Rams Free Agency Weekend Review
From Around the League
It was crazy weekend as far as Free Agency goes around the NFL, although the Rams weren’t involved in all the madness!
Firstly New England traded Matt Cassell (and Mike Vrabel) to the Chiefs for their 2nd round pick (34th overall). The story does not end there though, it seems that the Buccs were trying to be a player in the deal, and their was originally a deal in place that would have seen Cassell traded to the Buccs, then then traded on from there to Denver in exchange for Pro-Bowler Jay Cutler (along with extra picks of course). News of all this has reportedly unsettled Cutler, who is saying he now wants out of Mile High.
Other big news over the weekend, also involving Denver, is the signing of former Philly saftey, Brian Dawkins. Dawkins has supposedly signed a 5 year, $17m deal to play for the Broncos.
Another big trade at the weekend was Tampa Bay securing Kellen Winslow from the Browns for their 2nd round pick in 2009, and 5th round in 2010. It’s worth noting that the rumoured trade for Cassell / Cutler would have seen Tampa give up their 1st and 3rd rounders apparently, so they would have traded away their first 3 picks to sign Cutler and Winslow. Factor in the cutting of Hilliard and Galloway and you wonder who they were going to have Cutler pass to!?
Rams News
Onto Rams news and the signing that everyone was expecting and wanting, Center Jason Brown, was finalised for a 5 year $37m+ deal, including $20m guaranteed, making him the highest paid center in the NFL. Brown was saying things the fans and management will undoubtedly want to hear at the press conference when he said, “I’m telling you right now, we’re going to be better than a .500 team.”
Rumours that the Rams are shopping WR Tory Holt and LT Orlando Pace are persisting to circulate. Both players have contracts the many feel are above their value on the field right now and with the team in a rebuilding stage the cap room would be better off bringing in new blood. Problem is though that Offensive Tackles of Pace’s quality only appear in a blue moon, and if they do not have a ready-to-start replacement lined up there could be trouble ahead. Holt’s value taken a knock with the release of several veteran wideouts - Lav Coles, MarHar, Joey Galloway, not to mention Housh is still touring NFL cities, so any notions of cashing in on draft picks in a trade look a long way off right now.
The mostly highly though of Ram Free Agent, cornerback Ron Bartell, is yet to sign with anyone, despite ongoing negotiations with both the Rams and Saints. The fact Bartell left New Orleans without a deal can only be encouraging for St Louis…
After cutting Trent Green there were some who were claiming that Jeff Garcia might be on his way to the Rams to link up with former Offensive Co-ordinator Pat Shurmur, who he worked with in Philly. Apparently Garcia would have backed up Bulger, but now reports are saying that it was just that, a unsubstantiated rumour.
Giants Strong Safety James Butler left St Louis without a deal on Saturday, but the word on the interweb is that Butler wants to join the Rams and link up with his old coach, Steve Spagnuolo. VanRam over at TurfShowTimes has summed up the Rams options at defensive-back.
If the Rams can come out of free agency with Brown, Bartell and Butler it will have been a success in my opinion. Here’s hoping…
2 years ago
