The non-Rams free agents signed thread

[Legatron4]

I don't agree with either premise. I think giving him 80 to 100 legit touches would be difficult. Keep in mind that Tavon got touches with Gurley on the field, and Brown got touches when games were over and in Week 17 with Gurley sitting. Plus, $6 million per year for a HB getting 80 to 100 touches is not good value.

This is a deep and talented HB class. We can get a HB for a fraction of the cost who can do plenty well with whatever touches we need. You have to manage your assets well. Cap room is an important asset. Spending $6 million per year on Lewis means sacrificing elsewhere. That could cost us a starting NT or a starting ILB or NRC.

I don't think it's a good idea. I really like John Kelly Jr., but there are many talented HBs in this Draft. We could use a 4th or 5th round pick on a HB and save that money.

I don’t mind drafting a RB. I think that’s what they will do. However, Lewis would be an immediate impact. Snead and McVay want to win now. There’s no guarantee a rookie RB will come in and even see the field.

 

[Giles27]

I don’t mind drafting a RB. I think that’s what they will do. However, Lewis would be an immediate impact. Snead and McVay want to win now. There’s no guarantee a rookie RB will come in and even see the field.

Snead likes to draft players who can contribute from day one just look at the last draft. I believe with mcvay scheme a rookie rb will have no problem playing early.....as long as he can pass protect.

 

[jrry32]

It’s not like the offense is complete yet. They can still improve in certain areas.

That's absolutely true, but we had arguably the best HB in the NFL last year. HB play isn't really an area where we need improvement. It would be nice to have a good backup, but that's why we have rookie contracts. I'd love to see the offense improve, but I think those improvements need to come at TE. I expect they will with Everett next year.

McVay wants to have the most lethal offense in the league. You could tell that game against the Falcons hurt him. A guy like Lewis would have really helped bring the offense up a notch.

How? Gurley was running wild on the ground, but he was being smothered in the passing game. How would Lewis fare any better? We certainly weren't going to take Gurley off the field for Lewis.

Here's a damning fact, Malcolm Brown had a total of 6 carries and 5 receptions in games that weren't blowouts last year (not counting Week 17). We simply didn't use him in close games. We fed Gurley the rock. I see the value in having a backup HB in case Gurley gets hurt, but I don't see the value in spending big bucks on a backup who we don't want on the field.

I understand you have concerns with the defense. But we have the cap space to sign Donald, Joyner, Watkins and a couple good free agents plus our draft picks. What do we have? $53 million freed up now? I bet Barron gets cut too. Which would bring us to around $60 million. Plenty of money to bring in another piece for our offense.

No. We have around $48 million after the Quinn and Peters trades. That drops to $37 million with Joyner being tagged. And we still need to re-sign a bunch of players, add a #2 CB, replace Barron, and add a NT. If we sign Dion Lewis for $6 million per year, that means not being able to afford a starter somewhere else.

Take a look at the last 10 Super Bowl winners. Very rarely do they have a do it all, stud RB. Marshawn Lynch, Ray Rice, Rashard Mendenhall? You need multiple pieces and skill players to win the big game. We can’t put it all on Gurleys shoulders or you’ll see a repeat of what happened vs Atlanta.

Atlanta? The game where Gurley averaged over 7 yards per carry and ran for 101 yards? Our HB situation didn't lose us the Atlanta game.

Fact is that HB is one of the easiest positions to find valuable players at on Day 3 because it's devalued. We don't need to pay big money for a backup to Gurley. We can draft one. I'm not taking Gurley off the field for anyone, much less Dion Lewis. And Gurley doesn't need enough breathers for Lewis to have enough touches for it to be a good deal.

Where does that leave us? It leaves us with taking our best player off the field on 3rd downs to justify giving Lewis all that money. I really don't like it, my friend.

 

[jrry32]

I don’t mind drafting a RB. I think that’s what they will do. However, Lewis would be an immediate impact. Snead and McVay want to win now. There’s no guarantee a rookie RB will come in and even see the field.

There's no guarantee that Lewis sees the field enough to be worthwhile. I certainly don't want McVay feeling like he has to take Gurley out to get Lewis snaps.

 

[dieterbrock]

It’s not like the offense is complete yet. They can still improve in certain areas. McVay wants to have the most lethal offense in the league. You could tell that game against the Falcons hurt him. A guy like Lewis would have really helped bring the offense up a notch. I understand you have concerns with the defense. But we have the cap space to sign Donald, Joyner, Watkins and a couple good free agents plus our draft picks. What do we have? $53 million freed up now? I bet Barron gets cut too. Which would bring us to around $60 million. Plenty of money to bring in another piece for our offense.

Take a look at the last 10 Super Bowl winners. Very rarely do they have a do it all, stud RB. Marshawn Lynch, Ray Rice, Rashard Mendenhall? You need multiple pieces and skill players to win the big game. We can’t put it all on Gurleys shoulders or you’ll see a repeat of what happened vs Atlanta.

