Jake Long and Scott Wells released

[DR RAM]

Since the end of last season....
Starting ORG Davin Joseph released
Starting OLT Jake Long released
Starting Center Scott Wells released
Starting ORT Joe Barksdale is a UFA & no longer a Ram.
2014 6th OL'er Mike Person is a UFA & no longer a Ram.
2014 7th OL'er Tim Barnes is a UFA & no longer a Ram.
2014 9th OL'er Brandon Washington is a ERFA.

Current SIX Ram OL'ers under contract:
Starting OLG Rodger Saffold
Starting OLT Greg Robinson
OC Barrett Jones
OC Demetrius Rhaney
ORG Travis Bond
OT Steven Baker

Thanks for he update.

Will be interesting to see how this all works out. Hopefully, we have at least, one other starter out of that group, and the door isn't closed on Barksdale yet, I think.

 

[Amitar]

Glad to see Wells gone but disappointed Jake Long could not make it back. Guess the injury was too much.

 

[Afro Ram]

Omg! Omg! Thank you Jesus! About Fing time!!!

 

[Athos]

I wonder if they are more inclined to draft an O-line more than ever now with first pick.

Well, FA isn't over. We most certainly need a vet swingman at the very least.

BUT THANK GOD!

But seriously........How's that sportsbook gonna work? I got 5 mil riding on Wells cut first.

 

[OC--LeftCoast]

After reading the first two pages I gotta say

Some of you are an over the top blood thirsty kind

These guys gave their all, the celebrating thing doesn't really sit well far as I'm concerned

 

[Ramrocket]

Maybe trade our first to Philly for Foles and 20? Then take Erving? Anyone?

No way is Foles worth the No. 10 pick in the draft.

 

[thirteen28]

First, kudos to Demoff for structuring the Wells and Long contracts in such a way as to make these cuts possible. He's worth his weight in gold to this organization.

Second, I don't think it's likely to change our pick at #10 strategy one bit. These moves were anticipated by virtually all who follow the Rams. So Cooper or White might very well still be the pick if they even fall.

Third, there is certain to be at least one FA addition at either C or OG. Maybe not a first day splash signing, but a signing nonetheless.

Fourth, I hope Barks stays. But if not, I guarantee you there will be a football player at ROT on opening day. Could be a second tier FA, could be a fairly high draft pick. Might even be one of our current reserves.

I am SO happy that they FINALLY made these obvious moves. Pead and Givens won't be sleeping well for a time, either. Lol.

That bolded part cannot be repeated enough. These were big FA signings, but they didn't f up our cap for years. Instead, we are able to walk away pretty cleanly when they didn't work out as hoped.

 

[RamBill]

ESPN Rams reporter Nick Wagoner breaks down St. Louis’ releasing offensive tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells, a move that will save the team about $12 million in salary-cap space.

Watch Wagoner Talk Rams O-Line

 

[A55VA6]

Sign Wisniewski. Bring back Long on an incentive-ridden deal. Sign Blalock. Re-up Barksdale for 3-4 years. Draft a big mamma-jamma in the 2nd or 3rd.

Aaaaaaaaand I'm spent.

Damn, nice plan bruh. lol

 

[RamBill]

Rams say farewell to offensive linemen Jake Long, Scott Wells
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_d301df53-cd6f-59b7-bcd3-5ed391555f9c.html

On the eve of free agency, the Rams said farewell to a pair of veteran offensive linemen, informing tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells on Monday that they were being released.

Once the official paperwork is sent into the NFL office Tuesday, the Rams will have freed up $12.5 million in salary cap space, giving the Rams a total of about $16 million in room.

Even so, the Rams aren’t expected to be movers and shakers during the early, high-money stage of free agency. As was the case last year, the Rams’ main priority is to re-sign their own free agents. As for free agents from other teams, it’s more likely the Rams will sit out the first wave and hope that the market settles down.

As for Long and Wells, a pair of looming deadlines made cutting both offensive linemen all but a foregone conclusion this week.

Long, a four-time Pro Bowler in Miami, was due a base salary of $9.25 million, with $4 million of it guaranteed if he was on the Rams’ roster the fifth day of the league year, which is Saturday.

In the case of Wells, who made the Pro Bowl in 2011 for Green Bay, he was due a $1 million roster bonus on the third day of the league year, or Thursday.

The league year, the first day unrestricted free agents can be signed and trades can be finalized, begins Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Releasing Long, who would’ve counted $10.5 million against the cap this season, saves the team $8 million.

Releasing Wells, who would’ve counted $5.5 million against the cap this season, saves the team $4.5 million.

