there is one, the rams better find it. he’s doing alright, but he can do better.
whether it be a tall quarterback. or getting a better offensive line. or a better running game to get the play action going.
And/or….Tavon getting better.
.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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RockRam
1) Not quick footed. But by no means awkward.
2) Slides and has a pretty good feel for the pocket.
3) Has a runner’s instincts, is not fast, but knows when it’s time to go, and does
4) A bit of a long delivery, but he’s a long guy. Long legs, long arms…..long delivery.
5) Stays in the pocket and stands tall
6) Not afraid to take a shot to complete a pass, but he’s no statue
7) Throws well rolling to right. Don’t think I ever saw him throw while rolling left.
8) Pretty accurate short and intermediate, but not on par with Bradford in that department.
9) Nice long ball. It’s not what I would call “accurate” as much as catchable. No distance is too long for him. He knows how to lead a WR into open space and then puts the long ball where he can run into it.
10) Not a cannon for an arm by any means. But for sure he can make all the throws.
11) Seems to follow his progressions and throws to the right guy most of the time.
12) Makes the occasional flat out bad throw. Into a crowd. Or just misses the guy. In other words: he’s a NFL QB who will sometimes make mistakes.
13) Seems to go for the big gainer over the low risk check down. Got lucky on some of those in 2013, not as lucky in 2014. I assume Kelly must have been OK with that, and Foles didn’t seem at all shy about going right back to the big gainer next time around.
14) Good body language; never looks down, upset or confused.znModeratorWell, when’s the last time they did that:
Using a significant amount of RUNNING,
against a GOOD defense,
to win or ice a game in CRUNCH time ?Well how many teams DO do that running against GOOD defenses? To just pick 2 examples, New England didn’t do that to win the superbowl. Seattle didn’t do that to ALMOST win the superbowl–they got down to the goal line on a big pass play.
March 24, 2015 at 7:23 pm in reply to: How do people feel about Foles right now, before anything else happens? #21388znModeratorThird, we did not have such an OL last year and have only had flashes of solid OL play since Fisher got here.
Last year? Injuries. In fact–2 sets of injuries. The off-season, which led to guys recovering more than practicing, and then the Chiefs game, where they lost 3 players in on game. One didn’t come back and 2 played hurt. Before that? Not flashes–that’s not what I saw. I saw extended periods where the Rams could run the ball, regardless of the qb, UNLESS the OL got beat up with injuries.
I read your post with appreciation for how you make your case, I just disagree with it.
Do they have their OL now? Today? No not yet, as of later March. But then free agency isn’t over and the draft is coming.
See my feeling is this. They HAVE done what we want them to do, and so the odds favor them doing it again.
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znModeratorRams awarded extra draft pick, in sixth round
By Jim Thomas
PHOENIX • Last year, the Rams were pleasantly surprised to receive three compensatory draft picks from the league. This year, the Rams expected to get only one extra pick — a sixth-rounder — and that’s exactly what they got.
The NFL awarded 32 compensatory picks Monday, with those being distributed from the end of the third round to the end of the seventh. New England, Kansas City and Cincinnati got the highest picks — each getting a third-round selection.
The complicated formula takes into account salary, playing time and postseason honors (if any) of free agents lost and gained by a team in their first season with their new club.
A year ago, the Rams lost quarterback Kellen Clemens, offensive guard Shelley Smith, safety Darian Stewart and guard/tackle Chris Williams in free agency.
Cornerback Cortland Finnegan didn’t count in the formula because he was a released player by the Rams as opposed to an unrestricted free agent.
Conversely, the Rams signed wide receiver Kenny Britt, defensive tackle Alex Carrington and quarterback Shaun Hill a year ago in free agency.
The net result of those transactions yielded the Rams an extra sixth-rounder, No. 215 overall. That leaves the team with six picks in this year’s draft: one pick each in Rounds 1-4, the sixth-round compensatory pick and a seventh-rounder.
Last year, the Rams used their three compensatory picks for quarterback Garrett Gilbert (Round 6, No. 214 overall); defensive end Michael Sam (Round 7, No. 249); and center Demetrius Rhaney (Round 7, No. 250).
Gilbert is now with New England, Sam is out of the league but trying to get back in as evidenced by his participation Sunday in the NFL Veterans Combine and Rhaney still is with the club after missing all of last season because of a knee injury.
