Interior linemen were already a need for the St. Louis Rams this year, and that need just got a little more pressing as of Monday. The Rams released Jason Brown, according to Aaron Wilson of Scout.com.
Brown's release is the first major roster move since Jeff Fisher took over as head coach. Cutting Brown and his sizable contract carries significant implications for the Rams. Let's review.
The Rams signed Brown in 2009, making him one of the wealthiest centers in the league with a five-year, $37.5 million deal. He was almost an immediate disappointment.
Brown never really lived up to his status as a one of the top free agent linemen that season. He underperformed with the Rams, getting manhandled by bigger defensive tackles. Last season it finally proved to be too much for even Steve Spagnuolo, who benched Brown and replaced him in the lineup with Tony Wragge.
Brown returned to the lineup later in the season at guard, filling in for injuries.
Releasing hims forces the team to eat some of his hefty contract. He had a $7.2 million cap hit this year, and the Rams just saved $2.8 million in cap space by cutting him.
Wragge is a free agent himself.
Right now the only center on the Rams roster is Tim Barnes, a Mizzou product signed to the practice squad.