Rams report, 12/6: a Hekk of a contract

St. Louis Rams

Are you reluctant to buy a Rams player jersey because you're afraid the player you pick won't be around very long? Then go get yourself a #6. This week the Rams signed punter Johnny Hekker to a 6-year, $18 million contract extension that will keep him on the team till 2020. (Robert Quinn is also signed through 2020.)

The move was ridiculed in some corners of cyberspace because Hekker would have been a restricted free agent after this season and the Rams overspent to keep him. But Jeff Fisher doesn't mess with a good thing at punter; he had Craig Hentrich, a two-time Pro Bowler, for 12 years in Tennessee. Hekker's already been to a Pro Bowl and is 3 yards a punt better than Hentrich was in his career. (He's also the most clutch passer on the team.)

$9 million of the contract is guaranteed, which Adam Schefter reports is the highest ever given a punter or kicker. Hekker enters the weekend 14th in punting average (45.7) and 6th in net (41.4) after setting the league record for net punting last season. I don't blame the Rams for not wanting to mess with a good thing.

* Next year's free agents:
* Unrestricted - Joseph Barksdale, Kenny Britt, Alex Carrington, Shaun Hill, Davin Joseph, Lance Kendricks, Mike Person
* Restricted - Tim Barnes, Austin Davis, Corey Harkey, Rodney McLeod
* Exclusive Rights - Marshall McFadden, Chase Reynolds, Brandon Washington

* Other Rams transactions:
The Titans started the ball rolling on Rams transactions this week by signing Jemea Thomas to their roster off of the Rams' practice squad. The Rams filled that open roster slot with McFadden, who they cut last week to activate Chris Long.

The Rams are still a man short on the current practice squad; they never made a move to fill the spot left after they promoted Justice Cunningham. The squad: Steven Baker, Emory Blake, Travis Bond, Christian Bryant, Matt Conrath, Case Keenum, McFadden, Brad Smelley, Devon Wylie.

* Alumni report:
Can RamView make a recommendation on that open practice squad slot? Bring Gerald Rivers back. He was released from Denver's PS this week. Also:
- the Giants signed Chris Ogbonnaya;
- the Jets put Greg Salas on injured reserve. He injured a hamstring scoring his first career TD Monday night;
- the Cardinals waived Matthew Mulligan.

* Injury report:
The Redskins may be missing their two best players (if you ask me) on either side of the ball tomorrow. DeSean Jackson is listed as questionable after a leg injury suffered against the Colts last week, but NFL.com does not expect him to play. He's said to have contusions on both legs. On defense, Brandon Meriweather is doubtful due to a sprained toe.

That's two very significant playmakers the Redskins are down, while the Rams are relatively healthy, with no one listed as worse than probable, including Rodger Saffold. The Rams are three-point favorites and 85% of the public is picking them to win.

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