Witherspoon Rejoins Rams

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brokeu91

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I guess it's official, from JT of the PD:



In a fitting testimony to the roster upheaval in St. Louis, only defensive end Chris Long and linebacker James Laurinaitis were around in 2009 when Will Witherspoon played his last game with the Rams.

Even so, Witherspoon’s return to St. Louis will be a reunion on several levels after the veteran linebacker agreed to terms on a one-year deal to rejoin the Rams.

Cornerback Cortland Finnegan, defensive end Williams Hayes and tight end Jared Cook are all former teammates in Tennessee, where Witherspoon played from 2010-12.

In addition, the Rams’ coaching staff is littered with former Titans coaches, from head coach Jeff Fisher, to assistant head coach Dave McGinnis, secondary coach Chuck Cecil, and linebackers coach Frank Bush. Rams player programs director La’Roi Glover was a Witherspoon teammate in St. Louis. Head athletic trainer Reggie Scott was on the Carolina training staff when Witherspoon broke into the league as a Panther. There’s more, but you get the point.

“I’m excited about it,” Witherspoon said in a phone interview. “Of course, playing for ‘Fish’ again is a big part of it. Being in St. Louis, I’ve got so many different ties there it’s ridiculous. Business there. I was actually looking at putting a new business opportunity there.”

One of those businesses is the Witherspoon-owned Shire Gate Farm near Owensville, Mo., where cattle are raised in a natural, chemical-free environment.

“I’m down there as often as I can be,” he said.

He’ll have more chances to do so now that he’s back in St. Louis.

As the spring practice period progressed, it became more and more obvious to the Rams that they needed a veteran presence among a very young linebacker corps.

“They kind of reached out to Tom (Condon) a few weeks back and said, ‘Hey, we’re considering bringing in Will for camp and everything else. Is he interested?’ “ Witherspoon said, referring to agent Tom Condon of CAA. “Of course, I was interested.”

Witherspoon came in for a visit and workout in mid-June. One thing led to another, but not without a late twist. On the same day that Witherspoon decided to try to get something going with the Rams contract-wise, he got a call from Denver coach John Fox.

Fox, who brought Witherspoon into the league in 2002 as head coach in Carolina, wanted him to join the Broncos.

“With everything I had going on in St. Louis it made more sense (to join the Rams),” Witherspoon said. “And of course, I’d kind of already agreed that we were gonna work on going there. I’m pretty much a man of my word.”

So here he is, in what will be a supporting role on defense.

“From what I understand and what I know thus far, they want me to be a veteran backup,” Witherspoon said. “A guy who’s gonna push guys to know what they need to do, be ready to do — educate them and take guys through it. Part of the education’s gonna be with Alec (Ogletree) coming from a 3-4 defense and getting the nuances of this 4-3 style with the blitz packages and everything that’s happening there.”

Ogletree, who like Witherspoon played in college at Georgia, was a first-round draft pick of the Rams in April. Ogletree and Jo-Lonn Dunbar still are expected to be the starters at outside linebacker, but the Rams plan on having Witherspoon involved in some packages.

“First things first,” Witherspoon said, laughing. “I’ve got to show these guys that the old guy can still run. Because I’m sure they’re all looking at that.”

Witherpoon, who turns 33 on Aug. 19, becomes the oldest player on what figures to be the NFL’s youngest roster for the second year in a row.

“Honestly, my body doesn’t feel bad,” he said. “I don’t get up in the morning and not want to play this game. Because I promised myself a long time ago if I was ever at that point, I wasn’t gonna be in this game. It would be time for me to walk away.”

But Witherspoon performed well during his June workout with the Rams, and the team is convinced he can still cover ground perform effectively — although not in a 50- to 60-play capacity on game day.

During his 11-year NFL career Witherspoon has played in 173 regular-season games with 150 starts. After spending his first four seasons in Carolina, he was the Rams’ big offseason “get” during the 2006 free agency period, signing a six-year, $33 million deal that included $15 million in guaranteed money.

