Recent News Articles

• Bradford Wasn't Far from Tornado Monday

  Tuesday, May 21, 2013
  Rams quarterback Sam Bradford was at practice Tuesday as the team held its first OTA of the offseason. But his mind was in Oklahoma City, his hometown, where the devastating tornado hit Monday afternoon... read more

• Rams Spend $60,000 in Bonuses on Five Undrafted Players

  Monday, May 20, 2013
     With numerous roster spots to fill after the draft to reach the offseason limit of 90 players, the Rams got very busy signing undrafted free agents.    The most recent addition of Lindenwood wide receiver Andrew Helmick brought to 29 the number of undrafted players the Rams have signed... read more

• Rams Wheel and Deal Again in First Round

  Friday, April 26, 2013
  For the second consecutive year, the Rams ended up being wheelers and dealers in the first round of the draft. In 2012, the Rams first moved from the second overall pick to sixth in a trade with the Washington Redskins that netted them a second-round pick, plus first-round choices this year and in 2014... read more

• Mock Draft: Who Each Team Should Select

  Thursday, April 25, 2013
  Well, I held out long enough. You won’t see any Mock Draft 6.0 in this space. One is enough, but I profess to do it differently than many. After all, everyone loves to play general manager, so that’s the goal of this mock draft... read more

• Balzer: Contract Figures Revealed for Chris Williams

  Tuesday, April 23, 2013
  The Rams now have $3.77 million of salary-cap space, which reflects the restructured contract for defensive end Chris Long and the one-year deal signed by guard Chris Williams. The Williams contract, agreed to three weeks ago but submitted to the NFL Monday, is worth $1... read more

• Balzer: Rams Restructure Long's Contract

  Tuesday, April 23, 2013
  Finally. It has been assumed for some time the Rams would have to restructure at least one of their players with large cap numbers to clear room in order to potentially sign a veteran or two after the draft as well as their draft class... read more

• Balzer: Darian Stewart Signs for Less Than Tender

  Wednesday, April 10, 2013
  There were some raised eyebrows when Rams safety Darian Stewart was tendered as a restricted free agent at the beginning of the league year. The tender, $1.323 million, counted against the salary cap. When Stewart signed on April 3, it was believed he had signed his tender... read more

• Balzer: Rams Cap Charges by Player

  Wednesday, April 3, 2013
  Cortland Finnegan     15,000,000   Chris Long    13,250,000   Sam Bradford    12,595,000   James Laurinaitis   12,400,000   Scott Wells     6,500,000      Kendall Langford       6,000,000   Jake Long     4,250,000   Jared Cook    4,000,000   Harvey Dahl    4,000,000   Robert Quinn    2,573,469   Jo-Lonn Dunbar    2,300,000   Michael Brockers    2,164,091   William Hayes    2,050,000   Rodger Saffold    1,460,000   Darian Stewart    1,323,000   Eugene Sims    1,226,988   Brian Quick    1,224,227   Janoris Jenkins    1,134,163   Lance Kendricks    1,152,555   Isaiah Pead      917,750   Jermelle Cudjo      730,000   Austin Pettis      724,569   Trumaine Johnson      696,794   Chris Givens      604,257   Josh Hull      583,889   Shelley Smith      575,000   Jake McQuaide      555,834   Joe Barksdale      555,000   Mike McNeill      555,000   Greg Zuerlein      512,205   Rokevious Watkins      452,825   Daryl Richardson      491,474   Brandon Washington      484,484   Matt Daniels      483,333   Johnny Hekker      483,333   Matt Conrath      482,000   Rodney McLeod      481,333   Sammy Brown      481,083   Terrance Ganaway      480,000   Austin Davis      480,000   Cory Harkey      480,000   Quinton Pointer      480,000   Jabara Williams      480,000   Ty Nsekhe      480,000   Tim Barnes      480,000   Mason Brodine      480,000   Chase Reynolds      405,000   Nick Johnson      405,000   Cameron Graham      405,000   Raymond Radway      405,000                                                             110,913,656 DEAD MONEY   Danario Alexander        8,889   Todd Anderson        2,000   Aaron Brown      51,675   Sammy Brown       4,667   Jeremy Caldwell       1,667   Cory Harkey       1,667   Michael Hay       1,334   T-Bob Hebert          334   Alex Hoffman-Ellis       2,000   Michael Hoomanawanui     53,878   Jamaar Jarrett       2,667   Noah Keller       2,667   Calvin Middleton         667   Quintin Mikell   6,000,000   Matthew Mulligan     100,000   Jerome Murphy     234,437   Deangelo Peterson        4,000   Quinton Pointer       1,667   Greg Salas    225,578   Nick Schweiger       1,667   Jason Smith  4,042,500   Scott Smith       2,667         10,746,628

