This is just great news (Sarcasm)

*RamsFan16* · #1 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

Rams | Team turns their attention to M. Turk
Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:32:21 -0800

Jim Thomas, of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, reports the St. Louis Rams have apparently turned their attention to free agent P Matt Turk (Dolphins). Turk made three consecutive Pro Bowls with the Washington Redskins from 1996 through 1998, but has not averaged more than 41.7 yards in any season since the 2000 campaign in Miami.

We want this washed up guy. Great back to the times with Landeta

Rams | J. Baker leaves without a contract offer
Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:31:55 -0800

Jim Thomas, of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, reports free agent P Jason Baker (Panthers) visited the St. Louis Rams Wednesday, March 22, but he left without a contract offer. Baker is coming off a career year and was thought to be seeking more than $1 million a year. The Rams and Baker's agent talked about the parameters of a contract, but there apparently was no offer made by St. Louis.

That isn't alot of money at all! And field position helps win games! Ahduh! Give him the dang money. HE IS ONLY 27 AND IS THE BEST PUNTER IN THE NFL!

*realchamp11* · #2 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

Real great news (Sarcasm)

:1:

*chiguy* · #3 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

Punter is the least of our worries.

*Varg6* · #4 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiguy

Punter is the least of our worries.

yeah, let's try to fix our 30th ranked defense first. Just because it's been reported, doesn't really mean much until he's actually signed. But yeah, I'd really like if we got Baker, but hey, can't be a winner all the time with this FA crap. Or the draft....

*RamsFan16* · #5 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

Yea it isn't that big of worry but why the heck go after some washed up punter? Thats pretty much what we did with Landeta. We were fie with Haslett and his D, Linehan and his O and it should be Ligashesky and his ST!

**HUbison** · #6 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

The difference in average punt between the top punter in the league and the worst punter in the league is about 6 yards. The Rams punt an average of 4.5 times per game. Therefore, the total yardage difference between the best and worst punters in the league would only amount to 27 yards per game.

With our defense, 27 yards doesn't matter a whole lot.

As for Baker, he averaged 43.3 yards per punt. The average punter last year averaged 43.2 yards per punt. Baker wants over a million a year, the average punter will work for league minimum.

I don't think we are quite good enough yet to spend extra money for 1/10th of a yard per punt.

**HUbison** · #7 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

Quote:

Thats pretty much what we did with Landeta

You do know that Landeta outkicked Baker last year?

**laram0** · #8 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

In my opinion what's more important than yards per punt is accuracy. How times did he nail it inside the 20 or the 10 yard line ???

**HUbison** · #9 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by laram0

In my opinion what's more important than yards per punt is accuracy. How times did he nail it inside the 20 or the 10 yard line ???

Baker was tied for 14th in the league for punts inside the 20. Again, he seems pretty average to me, and not worth the $1+ mil he's apparently asking.

*theodus69* · #10 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

Not that we need the greatest punter in the league but Turk? Yeah, maybe 5 yrs ago!

*ZigZagRam* · #11 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

Over $1M for an average punter? No thanks.

I'd rather put that $1M towards a NT or the O-Line.

*RAM-BO* · #12 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

We don't need a punter next season. Are we really going to need to punt at all?

**HUbison** · #13 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM-BO

We don't need a punter next season. Are we really going to need to punt at all?

Hopefully, KR is another position we won't be needing much of next year either.

*RealRam* · #14 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

:up: Excellent analysis on NFL punters, HUbison (no sarcasm here).

Let's go for a good, even average, punter from the Draft. Hopefully consistent.

**evil disco man** · #15 (**permalink**) -23-03-2006

Baker has been with a different team every year he's been in the NFL, and coming off a career year, his value will be overpriced. I'm glad the Rams didn't bite, but I'd rather see them spend a 6th-7th rounder on a solid college punter than a journeyman like Baker or another over-the-hill guy like Turk.