NFC West: Cortland Finnegan
Brock Huard, Mike Salk and I discussed Kellen Winslow during our most recent conversation on 710ESPN Seattle.
One of the questions -- what risk might Winslow carry for the Seahawks? -- reminded me to start with the money when analyzing how a veteran player fits into a new environment.
With that in mind, I've sketched out a few thoughts on deals for Winslow and a few other notable NFC West newcomers this offseason (one per team):
One of the questions -- what risk might Winslow carry for the Seahawks? -- reminded me to start with the money when analyzing how a veteran player fits into a new environment.
With that in mind, I've sketched out a few thoughts on deals for Winslow and a few other notable NFC West newcomers this offseason (one per team):
- Cortland Finnegan, St. Louis Rams: Finnegan signed a five-year deal that could be worth $50 million, with guaranteed salaries in each of the first two seasons. This deal identifies Finnegan as a starter, team leader and a core player for new coach Jeff Fisher. The risk should be low because Fisher knows Finnegan well. But the investment is high. The Rams are counting on Finnegan to produce and set a high standard.
- Randy Moss, San Francisco 49ers: Moss signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal. There was no bonus. Moss must be on the roster during the regular season to collect. Concerns over Moss becoming a negative influence, if valid, would be premature at this point. The organization hasn't invested enough in Moss to make this an issue now. The 49ers can release Moss before the season at no cost.
- Winslow, Seahawks: The Seahawks inherit the long-term deal Winslow signed in 2009, but without being on the hook for guaranteed money. At most, Winslow will cost Seattle a sixth-round choice and $4.8 million in 2012. But if the Seahawks released Winslow before the season, they would avoid paying any money. That puts Winslow in the low-risk category, at least until the season.
- Adam Snyder, Arizona Cardinals: Arizona didn't really make any high-profile additions this offseason. Deals for veteran guards generally don't make waves. But ignoring the Cardinals wasn't an option, either. So, here goes. The $5 million bonus Arizona paid to Snyder identifies him as a starter for the 2012 season. It identifies him as a projected starter for the future. But with 2013-and-beyond salaries at less than $3 million annually, Snyder's deal is not a cap killer.
We might need to consider Friday afternoon chats more regularly. Lots of fun in there.
The highlight for me, by far, was when blog regular Deccare, posting under the guise of Deccarizzle, lobbed a softball.
"Who's to blame for the 49ers losing the NFC championship game?" he asked.
Too easy.
"The Giants," I replied.
Gotta keep up your guard in the chats.
"I will sonic boom sando," Deccare replied in the comments beneath the full transcript.
The chat also generated spirited discussion on the St. Louis Rams, with Will from Tallahassee calling out my, shall we say, conservative projections for 2012.
"Are you saying that even if the Rams come into the season healthy, as opposed to last season, and maintain relative good health amongst their starters on offense and defense, that they would only get 4 or 5 wins?" Will wrote. "Really, Sando?"
I'm saying the Rams went 15-65 over the past five seasons, faring worse than expected at almost every turn. So, when asked for early victory projections in the NFC West, I had the Rams in the 4-6 range, with San Francisco (10-11), Seattle (nine) and Arizona (eight) ahead of them. Those projections invited another round of debate.
Once the chat had concluded, we had argued over how to characterize Alex Smith's career, with SFfan_inNY claiming in the comments section that "Sando is never gonna man up and admit what most of us know: Smith was a victim of a terrible situation that very well have ended the careers of Brady, Manning or Rodgers."
How many cans of worms could one NFC West chat open? Lets sift through a few more:
Enjoy your Friday.
The highlight for me, by far, was when blog regular Deccare, posting under the guise of Deccarizzle, lobbed a softball.
"Who's to blame for the 49ers losing the NFC championship game?" he asked.
Too easy.
"The Giants," I replied.
Gotta keep up your guard in the chats.
"I will sonic boom sando," Deccare replied in the comments beneath the full transcript.
The chat also generated spirited discussion on the St. Louis Rams, with Will from Tallahassee calling out my, shall we say, conservative projections for 2012.
"Are you saying that even if the Rams come into the season healthy, as opposed to last season, and maintain relative good health amongst their starters on offense and defense, that they would only get 4 or 5 wins?" Will wrote. "Really, Sando?"
I'm saying the Rams went 15-65 over the past five seasons, faring worse than expected at almost every turn. So, when asked for early victory projections in the NFC West, I had the Rams in the 4-6 range, with San Francisco (10-11), Seattle (nine) and Arizona (eight) ahead of them. Those projections invited another round of debate.
Once the chat had concluded, we had argued over how to characterize Alex Smith's career, with SFfan_inNY claiming in the comments section that "Sando is never gonna man up and admit what most of us know: Smith was a victim of a terrible situation that very well have ended the careers of Brady, Manning or Rodgers."
How many cans of worms could one NFC West chat open? Lets sift through a few more:
Griz from Montana asks whether I could see Pete Carroll switching to Russell Wilson at quarterback in 2013 if Matt Flynn were "moderately successful" as the starter this year, on the basis that Wilson's athletic ability might make him a better fit for Carroll's brand of offense.
Mike Sando: Moderately successful will not be good enough for Flynn to hold onto the job. The Seahawks love Russell Wilson and want to see if he can overcome the one big strike against him: lack of height. They feel like Wilson has everything else. They're optimistic, but they just don't know for sure based on the height. That one trait explains why Wilson was still available in the third round.
Randy from Toledo called my predictions a "kiss of death" and asked whether it was a "pact with Satan" when I pointed to the 49ers as division favorites in 2012.
Mike Sando: Football is largely unpredictable, especially in a division without established, reliable quarterback play. It's not like the AFC East, where everyone is trying to catch up to Tom Brady. We went into last season with Sam Bradford appearing on the rise, the 49ers breaking in a new staff under tough circumstances, Arizona spending big on Kevin Kolb, Seattle coming off a weird season featuring a 7-9 record and a playoff victory. So many variables in this division. The 49ers are the logical favorite based on what we saw from them last.
Will from Tallahassee also asked why Cortland Finnegan didn't land on an all-division team as published during a previous chat. "You really think that Carlos Rogers is a better corner than Finnegan?" he writes.
Mike Sando: I don't recall making that selection at cornerback, but the truth is, I watched Carlos Rogers every week last season. I did not watch the Titans very much at all. Might need to see Finnegan play in the division before putting him on an all-division team. Chris Long is very good and could be a worthy selection. He has competition in this division, however.
EDTGO from New York asks whether projections for Flynn dovetail with projections for Kevin Kolb a year ago.
Mike Sando: You could be 100 percent correct in that. I do see similarities, for sure. The feeling in Arizona last season was that the quarterback play had to improve even if Kevin Kolb were mediocre, and that the improvement would help the team win a few more games. The team did win a few more games, improving from 5-11 to 8-8, but how much did that have to do with quarterback improvement? The defense improved tremendously over the second half of the season. Patrick Peterson's punt-return touchdowns were huge. And then John Skelton, not Kolb, helped pull out some comeback victories.
Enjoy your Friday.
A look at the St. Louis Rams' offseason to this point ...
What went right: The Rams beat out the Miami Dolphins for coach Jeff Fisher and then hired the first general manager's candidate they interviewed, Les Snead. That seemed like a good way to open the offseason. ... The Rams found a willing trade partner and good value for the second overall choice in the 2012 draft. That was critical for their future once the team quickly determined Sam Bradford would remain the franchise quarterback. ... Cornerback Cortland Finnegan, the player St. Louis targeted most strongly in free agency, signed with the team quickly. ... Adding Pro Bowl center Scott Wells from Green Bay should give the offensive line needed leadership and personality. Wells will also make Bradford's job easier, in theory, by handling protection calls. ... The Rams addressed their weak run defense by adding Kendall Langford in free agency and Michael Brockers in the draft. ... St. Louis went from one of the oldest teams to one of the youngest, the logical way to go when rebuilding.
What went wrong: The NFL suspended newly-hired defensive coordinator Gregg Williams for the 2012 season and possibly beyond. The team was counting on Williams to instill the defensive swagger that led Williams astray in New Orleans. ... The Rams emerged from free agency and the draft without clear answers at outside linebacker, a position of obvious need. ... Owner Stan Kroenke has been unable or unwilling to allay fears the team is angling to leverage its way out of its stadium lease. The stadium issue continues to hang over the team, making it tougher, in theory, for fans to buy in fully. ... Moving one home game to London might help the Rams score points with the NFL and in global branding circles, but any coach will tell you eight home games are better than seven. ... Adding an elite offensive playmaker with the sixth overall pick would have been ideal for Bradford, but the Rams didn't see the value.
The bottom line: The Rams had more needs than they could reasonably fill in one offseason. They began to address quite a few of them, however, and they have the draft capital to continue the process over the next two seasons. We'll find out in a hurry how well Snead and the personnel department can draft in the first couple rounds.
Your turn: Any significant omissions here?
What went right: The Rams beat out the Miami Dolphins for coach Jeff Fisher and then hired the first general manager's candidate they interviewed, Les Snead. That seemed like a good way to open the offseason. ... The Rams found a willing trade partner and good value for the second overall choice in the 2012 draft. That was critical for their future once the team quickly determined Sam Bradford would remain the franchise quarterback. ... Cornerback Cortland Finnegan, the player St. Louis targeted most strongly in free agency, signed with the team quickly. ... Adding Pro Bowl center Scott Wells from Green Bay should give the offensive line needed leadership and personality. Wells will also make Bradford's job easier, in theory, by handling protection calls. ... The Rams addressed their weak run defense by adding Kendall Langford in free agency and Michael Brockers in the draft. ... St. Louis went from one of the oldest teams to one of the youngest, the logical way to go when rebuilding.