• Balzer: Rams Convinced Long is Glue to Hold Line Together

  Friday, March 29, 2013
  There's no question in Jeff Fisher's mind the Rams have added an elite left tackle to their roster with the signing of Jake Long. He knows Long has to stay healthy for that to happen, but Long is out to prove his injuries are behind him and he can go back to being the dominant player he was during his first three seasons in Miami... read more

• Balzer: Jake Long Contract Details

  Monday, March 25, 2013
  Tackle Jake Long has the opportunity to make a lot of money if he plays all the seasons on his four-year contract with the Rams. However, the team also has some safeguards in the contract in the event injuries continue and his performance suffers, as it did the last two seasons in Miami... read more

• Balzer: Complete Figures for Rams Performance-Based Pay

  Thursday, March 21, 2013
  Former Rams center/guard Rob Turner earned the top figure in the NFL’s “Performance-Based Pay” program that compensates players for playing time based upon their salary levels. Turner received $248,067... read more

• Balzer: Details of Steven Jackson's New Contract

  Tuesday, March 19, 2013
  When running back Steven Jackson signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons last week, there were those that questioned whether a team should pay that much money to a running back that will be 30 years old in July... read more

• Balzer: Jake Long Agrees to Terms with Rams

  Monday, March 18, 2013
  NFL owners, executives and coaches are in Phoenix for the league meetings, and while there Sunday night the Rams completed a contract with Miami free-agent tackle Jake Long. Initial reports say the deal is worth either $36 million or “up to” 36 million... read more

• Balzer: Amendola Contract Not What Originally Advertised

  Saturday, March 16, 2013
  As is often the case in the reporting of contracts, the deal wide receiver Danny Amendola signed with the New England Patriots is not what was originally advertised. Widely circulated as a five-year contract worth $31 million, the total value is actually $28... read more

• Balzer: Rams Still Talking to Long

  Friday, March 15, 2013
  Talks were ongoing Thursday between the Rams and Miami free-agent tackle Jake Long. Rams vice president of football operations Kevin Demoff tweeted a picture of himself dining with Long’s agents Tom Condon and Ben Dogra at a St... read more

• Balzer: Rams New Tight End Reunited with Fisher

  Friday, March 15, 2013
  Rams coach Jeff Fisher has always had his eyes on tight end Jared Cook. It began in 2009 when Cook was draft-eligible after his playing career at South Carolina. Then in Tennessee, the Titans wanted Cook so badly, they traded a second-round pick in 2010 for New England’s third-round pick in 2009 so they could select Cook... read more

• Balzer: Breakdown of Contract for Jared Cook

  Thursday, March 14, 2013
  The contract figures for Rams tight end Jared Cook are official, and this is one instance where the numbers communicated by the agent were totally accurate. The total value of the five-year deal is $35... read more

• Balzer: Breakdown of Contract for William Hayes

  Wednesday, March 13, 2013
  The numbers are in for the three-year contract signed by Rams defensive end Williams Hayes. The total value is $10.25 million and includes a $3.75 million signing bonus. His base salaries are $800,000 in 2012 guaranteed; $2... read more

• Balzer: Contract terms for Cook and Cudjo

  Wednesday, March 13, 2013
  The five-year contract signed by tight end Jared Cook with the Rams is worth $35.1 million with $19 million in guarantees. His cap charge for 2013 is $4 million, according to reports. The specific Breakdown is not yet available... read more

• Balzer: Best Available After Nine Hours of Free Agency

  Wednesday, March 13, 2013
  Let the chaos ensue. That was the essence of the official start of the 2013 NFL league year at 4 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday. Within two hours, the Miami Dolphins struck quickly to upgrade their offense and defense, while the Indianapolis Colts reached agreement with five unrestricted free agents... read more

• Balzer: Updated Best Free Agents Available

  Monday, March 11, 2013
  Call it the calm before the storm. As the weekend came to a close, leaving reduced time before the beginning of the 2013 league year at 4 p.m. Eastern Tuesday, groundwork has been laid for possible deals with an expected onslaught Tuesday afternoon... read more

• Balzer: Best NFL Free Agents Available

  Saturday, March 9, 2013
  Let the scrambling begin. With free agency set to begin at 4 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday (March 12), an open negotiating period commenced at the stroke of midnight Friday. Knowing that clandestine talks were usually held anyway in the past between teams and agents prior to the official start of the league year, the new guidelines were put into effect... read more