STATUS QUO
All it takes is one phone call to change things, but as the NFL owners meetings began Monday, the Rams weren’t expecting any activity on the offensive line front in free agency.
The Rams need starters at center, guard and right tackle.
Joe Barksdale, the team’s starting right tackle the past two seasons, has yet to make a decision and doesn’t appear to have garnered a ton of interest during a free-agency period punctuated by his marriage and honeymoon.
Two outside free agents the Rams have expressed interest in are former Oakland Raiders center Stefen Wisniewski and former Atlanta Falcons guard Justin Blalock. Each has yet to make a decision.
NO BLACKOUTS
After featuring a relaxed television blackout policy in recent years, the NFL has suspended blackouts entirely for at least the coming season.
With teams in St. Louis, San Diego and Oakland perhaps leaving after the 2015 campaign for Los Angeles, and possibly facing a season with thousands and thousands of empty seats for home games, the no-blackout rule ensures that all home games in those markets will be on local television.
znModeratorhe 1991 Eagles sure make an impression with Reggie White, Jerome Brown and Clyde Simmons.
Chicago Bears, the dominate defense of the 1980s
Interestingly…Fisher is associated with both those defenses.
He played for the Bears from 81-85. He coached for them in 85. He was then with the Eagles from 86-90, including being their D-coordinator from 88-90.
His 1990 defense included Reggie White, Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons, Seth Joyner, and Eric Allen. Simmons of course is now the Rams assistant DL coach.
To some purists, I am just typing up the obvious. But, IMO, not everyone know all that.
.March 23, 2015 at 11:51 pm in reply to: Kroenke ready to show detailed stadium plans … plus other relocation things #21365znModeratorKraft: NFL has ‘obligation’ to stay in St. Louis
• By Jim Thomas
PHOENIX • Not only is New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft one of the NFL’s most influential owners, he also sits on two committees that will have a lot to say about relocation of teams to Los Angeles and the future of pro football in St. Louis.
His message to St. Louis is direct and simple.
“From my point of view, if they come up with a plan that looks pretty good and a strong financial package, I think we — the NFL — have an obligation in my opinion to be able to have a team in St. Louis,” Kraft said Monday at the NFL owners meetings.
Note that he said “a team.” He didn’t specifically mention the Rams. But his general point is that if St. Louis steps up with stadium and financing plans that work, the city will continue to have NFL football.
“We have to be very careful and responsible to different markets who really step up and do what they want to do (in terms of keeping a team),” Kraft continued. “If they do, we have a responsibility to make sure there’s a team in that market.”
That sentiment appears to be widespread among league owners and insiders assembled here this week for the annual NFL owners meetings. The two-man task force of Dave Peacock and Bob Blitz has made impressive progress on the stadium plan in St. Louis, but the hard part remains on the horizon — especially coming up with the financing.
But if the financing’s in place, the league will have a hard time turning it’s back on roughly a half-billion dollar investment by St. Louis on a new riverfront stadium on the north edge of downtown. It would be the second stadium St. Louis has built for the NFL in less 25 years, basically unprecedented in league history.
However encouraging Kraft’s words might be at face value, he did throw out one caveat for St. Louis: “But they have to be able to support the team,” Kraft said. “Any community that’s privileged to have a team, love ‘em up.”
Along those lines, the league is in the process of making market assessments in St. Louis, San Diego and Oakland, Calif. — three cities in which franchises are free agents in terms of potential relocation.
The NFL is doing the same in Los Angeles, where Rams owner Stan Kroenke wants to build a stadium in the nearby Inglewood, Calif., area. Meanwhile, the Chargers and Raiders have formed an alliance to build a stadium in suburban Carson, Calif., if they can’t settle their stadium issues in their current home markets of San Diego and Oakland.
Eric Grubman, the NFL’s point man on Los Angeles/relocation/stadium development, plans to visit all the cities in play in April as part of the market assessment program.
Regardless of what happens in St. Louis, it never has seemed clearer that Los Angeles is on the brink of getting an NFL franchise for the first time since 1994. The Rams (to St. Louis) and Raiders (to Oakland) both left the LA market in the spring of 1995.
