[Hacksaw]

Ten free agents likely to switch teams

By Chris Wesseling
Around the NFL Writer
Published: Feb. 17, 2016 at 08:29 p.m. Updated: Feb. 17, 2016 at 08:40 p.m.


Every year at this time, Around The NFL releases a preliminary ranking of the top free agents as well as a detailed overview of franchise-tag candidates. The problem with those lists, however, is that a disproportionate number of the premier free agents stay with their teams via the tag or a long-term contract.

With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the most interesting players headed for the open market and new opportunities in a different NFL city. Below are 10 impending free agents likely to switch teams in March:

1. Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers safety: The writing has been on the wall since last offseason when Weddle said he felt "highly disrespected" by the organization's refusal to negotiate a contract extension. By January, the three-time Pro Bowler told reporters that he would probably never speak to the Chargers again. NFL teams don't throw big money at aging defensive stars, but Weddle is still playing at a high level in his early thirties. Potential fits include the Raiders, Giants and Redskins.

2. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears running back: The Bears announced that Forte will not be re-signed, which means the player with the most yards from scrimmage since 2008 will reach the open market. Don't expect Forte to default to the highest bidder, though, as he recently made it clear to NFL Network that competing for a chance to play in the Super Bowl is a higher priority than a mega contract.

3. Bruce Irvin, Seattle Seahawks pass rusher: Irvin has hinted at accepting slightly less money to stay with Pete Carroll, but he still might price himself out of the picture with a pair of former Seattle defensive coordinators running the show in Atlanta and Jacksonville. After the Seahawks declined his 2016 option last offseason, the former first-round pick was quoted as saying he was interested in returning home to play for the Falcons, a team sorely in need of young edge rushers.

4. Damon Harrison, New York Jets defensive tackle: With Muhammad Wilkerson expected to draw the franchise tag, the future of "Snacks" is up in the air on a crowded Jets defensive line. Harrison firmly believes he's the league's premier run-stuffing nose tackle and will want to be compensated accordingly.

5. Greg Hardy, Dallas Cowboys defensive end: Hardy was one of the Cowboys' most effective defensive stars last season, but he has tested the patience of otherwise lenient owner Jerry Jones with his tone-deaf public comments, sideline antics and off-the-field behavior. Coach Jason Garrett refused to discuss Hardy's future in end-of-season sessions with reporters. The remorseless one's talent will likely ensure another opportunity even if his character issues cost him money on the open market.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... itch-teams

6. Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins running back: The Dolphins reportedly want to re-sign Miller after watching three different play-callers underutilize him in the past three years. It's a tricky situation, though, with salary-cap issues, a possible franchise tag for pass rusher Olivier Vernon and the organization's belief that 2015 fifth-round pick Jay Ajayi is a starting-caliber running back. If Doug Martin returns to Tampa Bay, Miller could leapfrog Forte as the most coveted back available.

7. Derrick Shelby, Miami Dolphins defensive end: Shelby might not be a household name, but he had one of the NFL's most overlooked contract-year pushes as Cameron Wake's replacement down the stretch last season. A stout run defender with exceptionally strong hands, Shelby also made a habit of bulldozing linemen into the quarterback's lap as a disruptive interior force on third downs. Although he lacks the speed to emerge as a premier edge rusher, Shelby is a versatile defensive lineman just entering the prime of his career. If the Dolphins find a way to keep Vernon, Shelby will be in line for an expanded role in another city.


8. Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts tight end: Allen has publicly stated a desire to return to Indianapolis, but multiple beat writers have sensed frustration with his diminished role in the Colts' aerial attack. A well-rounded tight end, Allen is a physical blocker with suddenness after the catch and the ability to wall off defenders in the red zone. He has Pro Bowl potential if he stays healthy and lands with a savvy coordinator who will play to his strengths in an every-down role. He would be an interesting fit with the Falcons, who have struggled to find a successor to Tony Gonzalez.

9. Andre Smith, Cincinnati Bengals right tackle: A slimmed-down Smith entered training camp with a vow to develop beyond "mediocre" only to suffer through the most disappointing season of his seven-year career. The Bengals signaled their intention to move on by selecting tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher in the first two rounds of last year's draft.

10. Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins running back: Morris lost his stranglehold on the starter's job last season, splitting time with rookie Matt Jones in a Redskins ground attack that never could get on track. Team president Bruce Allen tipped his hand earlier this month, telling reporters, "If he gets a great contract (elsewhere), we're going to applaud him." A power back lacking receiving chops, Morris would fill a need as a timeshare back alongside Theo Riddick and Ameer Abdullah in Detroit.

Other possibilities: Sam Bradford, Jason Pierre-Paul, Marvin Jones, Chris Johnson, Reggie Bush, Vernon Davis, Rishard Matthews, Casey Hayward

[Hacksaw]

Examining where James Laurinaitis fits in Rams' 2016 plans

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/p ... 2016-plans

Player: LB James Laurinaitis

Contract status: Signed through 2017.

2016 cap hit: $6,425,000

Potential savings: $5,525,000

[Hacksaw]

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/p ... e-for-rams

Big jump in salary cap would come at good time for Rams
Nick Wagoner
ESPN Staff Writer

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The NFL hasn't officially announced what the 2016 NFL salary cap will look like, but there have been reports during the past couple of weeks that it will ultimately land in the range of $155 million per team.

That would represent an increase of about $12 million over the 2015 season's $143 million cap. The exact figure won't be revealed until a few days before the start of the new league year on March 9, but it's fair to assume that such a leap is reasonable, considering the continued rise of league revenue.

If the $155 million figure (or close to it) proves accurate, it would be good news for every NFL team, including the Los Angeles Rams. In fact, it would help the Rams in multiple ways entering an offseason with a lot of difficult decisions on the docket.

Keep in mind that the Rams could carry over some cap space from last year to have even more room, so as it stands before they make any roster moves, this team could have more than $40 million to spend.

Here's a look at four ways the rising cap could benefit the Rams this year:

1. Re-signing their own players -- Obviously. The Rams have about a dozen players set to become unrestricted free agents, including key pieces such as cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, safeties Rodney McLeod and Mark Barron and ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims, among others. It also allows them a little more flexibility with restricted free agents they definitely want to keep, such as quarterback Case Keenum. In most offseasons, that would mean coming to grips with the fact that some of those free agents will not return. But the Rams should have enough money to keep the majority of the players they want, as long as they're willing to pay the freight. They could even use the franchise or transition tags if they want. The downside of the cap jump, though, is that every team gets the same money, so they can come with big money to drive up prices on the Rams, too.

2. Not cutting their own players -- In recent years, the Rams have found themselves parting ways with high-priced veterans before free agency begins. Players such as cornerback Cortland Finnegan, tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells are among the names they've let go to carve out more cap space. The Rams will likely make a move or two before free agency, but those would be as much a result of cutting ties with players who aren't worth the price tag, as it would be just trying to create more cap space. The flip side of that is if there are players whom they aren't sure about keeping or letting go -- players such as receiver Kenny Britt and linebacker Akeem Ayers come to mind -- they could be easier to keep because of the additional cap space.

3. Taking a hit -- There isn't a team in the league that enjoys letting players go and adding dead money to their salary cap. It's also a reality of the league that you're eventually going to have to have money count against your cap for players that aren't on your team. While it's never ideal, it's a lot more palatable when you have a salary cap reaching a record high and a lot of room to spend already. The Rams are going to be looking for quarterbacks this offseason and if they find one, it means they have to delete one. Because keeping Keenum is a priority and Sean Mannion is only entering his second season, that makes Nick Foles the most likely candidate. If the Rams choose to go that way, they would have to eat quite a bit of salary unless they can trade him. It would be a bitter pill to swallow after trading for and signing him last year, but it's a little easier to take with the extra space available.

4. Planning for the future -- The Rams have spent the past four years building the team, mostly through the draft, and they've finally hit on some players worth keeping around for a second contract. That's the good news. The bad news is that many of those players are going to be coming up on free agency soon and the Rams are going to have to pay dearly to keep them. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers is under team control via the fifth-year option, but will need an extension sooner than later and the Rams could theoretically get a big chunk of any guaranteed money out of the way in 2016 by getting something done sooner rather than later. Others, such as Tavon Austin and Alec Ogletree, are heading into the final year of their rookie contracts and the Rams will have to make decisions on their fifth-year options this summer as well.