• Balzer: Jackson As Good as Gone; Doesn't Want to be in Job Share

  Thursday, March 7, 2013
  To hear what Steven Jackson said on SiriusXM NFL Radio Thursday, it sounds like his career in St. Louis is probably over. Jackson voided the final year of his contract with the Rams this week, officially making him an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday... read more

• Balzer: No Surprise: Jackson to Void Contract

  Wednesday, February 27, 2013
  In a move that is hardly surprising, running back Steven Jackson will elect to void the final year of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent March 12. Jackson was scheduled to be paid $7 million in 2013, but an agreement in September between Jackson and the team gave him the right to void the final year and be able to test the open market... read more

• Balzer: Young is Now Rams' Problem

  Friday, February 8, 2013
  Last season, the Rams took a risk by selecting cornerback Janoris Jenkins in the second round of the draft. Jenkins produced in his rookie year, although he was benched in a game against San Francisco for missing curfew... read more

• Balzer: Rams Make Another Adjustment to Jackson's Contract

  Monday, January 7, 2013
  The Rams and running back Steven Jackson made an adjustment in his contract Dec. 29 that moves the final year of signing bonus proration of $1.899 million from 2013 to the current league year. The 2013 league year begins March 12... read more

• Balzer: Rams Back to .500 with One Game to Play

  Monday, December 24, 2012
  The Rams have a chance to achieve something the franchise hasn’t done since 2003, the year before running back Steven Jackson was drafted: finish a season with a winning record. Following a 28-13 victory over Tampa Bay, the team’s third straight road victory, the Rams learned they were eliminated from the playoffs because of Minnesota’s win over Houston... read more

• Balzer: Rams Lay Second-quarter Egg Against Vikings

  Monday, December 17, 2012
  The playoffs were a longshot anyway, and even though those hopes were virtually gone after a 36-22 loss to Minnesota Sunday, there is a lot to play for in the final two games of the season, beginning Sunday in Tampa Bay... read more

• Balzer: Is This Jackson's Final Home Game?

  Friday, December 14, 2012
  Forgive Rams running back Steven Jackson if there are a swirl of emotions during Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. A win over Minnesota would keep alive the team's chances of making the playoffs, and would put them one victory away from having the first winning record in Jackson's nine seasons with the Rams... read more

• Balzer: Controlling Adrian

  Thursday, December 13, 2012
  Only twice this season have the Rams allowed a running back to gain at least 100 yards in a game: Seattle's Marshawn Lynch (20-118) and New England's Stevan Ridley (15-127). In the last three games, their opponent's leading running back hasn't reached 60 yards and in those games, Beanie Wells, Frank Gore and C... read more

• Balzer: Rams Stay Alive

  Monday, December 10, 2012
  While most everyone wants to hear Rams coach Jeff Fisher and his players talk about the playoffs, mum's the word when it comes to any such discussion. The Rams' 15-12 victory over Buffalo Sunday evened their record at 6-6-1, while providing a third straight win for the first time since the 2006 season and it was also the team's second consecutive win on the road... read more

• Balzer: Givens Becoming Versatile; Fisher on Justin Smith

  Friday, November 30, 2012
  When the Rams played the 49ers to a 24-24 tie on Nov. 11, rookie wide receiver Chris Givens was on the sideline watching because of a curfew violation two nights before the game that landed him on the inactive list... read more

• Balzer: Big Plays, Takeaways Get Rams First Road Win

  Monday, November 26, 2012
  Rams coach Jeff Fisher said it best as he talked about his team's 31-17 win in Arizona Sunday. "It seems like for weeks or forever we've been talking about turnovers," Fisher said. "We kept saying that they often times come in bunches, and they did today... read more

• Balzer: Takeaways, Forced Fumbles Elude Rams

  Friday, November 23, 2012
  On the final offensive play for the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 4, Rams defensive end Robert Quinn stripped the ball on a sack of quarterback Kevin Kolb and defensive end William Hayes recovered, ending any hope of a comeback in a 17-3 Rams victory... read more

• Balzer: NFL Dropped Ball on Reed Discipline

  Wednesday, November 21, 2012
  Consider me someone that is very confused. It also wouldn’t surprise me if Ray Anderson, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, is a bit confused, too. You see, it was Anderson that put his words on record when the league moved quickly on Monday to suspend Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed for one game without pay after his hit on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders in a game the night before... read more