What went wrong: The NFL suspended newly-hired defensive coordinator Gregg Williams for the 2012 season and possibly beyond. The team was counting on Williams to instill the defensive swagger that led Williams astray in New Orleans. ... The Rams emerged from free agency and the draft without clear answers at outside linebacker, a position of obvious need. ... Owner Stan Kroenke has been unable or unwilling to allay fears the team is angling to leverage its way out of its stadium lease. The stadium issue continues to hang over the team, making it tougher, in theory, for fans to buy in fully. ... Moving one home game to London might help the Rams score points with the NFL and in global branding circles, but any coach will tell you eight home games are better than seven. ... Adding an elite offensive playmaker with the sixth overall pick would have been ideal for Bradford, but the Rams didn't see the value.
The bottom line: The Rams had more needs than they could reasonably fill in one offseason. They began to address quite a few of them, however, and they have the draft capital to continue the process over the next two seasons. We'll find out in a hurry how well Snead and the personnel department can draft in the first couple rounds.
Your turn: Any significant omissions here?
The protocol becomes the same for nearly every freshly minted NFL draft choice, from first-round quarterbacks to seventh-round punters.
Not long after their selections, their new employers will connect them to local NFL reporters via conference call.
A surprise awaited the Arizona Cardinals after the team made Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd the 13th overall choice in the 2012 draft.
Floyd's college coach, Brian Kelly, made an unsolicited call to the Cardinals, availing himself to media questions regarding his former player.
Kelly has vouched for other players, including Minnesota Vikings first-round pick Harrison Smith. A college head coach certainly has a recruiting interest in getting his name out there in association with prominent draft choices.
But in publicly testifying for Floyd, whose draft file includes three three alcohol-related incidents and a resulting team suspension, Kelly extended himself to an extent that wasn't necessary. It was a notable early marker for the Cardinals, who have never drafted a player with such significant baggage since Ken Whisenhunt arrived as head coach in 2007.
Floyd could not have scripted Kelly's testimonial more favorably:
- On Floyd in general: "Well, a kid who got his degree in three-and-a-half years from Notre Dame. Probably in my 23 years now as a head coach, the best practice player that I've ever had. He just has a passion and a love for the football."
- On Floyd as a teammate: "Whether he is getting the football or not, he is a guy who has never complained. He certainly always wants the ball in critical situations. He has never been a diva, if you will, in terms of not getting his catches. If we're successful and we're making plays, he's on the other end making blocks. That's why it was such a pleasure to coach the kid."
- On what changed in Floyd following a suspension: "To have an opportunity to come back and play at Notre Dame and get a degree and be successful in the NFL, he had to make some choices. And he made some great choices. Now, you've got a young man who had been through some adversity, has handled it, has been humbled because of it and the best is in front of him now."
Authorities cited Floyd for underage drinking in 2009 and 2010. A DUI conviction last year made for three alcohol-related incidents in three years, raising obvious questions about judgment and the potential for a more serious problem.
College programs can become enablers for troubled star athletes. Handing millions to those troubled athletes usually doesn't help.
Those are generalities. Floyd's situation stands on its own. Whether he has a problem or carries a heightened risk cannot be known for certain.
The Cardinals' decision to draft Floyd was an organizational one, with team owner Michael Bidwill, a former federal prosecutor, participating directly in the vetting process.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the team asked tough questions, thought Floyd provided honest answers and felt Floyd made a positive statement by returning to Notre Dame for his senior season amid quarterback uncertainty that could have hurt Floyd's status.
"I just basically told them it was a bad decision," Floyd told reporters following his selection. "I learned from it and I moved on. I know I can't be like every other college student, just doing what a college student does, because the spotlight is on me. They wanted to see if I had improvements since that time, and I have."
There is less uncertainty over the Cardinals' on-field plans for Floyd. They anticipate him becoming their flanker opposite split end Larry Fitzgerald, who had been the most recent first-round wideout chosen by Arizona. With Floyd projecting as a starter, Andre Roberts becomes a candidate for additional playing time from the slot, where Early Doucet was already a factor for the team.
Fitzgerald and Floyd present matchup problems with their size alone. Both are nearly 6-foot-3. Floyd weighed 220 pounds at the scouting combine. Fitzgerald weighed 225 upon entering the league in 2004. He has preferred playing at a lighter weight recently.
Size matters for receivers in the NFC West, a division featuring punishing safeties and Pro Bowl credentials in the secondary. Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, Adrian Wilson, Patrick Peterson, Carlos Rogers, Dashon Goldson, Donte Whitner, Cortland Finnegan and Quintin Mikell come to mind immediately.
"You could consider Mike to be still a raw receiver in that he can get better in all the technical elements in route running and things of that nature," Kelly said of Floyd. "He is certainly a guy that attacks the football and attacks defenders and blocking -- he is an outstanding blocker."
Any rookie open to input from veteran players stands to benefit from joining a team with strong leadership at the player's position. Fitzgerald sets an impeccable standard for the Cardinals' receivers and the team in general. From that standpoint, Floyd couldn't have found a better working environment.
St. Louis Rams fans should know that Bob Mcginn, who recently finished first among 60 analysts projecting which players teams would draft among the top 100 picks, also forecast Trumaine Johnson as a first-rounder in his 2012 mock.
The Rams drafted Johnson in the third round, with the 65th overall choice. Johnson downplayed any concerns stemming from an arrest following a party he hosted.
"I just decided to throw a party after a win," Johnson told reporters during a conference call following his selection Friday. "It got loud. The cops came and shut it down. As we were shutting it down, one of my buddies got tased, so I went over there to try to see what was going on and I got tased. We both got booked and arrested."
Authorities accused Johnson of disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer and resisting arrest.
"I believe everybody throws parties and has fun in college," Johnson said. "I feel like I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, so I shouldn’t have thrown the party in the first place just because we were in the season. I learned from it and it’s behind me now."
Johnson was among the subjects Bernie Miklasz and I discussed during our weekly conversation Tuesday on 101ESPN St. Louis. Johnson was the sixth of 34 cornerbacks drafted. The Rams previously used the 39th choice, a second-rounder, for cornerback Janoris Jenkins, a player carrying greater concerns off the field.
The Rams will lean on their veteran defensive coaching staff and newly signed cornerback Cortland Finnegan to assist Johnson and Jenkins.
The Rams drafted Johnson in the third round, with the 65th overall choice. Johnson downplayed any concerns stemming from an arrest following a party he hosted.
"I just decided to throw a party after a win," Johnson told reporters during a conference call following his selection Friday. "It got loud. The cops came and shut it down. As we were shutting it down, one of my buddies got tased, so I went over there to try to see what was going on and I got tased. We both got booked and arrested."
Authorities accused Johnson of disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer and resisting arrest.
"I believe everybody throws parties and has fun in college," Johnson said. "I feel like I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, so I shouldn’t have thrown the party in the first place just because we were in the season. I learned from it and it’s behind me now."
Johnson was among the subjects Bernie Miklasz and I discussed during our weekly conversation Tuesday on 101ESPN St. Louis. Johnson was the sixth of 34 cornerbacks drafted. The Rams previously used the 39th choice, a second-rounder, for cornerback Janoris Jenkins, a player carrying greater concerns off the field.
The Rams will lean on their veteran defensive coaching staff and newly signed cornerback Cortland Finnegan to assist Johnson and Jenkins.
The NFL draft-value chart proved generally reliable in first-round trading Thursday night.
According to the chart, which serves only as a general guide, St. Louis sacrificed 50 value points to Dallas in the trade that sent the sixth pick from the Rams to the Cowboys for the 14th and 45th choices.
Dallas used the sixth pick for cornerback Morris Claiborne. The Rams used the 14th pick for defensive tackle Michael Brockers. The 45th choice is one of three second-rounders St. Louis holds Friday.
In theory, the Rams gave up the first corner drafted (Claiborne) for the third defensive tackle (Brockers) and a second-round choice.
How Dallas and St. Louis valued those players will largely determine how those teams fared in the trade, even without the second-round consideration. Both teams can come out ahead on their own scorecards, in other words.
Going strictly by the value chart, the Rams could have come out ahead by 18 points had they also secured the Cowboys' fourth-round choice, 113th overall. But they had already spent significantly on free-agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan. They had not spent as big on a defensive tackle in free agency. Their need at defensive tackle conceivably made Brockers more valuable to them than Claiborne would have been.
The Seattle Seahawks ran a similar deficit in their trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to the value chart. They gave up the 12th overall choice, valued at 1,200 points, for the 15th, 114th and 172nd choices. The 60-point differential in chart value equates to the 117th overall choice.
Going by the players selected so far, the Seahawks landed the first defensive end drafted, while the Eagles took the second defensive tackle. The bigger question is whether Seattle was right in valuing Bruce Irvin as the first defensive end. But if Irvin truly was the best pass-rusher in this draft, and if the New York Jets or another team was going to draft him in the top 20 or so, the Seahawks came out of the trade just fine.
Brockers and Fletcher Cox were the other defensive linemen the Seahawks were considering when they traded back from the 12th spot. Both were gone when Seattle picked 15th; the Eagles took Cox at No. 12.