Witherspoon led the Rams in tackles in 2006 and ’07 and was named team MVP in ’07 — a year in which he led the team in sacks. He was a team captain in 2008, then was surprisingly shipped to Philadelphia six games into the ’09 season in a trade-deadline deal that brought wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth-round pick to St. Louis.

After finishing the ’09 season with the Eagles, Witherspoon spent the next three seasons in Tennessee. But his production and playing time dropped last season as rookie Zach Brown moved into a starting role.

“I played all last year with a bad hamstring,” Witherspoon said. “A lot of people were talking about my numbers were down and everything else and all that. OK, well you play an entire season in this game with a bad hamstring, you’ll see how great things go for you.”
 

albefree69

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

At 33 he's just happy anybody will sign him. I'm predicting that he might not make the final 53. I know, going out on a limb there aren't I? :lol:
 

CGI_Ram

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

I know Witherspoon had a reputation in St. Louis as a good guy off the field. I hope he makes it as a backup and no doubt will be a good influence for Ogletree.
 

RhodyRams

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I think he makes the final 53.

As the article says "As the spring practice period progressed, it became more and more obvious to the Rams that they needed a veteran presence among a very young linebacker corps."
 

LesBaker

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brokeu91 said:
I guess it's official, from JT of the PD:


In a fitting testimony to the roster upheaval in St. Louis, only defensive end Chris Long and linebacker James Laurinaitis were around in 2009 when Will Witherspoon played his last game with the Rams.”

Yet there are some posters that I have gone back and forth with that say it isn't a rebuild.

It may be the biggest reclamation project in the history of the NFL.
 

-X-

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LesBaker said:
brokeu91 said:
I guess it's official, from JT of the PD:


In a fitting testimony to the roster upheaval in St. Louis, only defensive end Chris Long and linebacker James Laurinaitis were around in 2009 when Will Witherspoon played his last game with the Rams.”

Yet there are some posters that I have gone back and forth with that say it isn't a rebuild.

It may be the biggest reclamation project in the history of the NFL.
Goddammit. I forgot to ask KD about that. :evil:

I did ask Sando in one of his chats, and he didn't even flinch. He said everyone knows it is.
 

LesBaker

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X said:
LesBaker said:
brokeu91 said:
I guess it's official, from JT of the PD:


In a fitting testimony to the roster upheaval in St. Louis, only defensive end Chris Long and linebacker James Laurinaitis were around in 2009 when Will Witherspoon played his last game with the Rams.”

Yet there are some posters that I have gone back and forth with that say it isn't a rebuild.

It may be the biggest reclamation project in the history of the NFL.
Goddammit. I forgot to ask KD about that. :evil:

I did ask Sando in one of his chats, and he didn't even flinch. He said everyone knows it is.

I can link you to the discussions and you know I can. There are a couple of people who will argue to their death it isn't. Even while everything including the kitchen sink is being replaced LOL.
 

RamsFanCK

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

CGI_Ram said:
I know Witherspoon had a reputation in St. Louis as a good guy off the field. I hope he makes it as a backup and no doubt will be a good influence for Ogletree.

Nice outlook! Didn't even think of this signing from that angle...but man this is the depth we needed....he can line up at any LB spot, might as well be a 33 year old Swiss Army knife...and seeing that he won't be on the field a lot I have the feeling he will play very well this season"
 

den-the-coach

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

albefree69 said:
At 33 he's just happy anybody will sign him. I'm predicting that he might not make the final 53. I know, going out on a limb there aren't I? :lol:


Good God, are we at really at the point to think 33 is old? Witherspoon offers quite a bit and he's not just happy to sign with anybody, he actually had an opportunity with the Broncos and although Denver has a better chance at a Super Bowl he still signed with the Rams because "He gave them his word." Something Rob Ryan could learn from.