• Balzer: No Takeaways, Poor Field Position Dooms Rams

  Monday, November 19, 2012
  Six weeks ago, the Rams were over .500 for the first time since the 2006 season. Now, after a desultory 27-13 loss to the Jets following what appeared to be a promising tie with the 49ers, they are 0-4-1 in their last five games and reminding fans of the previous five seasons that produced an overall record of 15-65... read more

• Balzer: Fisher Won't Second-Guess Time Out Decision; Givens Suspended in College

  Wednesday, November 14, 2012
  Now that we are three days removed from Sunday’s mind-numbing 24-24 tie between the Rams and 49ers, it’s important to understand that it’s possible to express overwhelming disappointment that the Rams failed to win a game that was there for the taking, while still acknowledging that the team was in position to win for an obvious reason: they answered San Francisco’s physical play with their own and made enough plays to have a chance to win... read more

• Balzer: How Will the Rams Score on 49ers?

  Friday, November 9, 2012
  In Week 8, when the 49ers were preparing to travel to Arizona for the Monday night game that week, our normal Friday gathering on The Sports Edge (2-3 p.m. on 590 the Fan KFNS) was discussing the weekly H-Bomb... read more

• Balzer: Rams Have Five Raod Games in Second Half

  Wednesday, November 7, 2012
  After their four days off, the Rams returned to the field Tuesday for a short practice to get begin preparations for the second half of the season. With a 3-5 record, the Rams face five games on the road, including one against each team in the division... read more

• Balzer: Stunning Development -- Jackson Remains with Rams

  Friday, November 2, 2012
  I can’t explain how shocked I am that the NFL trading deadline passed Thursday afternoon and running back Steven Jackson remains a member of the St. Louis Rams. Talk about much ado about nothing... read more

• Balzer: Why Jackson Will Remain with the Rams ... For Now

  Wednesday, October 31, 2012
  As the season was beginning, the St. Louis Rams restructured the contract of running back Steven Jackson, a move that will likely make Jackson an unrestricted free agent after the season. It was odd that almost one month after the new contract was filed with the league, the news was “leaked” to a national reporter on the day the Rams played the Cardinals (Oct... read more

• Balzer: Breaking Down Rams Offense and Williams Contract

  Friday, October 26, 2012
  When they won two games in 2011, the Rams totaled just 193 points, an average of 12.1 per game. In being 3-4 this season, heading to Sunday's game in London against the New England Patriots, the Rams have already scored 130 points, an average of 18... read more

• Balzer: Rams Practice in London; Amendola Does Limited Work

  Wednesday, October 24, 2012
  There wasn’t much time for the Rams to do what is normally done after a typical game day in the NFL. That’s because about 28 hours after the 30-20 loss to the Packers, the team was on a plane to London to begin preparations for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots... read more

• Balzer: Packers Show Rams an NFL Offense

  Monday, October 22, 2012
  The Rams played a home game Sunday against Green Bay where it seemed half the building were Packers fans in a 30-20 loss. Now, the Rams head to London for a "home" game against the New England Patriots and another outstanding quarterback... read more

• Balzer: Givens Emerging as Deep Threat

  Friday, October 19, 2012
  With wide receiver Danny Amendola sidelined for at least another three games, there was understandable skepticism that the Rams' passing offense would be able to be productive with their leading pass-catcher unavailable... read more

• Balzer: Jackson's Contract Voids Feb. 8 If He's On Rams Roster

  Friday, October 5, 2012
  Rams players voted running back Steven Jackson a captain this season, and he has often said he wants to retire a Ram. The question now is whether that will happen following a contract adjustment signed by Jackson on Sept... read more

• Balzer: Will Brockers Play Sunday?; Seahawks Run and Play Defense

  Friday, September 28, 2012
  If it was up to Michael Brockers, he would be on the field Sunday when the Rams play the Seattle Seahawks. But the Rams will make sure Brockers, who suffered a high ankle sprain, is ready just four weeks after the injury occurred on Aug... read more

• Balzer: How Bad Rams Have Been in Division Home Games

  Wednesday, September 26, 2012
  In five days starting Sunday, the Rams’ season could very well be defined. In a period of five days, the Rams will play two home games against division rivals Seattle and Arizona, currently two of the better defensive teams in the NFL... read more

• Balzer: A Woeful Day for Rams on Third Down ... and First Down

  Monday, September 24, 2012
  Every week in the NFL seemingly has a theme.   After the Rams’ Week 1 loss to Detroit, the debate was whether this was “the same ol’ Rams.” Some said it was, some said it wasn’t... read more

