Rams still hoping to add free agent DBs

by Ryan Van Bibber on Mar 1, 2009 8:50 AM CST in 2009 Off-Season

[Note by VanRam, 03/01/09 4:48 PM EST ] Bartell update. The Saints have yet to make Bartell an offer, and they're bringing in free agent CB Darren Sharper for a visit tomorrow. I suspect that the Saints, or the Rams for that matter, rebuffed the supposed $7 million per year expectations. ESPN's Mike Sando thinks this situation favors the Rams.

This probably goes without saying, but it just popped into my head while walking the dog (and freezing my free agents off) so I'll say it anyway. I suspect the Rams free agent activity is focused exclusively on Bartell and to a lesser extent James Butler at the moment. The idea being to get the big ticket items out of the way first.

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Hopefully, you don't intend to let your Jason Brown hangover keep glued to the couch today. The Rams aren't likely done with their free agent activity this weekend, and that should be a little hair of the dog to get you up and going again. Let's review where things stand.

CB Ron Bartell

The Rams are scrambling to get a deal worked out with free agent CB Ron Bartell, who's a free agent only as one last gift from Jay Zygmunt. GM Billy Devaney sounds pretty adamant about Bartell as a priority too. Bartell visited the New Orleans Saints this weekend, and they could offer the CB a contract as early as today. Stay tuned, we could know how this one plays out sooner rather than later.

SS James Butler

Bulter was scheduled to visit the Cleveland Browns yesterday after leaving St. Louis without a deal. No word yet as to how that visit went. Supposedly, Butler wants to work something out with the Rams. I suspect the simultaneous situation with Bartell is complicating things just a little, making final offers hard to nail down without certainty. I'd say Bartell is probably a priority, given the team's situation at CB, and with him likely to command a pretty big paycheck, they have to wait and see what their final offer can/should be to keep him before making a final offer to Butler.

WR Torry Holt & OT Orlando Pace

Not really free agents, well, not yet anyway. Watch what happens contract-wise with Bartell and Butler (or anyone else that pops onto the radar soon), that will give some further clarification on the situation with these two long-time Rams. Holt is due a roster bonus in March, so something will have to happen with him fairly soon. The smart bet says both guys are gone.

Stay tuned.

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Comments

On Holt and Pace

I think they’re waiting for the best free agent to sign and them they will try to draw a trade. But I don’t think they’re gonna get rid of both of them.

by MathB on Mar 1, 2009 12:28 PM CST reply actions

i agree

one or the other

"I always think one step ahead, like a carpenter....the builds stairs"

by sergey606 on Mar 1, 2009 1:44 PM CST up reply actions

We'll see

Right now, I’d say 70% they’re both gone, 20% just Holt, 9% just Pace, 1% both on the roster next season

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

by 3k on Mar 1, 2009 6:02 PM CST up reply actions

I disagree on the 1% because they have been the face of the franchise and they are still pretty good so I think they want another good year from those guys so the young player can learn. Torry Holt is a terrific leader and Pace is a premium pass blocker and so far we don’t need that extra cap space.

by MathB on Mar 2, 2009 2:03 AM CST up reply actions

Response

Key wording:

they want

Sure, that’s what they want, but is it affordable? Is it smart? Hell, I want Pro-Bowlers at every position, but just because you want it doesn’t mean it’s possible, or more accurately, fiscally responsible. And for good measure:

so far

So far, we still have to pay for a #2 overall pick and we still need to sign some CBs and OLs for depth.
Read this, and you’ll be in the 1% camp with me.

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

by 3k on Mar 2, 2009 7:38 AM CST up reply actions

They're gone.

Pace and Holt are outta here. They were both part of the 2-14 season in 2008. And nobody expects them to get better with age. We need the big $$$ they’d be paid to accumulate new younger talent. Thanks and farewell guys. Jason Brown was a great start. You just can’t make it without a bull of a Center. He may help snap Incognito, Bell and Barron out of the doldrums. But how did we miss L. Sheppard who went to the Jets for a song and Matt Cassell who went to KC for a 2nd round pick..??? Ow! Ow! From what I’ve heard recently about his injured foot, it’s no gig deal, so WR Mike Crabtree should be the first round pick.

by edpjr on Mar 1, 2009 1:57 PM CST reply actions

What would help is a website that gave us all the salary information,

like what hoopshype.com does for the NBA. I would like to say keep Bartell, sign Butler and Mike Peterson, and draft Curry, but I don’t know if we are under the salary cap enough to do that.

Ya, I'm pretty sure Jackie Robinson was white.

by srdmad on Mar 1, 2009 3:14 PM CST reply actions

we're trying to get that together

SBN is working on putting together a database like that for each site.

RotoWorld has salary info for players

by Ryan Van Bibber on Mar 1, 2009 3:46 PM CST up reply actions

How long would it take to settle things out with both Butler and Bartell?

by JoeyBombs on Mar 1, 2009 5:05 PM CST reply actions

It depends

They play different positions and are coming from different teams, so their demands are completely incomparable. I would think Bartell’s situation will be settled this week. The longer he waits, the longer teams will decide to take a flier on one of the ten or so CBs that will go in the first two rounds. As for Butler, he has some wiggle room. Look at the deal Dawkins was able to negotiate and then take into account the fact that Butler is 9 years younger. Butler has MUCH more leverage than Bartell at this point.

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

by 3k on Mar 1, 2009 6:07 PM CST up reply actions

If Pace Goes

that will almost guarantee we take an OT with #2……..that means no chance on getting the top 2 athletes in the draft Curry/Crabtree……….I Pace stays so OT isnt so important that we use #2 on it…………as far as Holt, if he goes, we can pretty much give drafting Crabs at about 75% chance………..

by JordansDad on Mar 1, 2009 7:49 PM CST reply actions

that's

exactly what i was thinking. except they’ll prolly take an OT if both go

"I always think one step ahead, like a carpenter....the builds stairs"

by sergey606 on Mar 1, 2009 8:07 PM CST up reply actions

Even if Orlando stays, there’s a very good chance we draft an O-lineman. How much more can he give us? And if, God forbid, he gets another serious injury early in the season, that will be the end of his illustrious career, meaning Alex Barron would be our top tackle.

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

by 3k on Mar 2, 2009 7:39 AM CST up reply actions