Sir I would suggest reading Logan's run, you might find it interesting!
logans_sm.jpg
 

albefree69

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

den-the-coach late to the realization:
Good God, are we at really at the point to think 33 is old? Witherspoon offers quite a bit and he's not just happy to sign with anybody, he actually had an opportunity with the Broncos and although Denver has a better chance at a Super Bowl he still signed with the Rams because "He gave them his word." Something Rob Ryan could learn from.

Sir I would suggest reading Logan's run, you might find it interesting!

Yes we have and at other positions like RB we wouldn't think "old", we'd think ancient.

Read the book (huge SF fan) and saw the movie.

I liked him when he was here the last time but he was miscast as a MLB and most of his talents were wasted. We'll see if he still has anything left in the tank but I'm not going to hold my breath.

As for the Broncos interest, that didn't go beyond the talking stage. Didn't even get a workout.
 

den-the-coach

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

below
 

den-the-coach

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

albefree69 said:
den-the-coach late to the realization:
Yes we have and at other positions like RB we wouldn't think "old", we'd think ancient.

I'm never late not for a meeting not for an appointment or an audience or in this case a realization. Yes 33 is ancient at RB, but still useful at LB IMO. And at QB you would still have a few years left (Brady is 36). Witherspoon can still run and at 33 will be an asset on and off the field. As to the Broncos the reason it did not get to the workout stage was because of the conversation he was having with the Rams.
 

albefree69

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

den-the-coach vowing to never be late for dinner:
I'm never late not for a meeting not for an appointment or an audience or in this case a realization. Yes 33 is ancient at RB, but still useful at LB IMO. And at QB you would still have a few years left (Brady is 36). Witherspoon can still run and at 33 will be an asset on and off the field. As to the Broncos the reason it did not get to the workout stage was because of the conversation he was having with the Rams.

That could just mean the Broncos weren't interested enough to compete with us for his services. As for Witherspoon being an asset on the field, I don't see it unless he's at MLB and that happens to be the only place Hull can play with any skill. There's an excellent reason why nobody wanted to sign him until shortly before TC and I still believe that he might not make the team.

I've been wrong before though. :domg:
 

den-the-coach

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

albefree69 said:
As for Witherspoon being an asset on the field, I don't see it unless he's at MLB and that happens to be the only place Hull can play with any skill. There's an excellent reason why nobody wanted to sign him until shortly before TC and I still believe that he might not make the team.

I've been wrong before though. :domg:

Well, you could be right on point if one of the young LB's really step up like Jonathan Stewart, Joseph LeBeau or dare I post Jabara Williams? Agreed on Hull MLB is his best position, however, I do see Witherspoon making the team backing up Ogletree and taking the rookie under his wing to keep him straight.

Rams got some mileage out of Haggan & McIntosh last season and as to Witherspoon, well, to quote former UN Ambassador Adlai Stevenson... "I got one more good fight (season) left in me." :ww:
 

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

Dr.RamsFanCK said:
CGI_Ram said:
I know Witherspoon had a reputation in St. Louis as a good guy off the field. I hope he makes it as a backup and no doubt will be a good influence for Ogletree.

Nice outlook! Didn't even think of this signing from that angle...but man this is the depth we needed....he can line up at any LB spot, might as well be a 33 year old Swiss Army knife...and seeing that he won't be on the field a lot I have the feeling he will play very well this season"

A 33 year old Swiss Army Knife.... :cool: I like that. Touche brother.

I agree his age shouldn't be much of a factor. Not only by him not being on the field so much and in limited packages, but also where he stated his body still feels good every morning.

I can relate to that as I am almost 50 and get up every morning and go throw steel around. :cool: Age is also a state of mind as long as the body is cooperating. He'll definitely be a plus with mentoring Olgetree and others. Kind of like a 2nd coach?
 