In other trades, the Cleveland Browns held a 2,200-1902.5 points edge in their trade with Minnesota. Jacksonville came out ahead by a 1,700-1,596 margin in a trade with Tampa Bay. Baltimore held a 658-640 edge over Minnesota. Cincinnati held a 808-800 edge on New England. Tampa Bay edged the Broncos 646-636; and New England edged Denver by a 720-646 score.
Again, the point totals do not reflect winners or losers. Teams value players differently. Teams have different needs and priorities. In some cases, teams trading back at a points deficit might have wound up selecting the same players they would have taken had they remained in the higher slot.
According to the chart, which serves only as a general guide, St. Louis sacrificed 50 value points to Dallas in the trade that sent the sixth pick from the Rams to the Cowboys for the 14th and 45th choices.
Dallas used the sixth pick for cornerback Morris Claiborne. The Rams used the 14th pick for defensive tackle Michael Brockers. The 45th choice is one of three second-rounders St. Louis holds Friday.
In theory, the Rams gave up the first corner drafted (Claiborne) for the third defensive tackle (Brockers) and a second-round choice.
How Dallas and St. Louis valued those players will largely determine how those teams fared in the trade, even without the second-round consideration. Both teams can come out ahead on their own scorecards, in other words.
Going strictly by the value chart, the Rams could have come out ahead by 18 points had they also secured the Cowboys' fourth-round choice, 113th overall. But they had already spent significantly on free-agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan. They had not spent as big on a defensive tackle in free agency. Their need at defensive tackle conceivably made Brockers more valuable to them than Claiborne would have been.
The Seattle Seahawks ran a similar deficit in their trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to the value chart. They gave up the 12th overall choice, valued at 1,200 points, for the 15th, 114th and 172nd choices. The 60-point differential in chart value equates to the 117th overall choice.
Going by the players selected so far, the Seahawks landed the first defensive end drafted, while the Eagles took the second defensive tackle. The bigger question is whether Seattle was right in valuing Bruce Irvin as the first defensive end. But if Irvin truly was the best pass-rusher in this draft, and if the New York Jets or another team was going to draft him in the top 20 or so, the Seahawks came out of the trade just fine.
Brockers and Fletcher Cox were the other defensive linemen the Seahawks were considering when they traded back from the 12th spot. Both were gone when Seattle picked 15th; the Eagles took Cox at No. 12.
In other trades, the Cleveland Browns held a 2,200-1902.5 points edge in their trade with Minnesota. Jacksonville came out ahead by a 1,700-1,596 margin in a trade with Tampa Bay. Baltimore held a 658-640 edge over Minnesota. Cincinnati held a 808-800 edge on New England. Tampa Bay edged the Broncos 646-636; and New England edged Denver by a 720-646 score.
Again, the point totals do not reflect winners or losers. Teams value players differently. Teams have different needs and priorities. In some cases, teams trading back at a points deficit might have wound up selecting the same players they would have taken had they remained in the higher slot.
How nice of Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman to lay out the NFC West welcome mat for new Arizona Cardinals first-round choice Michael Floyd.
Hold on a minute. That's not a welcome mat. It's a note on Floyd's new doorstep and a direct challenge to the wide receiver from Notre Dame.
Floyd "I'm going to wear him out again," Sherman tweeted. "We play them 1st game stay tuned."
The two matched up as college players in 2010, when Sherman was at Stanford. The Cardinal won that game, 37-14, but Floyd caught eight passes for 110 yards. Floyd gained 37 of those 110 yards on a third-and-12 reception in the final seven minutes, after Stanford had built a 34-6 lead.
I don't know how much Sherman was matched against Floyd that day, but when a Seahawks blogger suggested Floyd's selection by Arizona would be fine by him, Sherman re-tweeted the item and added a postscript: "Yep check my senior tape against ND."
According to Sherman, he dominated Floyd so thoroughly that Floyd's offensive coordinator approached Sherman after the game "and said he had no answer for me."
Floyd should not feel bad. Cornerbacks are notorious for their selective memories.
This approach appears to be Sherman's style. He called Cincinnati Bengals rookie A.J. Green "overrated" last season and then reminded skeptics Thursday night that he had "clamped" Green when the teams played last season. More recently, Sherman suggested Peyton Manning would have at least two tough games if the 49ers signed him.
Self-confidence is great, and Sherman did enjoy an outstanding rookie season. But he'll face some tough challenges in 2012, and even the best cornerbacks falter from time to time.
Floyd faces challenges, too. He comes to the NFC West at a time when teams in the division have upgraded their secondaries.
Seattle sent three defensive backs to the Pro Bowl last season. Sherman was not among them, but he arguably was their best corner by season's end. San Francisco placed two defensive backs in the Pro Bowl. The St. Louis Rams added tenacious corner Cortland Finnegan this offseason.
Hold on a minute. That's not a welcome mat. It's a note on Floyd's new doorstep and a direct challenge to the wide receiver from Notre Dame.
The two matched up as college players in 2010, when Sherman was at Stanford. The Cardinal won that game, 37-14, but Floyd caught eight passes for 110 yards. Floyd gained 37 of those 110 yards on a third-and-12 reception in the final seven minutes, after Stanford had built a 34-6 lead.
I don't know how much Sherman was matched against Floyd that day, but when a Seahawks blogger suggested Floyd's selection by Arizona would be fine by him, Sherman re-tweeted the item and added a postscript: "Yep check my senior tape against ND."
According to Sherman, he dominated Floyd so thoroughly that Floyd's offensive coordinator approached Sherman after the game "and said he had no answer for me."
Floyd should not feel bad. Cornerbacks are notorious for their selective memories.
This approach appears to be Sherman's style. He called Cincinnati Bengals rookie A.J. Green "overrated" last season and then reminded skeptics Thursday night that he had "clamped" Green when the teams played last season. More recently, Sherman suggested Peyton Manning would have at least two tough games if the 49ers signed him.
Self-confidence is great, and Sherman did enjoy an outstanding rookie season. But he'll face some tough challenges in 2012, and even the best cornerbacks falter from time to time.
Floyd faces challenges, too. He comes to the NFC West at a time when teams in the division have upgraded their secondaries.
Seattle sent three defensive backs to the Pro Bowl last season. Sherman was not among them, but he arguably was their best corner by season's end. San Francisco placed two defensive backs in the Pro Bowl. The St. Louis Rams added tenacious corner Cortland Finnegan this offseason.
Passionate Rams fan? Step to front of line
April, 11, 2012
Apr 11
6:01
PM ET
By
Mike Sando | ESPN.com
Passionate responses from St. Louis Rams fans take priority around here for reasons obvious to those lurking in the comments sections.
If the past five seasons have squeezed life from some Rams fans, that is understandable. But there are still some survivors out there, and I'm betting k1joyce is one of them.
The earlier item about the Rams' total roster rebuild got k1joyce going. It was good to see.
"It is simply ignored that the Rams were 7-9 a year ago [2010 season]," he wrote. "I'd like to see any team weather the storm of injuries they had last year, but of course, that doesn't matter. They should win 6-8 games next year provided the draft gives them some decent players."
And this: "With Jeff Fisher at the helm, this team surprises Mike Sando and wins 6-8 games, provided 20 players don't end up on IR. ... You can't just go around looking at the record of the past five years and just continue to IGNORE that the Rams were 7-9 a year ago. While it is unlikely the Rams are over .500 this upcoming year, they are not as far away from being competitive as Sando would have you think."
A clarification seems appropriate here. I never said the Rams would be terrible. I said they were terrible last season and would have many new players this season, by design. They went into this offseason with 21 unrestricted free agents. They have not re-signed any of them. I'll be shocked if they re-sign more than one or two, if any.
Right there, we're talking about 40 percent of the final 2011 roster turning over. The team could welcome back seven or eight of the players finishing last season on injured reserve, helping continuity and supporting k1joyce's broader point.
But as I told k1joyce in the comments section of that previous item, the Rams being 7-9 in 2010 would mean more if they were bringing back a lot of the same players. Three-fourths of the starting defensive line will be new from 2010. Two-thirds of the starting linebackers will be new. The entire starting secondary could be new. At least three-fifths of the starting offensive line will be new. The receivers should be largely new.
"I just think, minus half the team on IR, they are better than what they were last year," k1joyce replied. "There is a solid core in place with Chris Long, James Lauranitis, Robert Quinn, Sam Bradford and Steven Jackson. Quintin Mikell and Darian Stewart will be the starters at safety. Cortland Finnegan is new, but Bradley Fletcher has played well when healthy, and Jerome Murphy could surprise some people at nickel."
There was more, including a note about Bradford playing well -- for a rookie, I would add -- with the receivers he had in 2010. But we should be able to settle this one without extending this discussion much further.
Again, I never said the Rams would be 2-14 again. I would simply say the evidence suggests they're in rebuild mode, starting with the fact that so many of their players from last season will not return -- by design.
The turnover since 2010 will be even more striking.
Seventy-six players played for the Rams at some point during the 2010 season. Twenty-three of them remain with the team, including restricted free agent Danny Amendola. Of the other 22, a handful project as potential starters: Bradford, Fletcher, Jackson, Laurinaitis, Long, Saffold, Stewart and Jason Smith. Mikell, referenced earlier, was not with the Rams until 2011.
I'll break down the turnover rates for rosters as the season approaches. The Rams are not finished.
Note: The 76 players from 2010 included all players with the Rams in some capacity, whether or not they played during regular-season games. That included some practice-squad players.
If the past five seasons have squeezed life from some Rams fans, that is understandable. But there are still some survivors out there, and I'm betting k1joyce is one of them.
