I have come to a conclusion

[Guest]

That we should keep Bulger next year, especially if we draft Suh and QB second round.

Dont get me wrong I have hated Bulger ever since Warner left. (I was one of those who said we should trade Bulger since stock was high and stick it out with Warner). But anyway, that way if we get somebody like Mallett or Pike in the second round, we have someone for them to learn under.

Bulger is deadly accurate, and it wouldn't hurt to have him on the sidelines taking a young gun under his wings.

The only and I mean the only exception I see to this is if we can get any trade value for bulger. And if Spags thinks Campbell will fit in our system and picks him up, might as well drop Bulger in FA Then.

We already have a lot of cap room, doubt just dropping Bulger is gonna open us up to get more players....Might as well do that next offseason

[AvengerRam_old]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

If there is no cap (and, for the record, my prediction is that there will be a cap in 2010), I might consider keeping him on his current contract.

If there is a cap, I think the Rams have to either reduce his pay or, if he won't agree to that, let him go. There are veteran QBs out there who will play for less while the Rams groom a replacement.

[RebelYell]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

Per the Post, cutting him would free up $4.5 million in cap space in 2010 and he would be completely off the books in 2011. Considering the way the team has acted in the recent past, I'm very doubtful the team will keep him. Throwing money aside, I think you'd have to interview Marc and see how he feels about a situation like that. He may make it very clear he wants no part of being a stop gap player because he (maybe) thinks he's starting quality still. No way for us to know what he's thinking.

[01d 0rd3r]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

Per the Post, cutting him would free up $4.5 million in cap space in 2010 and he would be completely off the books in 2011. Considering the way the team has acted in the recent past, I'm very doubtful the team will keep him. Throwing money aside, I think you'd have to interview Marc and see how he feels about a situation like that. He may make it very clear he wants no part of being a stop gap player because he (maybe) thinks he's starting quality still. No way for us to know what he's thinking.

Exactly, we dont know how he will react to being a mentor. You sit him down and talk with him, and he says "sure ill mentor a younger player" then ya, go for it. But dont just bring one in, remember what happened in Green Bay, Farve and Rodgers didnt have a friendly relationship.

[PeoriaRam]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

If there is no cap (and, for the record, my prediction is that there will be a cap in 2010), I might consider keeping him on his current contract.

If there is a cap, I think the Rams have to either reduce his pay or, if he won't agree to that, let him go. There are veteran QBs out there who will play for less while the Rams groom a replacement.

We're $35 million under the cap with Bulger's contract. I highly doubt that we will spend all that money this offseason, based on our past moves and this franchise's (lack of) luck in bringing in top flight free agents.

[Mooselini]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

This was something I was always for. We have a huge cap to work with.

Bulger is a solid player. And he is always working hard. I can almost guarantee when he gets out of the cast, he will be the one out there working again. I won't lie, we need to find a new QB of the future. Either way, they should learn under Bulger. The guy is deadly accurate.

[molar_pistol]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

If there is no cap (and, for the record, my prediction is that there will be a cap in 2010), I might consider keeping him on his current contract.

If there is a cap, I think the Rams have to either reduce his pay or, if he won't agree to that, let him go. There are veteran QBs out there who will play for less while the Rams groom a replacement.

i would say the exact opposite...if there is no cap, we will likely cut him (along with others) to get their bloated contracts off of our cap, which will likely return the following year and beyond. it's an interesting thing, because it's the only time guys can be cut or traded without their team receiving a cap penalty because of it..though 4th-year guys that would be free agents won't be available, a number of guys will probably be let loose so if this staff does its research we should be able to pick up a few quality guys that just couldn't find a spot on their current team for whatever reason.

[PeoriaRam]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

i would say the exact opposite...if there is no cap, we will likely cut him (along with others) to get their bloated contracts off of our cap, which will likely return the following year and beyond. it's an interesting thing, because it's the only time guys can be cut or traded without their team receiving a cap penalty because of it..though 4th-year guys that would be free agents won't be available, a number of guys will probably be let loose so if this staff does its research we should be able to pick up a few quality guys that just couldn't find a spot on their current team for whatever reason.

If the cap goes, it's not coming back any time soon. Just a general FYI.

[LA Rammer]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

Bulger will definitely have to reduce his contract. This will free up the possibility of creating opportunity to improve our offensive line. He is in a no win situation. What team would want him? Unless he gets a chance to redeem himself and that chance won't come without a pay cut. Otherwise he will backup the Jets or Falcons.

[NJ Ramsfan1]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

I venture to guess Marc Bulger considers himself a starter. I cannot envision a scenario where he agrees to come back to a team coming off a 1-15 season in a back-up role and at a reduced salary, no less. How many of us would lend ourselves to that??

