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Ram Bytes: Don't go crazy on contract for Saffold
• Bernie Miklasz
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_2c09e6c7-341d-5836-99fe-50e847f41123.html
I'm still covering Cardinals spring training in Jupiter, but that doesn't mean I'm ignoring the other sports back in St. Louis. So with your permission, here's a quick take on the Rams and Rodger Saffold...
Saffold is a good player. And a good guy. And he's a versatile player, capable of playing guard and both tackle spots depending on where the Rams need him. And there's no question that the Rams' offensive line needs retooling, and with some likely salary-cap related departures forthcoming, the immediate O-line depth is an issue. But let's not get get carried away here; as a guard Saffold isn't exactly, say, John “Hog” Hannah. (Google him, kids.)
Saffold's durability is a recurring issue; he has started only 28 of a possible 48 games over the past three seasons. And Saffold has departed several games early with an injury after starting.
Are the Rams prepared to overpay for Saffold because of their concerns over depth? Are they prepared to overpay for insurance in case Jake Long (knee) won't be fully rehabbed in time to plug back in at left tackle early in the regular season? Are the Rams willing to overpay simply because they have more money to work with after the league's salary cap was raised to $133 million per team? Are the Rams willing to overpay during an exclusive negotiation window just to keep Saffold off the free-agent market?
I realize the offensive line is under duress, and this is a key area of the team. I do appreciate the tough spot GM Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher are in. But as a matter of principle, is there ever a sensible reason to overpay a guy who has played an average of about 9 of the team's 16 games each season since 2011? Saffold played 1,068 snaps from scrimmage as a rookie in 2010. Here's his snap count, in order, over the past three seasons: 618 ... 621 ... 557.
The Rams already are coping with a payroll top heavy with several huge contracts. It would be silly to get jammed up even more by investing in a veteran that has had a difficult time staying upright, and on the field.
By the way, I'm not assuming the Rams will overpay. I don't know what they will offer. I don't know what Saffold is demanding. I think it would be OK, generally speaking to overpay him a little. But if the Rams decide to take a pass on a big overpay here, I don't have a problem with that. For 25+ years I've been hearing NFL personnel types tell me "You can always find guards." And if Saffold leaves and the Rams have some money to spend, they'll be able to sign a guard.
Thanks for reading ...
-Bernie
• Bernie Miklasz
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_2c09e6c7-341d-5836-99fe-50e847f41123.html
I'm still covering Cardinals spring training in Jupiter, but that doesn't mean I'm ignoring the other sports back in St. Louis. So with your permission, here's a quick take on the Rams and Rodger Saffold...
Saffold is a good player. And a good guy. And he's a versatile player, capable of playing guard and both tackle spots depending on where the Rams need him. And there's no question that the Rams' offensive line needs retooling, and with some likely salary-cap related departures forthcoming, the immediate O-line depth is an issue. But let's not get get carried away here; as a guard Saffold isn't exactly, say, John “Hog” Hannah. (Google him, kids.)
Saffold's durability is a recurring issue; he has started only 28 of a possible 48 games over the past three seasons. And Saffold has departed several games early with an injury after starting.
Are the Rams prepared to overpay for Saffold because of their concerns over depth? Are they prepared to overpay for insurance in case Jake Long (knee) won't be fully rehabbed in time to plug back in at left tackle early in the regular season? Are the Rams willing to overpay simply because they have more money to work with after the league's salary cap was raised to $133 million per team? Are the Rams willing to overpay during an exclusive negotiation window just to keep Saffold off the free-agent market?
I realize the offensive line is under duress, and this is a key area of the team. I do appreciate the tough spot GM Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher are in. But as a matter of principle, is there ever a sensible reason to overpay a guy who has played an average of about 9 of the team's 16 games each season since 2011? Saffold played 1,068 snaps from scrimmage as a rookie in 2010. Here's his snap count, in order, over the past three seasons: 618 ... 621 ... 557.
The Rams already are coping with a payroll top heavy with several huge contracts. It would be silly to get jammed up even more by investing in a veteran that has had a difficult time staying upright, and on the field.
By the way, I'm not assuming the Rams will overpay. I don't know what they will offer. I don't know what Saffold is demanding. I think it would be OK, generally speaking to overpay him a little. But if the Rams decide to take a pass on a big overpay here, I don't have a problem with that. For 25+ years I've been hearing NFL personnel types tell me "You can always find guards." And if Saffold leaves and the Rams have some money to spend, they'll be able to sign a guard.
Thanks for reading ...
-Bernie