Rams extend DE C Long

[sosa39rams]

" Rams have agreed to terms in a huge 4 year extension w DE Chris Long. "

- Jay Glazer

OHH YA!

Contract UPDATE:

" Chris Long's contract extension w/Rams averages about $12.5 million over the 4 added years. Those four new years (2013-16) total $50 million "

"Of that new $50 million over 4 years, $27 million is guarnteed. Counting the existing year of contract (2012), Long's overall deal is .. "

".worth $60 million over 5 years, with $37 million guaranteed. "


- Jim Thomas

[fliptalianstallion]

Laurinaitis is next

[AvengerRam]

Awesome news!

This may clinch my "which jersey to buy this year" decision!

[sosa39rams]

Awesome news!

This may clinch my "which jersey to buy this year" decision!

You're lucky.. I had that discussion last year, pulled the trigger..... Bought a #72 Long jersey 1 week before he changed to 91.

[Tampa_Ram]

This is awesome. I was hoping a deal would get done before next year, just didnt expect it so fast i guess.

I'm Still debating on which to get-Long, Laurinaitis, or Quick. I'm waiting to see how Quick pans out, but right now Long is in the slight lead over JLau.

[Tampa_Ram]

@jthom1 Rams also are pretty far along in talks with LB James Laurinaitis, who like Long is entering the final year of his original Rams contract.

This would be awesome if this got done soon, would'nt have to worry next offseason.

[Nick]

Great news! Long has steadily improved each year, and I'm looking forward to seeing him remain a cornerstone of this young defense. He may be my favorite current Ram, so this is outstanding news!

[Nick]

Rams sign Long to extension; working on Laurinaitis
25 minutes ago
BY JIM THOMAS

Entering training camp, the Rams arguably had their two top defensive players facing unrestricted free agency after this season in end Chris Long and middle linebacker James Laurinaitis.

Half of that tandem is now under contract. The Rams announced Sunday, just an hour before the first full-squad practice of training camp, that Long had agreed to a four-year deal that will keep him under contract through 2016.

In what has to be some kind of first, Rams executive vice president of football operations Kevin Demoff made the announcement wearing a Rams helmet (minus facemask), a Rams jersey, shorts, and flip-flops.

Demoff was decked out in that gear because he was headed to a dunking booth in the parking lot at Rams Park _ part of the activities surrounding the start of camp. He was the first "dunkee" of training camp, and got sent to the water several times in the opening minutes by fans throwing football at a target.

Long, coming off back-to-back strong seasons, had 13-sacks last season and is now the oldest starter on a young, potentially emerging defensive line at age 27.

The Rams have also been working on a contract extension with Laurinaitis for a while, and consversations with his agent (Tom Condon) took place this weekend as well.

[C-Mob 71]

That's a relief to hear, I had a bad feeling Long would want to go flourish in greener pastures, now it is clear he is committed to returning the Rams to glory!

My apologies for questioning the character and loyalty of Mr. Long (I'll blame the cynacism on a former STL sports super star), and my kudos to Kevin Demoff and the front office!

[MauiRam]

Great news!! I'd rather the Rams spend cap dollars on proven guys within our system first. J. Lau should be on deck. Rather than giving Wallace a big payday (as a Ram), I'd rather spend some bucks on a solid O-lineman if one were to become available.

[Nick]

On the Rams' new deal with Chris Long
July, 29, 2012
By Mike Sando | ESPN.com

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- With fans streaming into the St. Louis Rams' facilities for the start of training camp, the team confirmed reports that defensive lineman Chris Long had reached an agreement on a four-year extension.

Long, who led the Rams with a career-high 13 sacks last season, had been scheduled to become a free agent after the 2012 season. His deal now runs through 2106. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported the news.

The Rams had repeatedly said they hoped to have a new contract for Long. Getting this deal done seemed more like a matter of when, not if.

Long, 27, has improved his sack totals in every season. He's been a tenacious player and one the Rams envisioned building around when they made him the second player chosen in the 2008 draft.

The Rams are looking for Long to assume a larger leadership role now that veterans Fred Robbins and James Hall are no longer on the team. Long, though still young in the bigger picture, is the oldest defensive lineman on a Rams roster that is the NFL's youngest by average age.

The Rams are scheduled to begin their first camp practice at 3:30 p.m. CT. I'll be heading out to the fields shortly.

[tomahawk247]

It's great to have this guy locked up in a long term deal

["sb2sb2sb"]

Great news indeed. And yeah I am planning on a Quick jersey as well, gotta see how he pans out though

[RealRam]

Great! Long has become a mainstay in Rams D.

[berg8309]

Most excellent news indeed!

Its fun to think to think on draft day the Rams got lambasted for passing on super talented sack-machine Vernon Gholston, a GUARANTEED double digit sack guy and by far best pass-rusher in the draft, and settling for Long, a guy who had a low ceiling as a DE, and would probably be a capable starter, but nothing more. Gholston hasn't even registered a sack in the NFL, and Long is terrorizing quarterbacks. Funny how things work out.