Rams will use franchise tag on either Johnson or Jenkins

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tempests

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I hope Jenkins wises up, and soon. He's playing some seriously high stakes poker and the Rams are holding the better cards.

I'm not sure which cards the Rams are holding except the one telling them their most talented defensive back is about to hit free agency.

I wish Seattle was holding that one.
 

jrry32

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Besfore I get started I'm a little drunk and posting this from my phone so forgive my spelling. But Fisher and the rams took a shot on this freaking head case and he has had his ups and downs but with there help they kept this guy clean for the first time in his football life and he's gonna turn around and give them the middle finger when they offer him pretty much a top 10 deal?? Well freak HIM! SORRY UNGRATEFUL POS! We Dont need your crap here give Tru the money and let gains start. Dudes probably gonna get paid and then get suspended for smoking weed in a titty bar. I'm done with him! Fuckem. Good luck to you bud go to the raiders get your money and fizzle out. I'm done with you. My drunk rant is over.

If the Rams didn't take a shot on the guy, someone else would have. He's earned himself a big contract with his play on the field. This is a business. People need to chill out on both sides. The Rams will do what's best for them. Jenkins will do what's best for him. Hopefully, a new contract will be best for both sides. If not, oh well. The Rams will move on. Jenkins will move on. Life will move on.
 

Dieter the Brock

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If the Rams didn't take a shot on the guy, someone else would have. He's earned himself a big contract with his play on the field. This is a business. People need to chill out on both sides. The Rams will do what's best for them. Jenkins will do what's best for him. Hopefully, a new contract will be best for both sides. If not, oh well. The Rams will move on. Jenkins will move on. Life will move on.

Not really
I mean if you're a Rams fan you gotta be pissed
 

jrry32

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Not really
I mean if you're a Rams fan you gotta be pissed

I'm a Rams fan. I'm not pissed. The Rams aren't paying Jenkins what he wants. They're choosing not to franchise tag him. He has every right to go to FA and see what his market is. This is a business. Did you not see the Rams cut Laurinaitis and Long? It was a business move. Yet, those guys were the heart and soul of the team during some of our darkest days. This is the NFL. Jenkins isn't going to give the Rams a break and the Rams aren't going to give Jenkins a break.
 

Merlin

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Besfore I get started I'm a little drunk and posting this from my phone so forgive my spelling. But Fisher and the rams took a shot on this freaking head case and he has had his ups and downs but with there help they kept this guy clean for the first time in his football life and he's gonna turn around and give them the middle finger when they offer him pretty much a top 10 deal?? Well freak HIM! SORRY UNGRATEFUL POS! We Dont need your crap here give Tru the money and let gains start. Dudes probably gonna get paid and then get suspended for smoking weed in a titty bar. I'm done with him! Fuckem. Good luck to you bud go to the raiders get your money and fizzle out. I'm done with you. My drunk rant is over.

Drunken bar posts deliver! :p
 

Dieter the Brock

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I'm a Rams fan. I'm not pissed. The Rams aren't paying Jenkins what he wants. They're choosing not to franchise tag him. He has every right to go to FA and see what his market is. This is a business. Did you not see the Rams cut Laurinaitis and Long? It was a business move. Yet, those guys were the heart and soul of the team during some of our darkest days. This is the NFL. Jenkins isn't going to give the Rams a break and the Rams aren't going to give Jenkins a break.

Yeah I know it's a "business"
Actually we all do - nobody here is ignorant to that fact
But as a lifetime supporter of the Rams I think the whole way this is going down is leaving a bad taste in my mouth - and it should leave a bad taste in your mouth for the years you've spent supporting the guy yourself - if it doesn't than you are clearly the master of objectivity - some of us like my brother Ram Junkie are pissed and I would hope instead of trying to position this magnanimously you'd appreciate how fucked up it is
I mean you rail on about the fact we need to get a QB in this draft and have plenty of emotion when it comes to that but somehow are noble and enlightened about the "buisiness" aspects when it comes to free agency
I get it - I get what you're saying
But I think you should still be just as upset as you will be when we pass on a QB in the upcoming draft
 

jrry32

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Yeah I know it's a "business"
Actually we all do - nobody here is ignorant to that fact
But as a lifetime supporter of the Rams I think the whole way this is going down is leaving a bad taste in my mouth - and it should leave a bad taste in your mouth for the years you've spent supporting the guy yourself - if it doesn't than you are clearly the master of objectivity - some of us like my brother Ram Junkie are pissed and I would hope instead of trying to position this magnanimously you'd appreciate how freaked up it is

But why should we be pissed at Jenkins? Why should he give the Rams a discount? Because they drafted him? By drafting him, they got 4 years of Jenkins on a rookie wage scale contract.

