Rams saying goodbye to bad contracts; release Green, Bennett

by VanRam on Feb 25, 2009 4:20 PM CST in 2009 Off-Season Comment 20 comments

The Rams released Trent Green, their backup QB barely capable of playing anymore, and WR Drew Bennett today.

Releasing Green gives the team another $1.3 million in cap space. Bennett saves them a mere $50K, but let's face it, the decision to part ways with these guys was about much more than cap space. This is about moving the franchise forward, cutting the chains of bad decisions past.

Bennett was a bust from day one, right after inking a $30 million contract. Green was brought in the last ditch effort to save Scott Linehan's sinking offense. The idea was that Green worked under new OC Al Saunders, knew the offense, and could step in and run the show if Bulger was hurt from the constant sacking he took behind the Rams paper thin o-line. Turns out Green just didn't have it anymore, and playing behind that same porous o-line didn't do him any favors either. Linehan and Zygmunt combined to make some really, really bad personnel decisions. Releasing Green and Bennett goes a long way toward erasing the damage from that short, but costly era.

Now, does this mean the Rams are more likely to keep WR Torry Holt? I doubt it. All reports indicate that Holt is unwilling to restructure his contract, a must if the Rams are going to hang onto him. On top of that, Holt hasn't been real excited about the prospects of remaining in St. Louis, and, understandably, doesn't want his career to wind down with a team in the rebuilding process. Yes, that will leave the Rams with a need at WR, but there are hints out there that Devaney et al have some potentials in mind on the free agent market. Given the offense the Rams are likely to run - Steven Jackson and McMichael at the heart of it - they don't need one of the pricier options, just an experienced route runner to catch 50 or so passes. Besides, the Rams need the cap space that Holt's release would provide.

As for the backup QB situation, the PD article mentions Jeff Garcia as a possibility, given his ties to Shurmur, the Rams new offensive coordinator. There are other options in Garcia's price/skill range too, plenty of options.

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Have the rams….

…dare i say….

..grown some cajones?

i hope so

by ram_rod on Feb 25, 2009 4:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I forgot to add something-

Given that the Rams are supposedly running a west-coast themed offense, The release of Hackett (the Panthers WR) who used to play for Seattle would be a great, potentially low cost under the radar pickup.

by ram_rod on Feb 25, 2009 4:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Where have you read that they’re going to run a west coast-themed offense?

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Feb 25, 2009 6:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The addition of Shurmur points that way

I’m still not sure how they’re going to work this hybrid of a pass-happy OC and a HC that wants a power running game. (whoa… just had a frightening flashback to last year’s Niners.)

"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz

by taiko on Feb 25, 2009 9:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, with Spagnuolo at the helm and with the personnel we have, I don’t see a west-coast offense for this team…

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Feb 26, 2009 6:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank God!

I must say… I never have been so happy to hear about releasing Bennett! Let’s move on and forget about him! I am happy with Avery as our #1 WR, and Burton is on his way to the #2 spot, but we need an experienced veteran to teach this young receivers a lesson. What about signing Curry?

by PCarn on Feb 25, 2009 5:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm not as huge on Avery as a #1

but, we’re definitely moving in the right direction. Signing Curry would mean we’d have to draft him first. For our most recent discussion on that, head over here. If you’re talking about a free agent named Curry, I’m not sure who you mean.

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Feb 25, 2009 6:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank God!

*Ronald Curry… Though I wouldn’t mind Aaron Curry as well.

by PCarn on Feb 25, 2009 5:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

See how fast I type? I roll that shit out before I even read the next comment. As for Ron Curry, I would be in the “hell no” category.

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Feb 25, 2009 6:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No Garcia please

I’m sick and tired of 39 years old backup we need young blood to create competition with Bulger.
I said it before but if the Rams release Holt they draft Crabtree. Or maybe Britt in the second round. A team needs a possession receiver. I don’t think Avery is a good number 1 receiver, he’s more a deep threat or a slot receiver. But Crabtree and Avery to me that look just fine.

by MathB on Feb 25, 2009 5:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

What if we release Holt & Pace? Which becomes the bigger hole? And what position to we get the most value out of by drafting to fill it in the 1st?
And I agree on Avery.

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Feb 25, 2009 6:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Then Beatty, Britton or Loadholt in the second round. I go Crabtree in first because he is better than any OTs in the draft.

by MathB on Feb 26, 2009 1:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If Britton is there, I would have a hard time arguing with that pick. I’m not nearly as sold on Loadholt. My only other concern is that would leave us with a serious issue at center. There’s still time to figure out some things in FA, so we’ll have to see how the roster looks on day 1.

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Feb 26, 2009 6:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Garcia isn't a bad option

He’s a red ass who wants to play, and plays like he has something to prove. He’d either push Bulger to perform better, or he’d push Bulger to the bench. Either I’d be fine with.

And no, he’s not a QB of the future. There isn’t one in the draft right this year, I don’t think. Whatever we do, we need a backup QB that can play when Bulger gets popped.

"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz

by taiko on Feb 25, 2009 10:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Garcia

looks ugly doing it, but he wins games.

The Personal Finance Playbook.

by Toddius on Feb 26, 2009 9:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Color me pleasantly surprised.

I really didn’t think they’d cut Bennett since cutting him really did nothing for them cap-wise and he at least added depth to the WR ranks. But it looks like they didn’t really care and I applaud them for that.

Boy, I tell you. It’s fun trying to get a handle on this new regime.

Getting two tickets to an execution is like getting two tickets to NASCAR, except you KNOW Jeff Gordon's gonna die.

by Tackle Box on Feb 25, 2009 6:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Bye Bye Bennett

I’m very glad to see him go. The Rams are heading in the right direction and getting younger. Holt and Pace can hopefully get us a draft pick or two if a team is willing to trade for them. Avery is a #2 WR and we will need a #1 down the road but right now we have bigger concerns. I loved LB Curry at the combine and think the Rams can’t go wrong with him, Monroe of Jason Smith. The draft is deep and we can get some quality picks in the first few rounds.

by ksmooth on Feb 25, 2009 8:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Dont let the door hit you

where the good Lord split you…………..bye Drew, now that he’s gone, remember what we brought him in for? A red zone threat. We have no one that we can throw up high to, all the more reason to draft Crabs…………..I said it before and i’ll say it again, Crabs in the 1st………..OT in the 2nd………and get a decent MLB in FA…………so far so good with the Spags era, although I would like to see the Pace/Holt situation resolved

by JordansDad on Feb 25, 2009 9:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Ike Hilliard is available

After the Bucs purged five of their core players … he’d be relatively cheap and reliable, and has Giants connections, though I don’t know if he and Spags overlapped.

"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz

by taiko on Feb 25, 2009 10:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Ah, football, so many possibilities.

I’m gald that they got rid of Bennet. Defense wouldn’t be too bad next year if we got Vasher from the Bears, drafted Curry, and signed a safety. We would still need a middle linebacker unless you want Pisa on the strong side instead of Curry.

I have witnessed time and time again.

by srdmad on Feb 26, 2009 12:08 AM CST reply actions 0 recs