NFL Legal Tampering Window Opens March 7

[Vitamike]

In two days the NFL Legal Tampering Window Opens March 7, good a time as any to begin discussion on what this could mean for the Los Angeles Rams...

• Who are the biggest Rams' free agents set to test free agency?
• What interest will these Rams' free agents find from other teams
• What free agents might be good fits for the Rams from other teams?

I'd hope the Rams will do their due diligence and interview some quality free agents but we do have our history.

Some of theses Rams free agents are already set.

I will try to add notes to the list here as we move through the next few days as to their current status and add those we may be hearing about through the news.

Updated 3/14/16

Rams Remaining Unrestricted Free Agents
WR Wes Welker -
K Greg Zuerlein - (Story) Is it buyer beware with Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein?

Rams Unrestricted Free Agents Tagged or Tendered
CB Trumaine Johnson - Signed a 1 year $13.952M Unrestricted Franchise Tag with Rams
(Story) Trumaine Johnson accepts franchise tender from Rams - Stay Tuned!
QB Case Keenum - Rams extend 1 Round tender 1 year $3.635 (Story) Case Keenum - Los Angeles Rams - 2016 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com - Stay Tuned!
RB Benny Cunningham - Rams extend low level tender - Rumored to meet with the Patroits Thursday (Story) Benny Cunningham - Los Angeles Rams - 2016 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com - Stay Tuned!

Rams Free Agents Resigned
WR Brian Quick - Resigns with Rams 1 year $3.75M (Story) Report: Brian Quick Re-Signs with Rams
C Tim Barnes - Resigns with Rams 2 years $5.5M (Story) Tim Barnes - Los Angeles Rams - 2016 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com
DE Eugene Sims -Sims resigns with Rams for 3 years $10M (Story) Source: Sims agrees to 3-year deal with Rams
DE William Hayes - Hayes resigns with Rams for 3 years $21M (Story) Rams reportedly manage to keep DE William Hayes
SS Mark Barron - Barron resigns with Rams (Story) Rams free agency: Mark Barron decides to stick around
OL Brian Folkerts - Resigns with Rams for 1 year $675K (Story) Brian Folkerts - Los Angeles Rams - 2016 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com
S Cody Davis - Resigns with Rams for 2 years $2.91M
(Story) Cody Davis - Los Angeles Rams - 2016 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com
TE Cory Harkey - Resigns with Rams 1 year $1.542M (Story) Cory Harkey - Los Angeles Rams - 2016 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

Rams Unrestricted Free Agents Signed to Another Team
CB Janoris Jenkins - Jenkins signs with Giants 5 years $12M/Year (Story) Janoris Jenkins gets over $12 million per year from Giants
FS Rodney McLeod - McLeod signs with Eagles 5 years $7.4M/Year (Story) Philadelphia Eagles agree to deals with FS Rodney McLeod, QB Chase Daniel
DT Nick Fairley - Fairley signs with Saints 1 year $3M (Story) Saints more creative than usual with salary cap in Nick Fairley deal

Rams Remaining Restricted Free Agents
RB Chase Reynolds
OLB Daren Bates

Remaining Exclusive Rights Free Agents
RB Malcolm Brown
WR Nick Toon
OT Isaiah Battle
OL Eric Kush
DT Doug Worthington
DT Louis Trinca-Pasat
DE Matt Longacre
CB Eric Patterson
CB Troy Hill
FS Christian Bryant

Legend:
Red = Signed with another team
Green = Resigned with the Rams
Orange = Pending Restrictions with their former team
Blue = Signed to the Rams from another team
Violet = Rumored to go to another team

 

[Vitamike]

I'd hope the Rams will do their due diligence and interview some quality free agents but we do have our history.

Here's some information which details the 'NFL Legal Tampering Window'...

The NFL’s much talked about three-day negotiating window leading into free agency opens on Monday, March 7 and remains an interesting topic and a source of debate.​

The basically farcical Legal Tampering Window begins on March 7 will continue until free agency begins on March 9 at 4 p.m. The NFL sent out a memo in 2013 when they first allowed this window of honeymooning free agents spelling out the parameters of what is and isn’t allowed during these negotiations.​

Clubs were advised in PP-26-13 that during the three-day negotiating period for prospective Unrestricted Free Agents, they are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2012 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 12, and that no contract can be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 12.​

Clubs are further advised that prior to the beginning of the new League Year it is impermissible for a club to enter into an agreement of any kind, express or implied, oral or written, or promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances of intent or understandings of any kind concerning the terms or conditions of employment offered to, or to be offered to, any prospective Unrestricted Free Agent for inclusion in a Player Contract after the start of the new League Year. Any announcement of an agreement or an agreement in principle by a club or another party, including, but not limited to, a certified agent, player, or media organization may subject the club to a tampering investigation.​

