Contracts not offered the early story for Rams in free agency

by Ryan Van Bibber on Mar 5, 2010 6:52 AM CST in 2010 St. Louis Rams offseason

And we're off...the NFL's 2010 league seasons has officially started, uncapped and all, and it's a flurry of free agent activity. For the St. Louis Rams, so far, the players they didn't offer contracts to comprise the most interesting news.

Jumping out at me was that the RFA TE Daniel Fells did not receive a RFA tender. That does not preclude his return to the team, but it creates a real need for help at the TE spot. I think they coaches and staff believe that recently added Derek Fine can bring just as much to the table as Fells. I also can't help but wonder if the Rams won't be trying, if they aren't already, to make a move for a TE. We've covered the possibility of Broncos TE Tony Scheffler, and Billy Devaney has shown a willingness to spend the cash to fill essential needs, a la Jason Brown. Stay tuned.

I suspect the Rams didn't feel like DT Gary Gibson warranted the salary associated with the RFA tender, and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't try to bring him back...unless his ankle and foot injury were the reason they didn't extend an offer to the undrafted DT who had a nice start to the season filling in for Adam Carriker.

Bringing back Richie Incognito? We'll see. There's no doubt he can play, but is it worth the headache and potential for a damning 15-yard penalty on 3rd-and-short?

I still just can't get my head around the Atogwe situation. Dumb moves are't commonplace with GM Billy Devaney. Atogwe is not a $7 million player. Playing under the franchise tag last season, the Rams paid him $6.3 million, just $100K less than Ed Reed. Atogwe brings something more than just a replacement level FS to the table, but are you really going to give him a contract that pays him Ed Reed money? That said, he's one of the few playmakers the Rams have on defense, and this decision makes it too easy for him to get away. I still think they're gambling on another team making him a reasonable offer and matching it, and with the uncertain state of the league's future teams might be less willing to jack up the price. At the very least, the Rams should try to trade him, but trading him with a $7 million price tag might be easier said than done, hence the decision.

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Comments

I suspect you are right

on Fells and Gibson. They will attempt to sign them for less than the tender amount, which only makes sense. They aren’t worth over $1 million each. I think you also have the Atogwe situation right. He isn’t a $7 million safety, so let him see what he is really worth out there and match it.

The article in the Post noted that Bulger was in the Rams offices yesterday as well. I don’t think either he or Cogs being there means anything. The big story about Bulger clearing out his locker had everyone saying we would never see him again. Of course, everyone else cleared out their lockers as well, but that wasn’t mentioned. Now we have seen him at Rams park again. We are all so desperate for any information that the slightest tidbit has us all excited. I plan to cool down about all this since most of it doesn’t mean anything.

by andyrose on Mar 5, 2010 12:00 PM CST reply actions