[Elvis]

I'm not sure i see how the salary cap jump helps the Rams any more than the next guy. As the cap goes up, salaries go up: Tru and Jenkz are gonna cost more now...

[OldSchool]

I'm not sure i see how the salary cap jump helps the Rams any more than the next guy. As the cap goes up, salaries go up: Tru and Jenkz are gonna cost more now...

Yeah it's really a net neutral affect. Yes we have more money but so do the other people that might want to sign our guys.

[Elvis]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pet ... n-top-list

Top 50 2016 NFL free agents: Pass rushers Vernon, Jackson top list
by Pete Prisco February 18, 2016 3:23 pm ET

While putting together my list of the top-50 NFL free agents this year, one thing stood out: there are lot of rising, young players ready to cash in and take their game to an even higher level.

Many remain focused on the big-name players in free agency, but there are a lot of players between the ages of 25-28 who should be getting a lot more of the attention when free agency begins on March 9. I am a big believer in signing players on the way up, not on the way down, which is why age matters. "Games not names" should be the slogan for all teams. The age of 26 should be a target age.

In putting together my list, I did not include any players who are likely to be tagged. Many of those players would top the list. Some of those players are Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller, Carolina Panthers corner Josh Norman, New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry and Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffrey.

There are also no restricted free agents on the list, which is why you won't see a player like Denver linebacker Brandon Marshall in the top 50.

What you will see are a lot of players on the rise in my top-10. The top player is 25-year-old pass rusher Olivier Vernon of the Miami Dolphins. It's hard to find those types of players, and it's even tougher to let them walk. Miami would be crazy to let him out of the building, but if they do he will be scooped up fast in a league of pass-rushing starved teams.

There are a handful of players in the age range of 30-33 who can help teams in the next three to five years, which is why they are on the list. Some of those players are Chargers safety Eric Weddle and Chiefs linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali.

For the most part, though, the list leans to the younger, rising players. If teams are wise, they will follow suit in their pursuits to improve their rosters.

1. Olivier Vernon, DE, Miami Dolphins: It's not that common to see a 25-year-old pass rusher hit the market. Vernon got off to a slow start last year, but came on in the second half. He has 29 sacks in four seasons with 11.5 in 2013.

2. Malik Jackson, DE, Denver Broncos: Pop in the Super Bowl tape and you will know why I have him so high. This is a dominant player who can play in any type of defense.

3. Cordy Glenn, T, Buffalo Bills: He is a good player in pass protection at the all-important left tackle spot. That's a need position where a lot of teams have issues.

4. Kelechi Osemele, G, Baltimore Ravens: He has been a productive starter at guard, but has also started at tackle. He would be a nice upgrade for a lot of teams, but the price could be high.

5. Trumaine Johnson, CB, Los Angeles Rams: Most will put his teammate and fellow corner Janoris Jenkins above him, but I think Johnson is the better player. He is tall and does a good job in man coverage.

6. Bruce Irvin, DE-OLB, Seattle Seahawks: He played linebacker in Seattle's scheme, but he could also put his hand on the ground. He would also be a perfect 3-4 rush guy.

7. Eric Weddle, S, San Diego Chargers: He isn't a kid anymore at 31, but he can still do a good job at free safety. He can cover and is a willing tackler in the run game. A young secondary that needs stability would be wise to sign him.

8. Damon Harrison, DT, New York Jets: He has been a power player in the middle of their defense who excels against the run. It's unlikely they can keep this 27-year-old.

9. Sean Smith, CB, Kansas City Chiefs: He did serve a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy last season, but he bounced back to play well for the Chiefs. He is a taller corner who does a nice job in man coverage.

10. Janoris Jenkins, CB, Los Angeles Rams: He has a ton of skills, but has gambled on the field at times and hurt his team. He cut down on that some last season, which could be a sign of maturity.