The league talked of shortening the window down from three days to just two, ostensibly to cut down on the amount of leaked information that is being learned about the contracts that are already signed, sealed and delivered prior to actual free agency beginning. But the official word was to allow better negotiations between agents and teams.​

The Dolphins six-year, $114 million-dollar deal with Ndamakong Suh was widely reported prior to free agency starting in 2015…and they weren’t the only ones. Which prompted the league to send out a memo to all the teams to stop the practice of making monetary pledges to players prior to free agency.​

“Any attempt to undermine the purpose of this negotiating period may be considered conduct detrimental to the League.’ At this time, the League office is beginning investigations into a number of reported agreements with clubs. Violations will be dealt with accordingly.” ​

 

[27mtrcougar]

Well the Rams have more Cap room then in past so they need to get busy. imo McLeod, Barron and Hays need to be priority. Looks like the Rams have about 45m in cap space right now.

 

[UVA_Guy81]

Some of theses Rams free agents are already set.

I will try to add notes to the list here as we move through the next few days as to their current status and add those we may be hearing about through the news.

QB Case Keenum RFA
RB Benny Cunningham RFA
RB Chase Reynolds RFA
RB Malcolm Brown ERFA
TE Cory Harkey UFA
WR Brian Quick UFA
WR Nick Toon ERFA
WR Wes Welker UFA
C Tim Barnes UFA
OT Isaiah Battle ERFA
OL Eric Kush ERFA
OL Brian Folkerts RFA
K Greg Zuerlein UFA
DT Nick Fairley UFA
DT Doug Worthington ERFA
DT Louis Trinca-Pasat ERFA
DE Eugene Sims UFA
DE William Hayes UFA
DE Matt Longacre ERFA
OLB Daren Bates RFA
CB Janoris Jenkins UFA
CB Trumaine Johnson UFA - Signed Unrestricted Franchise Tag with Rams, stay tuned!
CB Eric Patterson ERFA
CB Troy Hill ERFA
SS Mark Barron UFA
FS Rodney McLeod UFA
FS Christian Bryant ERFA
FS Cody Davis RFA

Legend:
Bold = Activity
Red = Signed with another team
Green = Resigned with the Rams
Orange = Pending Restrictions with their former team
Blue = Signed to the Rams from another team

Just curious but shouldn't Chris Long, Jared Cook and James Laurinaitis be listed on there as well?

I wouldn't have a problem re-signing a few of these guys but most of them I wouldn't miss at all. I'm still up in the air about Greg Zuerlein. I really like his leg strength but just wish his accuracy was a lot better.

 

[Vitamike]

Just curious but shouldn't Chris Long, Jared Cook and James Laurinaitis be listed on there as well?

No, they were under contract and cut, not any sort of free agent until we cut them. I'm not sure if we could sign them back or not at this point to be honest.

 

[UVA_Guy81]

No, they were under contract and cut, not any sort of free agent until we cut them. I'm not sure if we could sign them back or not at this point to be honest.

Thanks. I was thinking that was the reasoning but wasn't 100% sure. I think that none of those three are coming back and will likely sign elsewhere. The Rams will probably use their cap space money on trying to re-sign some of those other guys and maybe other various talent instead.

 

[Retroram52]

Laurinaitus made a recent visit to New Orleans and Chris Long has been mentioned in signing here in Phoenix. Nothing on Cook. Things are being kept close to the vest regarding the Cards' interest in Long but local sports talk radio is indicating that Long may be interested in helping to improve their D. The Cards were one game away from going to the bowl and Long now exerts he only wants to play on a SB contending team. He may end up in NE as well.

 

[Vitamike]

I will be updating the Opening Post as we move through Free Agency...

If you hear some FA movement, post an update in this thread, and I'll edit the list.

Thanks!

 

[bluepigpen]

Thanks Vita, ear to the ground time!

 

[zeke2829]

Any bets where RG3 ends up?? I still think that we should take a long hard look at this guy!

 

[27mtrcougar]

Rams might have interest in Fitz?

 

[Red_Chaos]

Any bets where RG3 ends up?? I still think that we should take a long hard look at this guy!

NOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[Red_Chaos]

NOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

what, he's not a likable person. he had his chance and blew it. DO you really want another banged up on this team? He should just retire and save his legs.

 

[Vitamike]

Depends on the price tag.

A change of scenery could do him well, but his market value in my opinion is very low. Just not nearly as low as Johnny Football.

I sort of put him in that same category, Foles too.

You know, where other teams think they can fix them....