• Balzer: Evidence of Jackson's Tight Groin; Morgan on Finnegan

  Wednesday, September 19, 2012
  The Rams begin preparing in practice Wednesday for the game against the Bears this weekend, but the buzz still remains from Sunday’s win over Washington on several levels. First, there is the ongoing debate over running back Steven Jackson’s groin injury... read more

• Balzer: Specifics on New Contract for Linebacker James Laurinaitis

  Monday, September 10, 2012
  The five-year contract extension signed by Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis is worth a total of $42,219,960 and includes $23.62 million of guaranteed money. While his base salary of $620,000 remains the same for 2012, it is now guaranteed and Laurinaitis did receive a $2 million signing bonus... read more

• Balzer: Boudreau Will Try and Work Some Magic with This Offensive Line

  Wednesday, September 5, 2012
  Paul Boudreau has his work cut out for him. It was going to be hard enough anyway, but after the Rams' numerous roster moves over the weekend, the team's offensive line coach is now trying to piece together an offensive line that will have someone starting at left guard Sunday against Detroit that hasn't had any snaps with the first team this summer at that position... read more

• Balzer: Rams Await Results of Brockers' MRI

  Friday, August 31, 2012
  When Rams coach Jeff Fisher was asked about his priorities for the team’s final preseason game, his last comment was telling. Fisher said, “Probably most important, as everybody would say right now, is get through it healthy... read more

• Balzer: Rams Give Going Away Present to Jason Smith

  Wednesday, August 29, 2012
  It turns out the Rams won’t get any cap relief from the trade of tackle Jason Smith after all. The agreement that was consummated between the Rams and Jets on the night of Aug. 27 that brought tackle Wayne Hunter to St... read more

• Balzer: Jason Smith Sent Packing to the Jets

  Tuesday, August 28, 2012
  The Jason Smith era, albeit short, ended Monday when the Rams reached agreement with the Jets on a tackle swap that will bring Wayne Hunter to St. Louis. Smith was the second overall pick in the 2009 draft and was never on the field long enough to have any chance of establishing himself... read more

• Balzer: Not Much to Like in Game Against Dallas

  Monday, August 27, 2012
  The numbers told the story in the Rams’ disappointing loss to the Cowboys Saturday night. The final score is irrelevant. The score at halftime (20-6) speaks to Dallas’ dominance in the first two quarters... read more

• Balzer: Fisher Says Starters Will Play in Final preseason Game

  Monday, August 20, 2012
  With two games remaining in the preseason, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said the team's starters will not only play more next Saturday in Dallas, but will play into the second half of the final preseason game at home against Baltimore... read more

• Balzer: Bradford's Ankle, Padless Practices; Light Bulb on for Quick?

  Friday, August 17, 2012
  Sam Bradford is growing weary with the questions. But there they came again Thursday after a report by Jason LaCanfora on cbssports.com claimed the quarterback might need surgery on the ankle he injured last season... read more

• Balzer: Rams Make First Roster Moves of Training Camp

  Thursday, August 16, 2012
  The streak is over. Until Wednesday, the Rams had been the only team in the NFL not to make any roster moves since the start of training camp. Just before camp opened for the Rams, they waived guard Michael Hay and cornerback Jeremy Caldwell, and signed fullback Ovie Mughelli... read more

• Balzer: Fisher Finds Bright Spots in Loss to Colts

  Monday, August 13, 2012
  NFL coaches can be a resilient group. No matter what happens on Sunday, as disappointed as they might be by a loss, they look for the bright spots, the silver linings to build on. So it was that Rams coach Jeff Fisher met with the media Monday, the day after a 38-3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and talked about the positives... read more

• Balzer: Competition on Between Richardson and Smith at Right Tackle

  Thursday, August 9, 2012
  It’s only the second week of training camp, so it can be dangerous to read too much into changes in the lineup at practice. However, it was eye-opening at Wednesday’s Rams practice when Barry Richardson worked with the starters at right tackle instead of Jason Smith, who wasn’t injured... read more

• Balzer: Alexander Easing Way Back to Practice

  Tuesday, August 7, 2012
  When he’s been on the field during the last two seasons, wide receiver Danario Alexander has shown he can be a big-play receiver. The problem, of course, is that he hasn’t been able to stay on the field... read more

• Balzer: Kickers Focus of Special teams Practice; Mughelli Gets One-Year Deal

  Thursday, August 2, 2012
  It was a light day for the Rams on the practice field Wednesday, as about half the roster was on the field for a one-hour special teams practice in shoulder pads. The full squad will have its first pads practice Thursday at 5:30 (closed to the public), so for a large part of the team it will have been two days between practices... read more

