Rams Match Offer for Butler

Ade Jimoh Fan Club · 03-11-2004, 05:29 PM

Looks like we still have our 5th Pick after all ..... I can't believe Danny Boy got outbid!! He'll be soooo pissed!

BY JIM THOMAS
Of the Post-Dispatch
03/11/2004

Rather than wait the full seven days, the Rams decided Thursday to match offer sheets on restricted free agents Jerametrius Butler and Brandon Manumaleuna.

Butler, a cornerback, received a five-year, $16 million offer sheet -- including a $4 million signing bonus -- from the Washington Redskins last Friday night.

Manumaleuna, a tight end, received a five-year, $8.3 million offer sheet -- including a $2 million signing bonus -- from the Carolina Panthers last Friday afternoon.

Teams have seven days to decide whether to match an offer on a restricted free agent. And the Rams originally had planned to wait the full seven days, which meant they would have had to make a decision Friday (March 12).

"But we had really made up our mind, and decided to just do it," Rams president of football operations Jay Zygmunt said.

By matching those offers, the Rams now have only about $1.8 million of room left on the salary cap. Unless the unlikely happens, and franchise player Orlando Pace agrees to a multi-year contract before March 17, the Rams have next to no money left to shop the free-agent market in the immediate future.

Especially since it's still possible that quarterback Marc Bulger and defensive end Bryce Fisher could receive offer sheets as restricted free agents between now and April 16.

Matching on Manumaleuna all but puts the Rams out of the running for a free-agent tight end, unless it's a tight end who's willing to play for the veteran's minimum -- or close to it. Free-agent tight ends Mark Bruener of Pittsburgh, Jason Dunn of Kansas City, and Jed Weaver of San Francisco all visited Rams Park this week.

The Rams also agreed to terms Thursday on a one-year deal with former Kansas City linebacker Tony Newson.

MTK · 03-11-2004, 05:30 PM

got a link for this Ade?

Ade Jimoh Fan Club · 03-11-2004, 05:33 PM

Sure do -

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/rams

Sorry to be bearer of bad news today....

beg8878 · 03-11-2004, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ade Jimoh Fan Club

Sorry to be bearer of bad news today....

Good news for you though

johnnyredskin63 · 03-11-2004, 05:48 PM

oh well,that's just money we can spend to revamp and help the defensive line.the rams are really gonna stink next year,especially if they lose bulger.
any chance dallas may fool us all and go after him?

Daseal · 03-11-2004, 05:51 PM

This is a shame, I really wanted to get him. If we rebid wouldn't we have to offer a higher draft pick?

Ghost · 03-11-2004, 05:54 PM

I don't think he's a free agent anymore ... my understanding is that because they matched our offer, he's now under contract. No rebidding.

SittingBull · 03-11-2004, 05:42 PM

So does this mean the Skins cant offer an even better deal or is that the end of that?

Ade Jimoh Fan Club · 03-11-2004, 05:42 PM

Ha, Ha - that is true! Ade was supposed to Safety anyway - so he can show Taylor the ropes and all...

skins009 · 03-11-2004, 07:26 PM

I think this is good news to be honest. I think the one thing you can find with a 5th round pick is a quality blocking or H-back tightend. That is one of the few remaining holes in our offense. We could also draft a corner. According to Mel Kiper cornerback is the second deep's position in this draft behind WR.

EEich · 03-11-2004, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skins009

I think this is good news to be honest. I think the one thing you can find with a 5th round pick is a quality blocking or H-back tightend. That is one of the few remaining holes in our offense. We could also draft a corner. According to Mel Kiper cornerback is the second deep's position in this draft behind WR.

skins009... I think you're living under some kind of delusion that we're likely to get a stud with the fifth round draft pick. On a different thread you mentioned that you'd be willing to give up McCants for a 5th rounder. Rarely will you find someone who will contribute on McCants' or Butler's level out of the gates. Sure, you might get lucky and you may find a player that will develop in a few years... but the chances aren't very good and Joe is obviously looking for players who can contribute immediately.

skins009 · 03-12-2004, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EEich

skins009... I think you're living under some kind of delusion that we're likely to get a stud with the fifth round draft pick. On a different thread you mentioned that you'd be willing to give up McCants for a 5th rounder. Rarely will you find someone who will contribute on McCants' or Butler's level out of the gates. Sure, you might get lucky and you may find a player that will develop in a few years... but the chances aren't very good and Joe is obviously looking for players who can contribute immediately.

You have to remember that in Gibbs offense there is rarely more than 3 recievers on the field. We have Coles, gardner, and Jacobs. Jacobs should be a damn good number 3 WR for crying out loud we spent a high second round pick for him. So you can Keep McCants to or you can take a good blocking tightend in the 5th round. I would prefer to spread the talent on my team rather than stacking one position when only a couple can play. I think we can do a lot better in terms of blocking tightends than rasbey. He struggled against d-ends two years ago (part of the reason he was released) and he will be asked to block a lot of d-ends in gibbs offense. (when they are in the one back set and teams blitz up the middle.

skinsfanthru&thru · 03-12-2004, 12:38 AM

edwards wouldn't be a bad signing as the 3rd or 4th db. any chance we could sign bobby taylor to a semi-decent deal? either one would be good not only because of their abilities but because they'd also be signed away from divisional opponents.

