St. Louis Rams release veteran TE Anthony Becht

by PCarn on Mar 12, 2009 1:03 PM CDT

Rams released Becht today. Obviously McMichael will be the featured tight end, and Klopfenstein to back him up. I guess this makes sense since we just signed blocking specialist FB Mike Karney.

I must say I'm really liking the looks of our inside offense. We can run it down the middle Jason Brown plowing through with Karney following and Jackson right behind him! McMicheal will also provide some good play action scenarios. if only we can get some help on WR next!

[Note by VanRam, 03/12/09 2:15 PM EDT ] The move saves the Rams $1 million in salary cap space. And the roster continues to get younger. Becht turns 32 before the season starts. He was marginally effective last season, among the ranks of Rams blockers most generously described as uninspiring. There were even those strange instances where Al Saunders tried to get Becht involved in the offense...usually at times when we really needed to move the ball, like 3rd downs.

The Rams still have some deadweight on the depth chart at TE. I'm looking at you Joe Klopfenstein. I suspect the team will try and add a blocking TE to replace Becht. Reports of interest in 49ers blocker Billy Bajema surfaced a while back, and the Rams and Jets are still reported to be the primary suitors for his services. Of c ourse, it seems like a pure blocking TE can probably be found in the late rounds of the draft or even among the ranks of undrafted rookies next month.

Now, the question is who's the #2 TE behind McMichael? Klopfenstein has been mostly frustrating, another Rams second round pick drifting without any real strength or role. Waiver wire pick up Daniel Fells flashed some promise last season, making a case to replace Klop on the roster.

Poll

Keep or cut TE Joe Klopfenstein?

Cut - Adios mi amigo

189 votes

Keep - he's gonna break out any day now

75 votes

264 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Klopfenstein just doesn’t belong. Not to say that Fells is any better than he is, but neither is Klopf any better than Fells — an undrafted free agent signed off the practice squad. That’s shameful.

Cut him, don’t look back.

"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 Mar 12, 2009 4:13 PM CDT reply actions

Done

Becht gone and Klop following – good moves. There’s still so much deadwood on this team that many trees are yet to fall. We’d do better with rookies or free agents. Which by the way, aside from Romberg, no one seems to be chasing our Ram free agents.

by edpjr on Mar 12, 2009 6:58 PM CDT reply actions

ID say give him another year

he could break out this year and contribute ,I mean he has to know that the new regime isnt playing around and are expecting every to perform or get out ,im mean keep him on a short leash,lets not give up on our young players just yet

the west is ours

by jaram on Mar 12, 2009 10:55 PM CDT reply actions

I don’t know that we have many other options but to keep him right now. If we sign Bajema as a blocking tight end we need a backup for McMichael. With all teh holes we have I don’t want to spend a pick on a TE… The only way I drop him is if someone becomes available at some point and thats always a possibility..

by Uncfan1 on Mar 12, 2009 11:04 PM CDT reply actions