The PD's Jeff Gordon looks at some of the Rams higher paid slackers, the guys that Haslett apparently has been vainly pressing upon to do better. There are 12 names on Gordon's list and he posits the Rams will have to cut about half of them to retool next year.
Let's look at the possibilities. Starting with the sure things: Dante Hall and La'Roi Glover's contracts are up after this season, so jettisoning their contracts is easy, and both players have passed their prime. You can forget dumping Bulger or Steven Jackson, for reasons we've discussed ad naseum. There's maybe a .001% chance the Rams could part ways with Bulger, via trade, but it's incredibly unlikely.
Witherspoon's a safe bet to remain a Ram too. He's playing with an injury and out of position. If the Rams add a real live middle linebacker next season, the chances of us seeing the player we saw last season go way up. DT Adam Carriker isn't going anywhere either. He's not playing like a first round pick this season - he has had moments though - but if the Rams can get a big body to play next to him on the line, he'll improve. I'd even think about making him a DE again. Given their needs on the line and the hit they'd take on the cap, G Jacob Bell is safe too. With improvements around him on the line, he'll be better.
It's hard to imagine the Rams without LT Orlando Pace, but at what point will he consider retirement? The Rams invested a lot of money in him for diminishing returns. He probably stays. The team's lack of depth helps LB Pisa Tinoisamoa's case, but if the team adds some quality to this group from the draft and/or free agency, then they could take the cap hit and say goodbye.
I don't know why the Rams would keep Trent Green. Cutting him costs them money, but I think they'll live with it. Fans might charge the field, and not for celebration, if WR Drew Bennett makes the roster next year. That leaves WR Torry Holt from Gordon's orignal list. Holt probably gets moved, traded for whatever they can get.
0 recs | 6 comments
the day torry holt is moved
will be a sad day in the history of the st. louis rams.
stlcardinalsfang - November 19, 2008
What is sad
is I’d almost rather have Bruce on the team right now than Holt. For some reason, Holt doesn’t seem to be aging well.
Tackle Box - November 19, 2008
Of the guys VanRam suggested.
Here’s the hit.
Dante Hall – 0
La’Roi Glover – 0
Trent Green – 1.4M
Drew Bennett – 6.67M
Torry Holt – 1.64M
Total = 9.71M
As for the other guys VanRam listed, I agree they’ll probably stay for all but maybe Carriker (but he’s probably safe too). Btw, Carriker would cost 5.64M and if added to the 5 above would cost 15.35M. That would probably be the limit to what they’d go to which would be about 12 1/2 percent of next year’s cap.
Tackle Box - November 19, 2008
?
I think it would be a bad move to cut Carriker. He’s in his second year and it seems like he’s not 100% healthy this year.
jroman - November 19, 2008
shoulder
he’s got a bum shoulder. he’s played well at times. the middle of the d-line has just been getting manhandled. he’ll be much better with a big wall of a NT next to him…or playing DE.
Ryan Van Bibber - November 20, 2008
I'm not saying he should go.
I’m just throwing out possibilities and seeing how realistic they are from a cap perspective. But one thing’s for certain, he needs to find a different position that suits him a little better. He and Witherspoon. We’ve got too many guys playing out of position. Yet another reason to blame the previous HC and GM and to give Haslett a little slack.
Tackle Box - November 20, 2008
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