Rams Decide Not To 'Tag' Any Players

[r8rh8rmike]

Rams decide not to 'tag' any players

3 hours ago • By Jim Thomas jthomas@post-dispatch.com

It has been a foregone conclusion for weeks that the Rams would not use their franchise or transition tag this season, and it became official Monday afternoon as the deadline hit for teams to use either tag this offseason.

As a result, wide receiver Danny Amendola and a dozen other Rams players with expired contracts are on schedule to become unrestricted free agents March 12.

The Rams haven’t used a franchise tag designation since safety Oshiomogho Atogwe in 2009, and have used the tag only six times since the team moved to St. Louis in 1995:

• 1998: CB Ryan McNeil

• 2000: DE Kevin Carter

• 2003, ’04, ’05: LT Orlando Pace

• 2009: Atogwe

League-wide, only eight teams used the franchise tag this year, well below last year’s record 21 franchise tag designations. That’s a strong indication that money is tighter this year. This year’s list of franchise players is as follows:

• Buffalo: S Jairus Byrd

• Chicago: DT Henry Melton

• Cincinnati: DE Michael Johnson

• Dallas: DE/LB Anthony Spencer

• Denver: LT Ryan Clady

• Indianapolis: P Pat McAfee

• Kansas City: OT Brandon Albert

• Miami: DT Randy Starks

With so few players franchised, several players who could be appealing to the Rams are now scheduled to hit the market unless they re-sign with their teams by March 12.

Among them are offensive tackles Jake Long (Miami) and Sebastian Vollmer (New England); safeties Dashon Goldson (San Francisco), William Moore (Atlanta), and Glover Quinn (Houston); and tight ends Jared Cook (Tennessee) and Dustin Keller (New York Jets).

[Vinnie25]

Give me Dashon Goldson and Jared Cook and lets call it a day!

[HUbison]

Indianapolis: P Pat McAfee

On a side note, have you guys ever heard him on The Bob & Tom radio show? He's hilarious!

[chucknbob]

I'd take Jake Long if he'd lower his price.

[RosieJones]

If the Rams ended up with any of the three safeties listed I'd be satisfied, but my preference would be William Moore. Although I do like the idea of signing Goldson away from the Niners.

I'd rather see a player like Andy Levitre come in at guard as opposed to Long or Vollmer at tackle, since both have health concerns. Draft DJ Fluker if available for RT, then next year sign or draft your LT if Saffold doesn't work out.

I'm hoping the Rams will pass on both Cook and Keller. I know a lot of people on here really like them both, but I guess I just don't see it. Persoally I think this years draft class has at least 5 TE that will be better pros long term (Eifert, Ertz, McDonald, Escobar, and Kelce).