Rams have released LB Mark Barron

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OnceARam

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I'll always remember that safety he and Suh got.

Wish him the best. Hope he doesn't stay in the division.
 

NERamsFan

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Not surprised and glad the move was made. Sucks for Barron tho... expect similar news for Brock soon!
 

dang

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Not surprised and glad the move was made. Sucks for Barron tho... expect similar news for Brock soon!
Straight up cut Brockers? or restructure his contract? I don't see the Rams wanting to lose both Brockers and Suh!
 

96GS#007

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Given his injuries the last 2 years, I sure don't see anyone paying near what he was scheduled to make. Wouldn't be surprised if he's on the sofa most of the season until injuries start to hit.

Regardless, I certainly respect and appreciate all the effort he gave here. Never heard a bad thing about him on or off the field...just worked hard and did his job to the best of his ability. The very definition of consummate professional.
 

LA_Rams_#29

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wish him well...but we need a REAL Inside Linebacker... one that can actually take on, and fight off blockers to make tackles....
 

Ram_Rally

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Brock is staying imo. It doesn't make sense to cut him.
11 million is quite hefty for a slightly above average defensive end . That said, he's a leader and we probably don't want to cause too many holes .
 

BonifayRam

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https://www.pe.com/2019/03/05/rams-cut-ties-with-john-sullivan-mark-barron-two-super-bowl-starters/
Rams cut ties with John Sullivan, Mark Barron – two Super Bowl starters
In a pair of cost-cutting moves meant to ease an otherwise cap-strapped offseason, the Rams bid adieu to two players who each played key roles in the team’s run to the Super Bowl last season.

Center John Sullivan, who helped stabilize the Rams’ resurgent offensive line over the past two seasons, will become an unrestricted free agent next week after the Rams chose not to exercise his option, while oft-injured inside linebacker Mark Barron was cut on Tuesday with two years still remaining on his contract.

The shrewd roster moves were made with salary cap savings in mind, as the Rams retool for another run at the Super Bowl. By refusing to pick up Sullivan’s option, the Rams will save $5.5 million in cap space. Cutting Barron, meanwhile, will save an additional $6.33 million, while incurring a separate dead cap hit of $3.33 million.

With both off the books, the Rams will have nearly $35.5 million to work with this offseason, 12th-most in the NFL and second-most among playoff teams from last season. Of those playoff teams, only the Colts, who have an eye-popping $105 million in cap space, have more to spend.

But savings aside, the Rams’ departures leave gaping holes in a depth chart that wasn’t exactly deep along the offensive line or in the linebacking corps.

Last offseason, Sullivan signed a two-year deal for $10.75 million to stay with the Rams, and the offensive line proceeded to emerge as one of the NFL’s best in 2018, paving the way for one of the league’s best rushing attacks. Sullivan, who will turn 34 before next season, didn’t miss a single game due to injury in his two seasons with the Rams, and since his arrival in 2017, teammates have spoken highly of his influence on the locker room.

But the presence of young backup Brian Allen, who impressed coaches in limited action as a rookie, was apparently enough to convince the Rams to cut ties with their veteran center. Allen, a fourth-round pick from Michigan State, is expected to take over on the starting offensive line. He might not be the only new face up front.

While veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth will return for his 14th season after briefly mulling retirement, Rodger Saffold’s future in Los Angeles is still uncertain. The longest-tenured player on the Rams offense, Saffold is expected to be one of the most coveted interior linemen on the free agent market. The 30-year-old guard has expressed interest in returning to the Rams, but General Manager Les Snead said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week that the team will allow its free agents to test the open market.

That group, which includes safety Lamarcus Joyner, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and edge rusher Dante Fowler, now also extends to Barron, who spent the last two seasons playing through nagging injuries in the middle of the Rams defensive front.

