Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Rams cut (at least) five - updated

The Rams waived or terminated the contract of five players today to get under the training camp roster limit of 80 players (counting all 11 draft picks). The released players are:

* DT Leger (DOOZER) Douzable, which kills me because of the fun nickname I stuck on him last year. Doozer had 11 tackles in 12 games last year, starting one. He had a couple of strong games against the run late in the season but is aced out now by free agent acquisition Fred Robbins, Gary Gibson returning to full health and 2nd-year DT Darell Scott, who also had good games at the end of last season. The Rams list only 4 DTs on their current roster, but listed ends like James Hall, Victor Adeyanju and even C.J. Ah You have been known to drop down inside a lot. Update: Doozer has already been claimed by the Detroit Lions.

2nd update: Doozer cut by the Lions 8/5/2010.

* DE James Wyche. Wyche was cut by Jacksonville early last season before coming here for the last 5 weeks, registering one tackle in three games.

* Rookie free agent RB DeMaundray Woolridge. He's an Idaho guy; Linehan will pick him up...

* Rookie free agent long snapper Clint Mower. He was strictly a workout player and was never intended to be on the team after OTAs. This move also, hopefully, means Chris Massey is 100%.

* CB Danny Gorrer. The release of Gorrer improved the level of cornerback play across the NFL by 5%. He was that bad. Still got a $35,000
bonus last year, though. You'll remember Gorrer from the Rams' last home fiasco against the Big Dead. Kurt Warner abused him all game, Early Doucet beat him for a TD, and when he got a chance to retaliate by jumping a sideline route for a potential pick-six... he dropped the ball. He also had the worst tackle attempt of the season against Texans TE Joel Dreessen the week before that. It's a welcome sign that the Rams are heading in the right direction that, instead of holding a roster spot here during the regular season last year, players like Gorrer who don't belong in the NFL, period, aren't making it to training camp this year. Update: then again, Gorrer was claimed by the Super Bowl champion Saints after being waived by the Rams. There goes the level of cornerback play in the NFL...

* K.C. Asiodu is also on his way off the roster, in a transaction that is taking longer than the fifth set of Isner-Mahut. Last I knew he and the team were trying to reach an injury settlement. Then again, he's a former Lone Star Conference player; maybe somebody in the front office is having a hard time letting go. Asiodu had eight tackles last season, I believe all on special teams, and was granted a
bonus of over $55,000 by the NFL CBA. Decent enough player who could probably help somebody out on special teams. Update: Asiodu is for the moment on the Rams' injured reserve list.

* Rookie free agent tackle Joe Gibbs wasn't one of today's listed cuts, but he's also no longer listed on the Rams roster. Looks like I missed a transaction there. Like Mower, Gibbs was likely here strictly to participate in workouts, which we know the Ram offensive line had
difficulty surviving this year.

The current roster count, if the Rams' website is accurate, and you don't count Asiodu, is 79.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Rams sign eight draft picks - updated

Well, that was quick... the Rams signed eight of their eleven 2010 draft picks over the weekend.

Third-round pick Jerome Murphy signed a 4-year, $2.727 million deal. At the time of his signing he was the earliest pick in this year's NFL draft to sign with his team.

Update: Mardy Gilyard signed a 4-year, $2.34 million deal according to fantasyfootball.com.




(terms updated - globe-democrat.com)


Also signing 4-year deals: fifth-round pick Michael Hoomanawanui ($2 million) and seventh-round picks George Selvie (4 years, 1.85 million) and Josh Hull (4 years, 1.83 million). Selvie and Hull were the first Rams draft picks signed.

The Rams have also signed fifth-round pick Hall Davis (4 years, $1.98 million), sixth-round pick Eugene Sims (4 years, $1.89 million) and seventh-round pick Marquis Johnson (4 years, 1.86 million). No details on those deals at this point.

So it's eight down and just three to go: Sam Bradford, Rodger Saffold, and for some reason, fifth-round pick Fendi Onobun.

Boston Globe photo

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Marc Bulger returning to St. Louis!?!?

ST. LOUIS - 2009:  Marc Bulger of the St. Louis Rams poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in St. Louis, Missouri.  (Photo by NFL Photos)
No, the Rams have not had a shocking change of heart regarding the QB position. Bulger signed a 1-year, $3.8 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens today, per Adam Schefter at ESPN, so, ironically, Rams fans should get to see plenty of him in the final preseason game. The Ravens play the Rams in St. Louis September 2nd.