“In my opinion, I think there’ll be a team and possibly two playing in LA somewhere in 2016,” New York Giants president and CEO John Mara said. “But that remains subject to the league approval and that’ll happen at some point in the future.”
Kraft went even further, saying it’s more likely the NFL will have two teams in Los Angeles in 2016 than just one.
“Twenty-one years ago when I moved into the league, we had two teams move out of the LA market,” Kraft said. “It was just very unfortunate. And I don’t think it’s good that we’ve let a generation of fans, young kids, grow up (without the NFL in LA).
“It’s not good for the NFL, and I really believe within the next year we’ll have two teams in that market. I don’t know who they’ll be. … We have some real good options. We’ll see what happens in the end game.”
Kraft saved football in New England when he purchased the Patriots from St. Louisan James Busch Orthwein in 1994 amid rumors that Orthwein might move the franchise to the Gateway City.
Kraft doesn’t think Los Angeles should have an NFL team or teams without a top-flight venue, and expressed optimism that that would be the case.
“I think LA should be a market where we play Super Bowls, where we have an NFL Experience,” he said. “We have a (television) network out there. There’s a lot of things that can be done around it, and allow the NFL to really be a showplace. And integrating everything, and doing it in a proper real estate development.”
Without mentioning Kroenke’s plan by name, that seemed to be an endorsement of the Inglewood project because the 80,000-seat stadium planned there is just one part of a massive real estate development on the site.
Given the financial commitment necessary to build a — pardon the expression — top-tier stadium the league wants in the Los Angeles market, Kraft thinks having the resources of two teams in one building is a necessity. Although there have been differing opinions, Kraft thinks it’s best to have the two teams move simultaneously into a new LA-area stadium.
“Sort of in a way that happened in New York-New Jersey, where they corrected a situation that had gone on, I think, for many years where the Jets felt maybe like they were second class,” Kraft said, speaking of the Giants and Jets sharing MetLife Stadium.
“And now you have two NFL teams and two fan bases that are both treated in a professional way,” he added. “You could have it that one team would come in later (in LA), but I’d like to see it be simultaneous.”
New stadium renderings for Kroenke’s Inglewood project made available to the Los Angeles Times revealed that plans called for locker room facilities for two NFL teams. That might have seemed like a revelation, but it wasn’t.
Grubman pointed out Monday that a stadium designed for two teams was made a requirement by the league for Los Angeles in order to be eligible for the NFL’s so-called “G-4” stadium funds.
So if the Kroenke plan is successful, you could see the Rams and Chargers there in 2016, which could put the Raiders in play for St. Louis if the Peacock and Blitz plan becomes a reality in terms of land acquisition and financing.
But Raiders owner Mark Davis stopped a couple of steps short of discussing the possibility of the St. Louis Raiders in brief comments with reporters Monday.
When asked if he thought Carson is a viable site, Davis said: “Absolutely. But I don’t really want to get into talking about any of the other plans. Right now we’re talking about Oakland, and we’ll see what we can do there.”
March 23, 2015 at 11:33 pm in reply to: How do people feel about Foles right now, before anything else happens? #21364znModeratorI just dont think anyone on this board buys
into the “QBs elevate the team” thing.Yeah, on the other side, it’s that old formula. 1 + 21 = 1
znModeratorLes nervous stutters his way through another one.
znModeratorThey need a DT behind Fairley and Brockers. Bet they draft one.
March 23, 2015 at 9:54 pm in reply to: OL in free agency … Barksdale, Blalock, Wisniewski, etc. #21354znModerator
Source: Eagles could release Evan Mathis if they can’t trade himBy Geoff Mosher
http://www.csnphilly.com/football-p…ld-release-evan-mathis-if-they-cant-trade-him
PHOENIX – If the Eagles can’t find a trade partner for left guard Evan Mathis, they could be just as willing to show him the door as they were two years ago for DeSean Jackson.
Mathis, who was on the trade block last offseason and is back there again, might be cast off into the free-agent waters if the Eagles can’t deal him, according to a source close to the situation.
Right now, the source said, the team is “actively looking” to deal the 33-year-old lineman. Head coaches and executives from all 32 NFL teams are at the luxurious Arizona Biltmore resort this week for the annual owners meetings. It’s an informal environment outside of the meetings but business can be consummated.