Bulger might come back at his current salary, but would balk at not beginning the season as the starting QB, (assuming we take one in the 1st or 2nd round). I can easily see Bulger coming back, starting the season, and being relieved of his duties in week 5 or 6, just as Eli Manning took over for Kurt Warner with the Giants several years ago.

Boller is gone. And while Null hasn't exactly been put in the best of circumstances, he hasn't shown me he's the future of this team. So the job will go to Bulger by default, unless the Rams deem it both necessary and wise to throw their 2010 QB draft pick right into the fire.

[Rambunctious]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

I honestly don't think any qb in this year's draft is ready to be our #1 straight out of the gate.

So we need someone to start.

If we cut Bulger we save 4.5 million but we must turn right around and spend close to that much to replace him.

If I'm a coach and I look down the bench at a healthy Bulger, Campbell, Pennington or Orton... I send in Bulger every time.

So mark me down as a keep Bulger vote.

And a little reminder for all of us that regret the day we let Warner go. He had some bad years in between Super Bowl appearances. There is no reason Bulger's pendulum can't swing back in the right direction as well.

[Nick]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

Per the Post, cutting him would free up $4.5 million in cap space in 2010 and he would be completely off the books in 2011. Considering the way the team has acted in the recent past, I'm very doubtful the team will keep him.

That's a fair point. The Rams had no problem parting ways with other veterans in an effort to clear some money off the books, but in doing so, they've created a lot of cap room for 2010 (if there is a cap). Past behavior may indicate that they'll cut Marc rather than pay him the money he's scheduled to make, but this might be one of the few occasions when the Rams value the presence of a veteran mentor more than the extra $4.5 million they could gain (obviously it'd be less than that, though, since they'd have to sign a replacement for Marc).

Exactly, we dont know how he will react to being a mentor. You sit him down and talk with him, and he says "sure ill mentor a younger player" then ya, go for it. But dont just bring one in, remember what happened in Green Bay, Farve and Rodgers didnt have a friendly relationship.

I'm pretty sure Spagnuolo said in one of his post-game press conferences that both Bulger and Boller had done an excellent job talking with Keith Null and trying to help him along now that he's seeing some playing time. I'd have to go on a search to find the quote or video, but I've not seen anything from Bulger that would suggest to me that he wouldn't be willing to help mentor a younger player.

Bulger will definitely have to reduce his contract. This will free up the possibility of creating opportunity to improve our offensive line. He is in a no win situation. What team would want him? Unless he gets a chance to redeem himself and that chance won't come without a pay cut. Otherwise he will backup the Jets or Falcons.

I would think possible landing spots could include Cleveland, Washington, Buffalo, Oakland, or Denver (if they can't retain Orton). If he hits the market, I wouldn't be surprised if he signed on with one of those teams to compete for a starting job or serve as their own stopgap. You're right though; it would be at a lower price than what he's scheduled to make with the Rams in 2010. But if the Rams cut him, I don't think that has to mark the end of his days as a starter.

If we cut Bulger we save 4.5 million but we must turn right around and spend close to that much to replace him.

If I'm a coach and I look down the bench at a healthy Bulger, Campbell, Pennington or Orton... I send in Bulger every time.

So mark me down as a keep Bulger vote.

This is kind of where I stand on this. Cutting Bulger frees up $4.5 million, but let's assume the Rams will have to use $2 million of that to bring in a new stopgap starter. When the Rams are poised to have somewhere around $35 million in cap space - if there even is a cap - does that savings really make that much of a difference? Which is worth more - the cap savings? or having a quarterback who has spent a year in this system and is familiar with the personnel and playbook from Day One?

It'll be interesting to see what the Rams elect to do.

[RebelYell]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

Cap issues aside, it isn't about freeing up $4.5 million in 2010, it's about eliminating his entire contract in 2011 and beyond. Saving $10 million in 2011 would be nice if it's about breaking even in 2010. It's rather silly to look at one savings and ignore the other completely.

If there is no cap in 2010, teams are not required to spend a minimum percentage of their salary cap. The team could very easily just pocket that money in an attempt to either pay taxes or make a purchase more attractive for one year. One of the multiple reasons the players union would be so motivated to sign a temporary cap is that this minimum could be restored.

[Rambunctious]

Re: I have come to a conclusion

Cap issues aside, it isn't about freeing up $4.5 million in 2010, it's about eliminating his entire contract in 2011 and beyond. Saving $10 million in 2011 would be nice if it's about breaking even in 2010. It's rather silly to look at one savings and ignore the other completely.

I'm probably wrong but I think we would still save that $10 million and have him off the books if we let him go after the 2010 season.