RamFan503

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

albefree69 said:
I've been wrong before though. :domg:

And I predict you will be wrong again. And it will be on this issue. :razzed: I bet that not only will Will make the 53, he will make some big plays for us. I, of course, could be wrong too but I don't think Fish brings in a 33 year old vet unless he envisions him not only making the cut but making a decent contribution. Fish knows what he's getting in WW. I also think Fish has too much respect for veteran players to just have them come in to possibly compete for a spot. He is here to mentor and play - not to fill a spot on the tryout squad. Just my guess.
 

RamsFanCK

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

Dagonet said:
Dr.RamsFanCK said:
CGI_Ram said:
I know Witherspoon had a reputation in St. Louis as a good guy off the field. I hope he makes it as a backup and no doubt will be a good influence for Ogletree.

Nice outlook! Didn't even think of this signing from that angle...but man this is the depth we needed....he can line up at any LB spot, might as well be a 33 year old Swiss Army knife...and seeing that he won't be on the field a lot I have the feeling he will play very well this season"

A 33 year old Swiss Army Knife.... :cool: I like that. Touche brother.

I agree his age shouldn't be much of a factor. Not only by him not being on the field so much and in limited packages, but also where he stated his body still feels good every morning.

I can relate to that as I am almost 50 and get up every morning and go throw steel around. :cool: Age is also a state of mind as long as the body is cooperating. He'll definitely be a plus with mentoring Olgetree and others. Kind of like a 2nd coach?

Is that DAG!!? I didn't realize that you migrated over heretoo :lmao: How've you been brother!?
 

Memento

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

den-the-coach said:
albefree69 said:
As for Witherspoon being an asset on the field, I don't see it unless he's at MLB and that happens to be the only place Hull can play with any skill. There's an excellent reason why nobody wanted to sign him until shortly before TC and I still believe that he might not make the team.

I've been wrong before though. :domg:

Well, you could be right on point if one of the young LB's really step up like Jonathan Stewart, Joseph LeBeau or dare I post Jabara Williams? Agreed on Hull MLB is his best position, however, I do see Witherspoon making the team backing up Ogletree and taking the rookie under his wing to keep him straight.

Rams got some mileage out of Haggan & McIntosh last season and as to Witherspoon, well, to quote former UN Ambassador Adlai Stevenson... "I got one more good fight (season) left in me." :ww:

And let's not forget Ray-Ray Armstrong. I really do think that they're grooming him as a potential replacement for Dunbar, should the latter decide to test free agency.

I like this signing for the reason CGI pointed out: Witherspoon could definitely help guys like Ogletree and Armstrong. And he still has a fair bit left in the tank. I think he could perform admirably in the role he's given.
 

nighttrain

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

Albe being a wiseguy?
albefree69 said:
At 33 he's just happy anybody will sign him. I'm predicting that he might not make the final 53. I know, going out on a limb there aren't I? :lol:

haha, Wil is back, time to celebrate
train
 

albefree69

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Re: Witherspoon Rejoins Rams-PD Article

RamFan503 thinking I could...gasp!..be wrong again:
And I predict you will be wrong again. And it will be on this issue. :razzed: I bet that not only will Will make the 53, he will make some big plays for us. I, of course, could be wrong too but I don't think Fish brings in a 33 year old vet unless he envisions him not only making the cut but making a decent contribution. Fish knows what he's getting in WW. I also think Fish has too much respect for veteran players to just have them come in to possibly compete for a spot. He is here to mentor and play - not to fill a spot on the tryout squad. Just my guess.

You realize what you are saying right? If Spoon makes the team and didn't do it by winning a competition among the other LBs what does that say to the other players? What does that say to the FO? Every player should have to compete for their job.

I don't doubt that Fisher is hoping that Spoon is an upgrade. Coaches take those kind of educated gambles all the time. Frequently they don't work out like they'd want. Fisher knows very well what kind of player Spoon used to be and he's hoping there's still something in the tank.

Ogletree doesn't need another coach who might not even be on the same page as the one we already are paying to do that stuff.