Jason Cole: Rams Took a Legitimate Shot at VJ

by ViperLjs on Sep 22, 2010 11:49 PM CDT

According to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports, the Rams had an agreement done with Vincent Jackson for a long term deal, pending the completion of the trade from San Diego. The holdup was the asking price; the Chargers were demanding the Rams' second and third round picks from the 2011 draft. From what I've been hearing, this price was based half on Jackson's perceived similarity to Brandon Marshall and what he netted in trade, and half a not-so-subtle sign that A.J. Smith was not willing to help Jackson on his merry way.

This almost-deal is significant for a few reasons. It's evidence that either a) Devaney, despite his denials, is not happy about our receiver corps and is going to be aggressive about remedying the situation, or b) Kroenke stepped in and forced his hand. Either way, Kroenke was willing to spend a significant amount of money to improve the team, which can only be taken as a good sign.

I'm ready for some aggressive action to improve the team and I'm glad to hear that it was attempted. I don't blame the team for backing away, however, as the asking price was prohibitive, especially for a receiver that is not available for the entire year.

Perhaps the asking price will come down before the trade deadline, in which case we can step back in the game. If not, however, I am heartened by the attempt to improve our team, as it is desperately needed for not only wins, but for the morale of a moribund fanbase.

Poll

Should the Rams have given up their second and third round picks in 2011 for Vincent Jackson?

Yes! Jackson is the #1 receiver we need. He is worth it.

23 votes

No. Two high draft choices in the same year is too much for a rebuilding franchise.

81 votes

104 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

The fact that the F.O. made a legit effort

shows me they are serious about paying big bucks for an elite player. That’s encouraging, but I’m still disappointed this deal fell through. VJax could have really helped take this offense up a few levels, that is given the play calling is aggressive enough.

Winners train. Losers complain.

by Redbirds_n_Horns on Sep 23, 2010 12:28 AM CDT reply actions

+1

but i think it’s the case that having a legit #1 WR would facilitate more aggressive playcalling

by IrishRamsFan on Sep 23, 2010 7:01 AM CDT up reply actions

From what I heard today

On the radio that the Rams were considering it but after Edwards arrest for DWI Kronke stepped in and said no. It was on ESPN radio. On one of their updates.

It is milk it may be spilled it may be delicious.

by shostag on Sep 23, 2010 12:59 AM CDT reply actions

Right move

Nick Wagoner (senior writer affiliated with the Rams) made a really good point: what if Jackson has not figured it out, and gets arrested again? If Goodell then suspended him for a year, then that would pretty much be a waste of those high draft picks and a prevention of further rebuilding.

by RamBuck on Sep 23, 2010 7:40 AM CDT reply actions

Certainly I want an improvement of talent

But the price was too high. I think if it was “just” money, Kroenke would have said “do it!”

by RamBuck on Sep 23, 2010 7:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Glad this is behind us,

as much as I wanted to see the big man in blue and gold, its over. Perhaps before week 6 we can make something happen. Brandon Jacobs anyone?

They will notice and they will giggle.

by papapegasus on Sep 23, 2010 7:59 AM CDT reply actions

Brandon Jacobs is crap now. Forget about him.

I can take a beating ... I'm a Rams fan.

by Midasknight on Sep 23, 2010 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

I would have done it!

I figure for next years draft, we might have been able to trade down in the first round with someone and regain a third round pick. Why keep banking on the future when we still have over six months to figure out a plan.

by NachoD on Sep 23, 2010 1:35 PM CDT reply actions

"Devaney, despite his denials, is not happy about our receiver corps"

Well thank God Devaney knows how to play the NFL poker game. I don’t want someone who tells all, just like I don’t want the whole world knowing what our military is doing all the time. Loose lips…

Secondly, if we turn a deaf ear to what is said and just look for ourselves, why would he be happy with our receiver corps? The lone deep speed guy (who was developing nicely and destroying the Patriots when he got hurt) is out for the year, and now Robinson is banged up. Devaney better be thinking there’s a need, yeah. But…

Receivers are, in my opinion, plentiful and cheap compared to some other positions that you might draft with what will turn out to be a very high 2nd rounder. And a 3rd rounder? Even with the Rams lack of them, I don’t think the difference between Bradford-to-Clayton and Bradford-to-VJack is worth 2 extremely high picks.