Long spent two seasons with the Rams but suffered knee injuries at the end of the 2013 season (in Game 15 against Tampa), and in the middle of last season (Game 7 at Kansas City) that required surgery.

All told Long, 29, appeared in only 22 of a possible 32 games with the Rams. At the end of the 2014, coach Jeff Fisher said plans were to have Greg Robinson as his starting left tackle in 2015. That meant Long would’ve been asked to shift to right tackle or even guard had he stayed.

Long briefly considered retiring after his second knee injury with the Rams. It’s possible but not likely that he would return to St. Louis at a reduced rate.

Wells, 34, played in all 16 games last season, playing the final nine games with an elbow brace on his right (or snapping) arm. But he missed 13 games in the previous two seasons — 2012 and 2013 — with a variety of injuries.

“Jake and Scott brought experience and professionalism to our program and we appreciate their commitment and hard work,” Fisher said in a statement released by the team. “Both of them overcame injury difficulties and provided leadership for our younger players. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for both of them.”

Wells had some terrible luck with injuries during his three seasons in St. Louis. A tick infection late last spring put him in intensive care for several weeks and resulted in the loss of 20 pounds. It took awhile after that illness for Wells to get that weight back and his conditioning up.

Between the two, Long and Wells have 231 regular-season starts in the league. Their departure leaves the Rams with only seven offensive linemen currently under contract or tendered: Rodger Saffold, Robinson, Barrett Jones, Demetrius Rhaney, Travis Bond, Brandon Washington and Steven Baker.

That entire group of seven has only 93 games and 72 starts among them as NFL players in the regular season, so it will almost certainly be a younger and less-experienced offensive line for the Rams in 2015.

At center, the Rams like Jones, the former Alabama star who has been slowed by injuries during his two seasons with St. Louis. The team also feels Rhaney has potential; he was a seventh-round draft pick in 2014 who suffered a season-ending knee injury during training camp.

The Rams have made contact with Stefen Wisniewski, the free-agent center from Oakland, although he may be out of the Rams’ price range.

At guard, the team has expressed interest in veteran Justin Blalock, recently released by the Atlanta Falcons. But nothing appears imminent there at this point.

In terms of their own free agents, the Rams continue to have dialogue with quarterback Shaun Hill, wide receiver Kenny Britt, tight end Lance Kendricks and right tackle Joe Barksdale.

Barksdale seems intent on shopping the market, and at this point seems the most likely to leave in the group, but the Rams haven’t given hope that he might return. Besides the Rams, Hill is attracting interest from Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Oakland.

There were reports Monday that he had received a contract offer from the Vikings. The Rams made an offer late last week.

The Rams remain optimistic about retaining Britt, who experienced a career revival after being reunited with Fisher last season. It has been difficult to get a read on Kendricks, an all-around, versatile player in his four seasons with the Rams.

 

[Merlin]

Thinking the Rams are gonna sit things out early is funny. Don't see it happening that way. They will press hard and fast on one or two guys they like.

Really hope they get Wiz. He is young with talent, and can play guard or center. Get er done Snead!

 

[Ramhusker]

Well, this may have surprised pundits around the league, it didn't surprise anybody here. Long and Wells being cut was pretty much a forgone conclusion here. Best wishes to both of them in the future. They were RAMS and did their best while in horns. Both bodies were pretty much used up though by the time they got to us. It's a shame really. Could you imagine our OL if they were both healthy? We wouldn't need but an OG to have one pretty stout unit. We obviously will need to get a starting caliber OT, OG, or C in FA and will need to draft one relatively early to compete for a starting position. Barksdale really needs to be signed in my opinion. I wish we could of signed him before these cuts because now he is in a much more favorable negotiating position and I'd hate to see him get over-paid. But of course, Rhaney and Jones may surprise us and plug a couple holes. JONES damn sure needs to shat or get off the pot!

 

[Dodgersrf]

Well, this may have surprised pundits around the league, it didn't surprise anybody here. Long and Wells being cut was pretty much a forgone conclusion here. Best wishes to both of them in the future. They were RAMS and did their best while in horns. Both bodies were pretty much used up though by the time they got to us. It's a shame really. Could you imagine our OL if they were both healthy? We wouldn't need but an OG to have one pretty stout unit. We obviously will need to get a starting caliber OT, OG, or C in FA and will need to draft one relatively early to compete for a starting position. Barksdale really needs to be signed in my opinion. I wish we could of signed him before these cuts because now he is in a much more favorable negotiating position and I'd hate to see him get over-paid. But of course, Rhaney and Jones may surprise us and plug a couple holes. JONES damn sure needs to shat or get off the pot!

