DeJuan Groce started 15 games last season for the Rams at cornerback. But he fell victim to the Rams new-found depth in the secondary under new coach Scott Linehan.
Groce, a fourth-round draft choice by the team in 2003, was among 10 players cut Saturday morning as the team reached the mandatory regular-season roster limit of 53.
The arrival of Stephen Davis on Friday wasn’t good news for running backs Moe Williams and Fred Russell. Williams and Russell were among the other cuts by the Rams.
Also released Saturday were quarterback Dave Ragone, tight end Jerome Collins, linebacker
Tim McGarigle; offensive guard Tony Palmer (of the University of Missouri); wide receiver Dominique Thompson; and defensive linemen Brian Howard and Tim Sandidge.
AdvertisementIt’s likely the Rams will try to sign some of the younger released players, most notably Russell, McGarigle, Palmer, and Sandidge, to the practice squad if they clear waivers over the next 24 hours.
The release of Groce leaves starters Travis Fisher and Fakhir Brown, and backups
Tye Hill and Jerametrius Butler, as the Rams’ top four corners. In addition, second-round draft pick
Ron Bartell is a corner-safety swing player.
Other players kept in the nine-person secondary are starting safeties
Corey Chavous and Oshiomogho "O.J." Atogwe, and backups Dwaine Carpenter and Jerome Carter.
Howard has been with the Rams the past two seasons, registering 29 tackles in 20 games over the 2004 and ’05 seasons. Collins was a fifth-round draft pick of the Rams in 2005 and appeared in three games for the team last season. Thompson played in two games last season for St. Louis, catching one pass for 13 yards.
McGarigle and Palmer, both seventh-rounders, were the only 2006 draft picks cut.