Rams cut DE Chris Long, LB James Laurinaitis, and TE Jared Cook

[jah]

Cap hits for 2015
Mayo 11M
Hightower ~7.5
Freeny 1.5M
(Collins 1M)

Laurinatis would not come for less than 5M a year, and that is still a bit on the cheaper side for a guy like him. After Collins and HTower's extensions, which are priorites over him, we cant spend too much more on that position.

According to Dont'a Hightower :

Hightower's cap hit was actually more like 2.5M last year. It's jumping up to ~7.5M for 2016, because he was drafted in 2012 and so the option year is 2016. So really, we paid our 3rd (arguably 4th) LB so much last year because he was literally the only one at the position making any significant money, as well as a team captain. It's definitely fallacious to claim the team will definitely rationalize paying Laurinaitis or some other LB who would be 3rd on the depth chart because of what Mayo got paid last year.

 

[Kontradiction]

Howie is from Mass. (played for Medfield in HS), so by that logic, Chris should sign with the Pats. I think Chris Long would be a good fit, he has been hurt and if healthy would thrive in the Pats system. Plus you can't discount what playing for a winner would do for him. Animal Jr. would also be a good fit. I think that with the lack of a first round pick, and no significant FA losses, the Pats won't be looking at any comp picks this year, so they may go ahead and hit the FA market with more gusto than we are used to seeing them use in previous years.

Howie may actually be okay with Chris playing here now that Sullivan is no longer the GM.

 

[STLRAMBRINGER]

Well, we've predominantly been a 4-3 team for quite awhile now, so that wouldn't be a problem.

It's possible that you're right, but we're talking about a depth TE that can play the TE2 or TE3 role.

He's made his living playing the MLB position and racking up tackles, so it's possible that you're overstating his so called "struggles" against the run. He's definitely proven to be effective in certain areas.

yea so Long would be the one i would look at. Has been injured last few years thou.

Maybe a TE3, Chandler is better thou, Cook demands more money for subpar play.He doesnt even block in the running game.

Without a doubt Laurinitis has been good, was shocked when he was cut, he does well in zone pass defense, but NFL guards eat him up, always have.

He is a role model / leader and invested himself completely in the community where he played for so long. Very good guy.

 

[Jackson 2]

Howie is from Mass. (played for Medfield in HS), so by that logic, Chris should sign with the Pats. I think Chris Long would be a good fit, he has been hurt and if healthy would thrive in the Pats system. Plus you can't discount what playing for a winner would do for him. Animal Jr. would also be a good fit. I think that with the lack of a first round pick, and no significant FA losses, the Pats won't be looking at any comp picks this year, so they may go ahead and hit the FA market with more gusto than we are used to seeing them use in previous years.

Not a big deal, but just to clarify, Howie played for Milford High School. He is a Charlestown native whose parents were concerned about his Townie relationships as a teen and sent him to Milford to live with an uncle and/or aunt, I believe.