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znModeratorI think roughly $65 million over four seasons might suggest that Bradford had “made his money”, and could’ve considered taking a bit less.
I never entertain sentiments like that. I don’t judge NFL players and their money that way. It’s not up to me what the market gives a player. I don’t tell them how much they are supposed to have before it’s not right. Bradford got his contract because he was the last #1 pick before the new CBA. That’s all I see and all I care about. In fact, ironically, if they HAD kept him, 16 M would have been a bargain for a young starting qb in his 6th year. Under the new CBA, players come up sooner, they don’t get 6 year deals. The young starting qbs coming up for their 2nd contracts after 4 years are getting 19 M (that’s the average the market is dictating, and Wilson is about to raise the avg.) That would mean that if Bradford played as a Ram–and I assume if he did he would have played well–he would have been getting less than Kaepernick or Dalton. In fact, that means he IS a bargain for the Eagles.
I just think of all those things differently.
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znModeratorI don’t think the notion of a “pay cut” on Bradford’s part was completely unreasonable.
It doesn’t matter how much he made. No one can name a single young starting qb in the history of the NFL who “took a paycut,” injured or not. It’s not done. Some older guys do it because they’ve made their money.
In fact not just qb. I can’t think of any young player who ever did that.
And besides, Fisher did say directly that the contract didn’t matter. It isn’t what decided things. He said directly that he still would have been traded if he had renegotiated, and that if the Rams did not get the offer they got, they would have lived with the contract.
On the other hand I agree with this:
I’m disappointed and a bit sad that the Bradford era in St. Louis is over without the mutual success that I think we all hoped for and expected.
znModeratorHoward Balzer @HBalzer721
Lance Kendricks deal $10M guaranteed: $1.5M 2015 salary, $4M RB paid Saturday, $3.25M 2016 salary injury only, fully guar. 5th day LY ’16…
Also, $1.25M RB 2016, inj only, ful guaranteed on 1st day of 2015 training camp. Salaries: $1.5, 3.25, 3.75, 3.75. RB: $4M, 1.25, 500, 500.
Most important, Kendricks counts $5,5M against cap this year. Cap numbers each year: $5.5M, $4.5M, $4.25M, $4.25M
znModeratorI haven’t bothered to estimate the cap. The Rams have plenty, plus they can always get another ~10 million by redoing Quinns’ roster bonus, I think. We can say guess. 28 million after trade. minus Ayers 3+ Kendricks 5+ Fairley ~6 Britt
`6 = roughly 21 million. So, ? 7 million left? Then redo Quinn to get through 2015. There are still players we can cut, too, Pead, Givins, maybe more?This year was never any problem. 2016 is the year things get tight and we might lose some players we want to keep. So far Demoff seems to be protecting 2016. imo
Thanks.
Your math has them not able to sign Wisniewski or even Barksdale.
znModeratorcause of the cap
Where is the cap right now.
znModeratorThe Rams future is Fairley Britt. Only complete Foles would deny it.
znModeratorWR Kenny Britt staying with Rams
by Nick Wagoner
ESPN.comWide receiver Kenny Britt is sticking with St. Louis, having agreed with the team on a two-year deal, the Rams announced.
Britt signed a one-year deal with the Rams last year after spending his first five seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
In signing with St. Louis in 2014, Britt was reunited with coach Jeff Fisher, who spent a first-round pick on Britt in 2009.
Britt, 26, finished with 48 catches for 748 yards and three touchdowns in 2014. Those 748 yards were the second most in Britt’s career and the most by a Rams pass-catcher since Torry Holt in 2008.
For his career, Britt has 205 catches for 3,198 yards and 22 touchdowns.
znModerator.
part of an article from a Seattle source—
http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-to-consider-qb-bj-daniels-as-punt-returner/
Wisniewski visits but still undecided
Stefen Wisniewski, the starting center for the Raiders the past three years and a guard as a rookie in 2011, visited the Seahawks on Thursday. But he is expected to take other visits — the first reportedly to St. Louis — before making a decision.
Seattle also will continue to look at its options to add bodies up front after having lost guard James Carpenter (signed with the Jets) and center Max Unger (traded to New Orleans) this week.
“He’s a legitimate starter in the league,’’ Carroll said of Wisniewski on Friday during an interview on KJR-AM. “He really likes us, and we liked him. That’s a potential thing that can happen. There will be some time before this gets worked out. He’s got some visits and all that. He’s a really solid football player and a smart kid and all that, and we’ll see where it goes.’’
Seattle was visited this week from Shelley Smith, who can also play guard and center. He signed with the Denver Broncos on Friday.
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@jthom1
Justin Blalock has left Detroit, is back home, still a free agent. May visit Rams next week
znModeratorAdam Schefter breaks down how much Nick Fairley’s addition boosts the Rams’ defensive line. Fairley signed a one-year deal with St. Louis worth $5 million.
