Tuesday free agent round up: Pace getting interest from Oakland?

by Ryan Van Bibber on Mar 3, 2009 9:47 AM CST in 2009 Off-Season

Just in case you thought the free agent fever was over...it's not. Though the Rams have concentrated on their big ticket items, they're still working a few angles out there. Let's round up the latest and greatest in free agency.

Wondering about the Rams intentions to make RB Steven Jackson the focal point of their offense this season? Well, wonder no more, my friends...as if the Jason Brown signing wasn't proof enough. Two stories today in the Post-Dispatch deal with the Rams search for secondary blockers at FB and TE. Seattle free agent FB Lenoard Weaver is on the Rams radar, as is blocking specialist TE Billy Bajema, discussed last week.

At one point the Rams were said to be kicking the tires on 49ers DT Ron Fields; it was even reported that they had an offer out to the wave tackle. The Donkeys, er, Broncos reunited Fields with Mike Nolan, signing him to a two-year, $5 million deal.

Do we have a bidder? The Oakland Raiders are said to be interested in trading for LT Orlando Pace. Oakland has the 7th pick in the 4th round, which would give the Rams, with the third pick in the round, two early chances to add some depth.

SS Roy Williams wants the Cowboys to trade or cut him immediately. If let go, he could be a candidate for the Rams need at SS. That's only if...

...the Rams fail to sign SS James Butler. Butler's a much, much better option than Williams, who stinks in coverage and is past the prime of his career. In his column today in the PD, Bernie Miklasz pointed out some of Butler's outstanding stats, such as opposing WRs only catching 19 of the 45 passes targeted in his direction, a number that very closely mirrors some guy names Troy Polamalu. Impressive company. The NY Daily News reports that it's "looking more and more" like Butler will land with the Rams, speculation partly based on Ron Bartell's noted efforts to persuade Butler to come to St. Louis.

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Good news all around

I would be absolutely thrilled if we signed Butler because it allows us to do more with the draft. Having signed Brown already, if we add Butler we wouldn’t have to spend a round 1-4 pick (or any pick, really) on either of those positions. Nicey.

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 10:03 AM CST reply actions

Focus on the draft

we could go OT, LB and NT, not necessarily in that order, and pick up depth for other spots in the later rounds.

by Ryan Van Bibber on Mar 3, 2009 10:30 AM CST up reply actions

which is a hell of a lot better than OT, C, LB, S, DT.

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

Tye Hill

Please can you guys do a blurb on Tye Hill. I’ve heard so much negative thoughts on him, but I really think he’s a solid player.

by PCarn on Mar 3, 2009 10:55 AM CST reply actions

define blurb

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

If I remember correctly from my college days, “doing a blurb” involves a cheerleader and a sea lion

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

I meant like an evalutation

by PCarn on Mar 3, 2009 12:09 PM CST up reply actions

I'd honestly like to wait on that until mini-camp time or so

I don’t know if I can watch the lowlight reel of Tye last year without punching stuff.

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

PCarn, are you serious? Tye Hill is a solid player? I could get 12 catches and 2 tds matched up with him.

Please can you guys do some investigating and see if cutting him would save remotely any money, or investigate if teams would be actually willing to trade a 7th rounder for him.

by cbritzzz on Mar 3, 2009 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

not enough $$ to matter

by Ryan Van Bibber on Mar 3, 2009 4:31 PM CST up reply actions

I'm not sure this is 100% correct.

But I think it might actually cost the Rams $165,000 to remove him from the roster.

Just being quick about it, I think he’s going to cost $2.915M against the cap this year and if cut would cost $3.08M since he’s still got 2 years left on his contract.

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 Mar 3, 2009 4:48 PM CST up reply actions

What are the chances that

Oher ends up falling to the 2nd round? It would be an absolute steal if we could still get a top OT in the 2nd.

The Personal Finance Playbook.

by Toddius on Mar 3, 2009 2:21 PM CST reply actions

5%

There are too many teams who need an OT and he’s had the opposite offseason of Andre Smith. Now, pro-days are still coming around, but I expect Oher to be gone at the latest to Minnesota at #22

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 3:42 PM CST up reply actions

Trade

What about Holt for Cromatie?

by RAMIFICATION on Mar 3, 2009 2:27 PM CST reply actions

We can dream, can’t we?

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 3:42 PM CST up reply actions

Crabtree plus

We need this guy as Holt’s replacement. Also, what a shame to see Kurt Warner visiting the 49ers. We could sure use him in his 38th and 39th years and maybe up to age 40. Just imagine Warner, Jackson, Darby, Brown, Crabtree, Avery, Burton, McMichael and a new LT on offense and Josh Brown handling FG duty. Even with mediocre play from Barron, Incognito and Bell, that group would surely score more than 14 1/2 points per game.

by edpjr on Mar 3, 2009 3:41 PM CST reply actions

You try to add Butler and Warner, and you’re talking about a decent amount of money spent in free agency. Keep in mind, if we draft Crabtree at #2, it’s going to cost us big moolah.