Barks is the one that baffles me the most.
It seems the team should have been able to work something out before he became a FA if they really wanted to keep him. He's obviously going to get pay increase. Did we even try to lock him up before hand? Or does the team want to go elsewhere for a rt.

 

[Noregar]

Since the end of last season....
Starting ORG Davin Joseph released
Starting OLT Jake Long released
Starting Center Scott Wells released
Starting ORT Joe Barksdale is a UFA & no longer a Ram.
2014 6th OL'er Mike Person is a UFA & no longer a Ram.
2014 7th OL'er Tim Barnes is a UFA & no longer a Ram.
2014 9th OL'er Brandon Washington is a ERFA.

Current SIX Ram OL'ers under contract:
Starting OLG Rodger Saffold
Starting OLT Greg Robinson
OC Barrett Jones
OC Demetrius Rhaney
ORG Travis Bond
OT Steven Baker

The cuts of Long and Wells had to be made. BonifayRam's list helps clarify just how much the Rams will need to bring in through Free agency and the 2015 draft to restock a unit were experience and cohesiveness as unit are very important. The Rams generally go to camp with around 15 linemen and keep usually 8-10 during the season along with a couple on the PS. They not only need some talent along the line, they need bodies - 9 bodies at least with 3 starters and 6 more guys on top of that for depth and camp. I can see Washington and Person returning and hopefully they can bring in Blalock or a vet guard but I do not think that Barksdale will return. Person and Washington are not starters IMO and Blalock would be a short term answer at best. Now is the time for Jones and Rhaney to step up and be counted . If Jones cannot win a starting spot in 2015 then that project should be over.

 

[Mojo Ram]

If Jones cannot win a starting spots in 2015 then that project should be over.

Co-sign

 

[BonifayRam]

Just not sure why so many members want to bring back a deficient ORT who can not protect the edge & then on top of it vastly overpay for him?

Sounds like two mistakes wrapped up in one big mess. But that seems to be what the Rams do with their OL. Then as fans cry all season when the OL is painfully weak & our QB's are being molested.

 

[Rmfnlt]

The cuts of Long and Wells had to be made. BonifayRam's list helps clarify just how much the Rams will need to bring in through Free agency and the 2015 draft to restock a unit were experience and cohesiveness as unit are very important. The Rams generally go to camp with around 15 linemen and keep usually 8-10 during the season along with a couple on the PS. They not only need some talent along the line, they need bodies - 9 bodies at least with 3 starters and 6 more guys on top of that for depth and camp. I can see Washington and Person returning and hopefully they can bring in Blalock or a vet guard but I do not think that Barksdale will return. Person and Washington are not starters IMO and Blalock would be a short term answer at best. Now is the time for Jones and Rhaney to step up and be counted . If Jones cannot win a starting spot in 2015 then that project should be over.

This is how I see things. Unfortunately, it's not very upbeat.

LOTS of work to do yet.

Basically, you now have two starters on that line:
* Saffold - who, until recently, has been somehwt injury-prone
* Robinson - still very green but lots of potential. Rams can't afford to have him making mental errors this year... he has got to play consistently solid football.

IMO, the only other Rams that you could point to and say STARTER is Barksdale and they have their work cut out for them with him as well. I have a feeling he'll get offers higher than the Rams are willing to pay (and I'm OK with them letting him go if the money's not right - not that he's bad or anything, but he's not top tier and he may get that kind of money).

The rest of the bodies on the rosters are either:
* Unproven (scary for Bradford, or whoever else is taking snaps from ????)
* Clearly not starters

Maybe they get Wiz... if the money's right, I'd be happy about that move.
Not as high on Blalock... just a hunch, but I see another Joseph in him. If they bring him on, I'd want a very incetive heavy deal and a flexible contract the Rams could get out of easily.

To me, it would have been more surprising if they didn't cut Wells and Long. Who, IMO, were great guys but never worth the money we paid them.

Taken as a whole, the line is in disarray right now.

* I hope for good news today (plug at least one of the holes without overpaying).
* I hope for good news on draft day.

One last thought regarding plugging holes through the draft... I think it is unlikely that we get a kid who can come in day one and not make mistakes. If it's Bradford taking snaps, the Rams really can't afford to have the line making mistakes. Even if it were, say, Foles back there, he's als coming off a significant injury.

I hope... I hope...

 

[LetsGoRams]

Wiz and Blalock coming? I'd be pretty stoked adding those 2 to the line.

 

[RamBill]

PFT’s Mike Florio breaks down St. Louis’ release of offensive tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells, explaining how the Rams clear up some serious cap room that they can put towards other positions.

Watch Florio Talk Long Release