March 13, 2015 at 8:49 pm in reply to: 101, 3/13 … Fisher … + Florio interviews Fisher (podcast) #20435znModeratorInteresting. In the PFT interview, they don’t call it a “paycut.” Fisher calls it an extension. As in that’s what they were trying to get from Bradford–not a paycut, an extension.
March 13, 2015 at 8:36 pm in reply to: 101, 3/13 … Fisher … + Florio interviews Fisher (podcast) #20431znModeratorPFT Live 3/13: Justin Forsett, Jeff Fisher
Mike Florio breaks down the latest news from around the NFL, including DeMarco Murray’s signing in Philadelphia. Mike talks to Ravens RB Justin Forsett about his new deal in Baltimore and Rams coach Jeff Fisher about the trade for Nick Foles. Mike also talks to NFLPA executive director candidate Andrew Smith about the upcoming election.
Fisher starts at about 36:33
znModeratorI know why they are not spending resources on the offensive line.
They like watching their defensive line play.
So the more the offense just punts and gets out of the way, the better.
znModeratorznModeratorRams offer Nick Fairley chance to reach his potential
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — In the 2011 NFL draft, the St. Louis Rams had the 14th pick and patiently waited their turn to make a selection while superstar pass-rushers such as J.J. Watt, Von Miller, Aldon Smith and Marcell Dareus came off the board. While Chris Long was locked into one position, the Rams desperately wanted to bolster their pass rush and kept their fingers crossed that one of the other top defensive linemen would fall in their lap.
As the Detroit Lions came up with the 13th pick, they took Nick Fairley. The Rams turned in the card with end Robert Quinn’s name on it nearly as fast as Quinn bends the edge against a left tackle.
On Tuesday morning, the Rams turned what four years ago was an “either/or” situation into a resounding “and.” A day after arriving in St. Louis, Fairley signed a one-year contract worth $5 million, which could reach the $8-million range with incentives.
That Fairley was even available was a product of a disappointing four-year stint with the Lions in which Fairley was plagued by injuries, weight problems and a couple of arrests. Despite glimpses of potential — especially in 2012 and 2013 when he posted 69 tackles and 11.5 sacks in 28 games — the Lions declined to exercise their fifth-year option on Fairley in hopes it would motivate him.
It didn’t necessarily work as Fairley had 14 tackles and a sack in eight 2014 games before knee injuries cost him the other half of the season. So it was that Fairley hit the open market on Tuesday in search of a chance to prove the potential that only came in small doses in Detroit can be consistently applied in a new locale.
In choosing the Rams’ one-year deal, Fairley essentially signed a “prove-it” deal intended to bolster his stock and allow him to cash in next season. And, though Fairley is likely to serve as the primary backup to Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, Fairley couldn’t have picked a better situation in which to bet on himself.
Fairley joins a defensive line that’s already stocked with pass-rushers Long and Quinn, defensive rookie of the year Donald, former first-round pick Brockers and quality backups such as William Hayes and Eugene Sims. He’s the fifth former first-round pick on the defensive line and should have no shortage of one-on-one pass rush opportunities.
“I feel like it’s a perfect fit for me,” Fairley said. “The guys in this group, the D-line, they are young and they’re moving forward and I want to be part of it.
“You got those guys up there and a guy next to me like Aaron is going to take on some double teams, I’m going to take on some double teams so it’s going to be a good fit for me.”
Line coaches Mike Waufle and Clyde Simmons also come with strong reputations in league circles and Waufle’s hard-charging style developed in years as a Marine should only serve Fairley well in maintaining discipline.
“[He’s] a great guy, matter of fact my dad is an ex-Marine so I know a little bit about ex-Marines,” Fairley said.
It also doesn’t hurt the Rams have become Auburn North with former Tigers Greg Robinson, Tre Mason and Daren Bates on the roster and general manager Les Snead offering input on the roster.
But even with that support system in place, it’s up to Fairley to become the player many thought he’d become. For his part, Fairley seems to have put in the work to come to St. Louis in shape.
At times during his stint with the Lions, Fairley’s weight ballooned to as high as 320 pounds but the help of a personal chef allowed him to trim down to about 290 pounds before last season. There were concerns the knee injuries he suffered last year might cause his weight to go back up, but Fairley continued to work with the chef and arrived in St. Louis at a sleek 280 pounds.
In fact, Fairley is now in position to actually put weight on before the season, though he’s looking to enlist the help of a local personal chef to help him do it the right way.
“I’m going to be looking for one out here so if anybody knows a chef, holler at me,” Fairley said, laughing. “I’m going to put on some muscle so when I come back in April with the group of guys in the conditioning and work program, I’m sure I’ll get to where I want to be.”
If he does, an already scary Rams’ defensive line could get even better, and Fairley’s one-year gamble could pay off in an equally big way.
March 13, 2015 at 7:17 pm in reply to: Foles highlights & interviews, posted by RamBen, Jack, Ag, & others #20416znModeratorUnder the Lights: Nick Foles
Watch this first in-depth interview with Rams quarterback Nick Foles.
