RAMS TRADE!
by strike77 on May 7, 2009 2:36 PM CDT
34 comments
- The Cincinnati Bengals have obtained running back Brian Leonard (notes) in a trade with St. Louis.
- The Rams got reserve defensive tackle Orien Harris (notes) in the deal Thursday.
Leonard was the Rams’ second-round draft pick in 2007. He played in 16 games with seven starts as rookie, rushing for 303 yards and catching 30 passes for 183 yards.
Last season, Leonard played in only two of the Rams’ first five games due to a shoulder injury, then spent the rest of the season on injured reserve.
The Bengals claimed Harris on waivers from New Orleans last August. He played mainly on special teams.
Article from Yahoo Sports
Interesting Deal. If anybody has more information on this guy COMMENT!
Haven't done a poll in a while, so here it is........
Was this a good deal? A second round pick for a fourth round pick?
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Neither answer
Neither answer captures my feeling on it.
If they have fairly equal value today then it doesn’t really matter that they were a mere 2 rounds apart. Where they were drafted was merely a projection anyway, and real life Play trumps that every time. Is 6th Rounder Tom Brady not worth a 1st round pick next year? The whole idea is lame. But…. DT as our strong point because of a guy who averaged a whopping 1 tackle per game? Give me a break.
I think whats really going on here is the Rams decided Brian Leonhard was a tweener with no role, not big enough for FB or not fast enough for RB, take your pick…and he was replaced by this year’s 7th round pick and the signing of Mike Karney
Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.
by CoachConnors on May 7, 2009 5:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
agreed, and to add to the end
not only was Leonard expendable, but there’s no certainty at DT, much like WR behind Avery. Why not shed the guys we’re not going to play for someone who has a shot?
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on May 7, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's hard to know
why this guy wasn’t playing more last year. I’m hoping we get further details on him soon. Leonard really didn’t have a place on our team any more, and at least we got something for him instead of just cutting him.
by andyrose on May 7, 2009 10:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Right. Leonard was unable to perform, so providing depth on the line is always a good move. Even if the guy doesn’t do much more than playing on special teams, it is still a maximizing the value of a player that wasn’t going to play this year,and may not have even made the roster.
by kickasskeever on May 7, 2009 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You guys have a decent player in Harris
He is not afraid to hit and he can pick up a play book fast and he can be molded into Spagnulo defensive line up.
by cincyboy on May 8, 2009 12:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That sounds good.
We needed depth at DT, and if he can become a real contributor this could become a really nice deal.
by andyrose on May 8, 2009 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they're looking for someone
to fill that last spot in the DL rotation and provide some more run-stuffing ability. To me, it sounds like Harris fills both needs just fine.
Hopefully, Leonard will be able to use his skills (he does have some, he’s a great athlete) in the Cincy system. He was a lost man without a role here in St. Louis.
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky and I went horseback riding, but there weren't any horses around? Anyway, Brasky throws a saddle on my back and rides me around Wyoming for three days. Well, wouldn't ya know it, my stamina increased with each day, and I develop tremendous leg muscles. So anyway, Brasky decides to enter me into the Breeders Cup under the name Turkish Delight. And Im running in second place, and I'm running, and I break my ankle. So anyway, they're about to shoot me. Then someone from the crowd yells out, God bless him, Dont shoot him, he's a human.
by Tackle Box on May 8, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd like to see him play
You’re right, he’s a skilled athlete. Or was, at least. Seems like they gave up on him after his rookie year. I thought the guy could’ve been a poor man’s Marshal Faulk, because dude has great hands, but he went from 116 touches to 2.
Rookie year he had 86 carries + 30 receptions…..YPC was respectable if not real good at 3.5, and receptions were 6 yards on average….then last year he only sees the field in 2 games, and totals 2 carries?
I’d really like to know what the thinking was there. I get that he’s not Faulk but this was a pretty high pick to give up on. My gut says he was just a little too slow to play the role of pass catching RB at this level (longest run was 31 yards) and the Rams aren’t a commitee kind of offense.