• Balzer: Breakdown by Year of Long's New Contract

  Wednesday, August 1, 2012
  The official contract numbers for Rams defensive end Chris Long are in, and his salary-cap figure of 2012 actually increased slightly because of a $250,000 escalator that was based on his 2011 play. Previously, Long’s non-guaranteed base salary for 2012 was $10... read more

• Balzer: Laurinaitis Loses Weight, Not Worried About New Contract

  Tuesday, July 31, 2012
  It was another typical offseason for Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis, although in some ways it was atypical. A workout warrior, Laurinaitis didn't particularly like the fact that new NFL rules delayed the start of the team's offseason program... read more

• Balzer: Long Gets New Contract; Laurinaitis Next in Line

  Monday, July 30, 2012
  For several weeks, the Rams have acknowledged they were working to extend the contracts of defensive end Chris Long and middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, as both were entering the final season of their rookie contracts... read more

• Balzer: Rams Ready for First Practice; Mughelli Signed; Stewart Re-signs

  Saturday, July 28, 2012
  Rams rookies completed three days of practice Friday, and have the day off Saturday except for “light lifting” before the full squad takes the field for the first time Sunday at 3:30 pm. There will also be a conditioning test for the veterans Saturday... read more

• Balzer: Rams Notebook; Hoomanawanui Works with Rookies; Watkins Out of Shape

  Friday, July 27, 2012
  There were 31 players on the field Thursday afternoon for the second of three rookie practices before the veterans report Saturday and the first full-squad practice Sunday. The 31 included tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, who said part of his rehab plan from last season’s knee injury was to participate with the rookies... read more

• Balzer: Updated; Jenkins Contract Was Overstated; Johnson Deal Revealed

  Thursday, July 26, 2012
  The numbers are now in on the contract cornerback Janoris Jenkins signed with the Rams, and the reality is different from what his agent circulated at the time of the signing. In addition, there are indeed some significant protections in the contract for the Rams... read more

• Balzer: Demoff Talks About Jenkins

  Thursday, July 26, 2012
  The official and exact numbers for the contract cornerback Janoris Jenkins signed with the Rams aren’t known yet, but in an interview on KFNS Radio Wednesday, club executive Kevin Demoff intimated there were no protections for the team in the deal... read more

• Balzer: Jenkins and Johnson Agree to Contracts

  Wednesday, July 25, 2012
  As the Rams rookies reported for training camp Tuesday, the final two draft picks fell in line when cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins (second round) and Trumaine Johnson (third) agreed to terms. The Post-Dispatch reported that Jenkins’ deal is worth “just over” $5 million with $3... read more

• Casino Night Success

  Wednesday, June 27, 2012
  We are proud to announce that you have helped us raise a net of over $95,000 at this year's Casino Night! Proceeds support Wolfram syndrome research!     Athletes & Entertainers - Circle of Influence is the fund manager for the Jack & J... read more

• Balzer: The Reason Jovan Olafioye Failed His Rams Physical in February

  Tuesday, June 19, 2012
  Back in early February, the Rams won a minor bidding war for Canadian League tackle Jovan Olafioye, and then abruptly waived him for a failed physical without explanation. Playing for the British Columbia Lions, Olafioye was named the runner-up as the league’s most outstanding lineman in 2011... read more

• Balzer: Rams Wrap Up Offseason Work

  Friday, June 15, 2012
  The rookies will be around for another week, but for all intents and purposes, the Rams' work is done for the offseason. New coach Jeff Fisher and his staff spent the last two months getting offenses and defenses installed so training camp can be used to get ready to win games... read more

• Balzer: Quick's Deal Worth Just Under $5.4 Million

  Thursday, June 14, 2012
  Wide receiver Brian Quick, the Rams’ first of three second-round picks, signed his four-year contract Wednesday that is worth $5,386,599 and includes a signing bonus of $2,357,528. Quick’s base salaries of $390,000 and $634,845 in 2012 and 2013 are guaranteed for both skill and injury, while $440,000 of his $876,690 base in 2014 is also guaranteed for skill and injury... read more

• Balzer: Rams Begin Three-Day Minicamp Tuesday

  Tuesday, June 12, 2012
  The Rams open a three-day mandatory minicamp Tuesday, and it is expected that center Scott Wells will remain absent. In the four OTAs open to the media since the first week, Wells not only hasn’t practiced but hasn’t even been watching... read more

• Balzer: Contract Figures in for Brockers

  Tuesday, June 12, 2012
  The signing last week of defensive tackle Michael Brockers left the Rams with just three of their 10 draft picks left to sign: wide receiver Brian Quick and cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson... read more

