Rams release DE Hall

[Nick]

Rams Part with Hall
Friday, February 29, 2008
By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

Two days after ensuring one starting defensive end will stay in St. Louis , the Rams parted ways with another. The team released defensive end James Hall on Friday as it continues to build additional cap space.

Hall was due a base salary of $3 million in 2008 with a roster bonus of $500,000 that was due Sunday and on the heels of the release of quarterback Gus Frerotte and receiver Isaac Bruce, the Rams suddenly have much more financial flexibility heading in to the start of the free agency period.

With the salary cap set at $116 million, the savings the team has accrued from the re-structure of end Leonard Little’s contract and the release of Frerotte, Bruce and Hall has the Rams with about $18 million in cap space.

Hall spent one season in St. Louis , a season that for the most part was a disappointment. The team traded for Hall on the opening day of free agency a year ago, sending a fifth-round choice to Detroit in exchange for Hall.

An undrafted free agent out of Michigan , Hall was a bit of an injury risk when the Rams traded for him. But Hall’s pass rushing skills made the risk worth it in the team’s on going search for a bookend to Little.

In 15 games, Hall posted 2.5 sacks, the most by a Rams defensive end in 2007. He added 59 total tackles and a pair of passes defended. He missed the Atlanta game on Dec. 2 because of an ankle injury.

In eight seasons in the league, Hall has 395 tackles and 35.5 sacks.

Hall’s release leaves the Rams with an even more glaring need at defensive end, a position that has already been made one of, if not the, top priority for the team entering the offseason.

Not including Adam Carriker (who can play end but spent most of the season at tackle), the Rams have just Little, Victor Adeyanju and Eric Moore under contract at end.

[hoosierdaddy]

Some more cap room, I like it.

[chipperjones]

Im pullin for a Chris Long!!! But Eric Moore is a beast!

[cfh128]

We had better hope Chris Long falls into our lap somehow...

[Ramer]

Good move. I really didn't like Hall. Plus, I'm with hoosierdaddy more cap room.

[majorram]

James hall has be released, he had a salary of 3.5 mill and a roster bonus of 500.000 due to him this weekend!!
( jim thomas reporting)


steve:l

[Bar-bq]

No! We need that great pass-rush potential we were all contented by last offseason!

[Kane]

I am DELIGHTED that James Hall has been released. I'll be more delighted if I hear later today that Drew Bennett has gone too.

[mikhal5569]

James Hall wasn't too bad of a player. I do agree that we need more of a pass rush specialist though.

[keith m. klink]

HALL's potential never turned into actions . we can get better and younger than him and we should have that as a goal .