 

[Vitamike]

There were many offseasons, particularly during the “Greatest Show on Turf” era and its immediate aftermath, in which the Rams did everything but search underneath sofa cushions for loose change.

They were that tight under the salary cap. My, how things have changed. Even after committing $13.9 million to place the franchise tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson, the Rams still have $43.7 million in cap space according to latest figures from the NFL Players Association.

Only six NFL teams have more, according to the NFLPA.

During most of their 21 seasons in St. Louis, the Rams entered the free-agency period with maybe one-third of that total — or less. Of course, the fact that all this money is available just in time for the team’s first season in Los Angeles is mere coincidence.

Right?

Well, not exactly. It would be naive to think the Rams didn’t want to make an offseason splash in their return to the West Coast. But most teams try to plan their salary cap a few years in advance anyway, with an eye toward which players’ contracts might be up at that time.

The Rams have been eyeing this offseason for quite a while, in part because of all the bodies brought in as a result of the deal that allowed Washington to draft Robert Griffin III, and spinoff deals. It was nice to get all the extra manpower in 2012 and 2013 to rebuild what might have been the league’s worst roster when coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead came aboard.

But now, those contracts are starting to expire. The Rams have 11 players scheduled for unrestricted free agency starting Wednesday afternoon, and five of those players were either drafted or signed as undrafted rookies in 2012: cornerback Janoris Jenkins, safety Rodney McLeod, fullback/tight end Cory Harkey, wide receiver Brian Quick and kicker Greg Zuerlein.

A sixth player from the Class of 2012, Johnson, has basically been taken off the market with the franchise tag.

Of the remaining players scheduled for unrestricted free agency, two were on the roster when Fisher and Snead arrived — center Tim Barnes and defensive end Eugene Sims. The other four came to the team via either free agency or trade — safety/linebacker Mark Barron, defensive end William Hayes, defensive tackle Nick Fairley and wide receiver Wes Welker. (Barron came in a trade; Hayes, Fairley, and Welker in free agency).

Of the entire group, it’s safe to assume that Welker is the only player the Rams have no interest in re-signing. He was brought in almost on an emergency basis, at age 34, after Stedman Bailey’s four-game NFL drug suspension.

There’s at least some interest in retaining everybody else. As a group, they started 88 games a year ago. And that’s not including Zuerlein, the team’s leading scorer in each of the past four seasons.

Defensively, you’re talking about two of the Rams’ top three tacklers from last season in Barron (135, first) and McLeod (106, third). Hayes was second on the squad in sacks (5 ½), while Jenkins was second in interceptions (three) and led the team in pass breakups (13).

On the eve of free agency, it’s amazing that none of these players has been locked up to long-term deals by now. And not in a good way. It’s not as if the team woke up Jan. 4, the day after the season finale, and discovered each of these players had a contract set to expire March 9.

They’ve had the whole year to work on them. Perhaps all the energy spent on getting out of St. Louis via relocation took away from efforts to re-sign players. The only player signed to an extension was quarterback Nick Foles, way back in August. Then you have the franchise tag for Johnson, and that’s it.

“We tried all year, and just couldn’t ever get anything done,” Snead said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Now that the guys have gotten to free agency, they would like to continue testing the waters and try to get the best deal they can for themselves.”

That’s usually the way it works. The closer it gets to the free agency period, the more likely players are to see what’s out there. As of 11 a.m. Monday, the Rams lost sole negotiating rights with their pending free agents.

That’s when the “legal tampering” period began, when teams can begin to contact and negotiate with players on other teams. They can even agree to terms — they just can’t sign contracts until after 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Although it wasn’t necessarily legal, the combine used to be the place where agents and team execs got a feel for the market value of a player. But since the advent of the legal tampering period, a couple of years ago, it’s tougher to gauge the market until now.

Of all the Rams’ free agents, Hayes and Barron would be the most likely to re-sign with the team because of the fit with Fisher and the defense of coordinator Gregg Williams. Hayes was drafted by Fisher as a Tennessee Titan and is very loyal to him. With the release of Chris Long, Hayes has the opportunity to be a full-time starter.

As for Barron, the creative mind of Williams has created a unique niche for him as a linebacker/safety hybrid. It’s a relatively new thing in the NFL, using a player the way the Rams use Barron, so there might not be much of a market for his skill set.

The release of middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, coupled with moving Alec Ogletree inside, means Barron has a starting spot at weakside linebacker with his name on it.

Jenkins has dropped hints that he’s going to the highest bidder. As for McLeod, good free safeties are hard to come by, and early indications are he’s drawing some interest around the league.

 

[LongtimeRamsFan42]

There were many offseasons, particularly during the “Greatest Show on Turf” era and its immediate aftermath, in which the Rams did everything but search underneath sofa cushions for loose change.

