O.J Atogwe situation

[Damned Ramz]

Does anyone have any theories or know why the rams decided to give Atogwe the lowest tender? why not at least make a team give up a draft pick to sign him???

As he still hasn't been signed by another team, maybe I'm just over valuing him, but as last years franchise player and just from watching him play, its hard for me to believe that he isn't worth at least a fourth round compensatory pick.

[AtlantaRamFan]

To tender him to a higher level requires the Rams pay him his salary last year, plus an extra 10-15%. Simply put, it doesn't seem the Rams feel he's a $7 million player. Apparently neither do other teams. The Rams have the ability to match any offer made by another team while trying to work out their own extension for him. I'd be very very surprised if he opens this next season at the lowest level tender. He'll either get a new deal from the Rams, or the Rams will match a 5-6 mil offer (my guess) from another team.

There is the risk of the "poison pill" clause that some teams have used in the past, but its generally frowned upon by teams and my guess is that it won't happy.