I'm old enough that when I see the letters "CB" used together to conjure up the song "Convoy" in my head. Of course, here it refers to cornerbacks, those pricey, oft-injured defenders tasked with locking down receivers. The release of Oakland Raiders CB Stanford Routt will have, is already having, a direct impact on the free agent market for CBs and potential ripples that will effect the St. Louis Rams.
Sort of like when the Rubber Duck decides to go a-huntin' bear. Or something like that ...
Routt already has visits lined up with the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans. The Titans are likely bracing for the loss of their own free agent cornerback Courtland Finnegan, aka Andre Johnson's Moriarty.
They may not land Routt, but their interest in his services signals some hesitation in slapping Finnegan with the franchise tag. It might even signal some doubts about inking him to a new deal. Finnegan himself is under the impression that he will not be re-signed by the Titans.
Enter the St. Louis Rams and their new head coach who knows a thing or two about Finnegan, having drafted him in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
The Rams will court Courtland Finnegan, according to Evan Silva at Rotoworld who has a very good line on the Rams intentions.
Silva also suggests the end of Ron Bartell's time with the Rams. Cutting Bartell and his $6.5 million salary this season would open up cap space.
Doubtlessly, you are scratching your head at the idea of cutting Bartell. Me too, but ... Bartell will enter the 2012 season as a 30-year old cornerback coming off a broken vertebrae in his neck. There is not guarantee that he will round back into form. He's also a veteran with a big contract under a new regime, those guys usually have a target on their back from day one.
Finnegan would be an upgrade over Bartell. Paired with Bradley Fletcher, himself a big question mark because of injuries, the Rams would have a pair of physical corners working the outside. Factor in Jerome Murphy, and it's a pretty solid top three. They would still need more of a true nickel, something I personally don't think Murphy is as well suited for as he is working on the outside.
Fisher will not want to go through a lengthy rebuilding process with the Rams. He's also been unofficially mandated to start winning again in 2012, even if that doesn't mean the Rams will be in Super Bowl contention. Getting players healthy will be a big help, and you can expect Fisher to augment the process by bringing in some of his former players.
And since our younger readers are probably wondering what the hell "Convoy" is, I present the non-copyrighted homemade music video version of it!
0 recs | 36 comments
Convoy
God, it makes me sick to know that I’m old enough to remember that movie coming out. I see a remake in the future…
Da Rams! - February 10, 2012
Tough Call
I think you hold onto Bartell until he becomes expendable (ie. Finnigan signs). Would it be a bad idea to sign Finnigan and possibly draft Claiborne at 6 (assuming a trade with Washington)? Not sure how much of a mentor Finnigan would be but it could be the start of some swagger back there. Of course this would make the need to stop the run quite glaring… (which we haven’t done either!)
WpgRamsFan - February 10, 2012
I feel less crazy thinkin this now that some pros are saying the same lol
Cut bartell and use his money to sign cortland. It would be like spinning cortland for 2 million
Ram_Redemption - February 10, 2012 via mobile
Also I saw on the net that cortland was on espn saint louis
saying he would love to play for fisher
Ram_Redemption - February 10, 2012 via mobile
Either way, the free agent CB market this year looks promising enough...
…to not use a first or second round pick on this position.
Oski Bear - February 10, 2012
Farewelll Bartell.
It was nice having you on the team. Good luck in your future endeavors.
I just don’t see the team keeping him given his age, contract, and neck injury. That would be insane. Maybe give him a shot with a decent pay cut, but Finegan’s going to be courted by the Rams. Courtland no spring chicken either, but he’s still good, has free range, and will knock the snott outta any receiver he covers.
Da Rams! - February 10, 2012
Its not even close when u thunk abou it lol
sign finnegan (younger, better) with bartell’s money. he is good but for all the reasons u stated, plus finnegan gives u more intense and fiery corner play.
Ram_Redemption - February 10, 2012 via mobile
Convoy's alright, but I'm a Smokey and the Bandit guy
Grew up on those movies. “The got dang Germans aint got nothin to do with it!”
3k - February 10, 2012
that movie rolled through my hometown...
belen, new mexico.
Mark Jaramillo - February 10, 2012
finnegan sounds like the kinda swag ud li ke i
My locker room
Ramzman18 - February 10, 2012 via mobile
finnegan sounds like the kinda swag id like to have in my locker room
I ment to say
Ramzman18 - February 10, 2012 via mobile
how old is he anyway
Ramzman18 - February 10, 2012 via mobile
29
Da Rams! - February 10, 2012
oh only a year apart i thought he was 28
Ramzman18 - February 10, 2012 via mobile
Its really two
Finn turned 28 on Feb 2. Bartell turns 30 Feb 22. I really like this post. Every year I say, come on Ron, this is your year…only to be very dissatisfied with his results. Cut him. Good bye, so long and good luck Ron. Welcome Finn. I like near crazy players on D. A great 7th rounder Fisher found. Other small school CBs Trumaine Johnson, 6 2 204 from Montana. J. Norman 6 190 I never liked Murphy. I wanted Ed Dickson TE Balt.
fearsomefoursum - February 10, 2012
How much would he cost a season?