11. Danny Trevathan, ILB, Denver Broncos: It's hard to find speedy linebackers who are good in coverage and also solid in the run game. That's Trevathan. He's another who excelled in the Super Bowl.

12. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants: Yes, he has the issue with his hand. But even with the club on last season, he did some good things when he returned to the field. He's only 27 and should adjust to playing with the injured hand next season.

13. Ian Williams, NT, San Francisco 49ers: He was finally healthy in 2015 and responded with a good season. Like Harrison, he won't bring much in terms of the pass rush but he can hold the point against the run.

14. Prince Amukamara, CB, New York Giants: He's had some injury issues in his Giants career -- he missed five games last season -- but when he's on the field he's a solid cover player. He wasn't as good last season, which might concern some teams.

15. Doug Martin, RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers: For a team looking for a back, and willing to pay one rather than draft one, Martin would make sense. I am not a proponent of paying backs, but he's a good player, which is why he's this high on the list.

16. Jaye Howard, DT, Kansas City Chiefs: He had 5.5 sacks last season and really showed up on tape. He is a 5-technique whose best football is in front of him. This might seem high, but I really like his game.

17. Andre Smith, T, Cincinnati Bengals: He had some injury issues last season, but he's been an above-average starter in the past three years. For teams in need of a right tackle, he would make a lot of sense.

18. Marvin Jones, WR, Cincinnati Bengals: He is a good No 2 receiver who I don't think can be a No. 1. But there's value in having a player with his talents on your offense.

19. Alex Mack, C, Cleveland Browns: He will almost certainly void his contract -- which he can do -- to become a free agent. He will be the top center on any list.

20. Reggie Nelson, FS, Cincinnati Bengals: He's now 32, but he is coming off a Pro Bowl season and teams are looking for safeties with range. That will help his value.

21. Richie Incognito, G, Buffalo Bills: He had a nice season for the Bills in his return to the NFL after sitting out for the bullying issues in Miami. He can be dominant at times as a run blocker.

22. Alex Boone, G, San Francisco 49ers: He is a good guard who could also slide outside to play right tackle. There's value in versatility.

23. Russell Okung, T, Seattle Seahawks: He's been a Pro Bowl player in his career, but he's battled some injuries in recent years. He's still a good player.

24. George Iloka, S, Cincinnati Bengals: He's been a consistent starter the past two years playing next to Reggie Nelson. The Bengals would like to get one of the two back, but it might be tough to do.

25. Mitchell Schwartz, T, Cleveland Browns: His play slipped a little last season, but he's still a quality starting right tackle who has been a four-year starter. That means something.

26. Brock Osweiler, QB, Denver Broncos: He did some nice things last season when he started, but he's probably going back to Denver. Then again, if some team made him a big offer you never know.

27. Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Dolphins: He turns 25 in April and has just 638 carries in four seasons. So he has a lot of good football left.

28. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears: He's got eight years of wear on his body, but he can still help a team for the next few years. A contender might want to give him a two-year deal.

29. Derrick Johnson, ILB, Kansas City Chiefs: He's 33, which is a concern, but he showed he can still play at a high level last season. Some team in need of help in the middle of the defense would be wise to give him a two- or three-year deal.

30. Kelvin Beachum, T, Pittsburgh Steelers: He is coming off a torn ACL, otherwise he would be higher on this list. He's a shorter tackle, but he has developed into a quality player.

31. Brandon Brooks, G, Houston Texans: He played better in 2014 than he did a year ago, but he's still a young, emerging player at 26.

32. Donald Penn, LT, Oakland Raiders: His play slipped a bit last season, and he's getting older, but in a league where left tackles struggle on a lot of teams he will get some action.

33. Adam Jones, CB, Cincinnati Bengals: This aging corner had one of his best seasons in 2015. He can still lock up and play man coverage. The attitude, though, comes with him. That can be good and bad.

34. Casey Hayward, CB, Green Bay Packers: He's been both a nickel corner and a starter outside in his career. He has value, but the Packers drafted two young corners last year, which is why he won't be back.

35. Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs: He still has some pass-rush ability left, but at 33 the team that signs him will have to be careful with the contract. How many more years can he go?