If traded or released, Mathis would follow in the footsteps of LeSean McCoy, Nick Foles, Jeremy Maclin, Cary Williams, Todd Herremans and Trent Cole as high-profile cap casualties sent packing this offseason as head coach Chip Kelly overhauls the roster in his first season with total personnel control.
If he’s released, Mathis hopes the Eagles pull the trigger soon, the source said, while other teams still have money left to spend on this year’s free agent crop.
The source said the decision to shop Mathis is completely Kelly’s and added that the Eagles are either looking to save money or continue to rebuild the roster around a younger nucleus — or both.
They could also be irked by Mathis’ repeated attempts to have his contract reworked. Mathis carries cap hits of $6.5 million in 2015 and $7 million in 2016 as part of the five-year, $26.7 million extension he signed March 19, 2013, after choosing to rejoin the Eagles instead of bolting for the Ravens’ offer.
Only $2 million of Mathis’ remaining contract is guaranteed from his signing bonus — $1 million apiece this season and next — so the Eagles would save $11.5 million over the next two seasons if they cut him and absorb only a $2 million dead-money hit.
Mathis’ camp has approached the Eagles twice in the past two offseasons to discuss a restructure that would pad Mathis’ salary. Both times, the source said, the Eagles rebuffed his request and responded by informing him that he would be shopped.
Teams are typically reluctant to give up draft compensation for a player they believe will be released but trades for veterans occasionally take place during the offseason.
The Saints, who are also reshaping their roster and trying to improve their defense, recently dealt 33-year old guard Ben Grubbs, a two-time Pro Bowler, to the Chiefs for a fifth-round pick. Kansas City took on $13.9 million in base salary over the next two years, none of it guaranteed. Mathis is two years older and any team that trades for him owes him $13.5 million over the next two years, also not guaranteeed.
The source also didn’t slam the door on Mathis returning to the Eagles, but Kelly hasn’t shown much reluctance to get rid of veterans, even if it means eating dead money.
The Eagles have taken about $12 million in cap hits this season on Cole, Herremans, Williams, McCoy and Foles, although they’ve saved more than $60 million in future money.
Mathis made his second straight Pro Bowl last season despite playing just nine games. He severely sprained his knee in the season opener and was placed on the injured reserve list with return designation.
znModeratorYou know the guys who predict compensatory picks every year?
They predicted that. A 6th to the Rams.
So now they have a 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, & 7. Six picks. No 5th.
March 23, 2015 at 9:38 pm in reply to: Kroenke ready to show detailed stadium plans … plus other relocation things #21347znModeratorjust to be clear i didn’t write that. that was dak.
I will fix it. Both the original and your copy. Sorry about that.
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Done.
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This reply was modified 11 years, 1 month ago by
zn.
znModeratorI’m having trouble understanding how this could happen. It’s not making sense to me.
Sometimes, the billiard balls of physical environment and genetic disposition and some stray thing in the air just all hit wrong at the wrong time in the wrong place for no reason at all. No reason other than life can be frail and vulnerable. I understand how you feel. I lost a nephew to something that just hit overnight, when my father died suddenly there were no warning signs, and my sister has cancer. Others on this board have seen worse than me in their lives when it comes to that. We are here to hear every word, if that helps at all. Keep us informed.
March 23, 2015 at 8:46 pm in reply to: Kroenke ready to show detailed stadium plans … plus other relocation things #21340znModeratorInteresting board glitch.
Sorry. What is?
March 23, 2015 at 8:45 pm in reply to: Kroenke ready to show detailed stadium plans … plus other relocation things #21339znModeratorI don’t buy any argument that St. Louis spent too long making an offer.
fwiw, JT echoes your take on that:
To my understanding the Kroenke camp found out about the pending release of the St. Louis plans, and purposely announced their plans ahead of StL. That gave the appearance that Peacock and Blitz were reacting to the LA stadium announcement which really wasn’t the case. It helped feed the narrative pushed by the Rams, that St. Louis was moving at too slow of a pace. You know, too little too late.
by jthomas 3:35 PMI still take umbrage with the whole “finally people realized that there was some urgency” thing.
by jthomas 4:32 PM-
This reply was modified 11 years, 1 month ago by zn.
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This reply was modified 11 years, 1 month ago by
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