In fact, it's very possible a lot of that game will be Bulger vs. Sam Bradford. The Ravens will want to protect Joe Flacco that week, and of course, the Rams will want to protect their franchise QB, A.J. Feely.

I hope that last crack works out to be humorous by the time Bulger's back in town.

Rams training camp schedule released

The Rams have released the schedule of training camp practices that will be open to the public this summer. There will be a total of 28 open practices and a scrimmage, which will be 6:30 p.m. August 7th at Lindenwood University.

Work should not prevent anyone from catching a practice this year. Besides the scrimmage, three other practices are nighttime sessions, scheduled for 6:15 - 8:00. Also, this year's initial, rookies-only practices appear to be open, which I believe is a first.

Bolded sessions are the ones I'll try the hardest to cover. Italicized ones are iffy. Naturally, all are weekend or night practices.

Good thing for us they're opening the night practices that they are. There isn't a lot of open weekend activity at Rams Park this year. A lone practice the first Saturday (7/31) that's probably just special teams. Nothing on Sunday 8/8, probably because the scrimmage is the previous evening. Nothing open at all the subsequent two weekends.

So get out there this year and watch your football team work out. Here's the whole schedule, from stltoday.com:

July 29 (rookies): 8:15 - 9:30 a.m.; 2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
July 30: 8:15 - 9:30 a.m.
July 31: 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 1: 8:15 - 10:30 a.m.; 6:15 - 8 p.m.
Aug. 2: 2 - 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 3: 8:15 - 10:30 a.m.; 6:15 - 8 p.m.
Aug. 4: 2 - 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 5: 8:15 - 10 a.m.; 3 - 5 p.m.
Aug. 6: 2 - 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 7: 8:15 - 10 a.m.; scrimmage, 6:30 p.m., Lindenwood University
Aug. 9: 8:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Aug. 10: 2 - 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 11: 8:15 - 10:30 a.m.; 6:15 - 8 p.m.
Aug. 12: 2 - 4 p.m.
Aug. 16: 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 17: 8:15 - 10:30 a.m.; 5 - 7 p.m.
Aug. 18: 1:30 - 4 p.m.
Aug. 19: 8:15 - 10:30 a.m.; 5 - 7 p.m.
Aug. 23: 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 24: 8:15 - 10:30 a.m.; 5 - 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Rams sign O.J. Atogwe

The Rams have finally gotten free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe signed to what's only described right now as a long-term contract. Update: contract length is five years. Dollar amounts still not public.

2nd update: this is for all purposes a 1-year, $4.1 million contract. Atogwe becomes a UFA again in 2011 unless the Rams pay an $8 million roster bonus, which seems hardly likely.

After expressing my relief that the team has finally locked up arguably their best defensive player the last three years - certainly about the only Ram who can force a turnover, I'll just copy the rest of this post from the Rams' press release e-mailed out a minute ago...

"We are excited to have O.J. back in the fold,” said Rams Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo. “We were always hopeful for this result. We look forward to having his leadership, character and talent back on our defense."

Atogwe enters his sixth season with the Rams and has played in 72 career games, starting 60 consecutive contests since the start of the 2006 season. In 2009, he started 12 games before being placed on reserved/injured list with a shoulder injury (12/9). Despite missing four games, Atogwe finished second on the team with 82 tackles (38 solo), one sack, two interceptions, three passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Atogwe has notched 38 combined forced fumbles and interceptions (19 interceptions, 19 forced fumbles) since the start of 2006, the most in the NFL during that time period. In 2007, he recorded a career-high and NFC-leading eight interceptions, and since the start of 2006, his 19 interceptions rank fourth in the NFL.

Picture from, and more details at, stlouisrams.com

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Rams cut five - updated

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 27:  Defensive back Cord Parks #42 of the St. Louis Rams returns a kickoff during the preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on August 27, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)Let go by the team Tuesday:
* CB/WR Cord Parks. Parks was in last year's training camp as a corner and got some work on special teams and returning punts. He made the practice squad; while there, the Rams ran so short of wide receivers during the season they experimented with Parks at the position. He ultimately only saw late-season action on special teams. Update: Parks was picked up by the Seahawks.

* DE Sean Conover, who had been on the practice squad since late last season.

* rookie free agents DL Ernest Reid, SS Jeromy Jones, LB Freddie Harris. I'm sure the Harris cut pained someone at Rams Park, since he played in the Lone Star Conference.




The Rams roster count is currently 87, which includes Oshiomogho Atogwe (though I'm not sure why; he's a UFA now) and Mark Setterstrom (pending decision on surgery).