The earlier item about the Rams' total roster rebuild got k1joyce going. It was good to see.
"It is simply ignored that the Rams were 7-9 a year ago [2010 season]," he wrote. "I'd like to see any team weather the storm of injuries they had last year, but of course, that doesn't matter. They should win 6-8 games next year provided the draft gives them some decent players."
And this: "With Jeff Fisher at the helm, this team surprises Mike Sando and wins 6-8 games, provided 20 players don't end up on IR. ... You can't just go around looking at the record of the past five years and just continue to IGNORE that the Rams were 7-9 a year ago. While it is unlikely the Rams are over .500 this upcoming year, they are not as far away from being competitive as Sando would have you think."
A clarification seems appropriate here. I never said the Rams would be terrible. I said they were terrible last season and would have many new players this season, by design. They went into this offseason with 21 unrestricted free agents. They have not re-signed any of them. I'll be shocked if they re-sign more than one or two, if any.
Right there, we're talking about 40 percent of the final 2011 roster turning over. The team could welcome back seven or eight of the players finishing last season on injured reserve, helping continuity and supporting k1joyce's broader point.
But as I told k1joyce in the comments section of that previous item, the Rams being 7-9 in 2010 would mean more if they were bringing back a lot of the same players. Three-fourths of the starting defensive line will be new from 2010. Two-thirds of the starting linebackers will be new. The entire starting secondary could be new. At least three-fifths of the starting offensive line will be new. The receivers should be largely new.
"I just think, minus half the team on IR, they are better than what they were last year," k1joyce replied. "There is a solid core in place with Chris Long, James Lauranitis, Robert Quinn, Sam Bradford and Steven Jackson. Quintin Mikell and Darian Stewart will be the starters at safety. Cortland Finnegan is new, but Bradley Fletcher has played well when healthy, and Jerome Murphy could surprise some people at nickel."
There was more, including a note about Bradford playing well -- for a rookie, I would add -- with the receivers he had in 2010. But we should be able to settle this one without extending this discussion much further.
Again, I never said the Rams would be 2-14 again. I would simply say the evidence suggests they're in rebuild mode, starting with the fact that so many of their players from last season will not return -- by design.
The turnover since 2010 will be even more striking.
Seventy-six players played for the Rams at some point during the 2010 season. Twenty-three of them remain with the team, including restricted free agent Danny Amendola. Of the other 22, a handful project as potential starters: Bradford, Fletcher, Jackson, Laurinaitis, Long, Saffold, Stewart and Jason Smith. Mikell, referenced earlier, was not with the Rams until 2011.
I'll break down the turnover rates for rosters as the season approaches. The Rams are not finished.
Note: The 76 players from 2010 included all players with the Rams in some capacity, whether or not they played during regular-season games. That included some practice-squad players.
Twenty-one NFL players since 2008 have at least six penalties for roughing the passer, unnecessary roughness or unspecified personal fouls.
The leader on that list, cornerback Cortland Finnegan, signed with the St. Louis Rams early in the free-agent signing period. Another player on the list, defensive end William Hayes, reached agreement with the Rams on Friday.
Finnegan has 11 such penalties since 2008, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Hayes has six, including one for a 2011 hit on Matt Ryan that drew a $15,000 fine from the NFL.
This would normally be where the Rams could take a bow for adding players fitting defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' profile of aggressive, unapologetic defensive play. Fisher's teams in Tennessee regularly ranked among the league leaders in such penalties over the years, including when Williams was his coordinator there.
But with Williams serving an indefinite suspension for bounty-related transgressions committed with New Orleans, the Rams would be better off emphasizing their new defensive players' familiarity with Fisher's scheme.
Hayes, 26, started 11 games under Fisher in 2009. He played 45 percent of the defensive snaps for the Titans last season, starting one game and playing in 10. He has eight sacks in four NFL seasons, half of them during his rookie year.
Chris Long returns as the Rams' starting left end, with 2011 first-round choice Robert Quinn expected to start on the right side after the Rams released veteran James Hall. Hayes provides rotational depth, at least, and a direct connection to Fisher.
"Hayes is undersized with good initial quickness and acceleration off the edge," the Scouts Inc. profile
reads, in part. "He needs to work on developing more counter moves and improving his strength to take on and shed blockers."
The leader on that list, cornerback Cortland Finnegan, signed with the St. Louis Rams early in the free-agent signing period. Another player on the list, defensive end William Hayes, reached agreement with the Rams on Friday.
Finnegan has 11 such penalties since 2008, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Hayes has six, including one for a 2011 hit on Matt Ryan that drew a $15,000 fine from the NFL.
This would normally be where the Rams could take a bow for adding players fitting defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' profile of aggressive, unapologetic defensive play. Fisher's teams in Tennessee regularly ranked among the league leaders in such penalties over the years, including when Williams was his coordinator there.
But with Williams serving an indefinite suspension for bounty-related transgressions committed with New Orleans, the Rams would be better off emphasizing their new defensive players' familiarity with Fisher's scheme.
Hayes, 26, started 11 games under Fisher in 2009. He played 45 percent of the defensive snaps for the Titans last season, starting one game and playing in 10. He has eight sacks in four NFL seasons, half of them during his rookie year.
Chris Long returns as the Rams' starting left end, with 2011 first-round choice Robert Quinn expected to start on the right side after the Rams released veteran James Hall. Hayes provides rotational depth, at least, and a direct connection to Fisher.
"Hayes is undersized with good initial quickness and acceleration off the edge," the Scouts Inc. profile
reads, in part. "He needs to work on developing more counter moves and improving his strength to take on and shed blockers."
The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks get high marks from Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. for their offseason moves and overall plan for the future.
Horton also ranks in order what he sees as the top six needs for each NFC West team heading toward the 2012 NFL draft.
Most of his needs line up with my perceptions, but one ranking jumped off the page: Horton ranks receiver as only the No. 6 need for the 49ers, behind guard, defensive line depth, cornerback depth, linebacker depth and tight end depth.
"While this position also looks deep, there are some question marks," Horton writes. "The 49ers have added Randy Moss (un-retired) and Mario Manningham (Giants) to the mix with Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn Jr. (re-signed), but how much does Moss have left? In a perfect world, Ginn would have a bigger role in the return game than at WR. This could be a luxury draft pick."
We might quibble with where receiver ranks among the 49ers' needs, but I would consider Horton's ranking yet another sign of the team's flexibility heading into the draft. Receiver is a need, but perhaps not a glaring one.
This is a nearly 2,000-word file from Horton covering lots of ground. I've singled out one note from each NFC West team for additional consideration. We've covered the 49ers at receiver. On to the other teams.
Arizona Cardinals
Horton on the receivers: "After Larry Fitzgerald, there isn't a lot to like about this position group for Arizona. The other potential starter is untested Andre Roberts, and Early Doucet fits best as a No. 3 WR. The Cardinals desperately need a true No. 2 to team with Fitzgerald because right now this is an easy pass offense to defend."
My take: I've offered a counterpoint, suggesting the Cardinals need better quarterback play to make fuller use of their offensive weapons. The points are not necessarily exclusive. Arizona definitely needs better quarterback play. We do not know whether Roberts can become a solid No. 2 receiver. Horton ranks offensive tackle as the bigger need for Arizona, and I would agree. It'll be tough to justify drafting a receiver 13th overall without having a second-round choice available to address the offensive line. That is a concern as long as the Cardinals are without a second-round choice.
Seattle Seahawks
Horton on the running backs: Re-signing Marshawn Lynch was a huge help for this run game, but the depth behind him needs to be upgraded. Veteran Leon Washington is the only legitimate backup and he is primarily a third-down back, although the Seahawks did re-sign the underrated Michael Robinson. Lynch is a violent runner, and that means he takes a lot of big hits, so a solid backup who could share some of his carries would help.
My take: This is a position to watch in the draft. Seattle did sign Kregg Lumpkin, a running back with good size, as a potential backup to Lynch. That signing doesn't necessarily settle the position, however. The Seahawks could not run their desired offense last season when Lynch wasn't available. That was because both backups, Washington and the unsigned Justin Forsett, fit the change-of-pace mold. Identifying a power runner for the No. 2 role would give the Seahawks needed insurance.
St. Louis Rams
Horton on the cornerbacks: The acquisition of UFA Cortland Finnegan from Tennessee was a huge move because this secondary was arguably the weakest unit in the NFL in 2011. Injuries devastated this group, and the unit they were forced to send out onto the field each week was embarrassing. Finnegan can match up against No. 1 WRs, but the Rams really need more quality CBs.
My take: Horton listed cornerback as only the Rams' fifth need. That was understandable because the Rams have so many needs throughout their roster. The team will have a dilemma if cornerback Morris Claiborne is the highest-rated player on their board when St. Louis is on the clock with the sixth overall choice. Adding Claiborne would dramatically upgrade the talent in the Rams' secondary, but it would not address the team's primary need for offensive weaponry. Coach Jeff Fisher's Tennessee Titans drafted a corner, Pacman Jones, with a sixth overall choice. General manager Les Snead was with Atlanta when the Falcons made cornerback DeAngelo Hall the eighth player chosen.
for their offseason moves and overall plan for the future.
Horton also ranks in order what he sees as the top six needs for each NFC West team heading toward the 2012 NFL draft.
Most of his needs line up with my perceptions, but one ranking jumped off the page: Horton ranks receiver as only the No. 6 need for the 49ers, behind guard, defensive line depth, cornerback depth, linebacker depth and tight end depth.