March 13, 2015 at 6:54 pm in reply to: Foles press conference, 3/13 … + Fairley …. vid & transcripts #20411znModeratorNo guarantees Rams are done adding quarterbacks
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Poor Nick Foles. Surrounded by the pomp and circumstance of a glorified pep rally Friday afternoon at Rams Park, Foles was supposed to be the center of attention as the new, albeit possibly temporary, face of the St. Louis Rams franchise.
But Foles’ first chance to meet with the St. Louis media went largely under the radar as coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead attempted to offer explanations of how the seismic shift in their quarterback room came about.
After Fisher surprised the staff in attendance by trotting out about to sign defensive tackle Nick Fairley, he introduced Foles before turning it over to Snead. For those who might not remember, it was at February’s NFL scouting combine and in the week before it in which Snead and Fisher had repeatedly and emphatically expressed their confidence in Sam Bradford as the quarterback.
Although the Rams had been rumored to have interest in Foles as early as the Senior Bowl in January, it was at the combine where plans for Bradford embarked down a path that would lead to Philadelphia.
In Indianapolis, a rumor popped up that Bradford was being shopped around. At the time, the spin was that Bradford’s camp was being given an opportunity to shop around to get a better gauge on what his value might be for a pay cut. Because Bradford was due to count $16.58 million against the cap in 2015, the Rams had been very clear that they wanted that number reduced and the theory went that getting a chance to shop Bradford might yield a middle ground.
Although it’s unclear exactly how much of a pay cut the Rams wanted Bradford to take, there have been strong indications that the numbers came in below what he might have been able to fetch on the free-agent market.
Back on the Lucas Oil Stadium podium, speaking to reporters, Snead was taken aback by a question about Bradford’s availability and made the comment that “deleting” Bradford wasn’t the best move for the team. Fisher followed two days later by declaring that the reports about Bradford’s availability were “inaccurate” and had previously noted that Bradford was involved in the hiring of Frank Cignetti as offensive coordinator and Chris Weinke as quarterbacks coach.
According to Snead, soon after his turn on the dais he began receiving calls about Bradford, gauging the Rams interest in trading him.
“We went to the combine, we had never heard anything about a trade, nobody had mentioned wanting to trade for Sam Bradford,” Snead said. “Deleting him wasn’t going to be the solution. Obviously when news like that breaks, guess what, some other teams start babbling. I think the first team approached me at the combine at some point and said, ‘Hey, when you get off the elevator, can we chat?”
As Snead tells it, the Rams started getting interest only after the “news broke” that the Rams were interested in trading Bradford. But that “breaking news” wasn’t made up; it had to have come from somewhere, right? Bradford’s camp was caught off guard by the rumors meaning it wasn’t that side leaking the information.
“I was at the podium,” Snead said. “I forget who asked the question. I’m not sure where he got it from. You’ll have to figure out who asked. It’s been squirrelly.”
In the meantime, no progress was made on reducing Bradford’s salary. The longer that stalemate lasted, the more the Rams began looking at their options.
“It was an issue, and it was an issue that was addressed for quite some time,” Fisher said. “And it was not an issue with respect to the transaction as far as they were concerned.”
Asked if Bradford would still be in St. Louis had he agreed to a pay cut, Fisher responded, “probably not.” Fisher spoke to Bradford on Tuesday morning and informed him that they were discussing trades and which teams they were discussing them with.
For his part, Bradford told the Philadelphia media that he knew of a possible move to the Eagles about three or four weeks ago. Foles told 101 ESPN radio in St. Louis that he had started hearing rumors of going to St. Louis around the Super Bowl.
Fisher said two hours after his conversation with Bradford, the deal with Philadelphia was consummated. It was a deal that was probably in the works much longer than the Rams let on, but they insisted Friday that acquiring Foles was the key to it all.
“When we said deleting Sam wasn’t the answer, that was true,” Snead said. “When Coach Fish said that was his QB, that was true because at that moment there was no trade and there was definitely nobody like Nick coming in the building.”
Fisher has already declared Foles the starter and offered a strong recommendation on Case Keenum, whom the team reacquired from Houston for a seventh-round pick soon after the Bradford trade. Foles and Keenum join Austin Davis (who has been tendered but not signed) as the three quarterbacks on the current roster, though none of the three are under contract beyond this season.
When asked about his comfort level with the quarterback position as a whole and whether the Rams had designs on adding another in the draft, Fisher gave a vote of confidence to the current group while ignoring the draft piece of the query.
“It’s a different room right now,” Fisher said. “It’s a fresh start.”
As we dive further into the silly season, deception and misdirection are part of the deal and it’s clear there was plenty of it that went on before the swap. It’s a deal that makes plenty of sense for the Rams on multiple levels.
But it should also serve as a reminder that any statements made about the team’s comfort level in its quarterbacks, or just about anything else, are only as true as the amount of salt you’re willing to ingest it with.