I don't think it's fucked up. I think it's life in the NFL. The Rams cut Laurinaitis and Long. I agreed with those moves. It was the right thing to do from the business perspective. Are you pissed at the Rams over that? I don't know. Maybe you are. That's your right. But I can't get pissed at the Rams for making the right decision with those two and I can't get pissed with Jenkins for making the right decision for himself.

There's been no indication that JJ is unwilling to re-sign with the Rams after he hits FA. If the Rams match the best offer he gets, maybe he still re-signs. Either ways, the Rams are making a choice. They decided not to franchise him. They decided not to give him a strong enough offer that he'd forego the FA market. They believe it's the right business move. Janoris believes testing the market is the right business move with what he's being offered. They might both be right. Why get pissed over that?

I mean you rail on about the fact we need to get a QB in this draft and have plenty of emotion when it comes to that but somehow are noble and enlightened about the "buisiness" aspects when it comes to free agency
I get it - I get what you're saying
But I think you should still be just as upset as you will be when we pass on a QB in the upcoming draft

Because getting a QB is vital to the business aspect. The Rams need one. The Rams will be fine at CB without Janoris. I'd love to get him back. We'd be awesome at CB with him and Tru back. But if we do lose him, we'll be okay with Tru, Gaines, Joyner, and Roberson.(as well as a possible draft pick)

If we don't get a QB, I think we're fucked. That's why I'm so serious about it. It will make or break our year. Keeping Janoris won't make or break our year imo.

Plus, I won't be pissed at Paxton Lynch, Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, and Connor Cook if the Rams choose not to draft a QB. I'll be pissed at the Rams.
 

StealYoGurley

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I have no problem with jenks asking for more money. I also don't have a problem with him feeling low balled. I do have a problem with him negotiating in the media through Twitter. Just not a good look all around
 

jrry32

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I've never heard of the guy so take it all with a grain of salt.
 

Ramer

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.

If both players want to stay and the Rams offer them market price why can't they keep both of them? The question is do the Rams want to give them the market rate.

.
http://m.bleacherreport.com/article...rumors-and-speculation-on-free-agent-cb?tsm=2

I've never heard of the guy so take it all with a grain of salt.




Could be true since it seems he turned down 5yr, 45 mil contract

http://nfltraderumors.co/143495-2/

Jason Cole of B/R reports that the Rams free agent CB Janoris Jenkins has fired his agent, despite being in negotiations with Los Angeles regarding a contract extension.

Jenkins won’t be able to hire a new agent for five days, and while the Rams can speak to him during this time, Cole expects Jenkins to not want to hear from them and their offers.

According to Cole, the Rams offered him a five-year, $45 million contract, but he found that to be unacceptable.

With this in mind, this will make it tough for the Rams to get him under contract before he can meet with prospective teams during the legal-tampering period. To matters even more difficult, Cole expects Jenkins to hire Darrelle Revis‘ agent, who has negotiated some massive contracts for his clients in the past.

Los Angeles was hoping to keep Jenkins and CB Trumaine Johnson, but it sounds like there’s a chance he could end up reaching the open market.

Recent reports have said that the Rams are prepared their franchise tag on either Jenkins or Johnson with Johnson being the more likely of the two.

Rams HC Jeff Fisher mentioned a few days ago that he is hoping to “sign my secondary” with their huge amount of cap space, per Nick Wagoner.

Los Angeles released DE Chris Long, LB James Laurinaitis, and TE Jared Cook last week, which leaves them among the teams with the most cap space to work with at nearly $60 million to work with, so it’s conceivable that they could keep both Jenkins and Johnson.

Jenkins, 26, was taken in the second round of the 2012 draft and has one year remaining on his four-year, $4.99 million rookie contract that included $2.964 million guaranteed. He’ll make a base salary of just $660,000 for the 2015 season, so you can see that he’s in line for a substantial raise next year.