"While this position also looks deep, there are some question marks," Horton writes. "The 49ers have added Randy Moss (un-retired) and Mario Manningham (Giants) to the mix with Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn Jr. (re-signed), but how much does Moss have left? In a perfect world, Ginn would have a bigger role in the return game than at WR. This could be a luxury draft pick."
We might quibble with where receiver ranks among the 49ers' needs, but I would consider Horton's ranking yet another sign of the team's flexibility heading into the draft. Receiver is a need, but perhaps not a glaring one.
This is a nearly 2,000-word file from Horton covering lots of ground. I've singled out one note from each NFC West team for additional consideration. We've covered the 49ers at receiver. On to the other teams.
Arizona Cardinals
Horton on the receivers: "After Larry Fitzgerald, there isn't a lot to like about this position group for Arizona. The other potential starter is untested Andre Roberts, and Early Doucet fits best as a No. 3 WR. The Cardinals desperately need a true No. 2 to team with Fitzgerald because right now this is an easy pass offense to defend."
My take: I've offered a counterpoint, suggesting the Cardinals need better quarterback play to make fuller use of their offensive weapons. The points are not necessarily exclusive. Arizona definitely needs better quarterback play. We do not know whether Roberts can become a solid No. 2 receiver. Horton ranks offensive tackle as the bigger need for Arizona, and I would agree. It'll be tough to justify drafting a receiver 13th overall without having a second-round choice available to address the offensive line. That is a concern as long as the Cardinals are without a second-round choice.
Seattle Seahawks
Horton on the running backs: Re-signing Marshawn Lynch was a huge help for this run game, but the depth behind him needs to be upgraded. Veteran Leon Washington is the only legitimate backup and he is primarily a third-down back, although the Seahawks did re-sign the underrated Michael Robinson. Lynch is a violent runner, and that means he takes a lot of big hits, so a solid backup who could share some of his carries would help.
My take: This is a position to watch in the draft. Seattle did sign Kregg Lumpkin, a running back with good size, as a potential backup to Lynch. That signing doesn't necessarily settle the position, however. The Seahawks could not run their desired offense last season when Lynch wasn't available. That was because both backups, Washington and the unsigned Justin Forsett, fit the change-of-pace mold. Identifying a power runner for the No. 2 role would give the Seahawks needed insurance.
St. Louis Rams
Horton on the cornerbacks: The acquisition of UFA Cortland Finnegan from Tennessee was a huge move because this secondary was arguably the weakest unit in the NFL in 2011. Injuries devastated this group, and the unit they were forced to send out onto the field each week was embarrassing. Finnegan can match up against No. 1 WRs, but the Rams really need more quality CBs.
My take: Horton listed cornerback as only the Rams' fifth need. That was understandable because the Rams have so many needs throughout their roster. The team will have a dilemma if cornerback Morris Claiborne is the highest-rated player on their board when St. Louis is on the clock with the sixth overall choice. Adding Claiborne would dramatically upgrade the talent in the Rams' secondary, but it would not address the team's primary need for offensive weaponry. Coach Jeff Fisher's Tennessee Titans drafted a corner, Pacman Jones, with a sixth overall choice. General manager Les Snead was with Atlanta when the Falcons made cornerback DeAngelo Hall the eighth player chosen.
Middle linebacker David Hawthorne's experience in NFL free agency was not unique to him.
The market for running backs, safeties and inside linebackers has remained mostly soft as teams build their rosters from the outside in, the better to cope with an increasingly pass-happy NFL.
The Seattle Seahawks have been a bit of an exception, paying significant sums to a run-stuffing defensive end (Red Bryant) and a power runner (Marshawn Lynch). But they weren't going to value Hawthorne on the same level. Knee problems slowed Hawthorne last season. And Hawthorne, though productive when healthy, does not possess the specialized traits coach Pete Carroll values in players.
Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Hawthorne wanted to re-sign with Seattle, but the New Orleans Saints were offering better money. Hawthorne's agent, Russel Hicks: "He wanted to come back there. He got his NFL start there, but unfortunately Seattle did not make him a priority to bring him back and New Orleans made it a priority to get him signed. Personally I just wish they would have made a better attempt to bring him back, but they didn’t. And David does, too." Noted: Hawthorne has seven interceptions over the past three seasons. The Seahawks could miss his production. However, they have embraced opportunities to remake the position, parting with Aaron Curry and Lofa Tatupu previously. The team was more interested in keeping Hawthorne than keeping Curry or Tatupu, but not enough to pay him even in a soft market.
Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times passes along thoughts from Hawthorne after the middle linebacker signed with New Orleans. Hawthorne: "From Day One, they were one of the first teams to contact me in free agency. I think they valued me and my body of work, and I had never played a snap for them. ... I had to make a decision based on my future."
Also from O'Neil: thoughts on the Seahawks' new uniforms. O'Neil: "Mock if you must. Compare them to the Nike football flagship that Oregon's college program has become, or invoke the Arena League or comic-book superheroes for that matter. But no one is going to mistake the Seahawks' new uniforms for anything out of grandma's attic."
Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with Todd Van Horne, Nike's global creative director, for thoughts on the new NFL uniforms. Farnsworth: "The jersey is 20 percent lighter and 50 percent stronger than what teams have been wearing the past 10 seasons."
Also from Farnsworth: "The Seahawks tried to re-sign Hawthorne before the free agency period began on March 13 and again after he had visited the Saints. But the sides could not agree on a deal."
Sports Press Northwest quotes Bills safety George Wilson thusly: "Why do the Seahawks get the cool uniforms? I like changing it up and not doing the expected. Seattle is really taking some risks in their uniform. But from hearing the other guys talk about it in the back, I think their uniform was the overwhelming player favorite in the dressing room."
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says during a chat he thinks Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt are both worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Also from Thomas: "Even with the signing of Jo-Lonn Dunbar from New Orleans, the Rams still have only four linebackers under contract. Most teams take 9 or 10 into training camp, and usually 6 or 7 into the regular season. So yes, the Rams need more bodies there. I think Lavonte David would be a good choice. He'd be a great value at the top of the third, but will he still be there at that point."
Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com suggests Los Angeles might be less of a threat to lure the Rams away from St. Louis. Gordon: "The downtown L.A. stadium proposed by the Anschutz Entertainment Group offers decidedly unattractive financial terms to teams in other cities. Yahoo! Sports notes that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell advised billionaire Phil Anschutz to change those terms to move the project forward. Anschutz has thus far balked at Goodell’s suggestion."
Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com explains some of the reasons he came to appreciate Torry Holt. He passes along this 2007 comment from Holt regarding talkative wideouts: "Yeah, sometimes it’s just shutting up and just playing, not worrying about anything that is going on other than what you can control and that’s your job and your actions and your words. That’s one of the biggest lessons I would take from Isaac (Bruce). Sometimes you should just shut up. Tame your tongue and let your actions and what you do on the football field speak for you. That’s what he does."
Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis says Rams cornerback Cortland Finnegan likes the new Nike uniforms. Finnegan: "It is everything a player could want in a jersey. The older jerseys limited you. I can feel the difference just walking around. They are state of the art."
Bob Young of the Arizona Republic offers details on the NFL's new uniforms, noting that little has changed for the Cardinals. Young: "While the shrink-wrap-tight cut of the uniforms, exposed stitching and breathable fabrics reportedly are similar to the cutting-edge stuff that Nike has produced for college programs -- including Arizona State -- the new uniforms stay true to traditional designs and colors for most teams. Larry Fitzgerald modeled the Cardinals version of the new uniforms for NFL.com in the home red. We are told the team still will have the alternate black uniform option as well."
Aaron Wilson of Scout.com says James Sanders, a free-agent safety from the Atlanta Falcons, is visiting with the Cardinals. Sanders played previously for New England.
Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers' Jed York showed qualities reflecting his uncle (Eddie DeBartolo Jr.) and father (John York) in securing a new stadium. Lynch: "Jed is impetuous just like Eddie, but has an awareness of financial reality like his pop."
Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers' jerseys should look familiar, and not just for their design. Inman: "A main element for the next edition of the 49ers: The names on the back of the uniform. According to unofficial research (a five-second scan of the online roster), 52 players who had spots in last season’s locker room are still on the team. That includes every defensive starter (plus Aldon Smith, who’s tabbed to unseat Parys Haralson at right outside linebacker). Unlike so many recent 49ers offseasons in the past decade, the head coach returns. And, yes, you can assume Jim Harbaugh’s wardrobe won’t stray from last year’s staple: khaki pants, black fleece sweatshirt, black cap, red-pen necklace, wily scowl."
Also from Inman: an Alex Smith interview transcript.
Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers' apparent interest in free-agent offensive lineman Jason Brown makes sense.
Ofelia Madrid of the Arizona Republic says receiver Dontavia Bogan, recently released by the 49ers, was arrested after scuffling with security guards in Arizona.
The market for running backs, safeties and inside linebackers has remained mostly soft as teams build their rosters from the outside in, the better to cope with an increasingly pass-happy NFL.
The Seattle Seahawks have been a bit of an exception, paying significant sums to a run-stuffing defensive end (Red Bryant) and a power runner (Marshawn Lynch). But they weren't going to value Hawthorne on the same level. Knee problems slowed Hawthorne last season. And Hawthorne, though productive when healthy, does not possess the specialized traits coach Pete Carroll values in players.
Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Hawthorne wanted to re-sign with Seattle, but the New Orleans Saints were offering better money. Hawthorne's agent, Russel Hicks: "He wanted to come back there. He got his NFL start there, but unfortunately Seattle did not make him a priority to bring him back and New Orleans made it a priority to get him signed. Personally I just wish they would have made a better attempt to bring him back, but they didn’t. And David does, too." Noted: Hawthorne has seven interceptions over the past three seasons. The Seahawks could miss his production. However, they have embraced opportunities to remake the position, parting with Aaron Curry and Lofa Tatupu previously. The team was more interested in keeping Hawthorne than keeping Curry or Tatupu, but not enough to pay him even in a soft market.
Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times passes along thoughts from Hawthorne after the middle linebacker signed with New Orleans. Hawthorne: "From Day One, they were one of the first teams to contact me in free agency. I think they valued me and my body of work, and I had never played a snap for them. ... I had to make a decision based on my future."
Also from O'Neil: thoughts on the Seahawks' new uniforms. O'Neil: "Mock if you must. Compare them to the Nike football flagship that Oregon's college program has become, or invoke the Arena League or comic-book superheroes for that matter. But no one is going to mistake the Seahawks' new uniforms for anything out of grandma's attic."
Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with Todd Van Horne, Nike's global creative director, for thoughts on the new NFL uniforms. Farnsworth: "The jersey is 20 percent lighter and 50 percent stronger than what teams have been wearing the past 10 seasons."
Also from Farnsworth: "The Seahawks tried to re-sign Hawthorne before the free agency period began on March 13 and again after he had visited the Saints. But the sides could not agree on a deal."
Sports Press Northwest quotes Bills safety George Wilson thusly: "Why do the Seahawks get the cool uniforms? I like changing it up and not doing the expected. Seattle is really taking some risks in their uniform. But from hearing the other guys talk about it in the back, I think their uniform was the overwhelming player favorite in the dressing room."
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says during a chat he thinks Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt are both worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Also from Thomas: "Even with the signing of Jo-Lonn Dunbar from New Orleans, the Rams still have only four linebackers under contract. Most teams take 9 or 10 into training camp, and usually 6 or 7 into the regular season. So yes, the Rams need more bodies there. I think Lavonte David would be a good choice. He'd be a great value at the top of the third, but will he still be there at that point."
Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com suggests Los Angeles might be less of a threat to lure the Rams away from St. Louis. Gordon: "The downtown L.A. stadium proposed by the Anschutz Entertainment Group offers decidedly unattractive financial terms to teams in other cities. Yahoo! Sports notes that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell advised billionaire Phil Anschutz to change those terms to move the project forward. Anschutz has thus far balked at Goodell’s suggestion."
Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com explains some of the reasons he came to appreciate Torry Holt. He passes along this 2007 comment from Holt regarding talkative wideouts: "Yeah, sometimes it’s just shutting up and just playing, not worrying about anything that is going on other than what you can control and that’s your job and your actions and your words. That’s one of the biggest lessons I would take from Isaac (Bruce). Sometimes you should just shut up. Tame your tongue and let your actions and what you do on the football field speak for you. That’s what he does."
Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis says Rams cornerback Cortland Finnegan likes the new Nike uniforms. Finnegan: "It is everything a player could want in a jersey. The older jerseys limited you. I can feel the difference just walking around. They are state of the art."
Bob Young of the Arizona Republic offers details on the NFL's new uniforms, noting that little has changed for the Cardinals. Young: "While the shrink-wrap-tight cut of the uniforms, exposed stitching and breathable fabrics reportedly are similar to the cutting-edge stuff that Nike has produced for college programs -- including Arizona State -- the new uniforms stay true to traditional designs and colors for most teams. Larry Fitzgerald modeled the Cardinals version of the new uniforms for NFL.com in the home red. We are told the team still will have the alternate black uniform option as well."
Aaron Wilson of Scout.com says James Sanders, a free-agent safety from the Atlanta Falcons, is visiting with the Cardinals. Sanders played previously for New England.
Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers' Jed York showed qualities reflecting his uncle (Eddie DeBartolo Jr.) and father (John York) in securing a new stadium. Lynch: "Jed is impetuous just like Eddie, but has an awareness of financial reality like his pop."
Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers' jerseys should look familiar, and not just for their design. Inman: "A main element for the next edition of the 49ers: The names on the back of the uniform. According to unofficial research (a five-second scan of the online roster), 52 players who had spots in last season’s locker room are still on the team. That includes every defensive starter (plus Aldon Smith, who’s tabbed to unseat Parys Haralson at right outside linebacker). Unlike so many recent 49ers offseasons in the past decade, the head coach returns. And, yes, you can assume Jim Harbaugh’s wardrobe won’t stray from last year’s staple: khaki pants, black fleece sweatshirt, black cap, red-pen necklace, wily scowl."
Also from Inman: an Alex Smith interview transcript.
Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers' apparent interest in free-agent offensive lineman Jason Brown makes sense.
Ofelia Madrid of the Arizona Republic says receiver Dontavia Bogan, recently released by the 49ers, was arrested after scuffling with security guards in Arizona.
Kam Chancellor and Cortland Finnegan are among the NFC West players scheduled to model their teams' new Nike uniforms at an 11 a.m. ET news conference Tuesday.
As noted Monday, it's looking like someone forgot to consult the big guys.
Larry Fitzgerald would be a logical choice to represent the Arizona Cardinals. I'm not yet sure who will represent the San Francisco 49ers, but if it's Mike Iupati or Isaac Sopoaga, consider it a victory for the 300-plus-pound set.
Elsewhere around the division ...
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams restricted free agent Danny Amendola has fully recovered from the arm injury that ended his 2011 season. Amendola would like to participate fully in minicamps later this month. Thomas: "Amendola suffered a dislocated elbow bracing himself as he fell to the turf in the opener against Philadelphia. He also suffered damage to the triceps muscle in the same arm. Always gung-ho, Amendola was hoping once the elbow injury settled down he could return to action wearing a brace. But the triceps muscle suffered additional tearing while Amendola was trying to work his way back onto the field and he was placed on the injured reserve list Oct. 10 and subsequently had surgery to reattach the triceps to his elbow."
Also from Thomas: previewing the Rams' offseason workout program.
Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle offers highlights from Seahawks general manager John Schneider's recent appearance on the station. According to Schneider, Matt Flynn's free-agent visit concluded with the quarterback attending the retirement party for longtime video director Thom Fermstad at a bar near team headquarters. Schneider: "He came over there with us and had a Budweiser with us and he was able to kind of see the inside, the whole building and the kind of family atmosphere. It was just a great way to end it. He congratulated Thom on his 36 years of service with the Seahawks and everything. And then he got on a plane and, quite honestly, I was very much at peace with it because we had a great visit and we knew what our situation was. In any situation like that all you can do is lay out all your cards and then that person is going to evaluate it and we were going to do the same."
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic looks at how the Cardinals have sought value in free agency. Somers on Richard Marshall's departure from the team: "Their thinking was that nickel corners shouldn't make $5.3 million a year. So they didn't come close to matching, and Marshall left for Miami, where he presumably will start. His replacement, William Gay, comes at a far more reasonable price: two years, $3.2 million, including a $500,000 signing bonus. ... Marshall has 17 interceptions in his career, while Gay has three. That's a huge difference, obviously. Still, it's surprising the Cardinals were able to sign Gay at a reasonable price."
Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says third-down conversions have long been a problem for Alex Smith and the 49ers. Cohn: "Last season, Smith’s third-down play tanked inexplicably. He converted a mind-bogglingly low 28.11 percent of third downs and averaged 3.89 third-down conversions per game, ranking 31st. For reference, Tim Tebow averaged 3.92 third-down conversions per game in 2011."
Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News offers details on the 49ers' stadium groundbreaking, set for April 19.
As noted Monday, it's looking like someone forgot to consult the big guys.
Larry Fitzgerald would be a logical choice to represent the Arizona Cardinals. I'm not yet sure who will represent the San Francisco 49ers, but if it's Mike Iupati or Isaac Sopoaga, consider it a victory for the 300-plus-pound set.
Elsewhere around the division ...
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams restricted free agent Danny Amendola has fully recovered from the arm injury that ended his 2011 season. Amendola would like to participate fully in minicamps later this month. Thomas: "Amendola suffered a dislocated elbow bracing himself as he fell to the turf in the opener against Philadelphia. He also suffered damage to the triceps muscle in the same arm. Always gung-ho, Amendola was hoping once the elbow injury settled down he could return to action wearing a brace. But the triceps muscle suffered additional tearing while Amendola was trying to work his way back onto the field and he was placed on the injured reserve list Oct. 10 and subsequently had surgery to reattach the triceps to his elbow."
Also from Thomas: previewing the Rams' offseason workout program.
Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle offers highlights from Seahawks general manager John Schneider's recent appearance on the station. According to Schneider, Matt Flynn's free-agent visit concluded with the quarterback attending the retirement party for longtime video director Thom Fermstad at a bar near team headquarters. Schneider: "He came over there with us and had a Budweiser with us and he was able to kind of see the inside, the whole building and the kind of family atmosphere. It was just a great way to end it. He congratulated Thom on his 36 years of service with the Seahawks and everything. And then he got on a plane and, quite honestly, I was very much at peace with it because we had a great visit and we knew what our situation was. In any situation like that all you can do is lay out all your cards and then that person is going to evaluate it and we were going to do the same."