March 13, 2015 at 5:36 pm in reply to: Foles press conference, 3/13 … + Fairley …. vid & transcripts #20397znModeratorRams DT Nick Fairley – Press Conference – March 13, 2015
(On how he liked his surprise entry at Nick Foles’ introductory press conference)
“It was great. It was a surprise to you guys.”(On if the Rams ran a contract downstairs for him to sign right before Foles’ press conference began)
“Actually it was right before he walked in. They ran it down to me then.”(On what he said when the team asked if he wanted to go inside for the press conference)
“I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s a good idea.’”(On what makes the Rams a good fit for him)
“Really just coming into a new group of guys that’s young and they’re moving forward and they’ve got great potential. So I’m just ready to add to this group.”(On what makes it easier to bet on himself in St. Louis considering he signed a 1-year contract)
“I feel like it’s a perfect fit for me. The guys in this group, the D-line, they’re young, they’re moving forward and I want to be a part of it.”(On what he thinks of the Rams defensive line and the opportunity to join this group)
“Great upside. Like I said earlier, they’re young and they’ve got great potential. They’re moving forward and I just want to be a part of it.”(On if he has visions of 1-on-1 opportunities now that he’s playing alongside players such as Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn)
“You’ve got those guys up there and a guy next to me like Aaron that’s going to basically take on some double teams, I’m going to take on some double teams. So, it’s going to be a good fit for me.”(On if he was surprised when the Rams called)
“Was I surprised? Not really. I feel like it’s a good fit for me, so I was ready to roll with it.”(On how many teams he spoke with during free agency)
“Two.”(On if he brings up to the coaches issues such as playing time and where he fits in since he was a first-round draft pick)
“Doesn’t matter to me. I’m ready to roll. I feel like if I get out here and get going then I’ll show them what I’ve got and they’re going to make it happen.”(On if he feels like he has something to prove here)
“I don’t feel like I have anything to prove. It’s a new start for me. I’m just ready to start. (Going to) get here in April and get ready for these offseason workouts.”(On if the Lions’ decision to not offer him the fifth-year tender was an early indicator that he would be on a different team)
“Not really. They didn’t pick it up. It’s just the nature of the business to me. I just took it and ran with it.”(On if Detroit made an effort to keep him even after declining the option)
“I’d have to say, refer that to my agent because he took care of all that business.”(On if he met Defensive Line Coach Mike Waufle and what he thinks of the ex-Marine)
“Yes, sir. Great guy. As a matter of fact my dad is an ex-Marine, so I knew a little bit about ex-Marines.”(On if he’s talked to any of the players yet)
“A little bit. I talked to a couple guys downstairs. I can’t wait to get here in April so I can meet some new guys.”(On which players he’s already spoken to)
“Actually Daren Bates, ‘War Eagle’ by the way. So I ran into him downstairs. Basically, all the Auburn guys were here and I ran into them.”(On what he weighs now)
“Right now I’m at 280 (pounds).”(On if he is trying to be an edge rusher at his current weight)
“No, I’m really just preparing myself for the long term, longevity, and everything.”(On if he still has a personal chef)
“Now that I’m out here, I’m going to be looking for one out here. So, if anybody knows a chef, holler at me.”(On if he wants to play at 280 lbs)
“No, I’m going to put on some muscle of course and everything. When I come back in April with the guys in the strength and conditioning program, I’m sure they’re going to get me to where I need to be.”(On if he needed any surgery in the offseason to address his knee issues from last season)
“No sir.”(On if he just needed time off and rehab)
“Been rehabbing.”(On what knowledge he had about this team and coaching staff before he came here)
“Really, not too much. But, I can say when I was back in Detroit, we were watching these guys up front, you know what I’m saying? That’s how reckless they were. So, I know a little bit about the guys that played up front by watching them.”(On if he can recall the Rams interest in him in 2011 when he was coming out in the draft)
“I can’t tell you that. I really don’t remember that one.”(On what he brings to the defensive line)
“Energy. A little fun and Ws.”(On what he knew about defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and his reputation before coming here)
“Really, not too much. Like I said, I really didn’t know the guys, the coaching staff. Now that I’m here, I’m going to get to know them real well.”(On what impressed him the most about the Rams)
“The defense and the style they play. The attacking style. They like to get in the backfield and disrupt the edge upfront and that’s the kind of guy I am.”(On if he likes to get after the quarterback)
“There you go. I don’t like them. But, I like Nick Foles, by the way.”(On how much contact he had with former Lions teammate Ndamukong Suh during this process)
“We just texted each other and said, ‘Good luck,’ and that’s about it. When he signed his deal, I texted him, ‘Congratulations’. I’m sure he texted me, but I haven’t checked it.”(On if he had a good feeling that he would sign here when he got here)
“Kind of sort of. I had a good feel for it. When I got out at the airport, I was kind of like, ‘I kind of like St. Louis. Felt good when I walked in the building.”(On if he visited anywhere else)
“I left Cincinnati, coming here.”znModeratorRams General Manager Les Snead joined the Wendy’s Big Show on Friday to talk more in-depth about trading Sam Bradford for Nick Foles, the team’s free agency moves and needs it still hopes to address.
