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With ex-#Eagles G Evan Mathis now a free agent, worth noting fellow veteran guard Justin Blalock is retiring, I’m told. Started 125 games
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 15, 2015
It's a bit of a surprise if only for the timing. Three months ago, Justin Blalock was a legitimate target for the St. Louis Rams in free agency. Fast-forward 90ish days, and he's calling it quits.
The former Texas Longhorn and 2007 NFL Draft second-rounder played exclusively for the Falcons throughout his eight-year career. Blalock played 125 of 128 possible regular season games for Atlanta since 2007, an impressive level of durability that is un-Ramslike indeed.
As for Atlanta, they've released Sam Baker today as well. Brought into Atlanta a year after Blalock, Baker never quite made good on his first round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft coming out of Notre Dame. The last two years have been brutally unlucky on the injury front for Baker; he tore his left patella tendon in 2013 and tore the right one last year.
The Rams, meanwhile, are still tinkering with their offensive line options with six rookies and a pair of second-year linemen in Greg Robinson and Demetrius Rhaney.
In the end, the 2015 St. Louis Rams and their offensive line will be without Justin Blalock. Best of luck to him in his post-football career.