If its the same or less this is a no brainer.
jmo53 - February 10, 2012 via Android app
Knowing now what "convoy"is,
I think I preferred not knowing.
linus98 - February 10, 2012
Bahahaha!!!! Yeahhh…. I feel kinda violated now after listening to that song… That and mentally disturbed. :\ lol.
RamsIchor - February 10, 2012
Think about this
Finnegan, Claiborne, Fletcher and Murphy as the top 4 corners. Can you say great defense?
Brick Top - February 10, 2012
Robbins, Gibson, Chamberlin, Dahl
Still got work to do. lol
jmo53 - February 10, 2012 via Android app
Stewart is starting not Dahl
and yes we’ll get another OLB, Gibson is a good rotation player he didn’t start. Chambo is actually pretty decent. Still need some good DTs but we were a decent defense last year and adding two great corners would really improve an already good unit.
Brick Top - February 10, 2012
meant kehl and just giving ya shit
I’d like some dominant DTs and OLBs though.
jmo53 - February 10, 2012 via Android app
That combo of corners would be sick though.
jmo53 - February 10, 2012 via Android app
Think we could afford Finnegan and a #1WR in FA?
Draft Kalil, 2OLB, 2DT, and a scat back.
jmo53 - February 10, 2012 via Android app
It would be very, very tough to do that
I wouldn’t count on it.
Brick Top - February 10, 2012
Sure, lets sign Finnegan
but save our 1rst round pick on a corner for 2013. Watching Finnegan and the Honey Badger on the field at the same time would be worth the price of admission on it’s own.
RamTeaPartier - February 10, 2012
"pretty solid top 3"
Dude, we need like a solid top 12
sergey606 - February 10, 2012 via mobile
Good news is we gave about 20 cornerbacks some experience for that.
douchiedude - February 10, 2012
true.
sergey606 - February 10, 2012
I'm with ya van...Ah-h-h-h-h-h..... Convoy
That was music to my ears. I hadn’t heard that in a long, long time.
I hate to say it but wasn’t that from the mid 70s?
That’s a big 10-4 good buddy.
Nbr1RamFan - February 10, 2012
Cortland is my vote!
I appreciate Bartell’s work and leadership but we need thumpers, people that challenge the WR at the line. Honestly I might be a little bias, but just think back to the Giants game. For the most part, Fletcher was owning Nicks. If he’s our number 2 corner with Murphy at number 3 and Cortland at number 1, we’re probably set there.
The Honey Badger would be an awesome get, but one of excess rather than necessity. We really need to shore up our league worst rush defense starting with the interior D linemen and OLB. Only then could you consider a guy like the Honey Badger.
Another thought on this draft/FA: Can we really fix our Dline, OLB, OL, WR and CB all in this draft/FA? Realistically?
fletcherisland - February 10, 2012
This doesn't make sense...
“Finnegan would be an upgrade over Bartell. Paired with Bradley Fletcher, himself a big question mark because of injuries, the Rams would have a pair of physical corners working the outside.”
Finnegan is a slot corner, he rarely plays outside. Bartell played outside quite a bit. They may play the same position but that doesn’t mean they play it the same way.
TheSmart1 - February 10, 2012
I may be in the minority here, but I personally think
that Flecher is a better cover CB than Bartell. I was thanking the gods that Skelton couldn’t find Fitz cleanly early in the year. Bartell is a good, smart DB, but that neck injury really concerns me. I hate to say it, but if the option is there to cut the guy and replace him with Finnegan, it is a no-brainer. Finnegan has been very durable and consistent DB over the last 4 years or so. In a divison with Fitz and Crabtree twice a year each, it absolutely makes sense as long as we have some cap space to fill other gaps.
CaliRamMan - February 10, 2012
I say we try to rework Bartell's contract
And then try to sign one of these top CBs
ChrisL951 - February 10, 2012
Cut Bartell. We love him, But, Indy loves Peyton too......................
Time to move on.
And Fletcher might not be far behind him.
Hopefully not, but we are rebuilding!
Finnegan is overrated and small, but pretty good.
New CB’s……………….Go Rams!
look closer - February 10, 2012
fearsomefoursum
Fisher had plenty of opportunities to watch Trumaine play, since Johnson was a teammate of Brandon Fisher.
9milerancher - February 10, 2012
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