EEich · 03-12-2004, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skins009

You have to remember that in Gibbs offense there is rarely more than 3 recievers on the field. We have Coles, gardner, and Jacobs. Jacobs should be a damn good number 3 WR for crying out loud we spent a high second round pick for him. So you can Keep McCants to or you can take a good blocking tightend in the 5th round. I would prefer to spread the talent on my team rather than stacking one position when only a couple can play. I think we can do a lot better in terms of blocking tightends than rasbey. He struggled against d-ends two years ago (part of the reason he was released) and he will be asked to block a lot of d-ends in gibbs offense. (when they are in the one back set and teams blitz up the middle.

Jacobs hasn't shown us anything yet... and besides, he's a Spurrier draftee... doesn't that scare you at least a little? Name one 5th round tight end drafted last year that made a significant contribution to his team.

skinsfanthru&thru · 03-12-2004, 01:35 AM

we could get lucky and draft a player like Crumpler who wasn't drafted til the 4th round a couple years ago. granted he didn't begin to shine until last year but I don't think we'd be using that pick on a tight end anyway.

03-11-2004, 05:29 PM	#1
Ade Jimoh Fan Club Special Teams Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 410	Rams Match Offer for Butler Looks like we still have our 5th Pick after all ..... I can't believe Danny Boy got outbid!! He'll be soooo pissed! BY JIM THOMAS Of the Post-Dispatch 03/11/2004 Rather than wait the full seven days, the Rams decided Thursday to match offer sheets on restricted free agents Jerametrius Butler and Brandon Manumaleuna. Butler, a cornerback, received a five-year, $16 million offer sheet -- including a $4 million signing bonus -- from the Washington Redskins last Friday night. Manumaleuna, a tight end, received a five-year, $8.3 million offer sheet -- including a $2 million signing bonus -- from the Carolina Panthers last Friday afternoon. Teams have seven days to decide whether to match an offer on a restricted free agent. And the Rams originally had planned to wait the full seven days, which meant they would have had to make a decision Friday (March 12). "But we had really made up our mind, and decided to just do it," Rams president of football operations Jay Zygmunt said. By matching those offers, the Rams now have only about $1.8 million of room left on the salary cap. Unless the unlikely happens, and franchise player Orlando Pace agrees to a multi-year contract before March 17, the Rams have next to no money left to shop the free-agent market in the immediate future. Especially since it's still possible that quarterback Marc Bulger and defensive end Bryce Fisher could receive offer sheets as restricted free agents between now and April 16. Matching on Manumaleuna all but puts the Rams out of the running for a free-agent tight end, unless it's a tight end who's willing to play for the veteran's minimum -- or close to it. Free-agent tight ends Mark Bruener of Pittsburgh, Jason Dunn of Kansas City, and Jed Weaver of San Francisco all visited Rams Park this week. The Rams also agreed to terms Thursday on a one-year deal with former Kansas City linebacker Tony Newson.

03-11-2004, 05:48 PM	#5
johnnyredskin63 Special Teams Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 203	oh well,that's just money we can spend to revamp and help the defensive line.the rams are really gonna stink next year,especially if they lose bulger. any chance dallas may fool us all and go after him? __________________ it's me,bigredskinfan63 bigledzepfan63 "the sea was red and the sky was grey,wondered how tommorow could ever follow today HAIL TO THE REDSKINS always remember ladies and germs-THE COWBOYS SUCK

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03-11-2004, 05:30 PM	#2
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 52 Posts: 99,832	got a link for this Ade?

03-11-2004, 05:33 PM	#3
Ade Jimoh Fan Club Special Teams Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 410	Sure do - http://www.stltoday.com/sports/rams Sorry to be bearer of bad news today....

03-11-2004, 05:51 PM	#6
Daseal Puppy Kicker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arlington, Virginia Age: 42 Posts: 8,341	This is a shame, I really wanted to get him. If we rebid wouldn't we have to offer a higher draft pick?

03-11-2004, 05:54 PM	#7
Ghost Special Teams Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 298	I don't think he's a free agent anymore ... my understanding is that because they matched our offer, he's now under contract. No rebidding.

03-11-2004, 05:42 PM	#8
SittingBull Camp Scrub Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fairfax< VA Posts: 89	So does this mean the Skins cant offer an even better deal or is that the end of that?

03-11-2004, 07:26 PM	#10
skins009 Impact Rookie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 528	I think this is good news to be honest. I think the one thing you can find with a 5th round pick is a quality blocking or H-back tightend. That is one of the few remaining holes in our offense. We could also draft a corner. According to Mel Kiper cornerback is the second deep's position in this draft behind WR.

03-12-2004, 12:38 AM	#13
skinsfanthru&thru Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 45 Posts: 3,814	edwards wouldn't be a bad signing as the 3rd or 4th db. any chance we could sign bobby taylor to a semi-decent deal? either one would be good not only because of their abilities but because they'd also be signed away from divisional opponents.

03-12-2004, 01:35 AM	#15
skinsfanthru&thru Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 45 Posts: 3,814	we could get lucky and draft a player like Crumpler who wasn't drafted til the 4th round a couple years ago. granted he didn't begin to shine until last year but I don't think we'd be using that pick on a tight end anyway.

Rams Match Offer for Butler

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