36. Patrick Robinson, CB, San Diego Chargers: In his only season with the Chargers, this former first-round pick by the Saints had a nice season. He showed he could hold up in coverage when asked to do so.

37. Tyrunn Walker, DT, Detroit Lions: He broke his ankle early last season, but was playing good football before he did so. He's only 25, so he should be able to bounce back.

38. Ben Jones, C, Houston Texans: He moved from guard to center last year and had a decent first season there as the starter. He isn't overpowering, but he is smart and athletic.

39. Jeff Allen, G, Kansas City Chiefs: He missed time early last season, and the Chiefs line wasn't as good. When he was in the lineup, the line was much better. He's a tough player in the run game.

40. Robert Ayers, DE, New York Giants: At 30, he is coming off a 9.5-sack season, which will up his value. He can slide inside and rush from a tackle spot in passing downs, which is also important.

41. Tashaun Gipson, S, Cleveland Browns: After a Pro Bowl season in 2014, his play tailed off last season. He still has range in the middle, which a lot of teams crave.

42. Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Baltimore Ravens: He doesn't put up big sack numbers, but he's a good run player who does a nice job setting the edge. A new team might be just what he needs to become a better pass rusher.

43. Tahir Whitehead, LB, Detroit Lions: He stepped in as a starter the past two seasons and has done some good things, but inconsistency showed up at times. He has the speed to play in coverage, and at 25 he's the right age for a team looking to get faster at linebacker.

44. William Hayes, DE, Los Angeles Rams: For a team looking for a veteran pass rusher, a player who can be a part of the rotation, Hayes would make a lot of sense. He was a good player as a reserve for the Rams.

45. Travis Benjamin, WR, Cleveland Browns: He has big-play speed and can also help in the return game. There's value in that.

46. Coby Fleener, TE, Indianapolis Colts: He's a pass-catching tight end who hasn't lived up to the hype. Even so, he has the ability to catch 60 or so passes a season.

47. Terrance Knighton, DT, Washington Redskins: He's another run-stuffing defensive tackle. He had some injury issues last year, but when he played he did some good things.

48. Evan Mathis, G, Denver Broncos: After a slow start in Denver, he played well late in the season. Age is an issue since he's 33.

49. Greg Hardy, DE, Dallas Cowboys: Is he worth the aggravation? He wasn't great last season on the field, and the Cowboys grew tired of his act. But there is still pass-rush ability in that body.

50. Nick Fairley, DT, Los Angeles Rams: He played well on a one-year deal with the Rams last season after trimming down. This is still a talented player.

Twenty others who were close:

Aldon Smith, OLB, Oakland Raiders
Ladarius Green, TE, San Diego Chargers
Chris Ivory, RB, New York Jets
Brandon Mebane, DT, Seattle Seahawks
Walter Thurmond, S, Philadelphia Eagles
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, New York Jets
Eugene Sims, DE, Los Angeles Rams
Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens
Haloti Ngata, DT, Detroit Lions
Bobby Massie, T, Arizona Cardinals
Greg Toler, CB, Indianapolis Colts
Rolando McClain, LB, Dallas Cowboys
Rashad Johnson, S, Arizona Cardinals
Isa Abdul-Quddus, S, Detroit Lions
Mike Neal DE, Green Bay Packers
Nick Perry, OLB, Green Bay Packers
Donald Stephenson, T, Kansas City Chiefs
Cedric Thornton, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Jermaine Kearse, WR, Seattle Seahawks
J.R. Sweezy, G, Seattle Seahawks

[Hacksaw]

Great list. Bummer to see 5 of our guys on that list, and everyone is a keeper. Still beyond great to see the words Los Angeles in front of Rams. Almost surreal still.

I'm not sure i see how the salary cap jump helps the Rams any more than the next guy. As the cap goes up, salaries go up: Tru and Jenkz are gonna cost more now...

Eventually. Players salaries are based off of league avg across the board and then the ability of the specific player will take his salary above that norm. Maybe we can consider ourselves fortunate that the mean tide hasn't risen higher yet since this will be the first year of the new cap. Like the last year of the old CBA (Bradford),, but in reverse.