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We’ve transcribed the major talking points from the segment. You can read them and listen to the whole thing below:
On trade/free agency so far:
“It’s been a fun week. It’s not over but we’re executing a few plans that we’ve had that doesn’t happen all the time. We’ve had some scenarios and it’s working out.”
On how Sam Bradford deal went down after you and Fisher saying he was the team’s guy:
“At the end of the day, a few teams post-Combine approached us (asking about Sam). (We said), We’re not trying to get rid of Sam, it only hurts us.’ We had a conundrum with Sam and the conundrum was basically we got a young talented kid who just has had three years of bad luck. So just moving on from Sam Bradford wasn’t going to help our team. But when you actually tell people you’re not moving in, those people are still interested, they keep coming back. At the end of the day there were two to three teams that was really..trying to acquire Sam. But two teams only had draft picks. We could’ve done that trade, but we couldn’t necessarily make our quarterback room better. So the nice fit as this thing started to heat up…probably in the last week…the Eagles provided an opportunity for us to add to our quarterback room. And add a young guy who’s played on a good team. We feel like we’re getting good. And he’s won important, crucial games in a tough division, got a team to the playoffs. That’s the timeline. I still say…if you don’t have Nick Foles in a trade and you delete Sam Bradford…you didn’t help the room. When we got asked that at the Combine, at that point no team had called us. Internally we said, the best thing we can do is keep Sam Bradford, we might need to insure the position. But we were always focusing on our addition to the room.”
Did Bradford’s refusal to renegotiate his deal expedite things?
“We started discussing a renegotiation toward the end of this past season, both with Sam and his reps. We were prepared to carry him at that number. We’ve been used to that. The thing that really made this thing go is Philly had Nick Foles. That made the transaction a good fit for us.”
On the current holes in the offensive line:
“There’s a lot of ways to acquire new players and fix those holes. We’ll continue on free agency. There’s…the draft. The season starts in September and we’re going to have more than two starters on offensive line.”
Plan on drafting a quarterback?
“When you talk quarterbacks…there’s less QB’s on the planet than there are other positions, so each time you go to make the pick…it’s a case-by-case decision. Nothing’s out of the realm and I think you should definitely evaluate the quarterbacks in the draft and always weigh them to other positions.”
On current receivers:
“You can always add a very good player to help your football team, but we do like all of our receivers and I do think they can be very productive players. You only have one ball and you have to spread it around so I think we’ll always weigh that even in the draft.”
March 13, 2015 at 5:30 pm in reply to: Foles press conference, 3/13 … + Fairley …. vid & transcripts #20395znModerator
Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher, General Manager Les Snead, QB Nick Foles – Press Conference – March 13, 2015(Opening remarks)
Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher: “Good Morning. Appreciate you coming. You all know why we’re here. This is a special day. You’re going to get an opportunity to meet Nick. So, let’s bring Nick in.”DT Nick Fairley walks into the press conference.
“Nick Fairley needs to go upstairs and sign his contract. He will be available to you later. Now, we want to introduce you to the other (Qcool smiley Nick (Foles).”
General Manager Les Snead: “Last time I was at the podium, I think there was breaking news about some sort of trade for (Qcool smiley Sam (Bradford). You guys that have been here, you’ve written probably 100 different ways, the quarterback conundrum we were in. At that point in time, I think all of us – you guys included – with football acumen, deleting Sam Bradford wasn’t going to be the solution. Any solution was going to come in the addition, so we went to the Combine; we had never heard anything about a trade. Nobody had mentioned wanting to trade for Sam Bradford. Deleting him wasn’t going to be the solution to our problem. Obviously, when news like that breaks – guess what? Some other teams start dabbling. I think the first team approached me at the Combine at some point, even in the elevator and said, ‘Hey, when we get off the elevator can we chat?’ Long story short, at the end of the day, probably after we got back from the Combine, probably a week or so after, a lot of teams started checking in. There were multiple teams checking in. I think, like all trade talks go – they’re dabbling. Trying to figure out if we really want to get rid of Sam or not. They figured out that we really didn’t, that deleting him wasn’t going to be the solution. Long story short, the reason that made our trade the other day the right fit was the addition of Nick Foles because our conundrum at quarterback was going to require an addition. What made it awesome is this: you got a young guy who’s got a lot of physical skills to play in this league. He’s got a lot of metrics that show you how he can produce on the field, but the best thing about Nick is this, is he’s won games. A good organization, good team, won good games in a good division and even got a team to the playoffs, so that’s what made the addition intriguing and why everything went down. So, when we said deleting Sam wasn’t the answer – that was true. When Coach ‘Fish’ said he was his QB – that was true because at that moment there was no trade and there was definitely no one like Nick coming into the building. With that, I’ll introduce you Nick and we’ll take questions.”