Right, it’s not complete. We could use an upgrade at tight end for sure, our TE play was poor. And if Watkins is gone, we sure could use a playmaker at WR.
Running back? We are set with Gurley.
Again, Salary cap

 

[wolfdogg]

We would have had a better game against Atlanta with Graham instead of Lewis.

 

[NERamsFan]

So I used to roll up to Gillette stadium all the time with the boys, as it is the place where all young folk go to hang out and bar hop.. I used to run into pats players all the time, still do (just less frequently up there now-not my scene as much anymore) and the same night I ran into Bradley Fletcher (no one knew who he was except me bc of Rams connection) I ran into Dione. Most unassuming dude ever, small chicken legs all traps; you wouldn’t know he played NFL ball unless you recognized his face. Shit, my boys called bs so I quietly and politely walked up to him as I moved to the bar for another.So I walked up to him just to congratulate him on win (this was in early September- Bradley was there celebrating his wife’s bday as was I) and the dude was an A one dickhead. I’m not a star struck type or one for autos or pics, just a simple pound or nod of acknowledgement when I see these guys, and he was a total dick. HARD PASS don’t want him on team for this reason. btw the girl he was with was a smoke, but a known sloot locally so I had a chuckle bcmy boy Dan had “been there and done that.” True story

 

[NERamsFan]

So I used to roll up to Gillette stadium all the time with the boys, as it is the place where all young folk go to hang out and bar hop.. I used to run into pats players all the time, still do (just less frequently up there now-not my scene as much anymore) and the same night I ran into Bradley Fletcher (no one knew who he was except me bc of Rams connection) I ran into Dione. Most unassuming dude ever, small chicken legs all traps; you wouldn’t know he played NFL ball unless you recognized his face. crap, my boys called bs so I quietly and politely walked up to him as I moved to the bar for another.So I walked up to him just to congratulate him on win (this was in early September- Bradley was there celebrating his wife’s bday as was I) and the dude was an A one dork. I’m not a star struck type or one for autos or pics, just a simple pound or nod of acknowledgement when I see these guys, and he was a total dick. HARD PASS don’t want him on team for this reason. btw the girl he was with was a smoke, but a known sloot locally so I had a chuckle bcmy boy Dan had “been there and done that.” True story

Also, in case you wondering, Bradley was the man. Very polite and well-spoken. When I told him I was there for my birthday he and his wife acknowledged they were there for similar reason, and bought me a drink. Really nice, homie people.

I also have a story about meeting Jimmy G his rookie year after Phillies preseason game, his first official unofficial start. Unassuming kid in jeans vneck and vans. No one bothered him bc they had no clue, but I did and walked right up to him. I was cool about it, and struck up a quick convo. Told him I loved his game coming out and wish he was on “my team.” When he asked who my team was and I identified the Rams, he said, “ahh man you guys are all set, you have Bradford.” Lol I told him I preferred his skill set and told him he had big shoes to fill, boy did he know it. Nice kid

 

[Merlin]

I stopped paying attention to Jimmy Graham when the Seattle players basically called him a wuss....after the first week of camp. It takes alot for something like that to get out of the locker room.

That was criminal misuse the way they tried to utilize him. He's a matchup problem in the passing game, guy like him requires a good offensive mind to tap his ability.

I think he'll regain some cred pretty quickly in the league if he signs with the right offense. We're one of them.

 

[kurtfaulk]

We would have had a better game against Atlanta with Graham instead of Lewis.

Or any te that can catch the ball.

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[kurtfaulk]

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I was pissed when they gave $1.5m to Dunbar last year. No rb on the team should be earning more than Gurley.

Get some smart lbers that can tackle. That will help the rams.

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[Stl2La]

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I was ticked when they gave $1.5m to Dunbar last year. No rb on the team should be earning more than Gurley.

Get some smart lbers that can tackle. That will help the rams.

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Gurley made about $4 mil last year so no rb did earn more than him. Unless you’re talking about the potential of signing Dion Lewis in which that case I agree with you.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Gurley made about $4 mil last year so no rb did earn more than him. Unless you’re talking about the potential of signing Dion Lewis in which that case I agree with you.

Yes that's exactly what i was talking about.

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[kurtfaulk]

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Nooooooo, the whiners are interested in trey Burton (why wouldn't they be). I don't want him with them, I want him on the rams team. This guy's gonna be a good one. The rams need to match him up with Everett and the rams will be unstoppable by next season.

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[So Ram]

Phillip Lindsay HB Colorado
John Kelly Jr. HB Tennessee
Kalen Ballage HB Arizona State
Nyheim Hines HB N.C. State
Chase Edmonds HB Fordham
Ito Smith HB Southern Miss
Mark Walton HB Miami
Martez Carter HB Grambling

No guarantee any are as good as Lewis, but we don't need someone as good as Lewis because we have Gurley. If you asked my preference of that group, Phillip Lindsay and John Kelly Jr. lead. Lindsay is the most pro ready 3rd down HB (NFL caliber pass pro and receiving skills). Kelly has the highest upside (could develop into a feature back).

