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It has been a rapid fall for linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar. From the team’s second-leading tackler a year ago, to an NFL suspension announced in August, to released from the team Tuesday.
But Dunbar’s release may have been nothing more than salary cap maneuvering designed to give the Rams some much-needed cap room entering the 2013 season.
For his part, coach Jeff Fisher didn’t rule out a return by Dunbar once his four-game suspension is over for violating NFL policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
“Of course, there’s a good possibility (Dunbar will be back),” Fisher said following Wednesday’s practice. “Anything’s possible.”
A league source familiar with the situation told the Post-Dispatch there was a “very strong possibility” that Dunbar would be back with the team following his suspension. But of course, there are no guarantees.
So why do this now? Each NFL team had to be cap compliant by Wednesday night. In other words, they had to be under the salary cap limit of $123 million. The Rams were very tight against the cap before Dunbar’s release, and releasing him now frees up roughly $1 million of salary cap space.
If the team re-signs him at the end, or near the end of his suspension, it might do so for a lower rate than the $1.3 million he was scheduled to make as a base salary in 2013. Under that contract, he was scheduled to be a free agent after this season.
Fisher was asked if there were any other incidents or problems that may have contributed to Dunbar’s release.
“There was nothing. No,” Fisher said. “He and I discussed it. We’ve got (the suspension) put behind us as far as the club and his teammates were concerned. No other issues. It was just a decision we had to make.
“We haven’t said this is it as far as his future’s concerned. But we thought it was in the best interest of the organization right now.”
Veteran Will Witherspoon, at 33 the oldest player on the team, took over Dunbar’s starting spot at outside linebacker once the suspension was announced. “Spoon’s done a great job since he’s been here,” Fisher said. “He’s been a consistent, productive player every place he’s been. Obviously, we brought Will in here with the knowledge that Jo-Lonn was not going to be available.”
As in, not available for the first four games. In any event, the Rams are as young and inexperienced as can be behind starting linebackers Witherspoon, James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree. Backups Ray Ray Armstrong, Daren Bates, and Jonathan Stewart are all undrafted rookies.
“We’re gonna continue to make roster moves probably throughout the year,” Fisher said. “We’re scouring the waiver wire right now, and trying to put ourselves in the position of upgrading the bottom half of our roster.”
It has been a rapid fall for linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar. From the team’s second-leading tackler a year ago, to an NFL suspension announced in August, to released from the team Tuesday.
But Dunbar’s release may have been nothing more than salary cap maneuvering designed to give the Rams some much-needed cap room entering the 2013 season.
For his part, coach Jeff Fisher didn’t rule out a return by Dunbar once his four-game suspension is over for violating NFL policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
“Of course, there’s a good possibility (Dunbar will be back),” Fisher said following Wednesday’s practice. “Anything’s possible.”
A league source familiar with the situation told the Post-Dispatch there was a “very strong possibility” that Dunbar would be back with the team following his suspension. But of course, there are no guarantees.
So why do this now? Each NFL team had to be cap compliant by Wednesday night. In other words, they had to be under the salary cap limit of $123 million. The Rams were very tight against the cap before Dunbar’s release, and releasing him now frees up roughly $1 million of salary cap space.
If the team re-signs him at the end, or near the end of his suspension, it might do so for a lower rate than the $1.3 million he was scheduled to make as a base salary in 2013. Under that contract, he was scheduled to be a free agent after this season.
Fisher was asked if there were any other incidents or problems that may have contributed to Dunbar’s release.
“There was nothing. No,” Fisher said. “He and I discussed it. We’ve got (the suspension) put behind us as far as the club and his teammates were concerned. No other issues. It was just a decision we had to make.
“We haven’t said this is it as far as his future’s concerned. But we thought it was in the best interest of the organization right now.”
Veteran Will Witherspoon, at 33 the oldest player on the team, took over Dunbar’s starting spot at outside linebacker once the suspension was announced. “Spoon’s done a great job since he’s been here,” Fisher said. “He’s been a consistent, productive player every place he’s been. Obviously, we brought Will in here with the knowledge that Jo-Lonn was not going to be available.”
As in, not available for the first four games. In any event, the Rams are as young and inexperienced as can be behind starting linebackers Witherspoon, James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree. Backups Ray Ray Armstrong, Daren Bates, and Jonathan Stewart are all undrafted rookies.
“We’re gonna continue to make roster moves probably throughout the year,” Fisher said. “We’re scouring the waiver wire right now, and trying to put ourselves in the position of upgrading the bottom half of our roster.”