(On if Sam Bradford would still be with the team if it weren’t for the pay cut)
Fisher: “Probably not. It was an issue and it was an issue that was addressed for quite some time and it was not an issue with respect to the transaction as far as they were concerned. So again just to elaborate a little bit more on the process, Tuesday around 10 a.m. I visited with Sam and as we stayed in touch with him, but more specifically he wanted to know what was going on and at that point I told him we were fielding calls and having some discussions. I actually told him who it was with and told him that I would keep him informed and keep him posted on everything that was going on. Just told him the truth and then two hours later things really accelerated. So, I was able to get in touch with him simultaneously with (Eagles Head) Coach (Chip Kelly) being able to get in touch with Nick and then we got in touch with our new quarterbacks and then shortly thereafter it was out.”(On where the trade rumors that broke out the NFL Combine came from)
Snead: “Again, I was at the podium. I forget who asked the question. Not sure where he got it from, but he did ask the question when I was at the podium, you’ll have to figure out who asked it. I’m not sure where that…and hey, it’s been swirling. We were going on two years of Sam Bradford trade rumors, so that might’ve just been a nice combine question they asked.”(On why interest from other teams would change their decision not to ‘delete’ Bradford)
Snead: “In anything in life, things change. The key point you’ve got to get is and the semantics is, you guys know football, deleting a good QB from your roster and not adding another good quarterback doesn’t help you. So what changed probably in all of this is we had multiple teams, and I don’t blame them for wanting Sam. He’s a good young player, got years left. But, the Eagles offered a chance for us to get another good young player who’s won game in this league and we felt like that’s what our team needed. So, that’s really the essence of what changed, being able to add Nick Foles to our roster.”(On his reaction when he heard he’d been traded)
Foles: “I got a call from (Eagles Head Coach) Chip (Kelly) and I was actually finishing up a workout. He told me what had gone on with the transaction. I think the first thing, if I’m being honest, you go through is there’s a lot of emotions you go through. I’ve been very fortunate to start my career in Philly and it’s been three great years. I have nothing but great things to say about Philadelphia, but at that time, emotions kick in. Then I was able to talk to Coach Fisher and after I got off the phone, I felt really good about it. I was honored that a team wanted me. As the days passed on, you get to know people. I’ve been very fortunate to get to know people in this building, players, personnel, whoever, and I feel at home. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be here because it really is a blessing to play in the NFL. As a young player, you always want to play with your first team, but I’m thankful I’m here. I’m excited to be here and I’m ready to get to work.”(On what he thought of the Rams after playing them last season)
Foles: “I remember playing this team and I remember thinking this is a talented team. The defense was scrappy, all over the place. Really tough to go against. I think the big thing I noticed, though, was the fight. I admire teams that continue to fight throughout the game because we had gotten, Philadelphia had gotten up by several points. The Rams kept fighting back, fighting back, and that’s when you know that that team’s together as one. You know that the coaching staff has everything together, the players are playing together. It was a tight game at the end and I really admired that. That was a game that I looked back and said, ‘That is a team that is going to be reckoned with.’ Now I’m a part of it and I’m excited about that.”(On what convinced the Rams that Foles was the right fit)
Fisher: “It’s what he did in college. What he was able to accomplish there, the system he was in. Then of course, we went back to his rookie year with (Former Eagles Head Coach) Andy (Reid) and watched him finished up the year. Then ’13 was so impressive, what he was able to do, all the throws. We really felt like he fits into our style of offense. The mobility, the athleticism. He loves to put it down the field. He’d be the first to tell you he likes to put it down the field and we’ve got guys that can do that.”(On if he looks as the trade as a fresh start)
Foles: “It’s a great opportunity to be with a great team. I’ve been able to meet some of the players and get to know them a little bit. It’s an honor to be here. It’s definitely a new start, but I’m going to continue to be me. I think being the best quarterback you can be is just being who you are. So, I’m excited to just get to know my teammates and just get to know the locker room, because that’s what it’s all about. It’s about that culture. It’s about knowing your guys and developing that relationship because that’s what wins games. We’re all going to be in it together. We’re going to run plays and everything, but sticking together, like I said, which I admired of the Rams last season, that’s what I love about it and I just want to add to it.”(On his health after suffering a clavicle injury last year)
Foles: “Yeah, I’m 180 percent right now. I’m better than I was. The collar bone is healed, it’s healthy. I’m excited to be healthy and I’m excited to throw it.”(On if Foles is the Rams’ starter and if they’re happy with the quarterback position now)
Fisher: “Yes, he’s our starter. Case (Keenum), we were able to acquire Case, too. Incidentally, they’re very close. We have a different room right now. It’s a fresh start, but Case was important to us at that time on Tuesday that we were able to get that done.”(On what they saw in Keenum last year that they liked)
Fisher: “To be honest, he didn’t get a lot of opportunity on the field, particularly because of what happened: losing Sam (Bradford), Shaun (Hill) stepping up and getting Austin (Davis) ready. The No. 2 (quarterback) for the most part got the reps against the defense, but when he got the opportunities, he made plays. We could see that and see what he did the previous year, how he was in the preseason for Houston. Then of course, when he left our practice squad and went back to Houston, he won two games for them. So, he can play this position.”znModeratorJim Thomas @jthom1 ·
Justin Blalock has left Detroit, is back home, still a free agent. May visit Rams next week.Jim Thomas @jthom1 ·
Stefen Wisniewski update: He’s still in Seattle, but told visit to St. Louis is “very possible.”znModeratorFairley and Ayers good fits for Rams
By Bernie Miklasz
Greetings from Jupiter … I’m watching the Cardinals and Marlins play at Roger Dean Stadium but wanted to take a few minutes to discuss the Rams’ signings of free-agent defensive tackle Nick Fairley and outside linebacker Akeem Ayers.