In 2015, Jenkins appeared in 15 games and recorded 64 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble, and 15 pass defenses for the Rams. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 26 cornerback out of 111 qualifying players.

Johnson, 26, is a former third-round pick of the Rams back in 2012. He’s played out his rookie contract and is now in position to be one of the best available cornerbacks in this year’s free agent class.

In 2015, Johnson appeared in 14 games and recorded 71 tackles, seven interceptions with one being returned for a touchdown, a fumble recovery and 17 pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 19 cornerback out of 111 qualifying players.
 

RamsOfCastamere

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Maybe this was already mentioned as I didn't read every post in this 6 page thread, but why does it seem like more people are against Jenkins than with him? We don't know him personally or the whole story, and I feel like he's being judged by media reports and a few tweets.

He loves LA and his teammates, but players get screwed by the business side of the NFL and you have to get what you can get in your prime. Maybe he had a legit reason for firing his agent. He could've been pissed that his agent was taking too long to get the deal done and was looking out for himself rather than Jenkins.

We just lost JL and CL. If we lose Jenkins to another team, it's on the Rams for not getting it done.
 

-X-

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Maybe this was already mentioned as I didn't read every post in this 6 page thread, but why does it seem like more people are against Jenkins than with him? We don't know him personally or the whole story, and I feel like he's being judged by media reports and a few tweets.

He loves LA and his teammates, but players get screwed by the business side of the NFL and you have to get what you can get in your prime. Maybe he had a legit reason for firing his agent. He could've been pissed that his agent was taking too long to get the deal done and was looking out for himself rather than Jenkins.

We just lost JL and CL. If we lose Jenkins to another team, it's on the Rams for not getting it done.
I don't think people are against Jenkins in as much as they're against his tactics. I'm sure most agree that players should get as much as they can when they can, but I don't know of many people who think players on their favorite team should call out their favorite team on social media during what is a normal practice of negotiations. The Rams weren't going to come in with "his number", so why say they're disrespecting you if they don't? And it won't be on the Rams if a deal doesn't get done. We don't know what Jenkins' price is at this point. Could be top 2 money. For the 26th rated CB out of 111 qualifying, I wouldn't fault the Rams one bit if they refuse to meet that price. We can't expect the Rams to be good soldiers for not overpaying Long and Laurinaitis, and then say they're in the wrong if they don't overpay Jenkins. There's also the fact that he fired his agent and stalled the negotiations, which in turn lets other teams in on the process. That's the Rams' fault too?
 

RamBill

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Tag looks likely as Rams aim to keep Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-aim-to-keep-janoris-jenkins-trumaine-johnson

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Not that there was ever any doubt but if further emphasis was needed that the Los Angeles Rams' offseason will be shaped by what happens with their pending free agents in the secondary, general manager Les Snead and coach Jeff Fisher offered it at the NFL scouting combine.

"If I were to prioritize what's going on in our building, and there's a lot of things going on, that is priority A right now, even at this combine," Snead said. "We'll meet with their reps, maybe more than one time at the combine, and I'm not going to say anything gets done, but we’ve got a lot going on here and that’s priority A."

"I’d like to try to sign our secondary first, if we can," Fisher said.

More specifically, the Rams are trying everything they can to retain cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson as well as safeties Rodney McLeod and Mark Barron. Given their production and relative rank among the forthcoming free-agent class, Jenkins and Johnson figure to be the toughest retentions in that group.

Which is why the Rams look poised to use a tag for the first time since 2009 to ensure that one of them remains with the team. The NFL's deadline to use the franchise or transition tag is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. With both Johnson and Jenkins all but certain to wait until the March 7 free-agent contact period to see what their market will look like, the only way for the Rams to exert some sort of control over either corner is to use the tag.

Which player and which tag they use is still up in the air. There were early indications that the Rams would use the transition tag, which carries a one-year tender of $11.9 million for cornerbacks. But the transition tag only provides the right to match an outside contract offer and no compensation if the team declines to match.

Given the amount of money that teams have to spend this year and the league-wide need for talented corners, it's entirely possible a team will be willing to throw big money at Jenkins and/or Johnson, which could mean the safer play is to use the franchise tag.