I liked him though, and since he’s not in the division anymore I’d like to see him get some playing time even if it means he proves us wrong for letting him go.
Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.
by CoachConnors on May 8, 2009 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know why Spagnulo traded him
Harris was going to get cut
by cincyboy on May 8, 2009 2:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
traded for home
possibly to get him under his current contract, rather than have to compete with another team for him, which could mean having to compensate him better? IDK, just an idea.
I realize he’s not exactly in Albert Haynesworth’s pay scale but a shrewd GM would try to pay the least they could.
Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.
by CoachConnors on May 8, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
..for HIM I mean
Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.
by CoachConnors on May 8, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good move!
For months Brian Leonard has been on my list of players that needed to be gone (see previous posts). He’s another glaring example of poor drafting under the old regime. And, while I am certainly NO football wizard, the Rams have dumped about 80% of the players from last year’s squad that I hoped they would (again – see previous posts). But, I still don’t understand why we kept the aged Leonard Little. The D-Line is our weakest link right now, so I’m game to try anything/anyone there.
by edpjr on May 8, 2009 5:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
We keep Little
to wait for a top-tier DE, either through the draft, trade or FA. Carlos Dunlap would fit the bill.
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on May 8, 2009 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dunlap is a stud
who I would love to see sporting the horns, but all this does is get into the whole 2010 1st rd “QB or not QB” debate again.
We need a pitcher...not a DL itcher!
by gorams77 on May 9, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which is coming eventually anyway
I’m glad we didn’t pull the trigger this year, but if Jevan Snead comes out for the ‘10 draft and Bulger has a fecal season, we’d be hard-pressed not to get our franchise QB next year
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on May 9, 2009 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are right - Its coming anyway
So you have plenty of time to flop back and forth between your favorites Snead and LeFevour as far as who you like best (IMO Snead is much better – although one or both may stay in shcool depending on draft landscape).
I don’t see Bulger’s performance or health changing my mind about needing a franchise QB drafted next year.
We need a pitcher...not a DL itcher!
by gorams77 on May 9, 2009 4:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Damn - that was meant as a reply to 3k
We need a pitcher...not a DL itcher!
by gorams77 on May 9, 2009 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You just made me
vomit from my eyeballs.
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on May 10, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tebow hater!!!
I’ve watched Tebow play, and what attracts me to Tebow is not his running ability like most people think. It’s his smarts. Watch some film you’ll see it.
by strike77 on May 11, 2009 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not doubting his smarts
but there’s a reason nuclear scientists don’t make good QBs….
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on May 11, 2009 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tebow
Tebow may not be your prototypical pocket passer, but I’m not willing to accept that he won’t be good in the NFL. Regardless of which team he goes to, he will do whatever is it takes to win. He is athletic enough to do whatever it takes. His fire can’t be questioned. You can’t dismiss him as a system quarterback, just because a large part of his game is running or scrambling. He’s also a pretty dam good passer. I will admit right here I wouldn’t be disappointed to see him in a RAMS uniform although not in the 1st round.
by dbcouver on May 11, 2009 4:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Completly agree
Tebow is one of those players that is just going to win, period.
by strike77 on May 12, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brian Leonard
Leonard should have been kept, developed and traded for value. I, for one, think we’re putting way to much stock in just trusting Devaney and Spagnuolos instincts without them being proven. I would just as soon see us getting draft picks. Hopefully I’m wrong. Leonard was injured, and, if healthy, would have fulfilled that need we drafted him for originally. I can see giving up on players after we’ve seen their best, but……..
by dbcouver on May 11, 2009 4:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
What need did we draft him for?
I never did understand what our front ofice geniuses thought he was going to do for us. I watched him his rookie year before he was hurt. He was too slow and his only move was to jump over the tackler. He wasn’t big enough to be an effective fullback and not fast enough to be a good running back. I don’t think there is any way he was going to play enough this year to catch anyone’s attention and get them to give us a high draft pick or proven starter. We needed another DT and he got us one.
by andyrose on May 11, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A situational RB
Which is something we are STILL looking for. Right now we are cutting payroll. I wonder why.
by dbcouver on May 13, 2009 2:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Isn't Darby a situational RB?