There’s risk involved, because Fairley was up and down in his career with the Detroit Lions. Fairley wasn’t always in the best shape, and his effort was questioned at times. And last season Fairley didn’t play after Oct. 26 because of a knee injury.
But the big man is talented. He’s one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the NFL, and it isn’t easy to find guys that can generate that inside rush on a consistent basis. According to Pro Football Focus, Fairley has been a top-15 pass rusher at the position in each of the last three seasons _ with just under 100 total QB pressures since the start of the 2012 season.
Not only that, but with this signing the Rams have an imposing tackle rotation with Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, and Fairley. The Rams already had a good, disruptive defensive line. And now it should be even better. Donald is already one of the league’s premiere DTs. Brockers has been disappointing in his three seasons as a Ram but still has the talent and attitude to be an elite performer at DT.
The Rams gave Fairley a one-year deal for a guaranteed $5 million and with incentives it could grow to $8 million. Fairley should be fired up, because he’ll be part of a group that will be relentless in getting after the quarterback. And Fairley will be playing for his next contract.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher is paying Fairley some good money in 2015 _ but he’s also giving Fairley an opportunity to reestablish his value for a potential long-term deal. Fairley seems like an ideal candidate for a Fisher career-rehab special.
I also liked the Rams’ signing of Ayers, a strong-side LB who ranked among the NFL’s top outside linebackers in a 4-3 alignment in 2013. Ayers was with Tennessee at the time, with Gregg Williams serving on the Titans staff as a defensive consultant/adviser. Williams, the Rams’ defensive coordinator, obviously knows how to maximize Ayers’ effectiveness. That’s a reason to have a good feeling about Ayers’ chances for success in STL.
Ayers was ranked No. 4 among all OLBs by Pro Football Focus in ’13 but wasn’t as comfortable in the change to a 3-4 alignment last season before the Titans moved him to New England.
If Ayers starts opposite of Alec Olgletree, the Rams will have two outside linebackers that can run well, blitz, and cover a lot of ground. Akers had 33 total QB pressures in ’13, and that fits the profile coveted by Fisher and Williams.
Now that we’ve offered some praise here, it’s time to ask the question again: when will the Rams restock their offensive line?
Maybe they’re planning to win low-scoring games in 2015 and are lining up extra defensive help.
znModeratorJeff Fisher: Other teams wanted Bradford, but we wanted Foles
by Michael David Smith
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dgbCy
Rams coach Jeff Fisher says the Eagles weren’t the only team that approached him about acquiring Sam Bradford in a trade. The Eagles were just the only team that offered a quarterback the Rams thought could be their starter.
Fisher said today on PFT Live that the Rams had previously been offered a late first-round draft pick for Bradford and turned that down, because until recently the Rams were planning on keeping Bradford in St. Louis.
“There were some discussions, yes, but from our standpoint, the first-round pick — obviously it’s attractive, but you still don’t have a quarterback. It’s a late pick and then would we move up and get into position to draft one? It didn’t make sense to us,” Fisher said.
The Rams only changed course on their willingness to trade Bradford when the Eagles called and offered Nick Foles.
“We’ve moved on, we’ve got Nick here, and we’re really happy about it,” Fisher said.
Right now, both Fisher and Chip Kelly are happy with their new quarterbacks. It remains to be seen whether both men are happy with those trades at this time next year.
znModeratorJim Thomas @jthom1 ·
Just got off conference call w/Lance Kendricks. Said he turned down more money from Atlanta to re-sign w/Rams.
znModeratorwas looking forward to seeing Bradford in a decent environment, too.
Well… we will get to see that. Just not with him as a Ram.
znModeratorznModeratorWho buys the cake and can I have some.
It’s on me. Later though…tomorrow. That strange entity without its own superbowl they call “the real world” is interfering at the moment. Full of demands, yet promising things they call “paychecks.”
znModeratorAyers ends up where so many other former Titans have — in St. Louis
David Boclair
Apparently Jeff Fisher has run out of guys who played for him with the Tennessee Titans to bring to St. Louis.
Now he is just going to settle for ones who simply played for the Titans.