A former first-round pick of the Buccaneers, Barron was traded to the Rams in 2014 and moved from safety to inside linebacker, where he quickly hit his stride, developing into a reliable starter. Barron racked up more than 100 tackles in each of his first two seasons with the team, but injuries affected his play over the past two seasons. Last year, a sore ankle kept Barron out for the first month of the season. In the 12 games he played, Barron managed just 43 tackles, a career-low.

Still, Barron’s release leaves another important opening on the Rams defense, with no consensus replacement waiting in the wings. Fellow starting inside linebacker Cory Littleton will return, but Barron’s backup from a season ago, Ramik Wilson, is an unrestricted free agent, as is fellow linebacker Bryce Hager. Micah Kiser, a fifth-round pick last season, might be the most logical in-house option, after emerging as a special teams standout as a rookie. But Kiser finished with just four tackles during his rookie campaign.

Neither Joyner nor Suh are expected to return, either, leaving the Rams with at least three starters to replace on defense this offseason.


With this decision, Snead has begun the process to the retooling of the interior of his defense. He has cleared the way to resign range tall 25 yr old Cory Littleton & insert him into the weakside ILB post to patrol & secure down its responsibilities. This will strengthen & upgrade this post from last season.

Not sure what Wade will do now in filling in the MLB'er post but he does have two 2nd year LB'ers who Snead selected for him available. Micah Kiser is a true throwback thumper & banger who ST play stood out. Kiser may end up as a 2 down backer but he will hit & shut down any leaks that spring up.

This forum has voiced its concerns about Kiser possible liability in coverage....but Wade has another backer Travin Howard who is a proven "ball magnet" who runs 4.5's in the '40s & played safety & LB'er for TCU. Howard does fit the profile as a Nickel Linebacker. Howard does not have issues in coverages & could team with Kiser in the MLB'er post.

With the release of ILB Barron & the UFA'cy status of ILB'ers Bryce Hager & Ramik Wilson will leave some roster spots for a few new ILB'ers. I would expect to see the signing of a veteran & drafting of MLB'ers.
 
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wild ram

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One of the last of Fisher's guys left on D. Good luck Mark. Hope you can stay healthy and be productive somewhere in the AFC.

Well Brockers is not one of them ‘n Been saying that forever !!

What happened last year with Barron ??

It is promotion & production. It is also we not me. Leadership is shown by Brockers, he works hard everyday in practice. Sullivan & Barron were probably the least 2 guys on the team that missed practice. There is a pride in continuity .
 

SteveBrown

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Barron is a stud---just miscast.....helped win the Pack game, pretty good in the playoffs.....good memories
 

Psycho_X

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We may very well have all our starting linebackers already on roster. Littleton should be the range tackling, cover LBer with Kiser the actual mlb on most plays. Obo may be what we envisioned him to be. Ebukam is very hot and cold but he’s okish. If they are able to retain Fowler our LB core is already set really with Obo and Ebukam battling for play time. Could then focus on dline, secondary, and oline in draft.
 

FrantikRam

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We may very well have all our starting linebackers already on roster. Littleton should be the range tackling, cover LBer with Kiser the actual mlb on most plays. Obo may be what we envisioned him to be. Ebukam is very hot and cold but he’s okish. If they are able to retain Fowler our LB core is already set really with Obo and Ebukam battling for play time. Could then focus on dline, secondary, and oline in draft.


I've been saying this for a long time now. People dismiss the picks made in last years draft because they were later round picks (on the defensive side of the ball).

But when you have an elite offense, the best defensive player in the NFL, a stud safety and a top 5 CB unit - this is exactly what we should be doing. Drafting role players, giving them a year to develop and then plugging them in.

I'm sure we'll upgrade a position or two on D, but if we ended up with JFM, Joseph-Day, Kiser and Obo all starting next year I would have no issue with it.

Success breeds success and lots of the Patriots players that go and get paid aren't nearly as good as people think they are - because of Brady, Belichick, the systems etc. That's what we would be doing by plugging these guys in. Can't have all pros at every position.