BREAKING NEWS: Officially Rams sign Butler, Karney

[RamsFan16]

rams sign butler, karney
wednesday, march 11, 2009


by nick wagoner
senior writer

- the rams continued their offseason roster reshaping on wednesday, making deals official with fullback mike karney and strong safety james butler.

- butler’s signing comes as no surprise as he’s been targeted from the start of free agency. He took a trip to st. Louis on opening weekend and left without a contract but both sides remained interested the whole way and the deal was finally completed.

- butler immediately gives the rams another young, ascending player in a secondary that suddenly seems full of players of that ilk. The rams re-signed ron bartell and placed the franchise tag on free safety oshiomogho atogwe. If that trio can be buoyed by a recovering tye hill and/or youngsters jonathan wade or justin king, there’s some serious potential to have a solid secondary for a long time.

- perhaps nobody is happier this morning than running back steven jackson who, in karney, gets a true lead blocking fullback for the first time since madison hedgecock departed in 2007.

- the karney deal is believed to be a three-year deal worth more than $3.5 million. Karney has only been in the league for five years and should still have plenty of football left in his own right.

- it’s hard to look at the rams’ offseason so far and think they haven’t accomplished much of what they set out to do in the free agency portion. They retained two key starters in bartell and atogwe and have added three starters in karney, butler and center jason brown. There’s still work to be done, including the addition of a backup quarterback which is likely to come in free agency and possibly in the coming days.

- other needs could be and likely will be filled through the draft though there are some other moves that could be made for depth in free agency. The rams believe they are in good shape heading into the draft and are far from married to drafting a tackle.
- butler and karney will be introduced at 11 a.m. Today and we’ll have their thoughts and comments as well as any other news from around here throughout the day.

edit: No links!!

[Nick_Weasel]

Nice, now it's all official... two fewer things to worry about.

[majorram]

Coats was reporting thats its a four year deal for Butler worth up to 17 mill with incentives...

steve

[bruce4life]

Damn Butler got more money than Brian Dawkins man ( before incentives) wow.... Dawkins I believe received a 5yr 17 million dollar deal before incentives. If i'm wrong sorry guys I just thought about it off the top of my head.


But love the signings another two hard nose gritty players who will help right the ship. Hard to see Pace go but with this cap we can sign players who are willing to buy into what Spags is gonna do here.

[unorthodox1999]

The Butler deal is cool. The Karney deal is unbelievable, didnt really think they'd put their noses out there for a FB even if one came available.

[Ramer]

Sweet! I'm liking this off season so far.

[jackson3909]

great!!! what a good free agency. This is a great youth movemement keep it coming spags and company. what is our current cap status?

[Mooselini]

This is great for us. I love it. The season can't come any sooner can it?

[ManofGod]

(fighting back tears of shear joy as he says) "Amen"! This has been the best offseason ever!

Got the coach!
Signed the key free agents!
Found the center!
Found the lead blocker!

Now all we need is a havoc causing DT, and run stuffing MLB, a back-up QB, and for someone to do something about the T. Holt situation. Man I can't wait for the season to come!

Go Rams!!!!

[Canadian Rams Fan]

This is totally awesome I can not wait to see what else they have planned. I hope we see the addition of a D.T and or M.L.B before the draft would be nice to know what they are planning on doing about the W.R situation.