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Tipsheet: Rams step back as NFL rivals spend
• By Jeff Gordon
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_70fb0c56-1652-54f3-bf50-767989ed78e0.html
Several teams celebrated the opening of the NFL's free agent marketplace with fireworks.
The Miami Dolphins emptied the bank for defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The feckless Jacksonville Jaguars landed tight end Julius Thomas. The Arizona Cardinals purchased guard Mike Iupati, a person of interest to the Rams.
The Kansas City Chiefs landed Our Town's Jeremy Maclin at wide receiver as Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly continued divesting himself of incumbent offensive personnel.
As for the Rams, they unloaded battered offensive linemen Jake Long and Scott Wells as expected . . . and then did nothing, preferring to wait out the first wave of spending by rival teams.
This is going to be a ho-hum offseason for the lame duck Rams, a franchise lacking quantity of draft picks and motivation to make a major roster overhaul while owner Stan Kroenke builds his Los Angeles stadium.
Instead, Jeff Fisher and Les Snead opted to clean up after earlier mistakes in free agency (Jake Long and Wells) and focus on maintaining its veteran talent base, such as it is.
Given this duo's dismal track record with veteran free agents, that strategy seems prudent.
If Sam Bradford remains at quarterback and Kenny Britt re-ups at wide receiver, then the Rams' pressing needs will be limited to the offensive line. Keeping free agent tackle Joe Barksdale would further sharpen the focus to the interior of the offensive line.
Should Barksdale exit, the dearth of quality tackles in free agency would force the Rams in that direction with their first NFL Draft pick.
ASSESSING NFL FREE AGENCY
Here is what some of our favorite experts are writing about all of the marketplace:
Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com: "Kelly is taking major chances with what he's doing in Philadelphia. I like innovation, and Kelly has a lot of it in his coaching. That's fun. I love how his team plays fast and aggressive. I think his ideas on team preparation don't follow the norm, which is OK as well. What I don't get is how he thinks his system is more important than the players. It's not Xs and Os, Chip. It's Jimmy and Joes. It always will be. Players over scheme any day. Yet you get the idea that Kelly thinks his scheme can work, no matter who is in it. That's coaching arrogance, a disease that has doomed many a coach in the past (see Steve Spurrier). In the past year Kelly has rid himself of his deep threat (DeSean Jackson), his elite runner (LeSean McCoy), and apparently has lost 2014 top receiver Jeremy Maclin to the Chiefs in free agency. That leaves him with an offense with few playmakers. Kelly is making these decisions. He has the power in the building now and helped send Howie Roseman up the hall to a business office and put in place a 'yes' man who will answer to Kelly's wants. Power can be a dangerous thing at times for a coach. I watched firsthand as Tom Coughlin the coach was undone by Tom Coughlin the general manager in Jacksonville."
Bill Barnwell, ESPN.com: "It’s a surprise the cap-strapped Chiefs were able to find the sort of money Maclin was surely looking for on a long-term deal, but this must also indicate the end of Dwayne Bowe’s tenure in Kansas City. The Chiefs, themselves a cautionary tale for a top-heavy roster, can save $11 million on this year’s cap by designating Bowe as a post–June 1 release. It also wouldn’t be shocking to see the Eagles consider Bowe as a possible replacement for Maclin. Even if the Eagles plan on drafting a wide receiver, their current core consists of (Riley) Cooper, Jordan Matthews, Josh Huff, and Zach Ertz. That simply isn’t going to fly. What’s the point of trading up for Marcus Mariota if he doesn’t have anybody to throw to? The Eagles would surely consider the 6-foot-2 Bowe, with 6-foot-3 Kenny Britt a logical buy-low candidate."
Kenneth Arthur, Sports on Earth: "At this point it's hard not to ask the question, 'Are the Oakland Raiders even trying?' With free agency set to officially open on Tuesday, the Raiders stood to be a major player for major players. They don't just have the cap room -- at least $60 million -- but the incentive to spend it based on the NFL's 'minimum spend rule,' which dictates that teams must use at least 89 percent of the salary cap from 2013 to 2016. Oakland was barely cracking 80 percent and simply can't be frugal with roster building this time around, but thus far it appears as though they haven't been able to pull off the improbable: Convince big names to play for the Raiders. Despite having the cap room to sign not just one, but possibly three or four of the top free agents available, very few rumors seem to involve Oakland thus far. Although, on Monday, it was reported that they will sign center Rodney Hudson to a five-year, $44.5 million contract. An important move, to be sure, but not a game-changer. It looks as though they have already missed out on Ndamukong Suh (Dolphins, although that isn't official yet), Byron Maxwell (Eagles), Jeremy Maclin (Chiefs) and Julius Thomas (Jaguars), while Brandon Flowers re-signed with the Chargers and Jerry Hughes is set to return to the Bills. Furthermore, Darrelle Revis is likely to stay in the AFC East and the idea of him signing with the Raiders is too far outside the realm of possibility to warrant speculation."
Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports: "Ndamukong Suh has lived up to all the expectations of being the NFL's free-agent prom king. He educated the Detroit Lions on the dangers of sweeping salary-cap restructures under the bed. He probably cried some crocodile tears after that playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He played the NFL's business game brilliantly, maxing out his own worth with the Miami Dolphins. But back away a few steps and look at the wider angle of the Suh development. If the numbers are correct ($19 million per season, $60 million guaranteed, $114 million total as reported by ESPN) Suh doesn't even stand as the most important figure in this picture. The guy willing to juggle that financial hand grenade, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, is the one whose move will eventually warp rosters beyond his own. That's the long game here. The Suh deal just turned the dial on elite money to a full 10. Not just for defensive players, but all players. Which isn't a bad thing or unfair or even unwarranted. It just isn't the kind of thing appreciated by the overall collection of NFL owners, who don't applaud someone taking maximum figures and kicking them forward more than a few inches. But Ross took a guaranteed money figure for defensive players and advanced it to franchise quarterback level: $60 million."
Mike Tanier, Bleacher Report: "First-class flights and four-star hotel suites. Steak dinners, sightseeing tours and luxury-box NBA tickets. Everybody wants to be first on your dance card, and no one wants you to leave—unless you are departing with millions of dollars and a new contract. Life is good when you are a top-tier NFL free agent. Billionaire owners and tough-guy coaches bend over backward like smitten prom dates to make you happy. Nothing is left to chance when you come a-calling; even your chauffeur is carefully selected. Everyone wants you to have a great time and leave rich. We've all followed the flight plan as a superstar free agent jets across North America in search of his next employer. It's like tracking Santa on Christmas Eve."
Peter King, SI.com: "An eyebrow-raising report late Sunday night from the West Coast had the 49ers shopping around quarterback Colin Kaepernick. GM Trent Baalke quickly denied it. No idea what to believe, but if the Niners are nutty enough to trade Kaepernick with no QB currently behind him on the roster, it means 2015 truly is a bridge year. Coach Jim Tomsula could go 3-13 and there would be no heat on him—only on Baalke and Jed York."
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
Questions to ponder while wondering how history will remember the Jake Long era at Rams Park:
Are the Eagles leaving themselves short at wide receiver?
Could robots replace all sportswriters?
What says "Party!" like a photo of Bill Belichick?
• By Jeff Gordon
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_70fb0c56-1652-54f3-bf50-767989ed78e0.html
Several teams celebrated the opening of the NFL's free agent marketplace with fireworks.
The Miami Dolphins emptied the bank for defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The feckless Jacksonville Jaguars landed tight end Julius Thomas. The Arizona Cardinals purchased guard Mike Iupati, a person of interest to the Rams.
The Kansas City Chiefs landed Our Town's Jeremy Maclin at wide receiver as Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly continued divesting himself of incumbent offensive personnel.
As for the Rams, they unloaded battered offensive linemen Jake Long and Scott Wells as expected . . . and then did nothing, preferring to wait out the first wave of spending by rival teams.
This is going to be a ho-hum offseason for the lame duck Rams, a franchise lacking quantity of draft picks and motivation to make a major roster overhaul while owner Stan Kroenke builds his Los Angeles stadium.
Instead, Jeff Fisher and Les Snead opted to clean up after earlier mistakes in free agency (Jake Long and Wells) and focus on maintaining its veteran talent base, such as it is.
Given this duo's dismal track record with veteran free agents, that strategy seems prudent.
If Sam Bradford remains at quarterback and Kenny Britt re-ups at wide receiver, then the Rams' pressing needs will be limited to the offensive line. Keeping free agent tackle Joe Barksdale would further sharpen the focus to the interior of the offensive line.
Should Barksdale exit, the dearth of quality tackles in free agency would force the Rams in that direction with their first NFL Draft pick.
ASSESSING NFL FREE AGENCY
Here is what some of our favorite experts are writing about all of the marketplace:
Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com: "Kelly is taking major chances with what he's doing in Philadelphia. I like innovation, and Kelly has a lot of it in his coaching. That's fun. I love how his team plays fast and aggressive. I think his ideas on team preparation don't follow the norm, which is OK as well. What I don't get is how he thinks his system is more important than the players. It's not Xs and Os, Chip. It's Jimmy and Joes. It always will be. Players over scheme any day. Yet you get the idea that Kelly thinks his scheme can work, no matter who is in it. That's coaching arrogance, a disease that has doomed many a coach in the past (see Steve Spurrier). In the past year Kelly has rid himself of his deep threat (DeSean Jackson), his elite runner (LeSean McCoy), and apparently has lost 2014 top receiver Jeremy Maclin to the Chiefs in free agency. That leaves him with an offense with few playmakers. Kelly is making these decisions. He has the power in the building now and helped send Howie Roseman up the hall to a business office and put in place a 'yes' man who will answer to Kelly's wants. Power can be a dangerous thing at times for a coach. I watched firsthand as Tom Coughlin the coach was undone by Tom Coughlin the general manager in Jacksonville."