Linebacker Akeem Ayers signed a two-year, $6 million [2] deal with the Rams on Thursday. Half of the money is guaranteed.
The Titans drafted Ayers in the second round in 2011, the first season after Mike Munchak replaced Fisher as head coach. He was a starter for most of his first three seasons but Tennessee traded him to New England in the middle of last season.
“I have a lot of excitement just to be a part of this team, a part of this defense,” Ayers said, according to the Rams’ website. “We’ve got a lot of young guys on defense, and a lot of talented guys on defense. I wanted to be a part of a good team and a good defense.”
Ayers is the first outside free agent [3] to sign with St. Louis this offseason but the latest in an ever-growing line of former Titans who have found their way there since Fisher became coach of that team in 2012. Kenny Britt, Cortland Finnegan, Jared Cook, William Hayes and Damian Williams all found their way there.
Of course, it should be noted that Fisher’s defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, coach Ayers with the Titans in 2013, and St. Louis’ linebackers coach, Frank Bush, had the same job in 2011 and 2012, Ayers’ first two seasons in the league.
So Ayers is, in fact, well-connected, even if those connections don’t go all the way to the top.
“I just like the direction this team is going, especially the defense,” Ayers said. “We’ve got something really good going here, and I’m just happy to be a part of it, put my input in, and get ready to win some games.”
znModerator(old): Akeem Ayers Brings Uncertainty, But Could Bring More to Patriots
Akeem Ayers played 10 snaps over two games for the Tennessee Titans this season, and he was inactive for five more. But the New England Patriots saw something in the 2011 39th overall draft pick; something that could potentially help a depleted front seven at minimal expense.
Time will tell if that something pays off.
There is reason to temper expectations for a 6’3” 255-pound linebacker that took only sixth-round pick to acquire – along with a seventh-rounder – from Tennessee on Tuesday afternoon. Yet there is also reason to expect Ayers will have a purpose in New England’s defense if he can acclimate to it.
Given the reliance on Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower, who combined for over 160 snaps in Week 7 after captain, communicator and middle linebacker Jerod Mayo was lost for the season in Week 6, there is a need for him if he is able.
To date, undrafted rookie Deontae Skinner has been tasked with handling inside linebacker duties in the 3-4, while Chris White and Ja’Gared Davis – waived in correspondence to Ayers’ arrival – have been branded linebackers only in title, making the 45-man gameday roster for their efforts in the kicking game.
But the attrition hasn’t ended there. With 3-4 outside linebacker and 4-3 defensive end Chandler Jones set to miss the next four weeks, as The Boston Globe’s Shalise Manza Young first reported, needs are revealing themselves at multiple positions.
Ayers’ past versatility and athleticism saw him step in as different pieces in Tennessee’s puzzle. He was well-regarded for his experience as a strong-side linebacker, an off-ball linebacker and a defensive end in four-man fronts.
Even so, it is fair to wonder what happened to the former UCLA Bruins edge-rushing standout since then. It’s fair to wonder how he fell out of favor in a defense he was integral to not long ago.
Ayers played in all 16 games through his first three NFL seasons, notching 43 starts in the process. And as a second-year pro in 2012, he massed 104 total tackles, six sacks, a forced fumble and an interception, before going on to rank as Pro Football Focus’ fourth overall 4-3 outside linebacker a year later in 2013.
He could run, he could stop the run, he could get into the offensive backfield, and he could drop back into the defensive backfield.
Yet as the Titans’ staff underwent renovations in the offseason, Ken Whisenhunt took over as head coach and Ray Horton took over as defensive coordinator. The shift in plans resulted in a shift in scheme, moving from the 4-3 to a 3-4 base.
Not all the pegs fit into the same holes.
Not all surgeries fit into the recovery time, either. Ayers underwent his own renovations after last season concluded, heading in for two separate operations on his patellar tendons.
Somewhere between then and now, the 25-year-old found himself out of the team’s plans. He found himself on the sidelines, as Wesley Woodyard, Derrick Morgan, Kamerion Wimbley, Shaun Phillips, Avery Williamson, Zaviar Gooden and Quentin Groves all got an opportunity to fill the Tennessee linebacker spots.
Perhaps it was warranted. Perhaps Ayers was not suited for the future of the Titans as he embarked on the final year of his rookie contract. Perhaps he wasn’t the same player who looked the part despite battling knee injuries only a season prior.
It is uncertain what Ayers is now. But for head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots, there is no harm in finding out what he is.
And right now, he’s No. 52.
.
znModeratorI wonder if Ayers is a future MLB candidate? What do people think?
znModeratorJim Thomas @jthom1
Akeem Ayers has just signed that 2-year deal w/Rams.So…is Dunbar gone? Is/was he a FA? I don’t recall seeing his name this off-season.
He signed a 2 year last year and is still listed on the roster, though that means if he’s still there after the season, he’s a free agent. He is listed as having played on 40% of the defensive snaps last year.
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