From PFW: Rams Interested in Schulters?/Any Teams Want Turley?

[AvengerRam]

June 1 cuts add little depth to free-agent talent pool

ProFootballWeekly.com asks associate editor Jeff Reynolds for his thoughts on the hottest topics in the NFL.

Few coveted veterans expected to hit the street

One of the anticipated June 1 cap casualties, CB R.W. McQuarters, was released May 23. The number of veterans who could join him is expected to be relatively small as teams can begin parting with high-priced veterans to save money against the salary cap on Wednesday.

PFW: Which players worthy of other teams’ interest could be available?

Reynolds: Two players that teams believe have something left and are all but certain to become available are Titans FS Lance Schulters and Chiefs WR Johnnie Morton. Schulters turned 30 last week and is running without pain after missing 13 weeks with a foot injury in 2004. The Guyana-born cover safety was a perfect fit in the Titans’ 4-6 defense because he had the combination of size, quickness and range to cover running backs, slot receivers and tight ends when necessary. Schulters could stay with the Titans, who picked up his roster bonus in March, but it would ultimately mean accepting a reduction in salary. Given the apparent interest from St. Louis, Dallas and Washington, don’t be surprised to see Schulters set free.
Morton is nothing more than a complementary receiver at this point. He signed a seven-year, $25.7 million contract with the Chiefs on March 29, 2002 after eight seasons with the Lions. In Detroit, Morton flashed the ability to perform as a No. 1 receiver in an offense that made it difficult to double-team the outside receivers. This year, the Chiefs encouraged Morton to stay away from offseason team activities — a usual request to players about to be led to the chopping block — and the sides have discussed a dramatically altered contract to reduce Morton’s cap figure below $3 million. There is a lot of doubt about what Morton has left to offer. He turns 34 in October and never had more than 55 catches or 795 yards receiving in a season.

Two other players in whom teams could have mild interest include Redskins MLB Mike Barrow and Rams ORT Kyle Turley. Barrow is 35 and didn’t log a snap with the Redskins due to a knee injury in ’04. Washington has since signed Warrick Holdman to play inside, replacing Antonio Pierce (Giants), and doesn’t figure to pick up the $2.2 million tab to keep Barrow around. Turley had back surgery and missed all of last season. Now, he’s weighing closer to 250 pounds and telling friends he plans to return — as a defensive lineman. Between the position switch and the fact that Turley has been thrown overboard on each of his pro teams (New Orleans and now St. Louis), it’s a long shot that Turley is signed unless he’s willing to play offensive tackle.

[thoey]

Thrown overboard??? Only if you think of it as he tied himself to the anchor and then threw it over himself...

[ZigZagRam]

I tried defending Turley when he first became a Ram but many on this board were correct. Turley is a loser.

Reading that tidbit about Lance Schulters made me feel all tingly inside. Let's go get him and give Atogwe some time to develop. A few other teams also interested in Schulters are Atlanta and Detroit (neither of which he'd be guaranteed the starting job). I think the biggest competition will come from Dallas who has about 10.5M in cap left to spend. They, however, have several early draft picks they have to pay for. Washington has very little cap space, even if they cut Rod Gardner.

[Chiledog]

I think it's pretty certain that no team in the league will want Turley as an offensive tackle, much less as a defensive lineman. Who would want to try an experiment with a guy who is a proven trouble-maker and plague? (except maybe the Eagles)

[HUbison]

I think it's pretty certain that no team in the league will want Turley as an offensive tackle, much less as a defensive lineman. Who would want to try an experiment with a guy who is a proven trouble-maker and plague? (except maybe the Eagles)

Let's all spell it together R-A-I-D-E-R-S