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Injury bug plagues OTAs

Who's been the biggest success at the Rams' organized team activities this spring? Sure, Sam Bradford's getting work in, Michael Hoomanawanui's made a bunch of plays, and Craig Dahl and James Hall have become defensive starters, but the real impact player at OTAs has been more of a "what" than a "who". The injury bug.

The bug is decimating the Ram offensive line before the season can even start. Hell, it took Jacob Bell out before OTAs could even start, as he needed a repair job to his knee. 2009 first-round pick Jason Smith's transition to starting left tackle is on pause until training camp; he has a stress fracture in one of his toes. 2010 second-round pick Rodger Saffold dodged one bullet from the bug early in OTAs but caught another and has been out the last couple of weeks due to a strained knee.

The bug has always been especially mean to Mark Setterstrom; Friday, he tore the same triceps that tore and ended his 2009 season. That would seem to be the now-fourth serious injury of Setterstrom's career, and possibly a career-ender, but the Rams have yet to make an official move. A real shame for Setterstrom, who's been a capable player but has absolutely zero injury luck.

Like this whole team. If you've been counting, that's FOUR projected starters on the Ram offensive line that have already gone down to injury, and it's only June. Whatever lucky charm Jason Brown has in his locker, he needs to share it with his linemates. Your current Rams offensive line: Brown, guards Hank Fraley and John Greco, right tackle Adam Goldberg, and at left tackle..... PHIL TRAUTWEIN. Yeah, don't expect to see $50 million worth of Sam Bradford behind center right away if this is the starting offensive line.

It hasn't been just the line, either. CB Bradley Fletcher, TE Daniel Fells and G Roger Allen are still on the mend from major injuries at the end of last year. Brandon Gibson, one of last year's more-promising WRs, is out due to a hamstring injury. Heck, Isaac Bruce was probably fortunate he didn't get injured during his final day-or-so stint as a Ram!

And of course there's the injury looming over this franchise like a pool of oil off your favorite Southern beach, Steven Jackson's back. The load he bore last season took its toll in the form of a herniated disk, and he's been on the sidelines since April recovering from surgery to fix that. (And STILL the Rams have done nothing to improve their depth at RB, unless you count crossing their fingers that Chris Ogbonnaya breaks out.) Coach Steve Spagnuolo's had the players go on team activities the last couple of weeks building a school playground and going bowling. I kind of think a visit to Lourdes may be more in order.

It's not really a joking matter, though. It's going to be impossible for the Rams to put together a cohesive offensive line when they can barely keep anyone on the field. The offense is nothing but a gigantic question mark anyway until we know what kind of shape Jackson's going to be in, what kind of load he can carry (or continue to).

And Sam Bradford's going to be $50 million worth of clipboard-carrier unless the Rams can put an NFL-quality line in front of him and all-pro Jackson behind him.

As hard as it is to believe things can get worse for a team coming off a 1-15 season, this preseason to date hasn't bode well for starting a turnaround. The good news is that it's only June. I don't think any team has ever had its season fall apart in June. I'm not even sure it's possible.

Is it?

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Isaac Bruce to retire a Ram



The Rams and 49ers completed a trade yesterday to return Isaac Bruce where he has always belonged, with the Rams. He'll announce his retirement tomorrow, which is unfortunate, because right now he's the best wide receiver on the Ram roster by more than a little bit. The team is also expected to announce tomorrow that they will retire Isaac's jersey. All fitting honors for a man who brought so much honor to the franchise.

I rarely get to say this, and actually rarely hope to, but: Good job, San Francisco. It's a classy move by them to facilitate Isaac's wish to go out as a Ram. And Mike Singletary and the 49er front office let him go with class, as opposed to, oh, ignominiously dumping him after 13 years of Hall-of-Fame-caliber play, dedication and character. The idea that it took the 49ers to correct one of the worst wrongs the Rams ever committed against one of their own greats certainly reminds us how poorly the regime that dared to cashier Isaac was running the team at the time.

But that's water beneath the bridge now. Isaac Bruce is where he belongs and is going out the way he should get to, on his terms.
Howard Balzer points out that Bruce and Kurt Warner will be first-time eligibles for the Hall of Fame's class of 2015, and could be joined by Orlando Pace, if he also should decide to hang up his cleats in the coming days.

I say we make it a party.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Market update: O.J. Atogwe

Buffalo Bills v St. Louis Rams


The market for unrestricted free agent Oshiomogho Atogwe has been getting a pretty thorough shakeout throughout the day. Only two teams appear serious at the moment, one of them being the Rams, of course. Many of O.J.'s speculated destinations have already weighed in today...