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic looks at how the Cardinals have sought value in free agency. Somers on Richard Marshall's departure from the team: "Their thinking was that nickel corners shouldn't make $5.3 million a year. So they didn't come close to matching, and Marshall left for Miami, where he presumably will start. His replacement, William Gay, comes at a far more reasonable price: two years, $3.2 million, including a $500,000 signing bonus. ... Marshall has 17 interceptions in his career, while Gay has three. That's a huge difference, obviously. Still, it's surprising the Cardinals were able to sign Gay at a reasonable price."
Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says third-down conversions have long been a problem for Alex Smith and the 49ers. Cohn: "Last season, Smith’s third-down play tanked inexplicably. He converted a mind-bogglingly low 28.11 percent of third downs and averaged 3.89 third-down conversions per game, ranking 31st. For reference, Tim Tebow averaged 3.92 third-down conversions per game in 2011."
Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News offers details on the 49ers' stadium groundbreaking, set for April 19.
» AFC Assessments: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South
Arizona Cardinals
Key additions: OL Adam Snyder, CB William Gay
Key losses: CB Richard Marshall
Sando's grade so far: C-minus. Arizona gets credit for making a strong run at Peyton Manning and securing a visit with him at Cardinals headquarters. That was a bold move and one that could have instantly transformed the Cardinals into a contending team. But it did not work. Coach Ken Whisenhunt had a point when he said the Cardinals were comfortable moving forward with Kevin Kolb and John Skelton as their quarterbacks. However, it was still telling that Arizona would aggressively pursue another quarterback eight months after allocating $12.4 million per year to Kolb. Most of the other teams making big investments in quarterbacks last offseason sat out the Manning sweepstakes.
Overall, Arizona has done little to upgrade its roster. Committing $19 million in bonus money to Snyder, Levi Brown and Kolb will not make the team $19 million better. Marshall was a valued contributor and the MVP on defense last season, according to coordinator Ray Horton. He'll be missed after signing with Miami. On the other hand, the Cardinals did win seven of their final nine games last season. Perhaps they have fewer holes than conventional wisdom suggests.
What’s next: The Cardinals need help at offensive tackle and have shown interest in Buffalo Bills free agent Demetrius Bell. The team would be fortunate to address the position before the draft. Whisenhunt has consistently defended Brown, who has played both tackle spots since 2007. The team's decision to give Brown a $7 million signing bonus as part of a streamlined contract showed Whisenhunt wasn't bluffing. But another starting tackle would help.
The Cardinals have yet to reach a long-term agreement with franchise player Calais Campbell. Getting a deal done with Campbell would reduce the defensive end's salary-cap charge ($10.6 million for now). It would reward a rising young player and head off future headaches associated with using the tag a second time next offseason.
Receiver and possibly outside linebacker are also areas where the Cardinals could use reinforcements.
San Francisco 49ers
Key additions: WR Randy Moss, WR Mario Manningham, RB Brandon Jacobs
Key losses: Snyder, WR Josh Morgan, ST Blake Costanzo
Sando's grade so far: B-plus. The 49ers had relatively few holes on their roster after a 13-3 season. Pursuing Manning provided a temporary distraction without inflicting long-term damage. The 49ers needed to keep together their core, and they accomplished that goal. Alex Smith's re-signing to a three-year deal was key. Smith will return to the team, maintaining continuity and giving the 49ers' offense a chance to build on last season. But the contract terms will not limit the 49ers' options beyond this season, a plus.
The 49ers succeeded in re-signing Pro Bowl cornerback Carlos Rogers after using the franchise tag to retain Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson. Those moves solidified the secondary. Addressing the situation at wide receiver was a top priority heading into free agency. Moss and Manningham were low-risk, high-reward additions. Both have the potential to provide qualities the 49ers were lacking last season, but neither carried a high price tag. Retaining receiver Ted Ginn Jr. restored firepower to the return game.
What’s next: Using the draft to improve the long-term outlook at receiver still could be an option. But with Moss, Manningham and Ginn on the roster, the 49ers should not feel pressured to select a wideout with the 30th overall choice in the draft. The team now has flexibility. There has been no indication that the 49ers or any team will seriously pursue Pittsburgh Steelers restricted free agent Mike Wallace, who reportedly wants Larry Fitzgerald money.
The 49ers could use a veteran right guard for insurance in case Daniel Kilgore isn't ready for the starting job. They have visited with Leonard Davis and Deuce Lutui, both former Cardinals. Keeping Snyder would have been nice, but the Cardinals paid a $5 million signing bonus to get him. That price was too high for the 49ers, who similarly balked last offseason when the New York Giants gave center David Baas an $8.5 million bonus.
St. Louis Rams
Key additions: CB Cortland Finnegan, C Scott Wells, DT Kendall Langford, WR Steve Smith
Key losses: WR Brandon Lloyd, P Donnie Jones, OLB Chris Chamberlain
Sando's grade so far: B. The Rams would get a higher grade for their offseason in general, but this item focuses on free agency. That excludes from consideration Jeff Fisher's hiring as head coach, and general manager Les Snead's ability to maximize value for the second overall pick in the draft. The Finnegan and Wells signings give the Rams welcome leadership while upgrading important positions. Langford should help the run defense.
The Rams have yet to address their playmaking deficiencies. They did not land any of the high-profile wide receivers in free agency. There's a chance Smith will recapture old form in his second season back from microfracture knee surgery, but the Rams are not counting on that. They will almost certainly emerge from free agency without even marginally upgrading the weaponry for quarterback Sam Bradford. That is a disappointment.
What’s next: The outlook remains bright for St. Louis. The team owns the sixth, 33rd and 39th choices in the 2012 draft, plus two first-rounders in each of the following two drafts. There will be time and opportunity for the Rams to add the offensive firepower they need so badly, perhaps with Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon or Alabama running back Trent Richardson at No. 6 overall.
Much work lies ahead. The Rams emerged from this week with eight fewer players on their roster than the average for the other 31 teams. Using free agency to address holes at outside linebacker and left guard would provide flexibility heading into the draft. The Rams still need a backup quarterback as well. Bradford is the only QB on the roster. It's looking like the team is serious about bringing back right tackle Jason Smith despite injury concerns and a fat contract that will presumably require adjustment.
Seattle Seahawks
Key additions: QB Matt Flynn, DT Jason Jones
Key losses: TE John Carlson, DT Anthony Hargrove
Sando's grade so far: B-plus: The Seahawks knew for months that Manning would probably hit the market and still could not secure a meeting with him. Their pursuit included a flight by coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider to Denver in a desperation move that failed to impress Manning. That was a rare disappointment for Seattle in free agency.
Re-signing Marshawn Lynch before the signing period took off much of the pressure. Re-signing Red Bryant without using the franchise tag rewarded the Seahawks for a disciplined approach to the market. That approach paid off again when the Seahawks landed Flynn without rushing into an imprudent contract. Flynn spent five days on the market before signing with Seattle. The Seahawks got him for about half as much per season as Kolb cost a year ago, without even promising him the starting job. That was impressive.
What’s next: Quarterback and pass-rusher were Seattle's top two needs heading into free agency. Flynn solved one of them for now, at least. Jones, an inside pass-rusher signed from Tennessee, should help the other area. But the need for outside pass-rush help persists. The team could use the 12th overall choice in the draft for a defensive end.
Linebacker is another obvious position of need for Seattle. Market conditions favor Seattle's re-signing veterans David Hawthorne and Leroy Hill at reasonable rates. Both were starters last season. Hawthorne visited Detroit and New Orleans in free agency, but those teams subsequently signed other linebackers. Hill turns 30 in September, has had some off-field issues in the past and should have more value to Seattle than to another team. Still, it's an upset if the Seahawks do not address linebacker in the draft.
Arizona Cardinals
Key additions: OL Adam Snyder, CB William Gay
Key losses: CB Richard Marshall
Sando's grade so far: C-minus. Arizona gets credit for making a strong run at Peyton Manning and securing a visit with him at Cardinals headquarters. That was a bold move and one that could have instantly transformed the Cardinals into a contending team. But it did not work. Coach Ken Whisenhunt had a point when he said the Cardinals were comfortable moving forward with Kevin Kolb and John Skelton as their quarterbacks. However, it was still telling that Arizona would aggressively pursue another quarterback eight months after allocating $12.4 million per year to Kolb. Most of the other teams making big investments in quarterbacks last offseason sat out the Manning sweepstakes.
Overall, Arizona has done little to upgrade its roster. Committing $19 million in bonus money to Snyder, Levi Brown and Kolb will not make the team $19 million better. Marshall was a valued contributor and the MVP on defense last season, according to coordinator Ray Horton. He'll be missed after signing with Miami. On the other hand, the Cardinals did win seven of their final nine games last season. Perhaps they have fewer holes than conventional wisdom suggests.
What’s next: The Cardinals need help at offensive tackle and have shown interest in Buffalo Bills free agent Demetrius Bell. The team would be fortunate to address the position before the draft. Whisenhunt has consistently defended Brown, who has played both tackle spots since 2007. The team's decision to give Brown a $7 million signing bonus as part of a streamlined contract showed Whisenhunt wasn't bluffing. But another starting tackle would help.
The Cardinals have yet to reach a long-term agreement with franchise player Calais Campbell. Getting a deal done with Campbell would reduce the defensive end's salary-cap charge ($10.6 million for now). It would reward a rising young player and head off future headaches associated with using the tag a second time next offseason.
Receiver and possibly outside linebacker are also areas where the Cardinals could use reinforcements.