Yeah it's really a net neutral affect. Yes we have more money but so do the other people that might want to sign our guys.

This I can see as a bit of a problem... And more competition can bring Elvis's concern back into the light.

[TSFH Fan]

I can't imagine any team trading for JL or CL.

Sooner or later, the Raiders have to do something about their salary floor issue. I think it'd be cool if they took CL -- ya, dreaming, but would be cool imo.

[Elvis]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... e-maximum/

As to cap space, the minimum means as much the maximum

Posted by Mike Florio on February 18, 2016, 5:04 PM EST

The billion-dollar breathlessness already has begun regarding 2016 league year, which will feature unprecedented amounts of cap space and, presumably, unprecedented spending.

Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. The salary cap represents the most a team can spend. In any given year, teams can spend less, if they want.

For 2011 and 2012, all teams were required to spend on average 89 percent of the cap, and all teams collectively were required to spend 99 percent of the available money. All teams complied, individually, and collectively.

A four-year window then opened for the next round of compliance: 2013 through 2016. Collectively (and on average), 95 percent of the total cap dollars must be spent. Individually (and on average), teams must spend 89 percent.

So if the cap, to use the easiest numbers to digest, were $100 million every year, each team would be required to average $89 million in spending per year. For each year in which the $89 million is exceeded, less can be spent later. If, for example, a given team spent $100 million in 2013, 2014, and 2015, it would be required to spend only $67 million in 2016 to comply.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, only the Jaguars and Raiders currently are behind the 89-percent minimum based on the first three years of the current four-year window. Once the salary cap is locked in for 2016, the NFL and NFL Players Association will be able to calculate the total amount that each team needs to spend in order to get to the minimum.

For most teams, that won’t be an issue, making the achievement of the 95-percent league-wide number easier to hit. For some teams, it will be necessary to dig deep and find players to whom plenty of money will be given.

That still doesn’t mean the Jaguars and Raiders, or anyone else, will go nuts in free agency. For every team that has sailed over the 89-percent number, this is the reconciliation year in which they can both spend less and also carry over any unused cap space for the next four-year window, which opens in 2017 and closes in 2020.

The teams know how much they’ve spent, and they’ll know how much they need to spend. Ultimately, the predetermined budget for a given team means much more than the salary cap. And the 2016 budgets for most teams already have been determined.

As to the Jaguars and Raiders, there’s another important reality to keep in mind. The 2016 league year begins in March 2016 and end in March 2017. After Week 17 of the 2016 season, both teams will see key young players become eligible for second contracts — and both teams will have full coffers of earnings from a full season of football, including the new money from the expanded Thursday Night Football package. Whatever the deficit may be at that point, the Jaguars and Raiders can cure it with a stroke of the pen on the inevitable second contracts that Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson, and Allen Hurns and Khalil Mack and Derek Carr, respectively.

Will it be good for this specific business if teams bust the juke-a-box next month? Absolutely. But the availability of so much cap space doesn’t necessarily mean that the league will suddenly be transformed into a gang of drunken sailors the moment the new league year begins.

[ramsman34]

Beware of free agency. It can be, and often is, fool's gold. Much effort must go into retaining the F/A's that we know - OUR OWN. Get ALL of our secondary guys re signed - including Barron- then Hayes, then our restricted guys, Cunningham, Bates, and yes Keenum. Maybe do some value deals for The Leg, Barnes, Bates and Chase D. See what Fairly wants and if it works, do it. Then, turn all of your attention to the draft and MAYBE those UFAs around 25 yrs old to build the offense.. There are a few vets like OC Mack that are intriguing and possibly RG3 or another QB, and of course, look at WR and TE. But, this team has been built through the draft and should continue to be. If another team is not willing to pony up the $$ to keep their own F/A, then what is that player really worth to the RAMS? We all think the RAMS are gonna do everything to sign JJ, Tru, Barron, and McLeod. They are good to great players whom the RAMS don't want to let get away. IF, they can find those types of players from other teams, and can get them signed to smart deals, well, then that makes some sense. But, don't think we are going to go out, buy a bunch of F/A vets and land in the playoffs - it just never seems to work that way - for any team.

My .02