Dallas: NOT interested. Jerry Jones is ready to go into the season with the safeties he has. RamView wishes Dallas luck covering people with Alan Ball and Mike Hamlin, then.

Miami: barely interested. An inside source calls an Atogwe signing "officially" a long shot. I totally love Janie Campbell's headline for this article, btw. She clearly goes to the Jim Thomas school of sportswriting, describing erstwhile starting Dolphins FS Chris Clemons as "reportedly improved since last year's nondescript play." Yeah, they don't need a guy with 19 INTs in 4 seasons.

Philadelphia: not interested. After Marlin Jackson's likely season-ending injury at OTAs, they're likely to roll the dice with second-round draft pick Nate Allen. Now that may not be a bad move.

Detroit: here's a surprise: VERY interested. I'm surprised because my cursory research this morning had Louis Delmas at free safety there, and he looked very promising to me last season.
(My cursory research was
correct.)

Cincinnati: not likely interested. Certainly the Bengals have him downgraded for good character.

Minnesota: probably not interested. They're getting a lot of play in non-Vikings sources because
throw-a-million-rumors-against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks ESPN reporter
Adam Schefter speculates they're interested. Of course, two of his three rumored interested teams have already declared their lack of interest. Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune website doesn't even appear to mention Atogwe's name, and MinnesotaVikings.com writer Mike Wobschall doesn't believe the Vikings will be interested.

Whiners: NOT interested. Reasonable expectation since they drafted Taylor Mays.

So at this moment it looks like O.J. Atogwe's choice is between the Rams and Detroit.
a) Some choice; and
b) my farewell to him earlier today may very easily turn out to have been unnecessary
.

O.J. Atogwe hits the market...

Atlanta Falcons vs St. Louis Rams pre-season football




...and we've probably seen him in a Rams uniform for the last time. He and the team have not agreed to terms on a long term contract, and the Rams don't want to tender him for 2010 for a pretty steep price in the $7 million neighborhood, so he has become an unrestricted free agent.


Even at this point of the football calendar, there's a good market for a quality free safety like Atogwe right now. Dallas, Miami and Cleveland all lack a proven free safety on their rosters. A need may have just opened in Philadelphia with another major injury for Marlin Jackson. Those seem to be Atogwe's most obvious prospective teams.

For some dark horses, I'd include Kansas City - they can use all the help they can get in the secondary. They'd have to be convinced top draft pick Eric Berry can play corner, though. Atogwe would improve Cincinnati's secondary, but he's never been to jail. I also think he'd fit in well at San Diego or Carolina, who don't really convince me with the safeties they have. Denver's mighty old at safety but I doubt they'll look to a 29-year-old for improvement.

The Miami press is talking a lot about Atogwe, so we can feel pretty sure the Dolphins are interested in him. They mention that the Vikings have jumped into the race to sign him, along with the Cowboys. I didn't expect Minnesota's interest but that would certainly be a great place for Atogwe to end up.

One remaining place Atogwe could end up is always St. Louis. I think the Rams have played this about as well as they could. I'm not the first commenter who's going to call Atogwe a good-but-not-great safety. $7 million may be the union's going rate for him, but it's overvaluing him. He's had injury problems, including the sports hernia and shoulder situations he's recovering from right now. He's not a great cover safety or a marked physical presence in the Ram secondary (despite the cool action shot above [picapp.com]).

The question is, can the Rams really afford to lose Atogwe when he's about the only player on the defense who creates turnovers? He's created a third of the Rams' turnovers the last two seasons, even with missing four games last season. He's picked off 15 passes in three years for a secondary whose cornerbacks combined last season for NO interceptions.

Then again, remembering the home loss to San Francisco at the end of 2008, Atogwe plays too much for the turnover at times. That's a game the Rams would have won had Atogwe gone for a knockdown instead of an interception.

Atogwe wouldn't be a bad value here for a moderate contract in salary and length. He's a high-character, skilled player. But free safety isn't a cornerstone position a 1-15 team needs to make a large investment in, and Atogwe's a well-regarded safety, but not a Pro Bowler. And by trading for Kevin Payne, who had 4 INTs as Chicago's full-time FS two years ago, and extending Craig Dahl's contract, the Rams are prepared (how well, we'll see) if Atogwe gets a better offer from a better team.

The guess here is that'll be the case, so best of luck to Oshiomogho in advance. May he get a chance to play on the NFL's big stage wherever he does end up.