Rams make qualifying offers to 3 Exclusive Rights FA's : PD

[RamBill]

Rams make qualifying offers to 3 free agents
• By Jim Thomas jthomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...6-a075-671cf8d9338b.html#.Uxd0KR5pMDc.twitter

The Rams have made tender offers to three of their four exclusive rights free agents: center Tim Barnes, quarterback Austin Davis and wide receiver Justin Veltung.

Barnes, a University of Missouri product, started the final four games of the 2013 season at center following Scott Wells' season ending broken fibula.

Davis rejoined the Rams on Oct. 23 of last season following Sam Bradford's season-ending knee injury. He was the team's backup quarterback for the final nine games of the season behind Kellen Clemens, but did not appear in any games.

Veltung spent the first 13 games on the Rams' practice squad, then was promoted to the active roster following Tavon Austin's high ankle sprain. He showed some promise as a punt returner, with seven for 61 yards, an 8.7 average, over the final three games.

Exclusive rights free agents have less than three years of NFL experience. Once they receive a qualifying offer — the amount of the offer is based on past league experience — they must play for that team or not at all. For that reason, once an exclusive rights free agent (or ERA) is made an offer, it counts against a team's salary cap.

Barnes and Davis were both tendered at $570,000; Veltung was tendered at $495,000.

So far the Rams have not made an offer to their fourth exclusive rights free agent — cornerback Quinton Pointer. Nor have they made an offer to their only restricted free agent — tight end Mike McNeill, the Kirkwood High product.

The deadline for making qualifying offers to restricted and exclusive rights free agents is Tuesday, the start of the free agency period.

 

[Boffo97]

Odd move to bother tendering Davis... I guess just insurance if the draft doesn't fall in a good way that a QB is good value at their picks.

But given how long he was unemployed last year, it's hard to believe anyone else has interest in the guy.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Pointer and Barnes would be the ones I'd have most interest.

I find Veltung and Davis curious hits to the cap.

 

[Boffo97]

Pointer and Barnes would be the ones I'd have most interest.

I find Veltung and Davis curious hits to the cap.

Veltung has some upside. And flv has a great point about Davis not having a cap hit, so why not?

Unless he has a much better preseason, we'll cut him again and lose nothing. In the meantime, he likely wouldn't even get this much of a chance with another team.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Veltung has some upside. And flv has a great point about Davis not having a cap hit, so why not?

Unless he has a much better preseason, we'll cut him again and lose nothing. In the meantime, he likely wouldn't even get this much of a chance with another team.

Then what does this mean;

the amount of the offer is based on past league experience — they must play for that team or not at all. For that reason, once an exclusive rights free agent (or ERA) is made an offer, it counts against a team's salary cap.

 

[Boffo97]

Then what does this mean;
the amount of the offer is based on past league experience — they must play for that team or not at all. For that reason, once an exclusive rights free agent (or ERA) is made an offer, it counts against a team's salary cap.

For right now, neither will count against the cap because they're not going to be one of the top 51 salaries on the team.

If one or more of these players is cut, there won't be a cap impact because there was no signing bonus with the ERFA offer.

I should have been more specific in saying that there will be a cap hit if they make the team... but ONLY then. So why not kick the tires in the meantime?

 

[jrry32]

Then what does this mean;
the amount of the offer is based on past league experience — they must play for that team or not at all. For that reason, once an exclusive rights free agent (or ERA) is made an offer, it counts against a team's salary cap.

Only the top 51 salaries count during the off-season. So they really don't affect much.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Gotcha. Thanks boffo and jrry!

 

[CGI_Ram]

Thanks flv.