This year's franchise tag for a corner comes at a price of $13.9 million on a one-year deal, but the franchise tag also means that if a player signs elsewhere without a matching offer, the Rams would receive two first-round draft picks. They could also use the "exclusive" franchise tag, which means Johnson or Jenkins wouldn't even be allowed to negotiate with another team, though that comes with a slightly higher price.

Snead said in Indianapolis that the Rams hadn't yet decided whether to use the tag or which one to use if they do, but signs are pointing to that happening barring a surprise deal with one of the corners before Tuesday morning.

"We haven’t determined that yet," Snead said. "It is a tool we can use. So we’ll figure it out, we’ve got a few hours to figure it out so we’ll figure it out."

Part of that figuring out is which player to use the tag on. Johnson has emerged as the more likely candidate, but there are some in the building who believe Jenkins is the better player. Johnson offers more size and is younger. Jenkins has a longer history covering top wideouts and has been more durable. Both have had past disciplinary issues.

Regardless, if the Rams do use the tag, it's a safe bet they'll continue to aggressively pursue the player who isn't tagged. The ultimate idea, of course, is to keep both of their starting cornerbacks for the long haul.

With more than $58 million in cap space, that's not out of the question.

"That is the goal," Snead said. "I think it is realistic. It’s a tough task but it is realistic. I don’t think it’s not realistic, especially considering the cap room and things like that."
 

RamBill

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SHOULD RAMS RE-SIGN JANORIS JENKINS OR TRUMAINE JOHNSON?
Ben Stockwell makes the cases for re-signing free agent cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson in LA.

By BEN STOCKWELL

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/02/29/pro-janoris-jenkins-or-trumaine-johnson/

After a 2011 season in which the then St. Louis Rams struggled with Josh Gordy (80.2 passer rating allowed) and Jordan King (113.1 passer rating allowed) as their starting corners for the second half of the year, they invested two picks in the top three rounds of the 2012 draft at cornerback. Four years down the line, and those two corners have recorded strong enough seasons to now present the Rams with the question of who to retain.

At pick No. 39, the Rams selected former Florida Gator (by way of the University of North Alabama) Janoris Jenkins; 26 picks later, they took Trumaine “Big Sky” Johnson from the University of Montana. Both players saw immediate playing time, with Jenkins starting from Week 1 of their rookie season. It was the breakout 2015 season from both players, however, that presents the Rams with a dilemma: Can they keep both? If not, which one should they prioritize, and who should they let walk in free agency?

The case for Jenkins
As a four-year starter, Jenkins has a depth of knowledge and familiarity with the Rams’ defense that they will not be eager to give up. After a lull in production in 2014, Jenkins got his hands on the ball more in 2015, breaking up 10 passes and snagging three interceptions—the most since he grabbed four in his rookie season, back in 2012. Jenkins also surrendered his lowest passer rating (93.8) over the course of a season since his rookie campaign, having let up a passer rating in excess of 110 in both 2014 (114.3) and 2013 (115.3).

Everything is signaling an upturn for Jenkins, who earned the highest single-season grade of his career, both in coverage (79.8) and in terms of overall grade (80.7) this past season for the Rams. The question for the Rams will be how much does Jenkins’ experience as a four-year starter place a premium on his signature? Jenkins only allowed 100 yards in a game once this season, having done so three times in 2014 and twice each in the first two years of his career. The story of Jenkins’ career has always been a balance of ability against consistent production, and the question for the Rams is whether they believe his 2015 season is simply a contract-year blip, or the start of him trying to piece everything together?

The case for Johnson
In Johnson, the Rams found a small-school gem, but have failed to maximize his full impact. Johnson played only 366 snaps as a rookie, but in that time, did enough to earn a higher season grade than Jenkins—surrendering a passer rating of 72.3, intercepting two passes, and allowing more than 50 yards in coverage only twice in the games he played. That performance earned Johnson an expanded role in 2013, where he again surrendered a passer rating of less than 75.0 for the entire season, breaking up eight passes and intercepting three more.