Bill Barnwell, ESPN.com: "It’s a surprise the cap-strapped Chiefs were able to find the sort of money Maclin was surely looking for on a long-term deal, but this must also indicate the end of Dwayne Bowe’s tenure in Kansas City. The Chiefs, themselves a cautionary tale for a top-heavy roster, can save $11 million on this year’s cap by designating Bowe as a post–June 1 release. It also wouldn’t be shocking to see the Eagles consider Bowe as a possible replacement for Maclin. Even if the Eagles plan on drafting a wide receiver, their current core consists of (Riley) Cooper, Jordan Matthews, Josh Huff, and Zach Ertz. That simply isn’t going to fly. What’s the point of trading up for Marcus Mariota if he doesn’t have anybody to throw to? The Eagles would surely consider the 6-foot-2 Bowe, with 6-foot-3 Kenny Britt a logical buy-low candidate."
Kenneth Arthur, Sports on Earth: "At this point it's hard not to ask the question, 'Are the Oakland Raiders even trying?' With free agency set to officially open on Tuesday, the Raiders stood to be a major player for major players. They don't just have the cap room -- at least $60 million -- but the incentive to spend it based on the NFL's 'minimum spend rule,' which dictates that teams must use at least 89 percent of the salary cap from 2013 to 2016. Oakland was barely cracking 80 percent and simply can't be frugal with roster building this time around, but thus far it appears as though they haven't been able to pull off the improbable: Convince big names to play for the Raiders. Despite having the cap room to sign not just one, but possibly three or four of the top free agents available, very few rumors seem to involve Oakland thus far. Although, on Monday, it was reported that they will sign center Rodney Hudson to a five-year, $44.5 million contract. An important move, to be sure, but not a game-changer. It looks as though they have already missed out on Ndamukong Suh (Dolphins, although that isn't official yet), Byron Maxwell (Eagles), Jeremy Maclin (Chiefs) and Julius Thomas (Jaguars), while Brandon Flowers re-signed with the Chargers and Jerry Hughes is set to return to the Bills. Furthermore, Darrelle Revis is likely to stay in the AFC East and the idea of him signing with the Raiders is too far outside the realm of possibility to warrant speculation."
Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports: "Ndamukong Suh has lived up to all the expectations of being the NFL's free-agent prom king. He educated the Detroit Lions on the dangers of sweeping salary-cap restructures under the bed. He probably cried some crocodile tears after that playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He played the NFL's business game brilliantly, maxing out his own worth with the Miami Dolphins. But back away a few steps and look at the wider angle of the Suh development. If the numbers are correct ($19 million per season, $60 million guaranteed, $114 million total as reported by ESPN) Suh doesn't even stand as the most important figure in this picture. The guy willing to juggle that financial hand grenade, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, is the one whose move will eventually warp rosters beyond his own. That's the long game here. The Suh deal just turned the dial on elite money to a full 10. Not just for defensive players, but all players. Which isn't a bad thing or unfair or even unwarranted. It just isn't the kind of thing appreciated by the overall collection of NFL owners, who don't applaud someone taking maximum figures and kicking them forward more than a few inches. But Ross took a guaranteed money figure for defensive players and advanced it to franchise quarterback level: $60 million."
Mike Tanier, Bleacher Report: "First-class flights and four-star hotel suites. Steak dinners, sightseeing tours and luxury-box NBA tickets. Everybody wants to be first on your dance card, and no one wants you to leave—unless you are departing with millions of dollars and a new contract. Life is good when you are a top-tier NFL free agent. Billionaire owners and tough-guy coaches bend over backward like smitten prom dates to make you happy. Nothing is left to chance when you come a-calling; even your chauffeur is carefully selected. Everyone wants you to have a great time and leave rich. We've all followed the flight plan as a superstar free agent jets across North America in search of his next employer. It's like tracking Santa on Christmas Eve."
Peter King, SI.com: "An eyebrow-raising report late Sunday night from the West Coast had the 49ers shopping around quarterback Colin Kaepernick. GM Trent Baalke quickly denied it. No idea what to believe, but if the Niners are nutty enough to trade Kaepernick with no QB currently behind him on the roster, it means 2015 truly is a bridge year. Coach Jim Tomsula could go 3-13 and there would be no heat on him—only on Baalke and Jed York."
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
Questions to ponder while wondering how history will remember the Jake Long era at Rams Park:
Are the Eagles leaving themselves short at wide receiver?
Could robots replace all sportswriters?
What says "Party!" like a photo of Bill Belichick?