• Balzer: Contract Details for Six Rams Draft Picks

  Thursday, June 7, 2012
  As the Rams wrap up their OTA schedule and prepare for next week’s minicamp, they also have been busy signing draft picks in the last week. In fact, since Friday, the team has signed six of its 10 choices, leaving only defensive tackle Michael Brockers (first round), wide receiver Brian Quick (second) and  cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins (second) and Trumaine Johnson (third) unsigned... read more

• The Snowman Fund! Celebrity Casino Night with Jeff Fisher! & 3rd Annual Snowman Scramble at Whitmoor Country Club!

  Wednesday, June 6, 2012
    The Snowman Fund Upcoming Events!   For ticket information, please contact Athletes & Entertainers Circle of Influence at www.aecircleofinfluence... read more

• Balzer: Breaking Down Rams Draft Pick Contracts

  Tuesday, June 5, 2012
  The first two rookie contracts for the Rams are now known, and they are virtually identical to the contracts received by rookies in the 2011 draft. In the last four days, the Rams have signed wide receiver Chris Givens (fourth round), guard Rokevious Watkins (fifth), linebacker Aaron Brown (seventh) and running back Daryl Richardson (seventh)... read more

• Balzer: No UFAs Receive Tenders on June 1

  Tuesday, June 5, 2012
  It’s essentially only a procedural move usually not exercised, and that was the case again this year for 172 unsigned unrestricted free agents as of June 1. The free-agency signing period for unrestricted free agents technically lasts until July 22, and teams are able to tender their unsigned UFAs on June 1 if they want to have exclusive signing rights to those players after July 22... read more

• Balzer: Bradford Loses Guaranteed Money in Contract Restructuring

  Thursday, May 31, 2012
  Ever since Jeff Fisher was hired as the Rams' head coach in January, he has been unwavering in his support for quarterback Sam Bradford. Most recently, Fisher told Jim Rome, "The reason I came here is because of Sam... read more

• Balzer: Rookies Quick and Givens Back at OTAs

  Friday, May 25, 2012
  Rookie wide receivers Brian Quick and Chris Givens have been back on the field this week after missing two OTAs last week because of the Rookie Premiere event in Los Angeles. Friday will end the second week of OTAs, which will be the sixth of the 10 OTAs allowed by the new collective bargaining agreement Said coach Jeff Fisher, "They're up to speed... read more

• Balzer: Rams Invest in Rookie Free Agents

  Thursday, May 24, 2012
  Prior to this year’s draft, Rams coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead were asked about the importance of free-agent signings that quickly takes place after the final pick in the draft is made... read more

• Balzer: Salaries in for Haggan and Richardson

  Monday, May 21, 2012
  Both linebacker Mario Haggan and tackle Barry Richardson, unrestricted free agents signed by the Rams this past week, signed one-year contracts. Haggan's deal is for the veteran minimum base salary of $825,000 for his years of service, plus a $65,000 signing bonus... read more

• Balzer: Injuries Affect Participation in OTAs

  Thursday, May 17, 2012
  The Rams had their second OTA of the week Wednesday, whichw as open to the media. The Tuesday OTA was closed. There will also be an open OTA Friday. This year, as per terms of the new CBA, the total OTAs have been reduced from 14 to 10... read more

• Balzer: Rams Add Veterans Haggan and Richrdson

  Thursday, May 17, 2012
  In time for OTAs, the Rams added veteran linebacker Mario Haggan and tackle Barry Richardson. Haggan becomes the oldest player on the team's roster at 32 and is a candidate to be the strong-side linebacker... read more

• Balzer: Rams Say D-Line Now One of Strongest Units on Team

  Friday, April 27, 2012
  Coach Jeff Fisher loves what he has in first-round pick Michael Brockers. Said Fisher, "Michael, he's a big man. At 322 pounds he's explosive, he's very instinctive. For not having played, for not being a four-year starter, he's very, very instinctive... read more

• Balzer: Wheeling and Dealing Nets Rams Three Second-Round Picks

  Friday, April 27, 2012
  To assess the first day of the Rams' draft, it's necessary to go deeper than to simply evaluate the selection of Louisiana State defensive tackle Michael Brockers in the first round. What the Rams accomplished must be viewed from within the prism of where they were as the new league year approached in mid-March... read more

• Balzer: My Memories of Joel Buchsbaum

  Thursday, April 26, 2012
  I was on with Joel Buchsbaum for a couple years on shows at KMOX in the early 1980s. The quirkiest thing that few people realize is his name was always pronounced name wrong as "BUSHbaum" instead of BUCHS (like BUCKS)baum... read more