I’m not that far into the draft right now , but jrry32 you seem to come up with some solid shit this time of year !!

I don’t know if you’ve always been a Goff fan from the very beginning . I recall Kromer last season way before anyone had been even talking about him.
Then you were all over Copper Kupp who just had one of the best season in Rams history by position.
I’ll take should be Tory Holt though ino. U do think Kupp might get him in Super Bowls.The Rams had the team in 2017 imo. McVay could have been a little bit better. So great on just his foundation of The Rams though. I’ll give Demoff some credit for getting the process to all come together.Even from the firing & handling of Fisher. Letting Bones become head coach . To keeping faith & solid working relationship of Les Snead.
When Demoff interviewed McVay he did a radio interview. I was on the 5 fwy heading to the 605 . He talked about hiring an inexperienced coach as long as he had say a former HC to mentor him , ala Wade Phillips.
Wade’s twit last season was hilarious.Those 2
are a perfect match. A lot of respect there.

 

[So Ram]

It says a lot when he outgained Alvin Kamara in 2016 on less carries. I really like Kelly. I felt like I was watching 2016 Todd Gurley this year when he was at Tennessee. The blocking and offensive scheme were terrible and severely holding the kid back.

Totally 2 different RB’s . I saw Gurley work his Azz off on catching the football. He blocks real well imo. I heard people talk shit about that part of his game , but he helped in the pocket. Todd Gurley is a every down back.
From the post above I replied to I got caught up in a tangent . McVay first brought in Dunbar , he ended up even trying Tavon just in case he could do it. Malcom Brown is a solid RB , but the Rams need a scat Back. I think Kamara is a special Back. His run at the Coliseum was insane !! All season he did it. My Girl friend and I had him on Fantasy.

My point is your evaluation on RB’s is cool.Rams totally need a 3rd RB as much as Snead says he won’t take a RB early because of Gurley.
& Kamara is excellent rookie RB who like Gurley broke out after 4 games.Just different Backs.

 

[Legatron4]

@dieterbrock @jrry32 theres a lot of quotes so I’ll just tag you. I appreciate all of your points. I feel the TE play definitely could have been better. But I just look at what New England and Philly did last year. I mean, the Eagles traded for Jay Ajayi and already had Blount and Clements. NE had Lewis, White and Burkhead. I know none of them are on Gurleys level. But doesn’t that tell you something? The league is changing and has been on that steady increase in multiple RB backfields. Having a change of pace does a lot more then people think.

Again, I believe we will end up drafting a RB. It’s probably the right move. But I rather not sit on our thumbs waiting for guys to develop. Just reload and get ready to make another run towards a Super Bowl. We already have our QB. Keep giving him weapons.

Edit: The Saints come to mind as well. Ingram and Kamara were the reason they were so successful last year.

 

[jrry32]

@dieterbrock @jrry32 theres a lot of quotes so I’ll just tag you. I appreciate all of your points. I feel the TE play definitely could have been better. But I just look at what New England and Philly did last year. I mean, the Eagles traded for Jay Ajayi and already had Blount and Clements. NE had Lewis, White and Burkhead. I know none of them are on Gurleys level. But doesn’t that tell you something? The league is changing and has been on that steady increase in multiple RB backfields. Having a change of pace does a lot more then people think.

Again, I believe we will end up drafting a RB. It’s probably the right move. But I rather not sit on our thumbs waiting for guys to develop. Just reload and get ready to make another run towards a Super Bowl. We already have our QB. Keep giving him weapons.

Edit: The Saints come to mind as well. Ingram and Kamara were the reason they were so successful last year.

Absolutely. It tells me that the teams that don't have a HB like Gurley try to get specialists. Hell, Saints fans were complaining all year long that Kamara wasn't getting enough touches. I don't want that to be a problem with Gurley.

 

[Prime Time]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ons-listening-to-trade-offers-for-eric-ebron/

Lions listening to trade offers for Eric Ebron
Posted by Charean Williams on March 6, 2018

Getty Images

The Lions are listening to teams interested in trading for tight end Eric Ebron, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter said Ebron is a “name to watch in the coming days.”

Ebron’s $8.25 million salary becomes guaranteed March 14. General Manager BobQuinn said at the combine last week that the Lions would keep Ebron under contract.

Perhaps, though, the Lions are open to trading him for the right offer.

The Lions listened at the trade deadline, too, but ended up holding onto Ebron when they didn’t get a deal to their liking.

Ebron, the 10th overall pick in 2014, made 53 catches for 574 yards and four touchdowns for the year and for his career has 186 receptions for 2,079 yards and 11 touchdowns.

 

[dieterbrock]

Absolutely. It tells me that the teams that don't have a HB like Gurley try to get specialists. Hell, Saints fans were complaining all year long that Kamara wasn't getting enough touches. I don't want that to be a problem with Gurley.

@Legatron4
What he said
New England has made the rb committee thing work for years. Because they’ve never had a Gurley. When they had Corey Dillon in his prime, he busted out a Gurley type season and they won a Super Bowl