Keep playing smart, Devaney.
You retained OJ Atogwe when he tried to make you blink and overpay. A smart, and patient, GM play there.

Saffold was a great, gutsy pick in the face of “but you already have Jason Smith.”

Laurinaitis was a great pick, period…exactly what you neeed in the middle of your D.

Bradford is everything he was supposed to be, even when he isn’t passing he’s the real deal.

Even Avery was developing right on time with most Wides (2-3 years) and was just destroying the Patriots and opening up the underneath when he was lost.

Hoomanwanui made everyone say Who? then they said Wow.

I have no problems with Devaney and the decisions he’s making. He’s gutsy, and he isn’t getting pushed around in the GM game.

by CoachConnors on Sep 23, 2010 1:39 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

+1million

by stlfan2004 on Sep 23, 2010 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

In general, I agree,

but a true Number 1 receiver would do wonders for our offense. As soon as a defensive coordinator has to gameplan for the long pass, it opens up more running lanes and more underneath routes for the rest of the team; right now they are simply crowding the line and playing single man coverage against our wideouts with little to fear. I believe a very good WR is one of the biggest needs on the team.

I’m glad they passed on this deal, though. Too much to pay for a guy who will eat a large chunk of money, and has character concerns.

by ViperLjs on Sep 23, 2010 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Holy crap!

You truly have a man crush on Avery! 3 catches in the entire preseason and he was developing nicely?! Wow! He sucked for two seasons and may have been our number two WITHOUT Clayton onboard and he was developing nicely? Clayton was number 4 on the Ravens depth chart and he takes over the number one slot in one week? Hmm your argument is very thin for Avery.

I didn’t see Devaney go after Marshall, Holmes or Boldin knowing damn well how bad our WR’s were. I didn’t see him make a play for M. Lynch, L. Washington, Thomas Jones or R. Torrian knowing that Jackson rarely plays a full season. And don’t give me some crap about Darby being good, I could have run through those holes and Washington just gave up. Anyway one or two of these moves combined with our schedule and we are in the playoffs at 8-8. As we sit no more that 4 wins.

Ignorance is bliss and way too many people are happy.

by Everett 11 on Sep 28, 2010 12:30 AM CDT up reply actions

I saw him play the Patriots, and yes he was developing nicely.

His game is was what I’m going by. Preseason numbers don’t mean shit for anyone…you don’t know that? Check the stats. So many stars don’t do anything wortwhile, its not even worth keeping track of. You need to see them play to know whats up.

by CoachConnors on Sep 28, 2010 2:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Ok give me some stars that didn’t do anything until their 3rd year. The biggest WR’s I can think of have had good 1st seasons and even better second seasons. Some were held down by poor coaching decisions until their 2nd seasons but not many. Avery was listed as our second receiver on multiple depth charts coming into the 10 season. Our WR’s suck minus Clayton and "Amen"dola. Simple as that. You were the one who said Avery was coming around because of the Patriots preseason game not me. His regular season stats certainly don’t put him in any sort of elite class. I have seen him play and he is terrible unless being blanketed is the new open.

Ignorance is bliss and way too many people are happy.

by Everett 11 on Oct 2, 2010 2:21 AM CDT up reply actions

San Diego's GM tells his players

they aren’t worth big money, then tells other teams they are among the top 5 in the league at their position and he wants a fortune for them. The fact is that he is a stubborn son of a gun who would rather win a power struggle with a player than help his team win football games. Be glad we don’t have him in St. Louis.

by andyhawk on Sep 23, 2010 10:27 PM CDT reply actions