Rams free agents: Should they stay or should they go?

By Steve Reynolds  |   Monday, January 08, 2007  |  Comments( 9 )

St. Louis Rams
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Sign 'em

Kevin Curtis, wide receiver: If the Rams can sign Curtis, they will be set at the WR position for years to come, with Isaac Bruce and Curtis swapping the second and third slot in the next year or two. However, with the new acquisition of Tom Condon as his agent, Curtis is sending a message that he will be availing his services to the highest bidder. While the Rams should be willing to pay him good money, they shouldn't offer the 28-year-old a ridiculous amount of cash, which another team most likely will. With myriad problems to address on defense, the Rams simply cannot afford to spend their free agent dollars on a receiver -- despite his potential -- when they already have two Hall of Fame wideouts on the roster.

Matt Turk, punter: If you can't remember the last time the Rams had a quality punter, perhaps you weren't born yet. St. Louis hasn't gotten any consistency from the punting position since the '80s, when Dale Hatcher manned the spot. Sure, Turk is a bit long in the tooth, but considering how many failed experiments the Rams have had at this position, they can't afford to gamble, meaning they should re-sign the big-footed Turk.


Sign 'em if they'll come cheap.

Todd Steussie, offensive tackle: Steussie provided the leadership and veteran stability on an injury-beset, baby-faced offensive line that featured the maniacal Ritchie Incognito (whose temper cost the Rams one of the Seattle games) and Alex Barron, who will probably be flagged for false start in the offseason. Steussie can play guard or tackle and did exactly what the Rams signed him to do; for a reasonable price, they should have him do it again.

Shaun McDonald, wide receiver: McDonald has shown much more potential as a receiver than as a return man, and this is where the Rams should think of keeping him. In truth, the Rams are much higher on Curtis than McDonald, and they may not make a tremendous effort to keep him. St. Louis may well lose both players, but if the team can get McDonald at a bargain price, he's worth keeping as a fourth receiver. However, the Rams may not be comfortable with McDonald assuming the third wideout role, should Curtis defect.

Isaiah Kacyvenski, linebacker: Kacyvenski is a solid, proven special teams player, and to say that the Rams have a dearth of such men would be an understatement. The Rams were their usual wretched selves on coverage units this past season and Kacyvenski is the type of player who goes a long way toward stopping the bleeding. As long as the asking price is reasonable, the Rams should dole out a few bucks to Kacyvenski.

Brandon Chillar, linebacker: Chillar enjoyed his best season to date, posting 56 tackles and two sacks. However, there has been much clamoring in Rams Nation of late in favor of signing a bigger, run-stuffing middle linebacker, and moving Will Witherspoon to the OLB spot opposite Pisa Tinoisamoa. While the Rams have not yet indicated that this may be the direction they are headed, head coach Scott Linehan may be wise to listen to the fans in this case. Either a Jeremiah Trotter or Ray Lewis-type monster should be in order, or the Rams should at least seek to add yet another tackling machine in the mold of Witherspoon and Tinoisamoa. Chillar is serviceable, but more needs to be done to rectify the putrid run defense. He's a worthy backup if he'll sign cheap.

Bon Voyage

Travis Fisher, cornerback: In his defense, Fisher has played well for the Rams. Unfortunately, he hasn't done so since 2003. If Fisher could maintain some semblance of health, he would warrant some consideration; but he seems to be perennially injury plagued, and you're not worth a roster spot if you can't stay on the field. Some team will take a chance on him.

Stephen Davis, running back: It's easy to assume that having a proven veteran such as Davis is a great boon in case the unthinkable happens to Steven Jackson. However, Davis will be 33 next season and has so many miles on him from his Washington days, that it's easy to conclude he is a single snap away from another catastrophic injury. The Rams do need a veteran back, but not so veteran that he once played alongside Henry Ellard and Flipper Anderson (yes, that Ellard and Flipper, with the Redskins). The Rams can find a veteran back whose tread isn't nearly as worn, and probably for fairly cheap, as long as his initials aren't M.F (a potential can of worms the Rams have no business reopening).
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