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 3:43 PM CST up reply actions

cap space

and we don’t have much cap space to talk about unless trades happen

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

by sergey606 on Mar 3, 2009 3:44 PM CST up reply actions

Cap Space

I’m counting on cap space from trading/releasing Holt and Pace. It’s poetic justice that we can’t afford to sign Warner because we mortgaged the farm on his sub-par replacement. Thanks again Mike Martz for quickly disassembling the potential dynasty Dick Vermeil built.

by edpjr on Mar 3, 2009 3:51 PM CST up reply actions

Martz...

I hate that guy…

Outfielders For Sale! This weeks special...GMJ - see Tony for details!

by gorams77 on Mar 3, 2009 5:31 PM CST up reply actions

Don't blame Martz

He’s the coach. Blame Zygmunt.

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 5:33 PM CST up reply actions

Zygmunt...

I hate that guy too…

Outfielders For Sale! This weeks special...GMJ - see Tony for details!

by gorams77 on Mar 3, 2009 8:14 PM CST up reply actions

Shaw...

I hate that guy as well…

Outfielders For Sale! This weeks special...GMJ - see Tony for details!

by gorams77 on Mar 3, 2009 8:19 PM CST up reply actions

Manny Ramirez

I hate that guy too…

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

by sergey606 on Mar 3, 2009 11:15 PM CST up reply actions

this offense

isn’t going to have enough passing for Warner’s liking

by Ryan Van Bibber on Mar 3, 2009 4:32 PM CST up reply actions

Any chance

the Rams get in on Jay Cutler? Maybe we could swap QBs with them and throw in a 3d rounder? That would make us better instantly. Of course, there’s no way they’d want Bulger – especially not at his salary. One can dream.

The Personal Finance Playbook.

by Toddius on Mar 3, 2009 3:54 PM CST reply actions

dream we can

by Ryan Van Bibber on Mar 3, 2009 4:35 PM CST up reply actions

ANy chance of tr4ding Bulger for Joe Montana 1986?

Come on RAMS!!! Oh, you don’t have cap space for a TIME MACHINE, well boo hoo CRY ME A RIVER we need to do what it takes

/snark

"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 3, 2009 4:58 PM CST reply actions

Hehe. +1. I had no idea you had a sense of humor, taiko

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 5:34 PM CST up reply actions

It’s usually the dark, bitter kind, but yeah, I got one around here somewhere….

"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 3, 2009 10:11 PM CST up reply actions

Call Doc Brown

Rumor has is that old Doc Brown has a 1985 Delorean that can travel back in time. I am sure he would let the rams use it for season tickets.

by AgentOrange31 on Mar 3, 2009 5:21 PM CST reply actions

Bulger is our man

whether we like it or not……..his contract dictates that he’s not going anywhere. Im still a fan of Bulger, yes he’s lost confidence and some ability.But he can get that back, a couple of good games and he’ll be back. It wasnt that long ago we were choosing Bulger over Warner, it wasnt that long ago that Bulger was a Pro Bowl MVP, it wasnt that long ago he was a top 5 QB in the league…………Warner was just as shell-shocked when we let him go, wouldnt we all say he got his MoJo back? Have faith in Bulger and the coaches, he’ll be back!

by JordansDad on Mar 3, 2009 5:22 PM CST reply actions

+1. I think you’re the only pro-Bulger fan, Dad.

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 5:35 PM CST up reply actions

He'll be back

he frustrated the hell out of me last year, but as long as they can keep him upright he’ll be ok.

by JordansDad on Mar 3, 2009 5:40 PM CST up reply actions

Warner

Because I remember what we did when Warner lost a step, now look at him……I just think we let go of Warner too soon……..hindsight is 20-20 no?

by JordansDad on Mar 3, 2009 6:26 PM CST up reply actions

don't forget the 4 years in between when he left St. Lou and this last year

Warner struggled hard and was almost out of the league before having a great year in leading the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. In those 4 years, he never had a QB rating over 90. Just two years ago, Bulger posted a 92.9 rating…

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 7:11 PM CST up reply actions

Nah.

I’m one too.

I’m holding on to hope.

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 Mar 3, 2009 7:06 PM CST up reply actions

2nd round in draft

we need a LB zack follect is a good one coming from cal

by gswarriors925 on Mar 3, 2009 6:16 PM CST reply actions

I wouldn't say "good"

But above average. He’ll need to gain weight, but he could get drafted late on day 2. Although he is an OLB and with Pisa Tino, Spoon & even QC, a MLB would be much more useful.

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

by 3k on Mar 3, 2009 7:13 PM CST up reply actions