Johnson then missed the first eight weeks of the 2014 season, but has since surrendered only two touchdowns (to Jenkins’ six) and intercepted 10 passes (to Jenkins’ four). What Jenkins has over Johnson in experience, Johnson has more than matched Jenkins in terms of production—both on a per-snap basis and overall. Johnson has never allowed more than two touchdowns in a season; Jenkins has allowed at least five in each of his four years in the league. On 116 fewer targets over their four years in the league, Johnson has 15 interceptions to Jenkins’ 10. For the duration of his career, Jenkins’ passer rating allowed is only just shy of 100 (99.5); in the same timeframe, Johnson’s passer rating allowed is 67.1. That mark is better than Josh Norman’s (72.1), Stephon Gilmore’s (84.1), and even Casey Hayward’s (70.2), the stars of the 2012 cornerback class.

When Jenkins was sidelined in Week 14 last season, it was Johnson who took center stage, earning the highest single-game grade of his career (+5.2), snagging an interception (a pick-six, no less) and a pass defense on five targets, while also cutting off Calvin Johnson on a double-move late in the fourth quarter, with the Rams protecting a two-score lead. If Los Angeles is looking for a corner to lead their secondary, Johnson’s career to date, and in particular, his performance since Week 9 of the 2014 season, suggest that he is the man to do it.

The case for both
Ultimately, this does not have to come down to an either/or situation for the Los Angeles Rams. Boasting just shy of $60 million in cap space and a list of impending free agents that is neither long nor stocked with marquee players that will force them to break the bank, there is no immediate financial reason for the Rams not to lock up both Jenkins and Johnson. If the Rams see Jenkins’ upward trend in his fourth season as the emergence of the elite corner they hoped he could become, then they can pay the price to pair him with Johnson for the foreseeable future to work in combination with their exceptional defensive line.

However, with the news that Jenkins has turned down a $9 million per year contract—and fired his agent—you have to question just how highly Jenkins values himself, and whether he is worth paying as the elite corner he might become. Both production and performance over the previous four seasons make Johnson the more important re-signing for the Rams’ secondary, and if Los Angeles is to maintain a balance of investment between their defense and their offense (it may be a few years off yet, but Aaron Donald will be seeking a hefty contract within the next two years), then cutting ties with Jenkins may be a move that they have to make on financial grounds, particularly in terms of value for money, to maintain the status quo. Jenkins’ performances make him a corner worth retaining, but not at any cost, and with negotiations with Jenkins stalled due to the NFL’s rules on agent hiring, the Rams should waste no time in turning their attention to re-signing Johnson as their No. 1 priority in the defensive backfield.
 

StealYoGurley

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99.5 Passer rating when Jenkins was thrown at throws away that whole locked down 1 side narrative for 4 years. Furthemore, we always used Tru to shadow the bigger receivers that are in vogue in todays nfl (Michael Floyd, Megatron, Alshon Jeffrey). Johnson's career passer rating when thrown against lower than Josh Norman a guy who will make money similar to the elite tier Revis, Peterson, and Sherman.

If Jenks wants huge money I say let him walk, franchise tru so we have time to work out something long term, and add a vet weapon with upside like Marvin Jones or Ladarius Green.
 

kurtfaulk

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Jenkins also surrendered his lowest passer rating (93.8) over the course of a season since his rookie campaign, having let up a passer rating in excess of 110 in both 2014 (114.3) and 2013 (115.3).
:puke:

those numbers suggest he's a one (contract) year wonder.

For the duration of his career, Jenkins’ passer rating allowed is only just shy of 100 (99.5); in the same timeframe, Johnson’s passer rating allowed is 67.1. That mark is better than Josh Norman’s (72.1), Stephon Gilmore’s (84.1), and even Casey Hayward’s (70.2), the stars of the 2012 cornerback class.

those numbers suggest that tru is the one the rams must keep if they only retain one of them.

for me the eye test suggests the rams keep both but if it has to be one, tru is the guy.

.
 

Mackeyser

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200.gif

Sometimes I like posts just for the outstanding use of gifs. I think one has to acknowledge the creativity involved in a well placed gif.
 

Mojo Ram

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Sometimes I like posts just for the outstanding use of gifs. I think one has to acknowledge the creativity involved in a well placed gif.
Thanks. It keeps it light for sure. I go to many sports boards and the tone is as rigid and tight as a frogs ass. There's some of that mentality sprinkled in here too, but that's diversity...which is a good thing.