Can’t we mold Oogabooga?
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on May 13, 2009 2:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have to be careful
or I might wind up on the wrong side of the debate. I think very little of Leonard. We got nothing in return though. Maybe had we let his health improve and mold him instead of someone else we could have gotten value. I keep digressing to the same point though. No creative wheeling and dealing by a front office that needs to make a better impression on me.
by dbcouver on May 13, 2009 3:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
No value?
We traded someone with absolutely no value (or role) on our team for a defensive lineman who not only has potential but plays a position where we have a glaring need for someone (anyone, really…but Harris is more than “anyone”).
Brian Leonard spent 2 seasons with the Rams and had 2 more left on his contract. He hadn’t proven himself valuable in any real way in the first two years, he probably wasn’t going to prove himself valuable in the second 2 years.
And, no, it’s not worth it to keep a guy on the roster hoping to mold him in to something of trade value. Not in the NFL, especially. Every spot on the roster is important and if you have someone eating up a spot who isn’t contributing to the team in some way, then it’s a wasted roster spot.
At least Harris will take the spot and should be part of the DL rotation. That, in and of itself, is a much better way to fill that roster spot than what Leonard was doing.
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky and I went horseback riding, but there weren't any horses around? Anyway, Brasky throws a saddle on my back and rides me around Wyoming for three days. Well, wouldn't ya know it, my stamina increased with each day, and I develop tremendous leg muscles. So anyway, Brasky decides to enter me into the Breeders Cup under the name Turkish Delight. And Im running in second place, and I'm running, and I break my ankle. So anyway, they're about to shoot me. Then someone from the crowd yells out, God bless him, Dont shoot him, he's a human.
by Tackle Box on May 13, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree completely.
Holding onto someone who isn’t helping you in hopes you can maybe mold him into something you can then trade somday down the road is not productive. This is particularly true when you are able to trade him now for someone who can help. Harris may or may not prove to be a very good DT, but at least he’s a body you can use in your rotation and he has shown he isn’t useless. He was a decent reserve for Cincinnatti or the Rams wouldn’t have taken him in trade.
by andyrose on May 13, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
RELAX
I was only responding to the reply of molding Ogbannaya. I knew I’d do this to myself. But what the hell I’m here now. None of our RBs did anything spectacular the last 2 seasons. I kind of thought everyone agreed this year could be different. Our running game is the fault of the line ONLY when it comes to Jackson? Please don’t put me in Leonards camp. My main point is, and I hope I’m wrong, I don’t see value in Harris either. Just my opinion.
by dbcouver on May 13, 2009 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would agree
that it’s next to impossible to see much value in Harris at this point, but you have to at least project more production here than he’s had anywhere else (much like Leonard to the Bengals).
Your uncle molests collies.
by 3k on May 13, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn't trying to put you in to the Leonard-defenders camp
Btw, are there really and Brian Leonard defenders?
Anyway, I think drafting Ogbannaya made Leonard somewhat a duplicate piece for the offense. He had no role. So, it’s better to deal away someone who has no role on your team for someone who might not have a role on another team but possibly fills a role on your team. They weren’t going to get anything better for Leonard (probably couldn’t even have gotten a 7th round pick since Cincy probably didn’t think Harris was worth a 7th rounder) so this is the deal we made.
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky and I went horseback riding, but there weren't any horses around? Anyway, Brasky throws a saddle on my back and rides me around Wyoming for three days. Well, wouldn't ya know it, my stamina increased with each day, and I develop tremendous leg muscles. So anyway, Brasky decides to enter me into the Breeders Cup under the name Turkish Delight. And Im running in second place, and I'm running, and I break my ankle. So anyway, they're about to shoot me. Then someone from the crowd yells out, God bless him, Dont shoot him, he's a human.
by Tackle Box on May 13, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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