• The Legend of Joel Buchsbaum

  Thursday, April 26, 2012
  I came across this story today from JoeBucsFan.com. Many people here in St. Louis have great memories of Joel Buchsbaum and his appearances on KMOX Radio. This story appeared last year, but they have run it again and say they will do so going forward every year on the first day of the draft... read more

• Balzer: Snead Likes Job Scouting Department Has Done

  Thursday, April 26, 2012
  When Les Snead came to the Rams as general manager, he had a lot of personnel evaluators to get to know. Wednesday, the day before the draft, Snead said the work the department has done has been impressive... read more

• Balzer: Fisher Looks to Silence Jackson Speculation

  Wednesday, April 25, 2012
  The speculation was fueled by a report on NFL Network that Rams running back Steven Jackson is unhappy with his contract, leading to even more chatter that Alabama running back Trent Richardson could be the team’s target in the first round Thursday night... read more

• Balzer: Jason Smith Signs Restructured Contract

  Sunday, April 22, 2012
  Throughout the offseason, the expectation has been that, at some point, something would happen with Rams tackle Jason Smith’s contract. It finally did Tuesday (April 17), the day the Rams’ first minicamp under coach Jeff Fisher opened... read more

• Balzer: Clemens On Field After Signing Minimum Salary Contract

  Wednesday, April 18, 2012
  Quarterback Kellen Clemens was on the practice field for the Rams Wednesday on the second day of the team's two-day minicamp and was glad for the opportunity. Because of Clemens' experience with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer when they were both with the Jets, Clemens is familiar with the offense being installed... read more

• Balzer's Rams Notebook: Injured Players from 2011 Practice

  Wednesday, April 18, 2012
  Rams coach Jeff Fisher went a little Bill Belichick on the media Tuesday when he was asked after practice if any players were held out totally because they were returning from surgery. Fisher laughed and said, “You know, I’ll have an injury report for you on September 5... read more

• Balzer: Fisher Glad to be On the Field Coaching Again

  Wednesday, April 18, 2012
  This is what Jeff Fisher has been waiting for, ever since he walked away from the Tennessee Titans after the 2010 season. He knew he would be back. He knew he would be coaching on a football field again... read more

• Balzer: Rams 2012 Schedule Features Road Challenges at End of Season

  Wednesday, April 18, 2012
  Last year, the Rams didn’t play their first division game until a brutal stretch of seven games had been played. This year’s schedule, announced Tuesday by the NFL, is different. After opening the season with two of their first three games on the road against NFC North teams Detroit and Chicago with Washington sandwiched in between, the Rams will then play two division rivals with both at home... read more

• Balzer: Several NFL Teams Busy Monday as Most Offseason Programs Begin

  Monday, April 16, 2012
  STORY UPDATED Monday night When the 2012 NFL league year began on March 13, there were 41 restricted free agents (RFA). Those are players with three accrued seasons that were tendered by their team. With four days remaining until the April 20 deadline for any of those players to receive an offer from another team, there are now just 13 unsigned RFAs after nine re-signed with their teams Monday... read more

• Balzer: Rams Minicamp Set for This Week

  Monday, April 16, 2012
  As the Rams begin the third week of their offseason program, a voluntary minicamp has been scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday this week. On each day, players will practice for 75 minutes beginning at 11 a... read more

• Howard Balzer talks about possible changes to Hall of Fame process

  Wednesday, April 11, 2012
  Posted by Mike Florio On Monday’s ProFootballTalk Live, veteran NFL journalist Howard Balzer joined the show to discuss the Hall of Fame selection process.  Balzer, who currently writes for 101espn... read more

• Howard Balzer column: A different view of 'bountygate'

  Wednesday, April 11, 2012
  By Howard Balzer, Lindyssports.com NFL analyst   The NFL world remains in a lather over “Bountygate,” which begs the question: Why do we simply attach the word “gate” to controversies like these? Are we still stuck on Watergate, which, of course, was the name of a hotel? That wasn’t a story about water, was it?   Oh, well, let’s move on... read more

• Howard Balzer on the NFL: It should not have been a shock at the Combine that RGIII is fast

  Wednesday, April 11, 2012
  By Howard Balzer, Lindyssports.com NFL analyst The Twitter world exploded on the Sunday morning of the Combine with the stunning revelation that rocked the football word: Robert Griffin III is fast. That news had to make heads spin and eyes bug out... read more

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