San Francisco 49ers
Key additions: WR Randy Moss, WR Mario Manningham, RB Brandon Jacobs
Key losses: Snyder, WR Josh Morgan, ST Blake Costanzo
Sando's grade so far: B-plus. The 49ers had relatively few holes on their roster after a 13-3 season. Pursuing Manning provided a temporary distraction without inflicting long-term damage. The 49ers needed to keep together their core, and they accomplished that goal. Alex Smith's re-signing to a three-year deal was key. Smith will return to the team, maintaining continuity and giving the 49ers' offense a chance to build on last season. But the contract terms will not limit the 49ers' options beyond this season, a plus.
The 49ers succeeded in re-signing Pro Bowl cornerback Carlos Rogers after using the franchise tag to retain Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson. Those moves solidified the secondary. Addressing the situation at wide receiver was a top priority heading into free agency. Moss and Manningham were low-risk, high-reward additions. Both have the potential to provide qualities the 49ers were lacking last season, but neither carried a high price tag. Retaining receiver Ted Ginn Jr. restored firepower to the return game.
What’s next: Using the draft to improve the long-term outlook at receiver still could be an option. But with Moss, Manningham and Ginn on the roster, the 49ers should not feel pressured to select a wideout with the 30th overall choice in the draft. The team now has flexibility. There has been no indication that the 49ers or any team will seriously pursue Pittsburgh Steelers restricted free agent Mike Wallace, who reportedly wants Larry Fitzgerald money.
The 49ers could use a veteran right guard for insurance in case Daniel Kilgore isn't ready for the starting job. They have visited with Leonard Davis and Deuce Lutui, both former Cardinals. Keeping Snyder would have been nice, but the Cardinals paid a $5 million signing bonus to get him. That price was too high for the 49ers, who similarly balked last offseason when the New York Giants gave center David Baas an $8.5 million bonus.
St. Louis Rams
Key additions: CB Cortland Finnegan, C Scott Wells, DT Kendall Langford, WR Steve Smith
Key losses: WR Brandon Lloyd, P Donnie Jones, OLB Chris Chamberlain
Sando's grade so far: B. The Rams would get a higher grade for their offseason in general, but this item focuses on free agency. That excludes from consideration Jeff Fisher's hiring as head coach, and general manager Les Snead's ability to maximize value for the second overall pick in the draft. The Finnegan and Wells signings give the Rams welcome leadership while upgrading important positions. Langford should help the run defense.
The Rams have yet to address their playmaking deficiencies. They did not land any of the high-profile wide receivers in free agency. There's a chance Smith will recapture old form in his second season back from microfracture knee surgery, but the Rams are not counting on that. They will almost certainly emerge from free agency without even marginally upgrading the weaponry for quarterback Sam Bradford. That is a disappointment.
What’s next: The outlook remains bright for St. Louis. The team owns the sixth, 33rd and 39th choices in the 2012 draft, plus two first-rounders in each of the following two drafts. There will be time and opportunity for the Rams to add the offensive firepower they need so badly, perhaps with Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon or Alabama running back Trent Richardson at No. 6 overall.
Much work lies ahead. The Rams emerged from this week with eight fewer players on their roster than the average for the other 31 teams. Using free agency to address holes at outside linebacker and left guard would provide flexibility heading into the draft. The Rams still need a backup quarterback as well. Bradford is the only QB on the roster. It's looking like the team is serious about bringing back right tackle Jason Smith despite injury concerns and a fat contract that will presumably require adjustment.
Seattle Seahawks
Key additions: QB Matt Flynn, DT Jason Jones
Key losses: TE John Carlson, DT Anthony Hargrove
Sando's grade so far: B-plus: The Seahawks knew for months that Manning would probably hit the market and still could not secure a meeting with him. Their pursuit included a flight by coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider to Denver in a desperation move that failed to impress Manning. That was a rare disappointment for Seattle in free agency.
Re-signing Marshawn Lynch before the signing period took off much of the pressure. Re-signing Red Bryant without using the franchise tag rewarded the Seahawks for a disciplined approach to the market. That approach paid off again when the Seahawks landed Flynn without rushing into an imprudent contract. Flynn spent five days on the market before signing with Seattle. The Seahawks got him for about half as much per season as Kolb cost a year ago, without even promising him the starting job. That was impressive.
What’s next: Quarterback and pass-rusher were Seattle's top two needs heading into free agency. Flynn solved one of them for now, at least. Jones, an inside pass-rusher signed from Tennessee, should help the other area. But the need for outside pass-rush help persists. The team could use the 12th overall choice in the draft for a defensive end.
Linebacker is another obvious position of need for Seattle. Market conditions favor Seattle's re-signing veterans David Hawthorne and Leroy Hill at reasonable rates. Both were starters last season. Hawthorne visited Detroit and New Orleans in free agency, but those teams subsequently signed other linebackers. Hill turns 30 in September, has had some off-field issues in the past and should have more value to Seattle than to another team. Still, it's an upset if the Seahawks do not address linebacker in the draft.
Teams receiving four of the 10 best compensatory draft choices this year have NFC West teams to thank.
That was the word Monday from the world's leading comp-pick guru, AdamJT13, who links specific players to specific comp picks on his blog.
The NFL awards compensatory choices based on net losses in unrestricted free agency, calculated by factors including salary and performance.
According to AdamJT13, the Seattle Seahawks' signing of Sidney Rice last offseason helped the Minnesota Vikings land a fourth-round pick -- 128th overall, the second-highest of the 32 selections awarded Monday.
Oakland received the 129th pick thanks to Seattle's deal with former Raiders tight end Zach Miller. Green Bay landed the 133rd pick for losing Daryn Colledge to Arizona, and Oakland picked up a fifth-rounder (168th overall) for losing Robert Gallery to Seattle.
UFA additions and subtractions this offseason will help determine how comp picks are awarded in 2013.
Arizona has added Adam Snyder and William Gay while losing Richard Marshall and Sean Considine.
San Francisco has added Josh Johnson, Mario Manningham and Rock Cartwright while losing Josh Morgan, Blake Costanzo and Snyder.
Seattle has added Matt Flynn and Jason Jones while losing John Carlson, Charlie Whitehurst and Atari Bigby.
The Rams have added Steve Smith, Quinn Ojinnaka, Kendall Langford, Scott Wells and Cortland Finnegan while losing Brandon Lloyd and Chris Chamberlain.
That was the word Monday from the world's leading comp-pick guru, AdamJT13, who links specific players to specific comp picks on his blog.
The NFL awards compensatory choices based on net losses in unrestricted free agency, calculated by factors including salary and performance.
According to AdamJT13, the Seattle Seahawks' signing of Sidney Rice last offseason helped the Minnesota Vikings land a fourth-round pick -- 128th overall, the second-highest of the 32 selections awarded Monday.
Oakland received the 129th pick thanks to Seattle's deal with former Raiders tight end Zach Miller. Green Bay landed the 133rd pick for losing Daryn Colledge to Arizona, and Oakland picked up a fifth-rounder (168th overall) for losing Robert Gallery to Seattle.
UFA additions and subtractions this offseason will help determine how comp picks are awarded in 2013.
Arizona has added Adam Snyder and William Gay while losing Richard Marshall and Sean Considine.
San Francisco has added Josh Johnson, Mario Manningham and Rock Cartwright while losing Josh Morgan, Blake Costanzo and Snyder.
Seattle has added Matt Flynn and Jason Jones while losing John Carlson, Charlie Whitehurst and Atari Bigby.
The Rams have added Steve Smith, Quinn Ojinnaka, Kendall Langford, Scott Wells and Cortland Finnegan while losing Brandon Lloyd and Chris Chamberlain.
Brandon Lloyd's contract agreement with the New England Patriots makes official his long-anticipated departure from the St. Louis Rams.
Those wondering why the Rams did not name Lloyd their franchise player should know this: Lloyd is reportedly getting $4 million per year, less than half the $9.515 million price associated with the franchise tag for receivers this year.
The Rams and Lloyd valued one another less once Lloyd's preferred offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, left St. Louis for the Patriots following the 2011 regular season.
Lloyd visited the San Francisco 49ers before reaching agreement with New England, where he was expected to land all along.
The receiver market was already picked over heading into the weekend. The chart ranks by age receivers changing teams as unrestricted free agents this offseason.
New York Giants free agent Mario Manningham visited the 49ers and Rams. His agent was negotiating with the Rams on Saturday, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
Manningham caught 39 passes for 523 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games last season, with 10 starts. He played more games and had better numbers in each of the previous two seasons.
The Rams are seeking playmakers to help quarterback Sam Bradford, but so far in free agency, their additions have included a center (Scott Wells), a defensive tackle (Kendall Langford) and a cornerback (Cortland Finnegan).
Those wondering why the Rams did not name Lloyd their franchise player should know this: Lloyd is reportedly getting $4 million per year, less than half the $9.515 million price associated with the franchise tag for receivers this year.
The Rams and Lloyd valued one another less once Lloyd's preferred offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, left St. Louis for the Patriots following the 2011 regular season.
Lloyd visited the San Francisco 49ers before reaching agreement with New England, where he was expected to land all along.
The receiver market was already picked over heading into the weekend. The chart ranks by age receivers changing teams as unrestricted free agents this offseason.
New York Giants free agent Mario Manningham visited the 49ers and Rams. His agent was negotiating with the Rams on Saturday, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
Manningham caught 39 passes for 523 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games last season, with 10 starts. He played more games and had better numbers in each of the previous two seasons.
The Rams are seeking playmakers to help quarterback Sam Bradford, but so far in free agency, their additions have included a center (Scott Wells), a defensive tackle (Kendall Langford) and a cornerback (Cortland Finnegan).
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.