They were that tight under the salary cap. My, how things have changed. Even after committing $13.9 million to place the franchise tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson, the Rams still have $43.7 million in cap space according to latest figures from the NFL Players Association.

Only six NFL teams have more, according to the NFLPA.

During most of their 21 seasons in St. Louis, the Rams entered the free-agency period with maybe one-third of that total — or less. Of course, the fact that all this money is available just in time for the team’s first season in Los Angeles is mere coincidence.

Right?

Well, not exactly. It would be naive to think the Rams didn’t want to make an offseason splash in their return to the West Coast. But most teams try to plan their salary cap a few years in advance anyway, with an eye toward which players’ contracts might be up at that time.

The Rams have been eyeing this offseason for quite a while, in part because of all the bodies brought in as a result of the deal that allowed Washington to draft Robert Griffin III, and spinoff deals. It was nice to get all the extra manpower in 2012 and 2013 to rebuild what might have been the league’s worst roster when coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead came aboard.

But now, those contracts are starting to expire. The Rams have 11 players scheduled for unrestricted free agency starting Wednesday afternoon, and five of those players were either drafted or signed as undrafted rookies in 2012: cornerback Janoris Jenkins, safety Rodney McLeod, fullback/tight end Cory Harkey, wide receiver Brian Quick and kicker Greg Zuerlein.

A sixth player from the Class of 2012, Johnson, has basically been taken off the market with the franchise tag.

Of the remaining players scheduled for unrestricted free agency, two were on the roster when Fisher and Snead arrived — center Tim Barnes and defensive end Eugene Sims. The other four came to the team via either free agency or trade — safety/linebacker Mark Barron, defensive end William Hayes, defensive tackle Nick Fairley and wide receiver Wes Welker. (Barron came in a trade; Hayes, Fairley, and Welker in free agency).

Of the entire group, it’s safe to assume that Welker is the only player the Rams have no interest in re-signing. He was brought in almost on an emergency basis, at age 34, after Stedman Bailey’s four-game NFL drug suspension.

There’s at least some interest in retaining everybody else. As a group, they started 88 games a year ago. And that’s not including Zuerlein, the team’s leading scorer in each of the past four seasons.

Defensively, you’re talking about two of the Rams’ top three tacklers from last season in Barron (135, first) and McLeod (106, third). Hayes was second on the squad in sacks (5 ½), while Jenkins was second in interceptions (three) and led the team in pass breakups (13).

On the eve of free agency, it’s amazing that none of these players has been locked up to long-term deals by now. And not in a good way. It’s not as if the team woke up Jan. 4, the day after the season finale, and discovered each of these players had a contract set to expire March 9.

They’ve had the whole year to work on them. Perhaps all the energy spent on getting out of St. Louis via relocation took away from efforts to re-sign players. The only player signed to an extension was quarterback Nick Foles, way back in August. Then you have the franchise tag for Johnson, and that’s it.

“We tried all year, and just couldn’t ever get anything done,” Snead said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Now that the guys have gotten to free agency, they would like to continue testing the waters and try to get the best deal they can for themselves.”

That’s usually the way it works. The closer it gets to the free agency period, the more likely players are to see what’s out there. As of 11 a.m. Monday, the Rams lost sole negotiating rights with their pending free agents.

That’s when the “legal tampering” period began, when teams can begin to contact and negotiate with players on other teams. They can even agree to terms — they just can’t sign contracts until after 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Although it wasn’t necessarily legal, the combine used to be the place where agents and team execs got a feel for the market value of a player. But since the advent of the legal tampering period, a couple of years ago, it’s tougher to gauge the market until now.

Of all the Rams’ free agents, Hayes and Barron would be the most likely to re-sign with the team because of the fit with Fisher and the defense of coordinator Gregg Williams. Hayes was drafted by Fisher as a Tennessee Titan and is very loyal to him. With the release of Chris Long, Hayes has the opportunity to be a full-time starter.

As for Barron, the creative mind of Williams has created a unique niche for him as a linebacker/safety hybrid. It’s a relatively new thing in the NFL, using a player the way the Rams use Barron, so there might not be much of a market for his skill set.

The release of middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, coupled with moving Alec Ogletree inside, means Barron has a starting spot at weakside linebacker with his name on it.

Jenkins has dropped hints that he’s going to the highest bidder. As for McLeod, good free safeties are hard to come by, and early indications are he’s drawing some interest around the league.

Bingo, I don't get it. We could've locked at least one or two of these guys up(even if it was more than we wanted to pay)...NOW we're going to have multiple bidders on these guys driving their price up even higher. It's not as if we don't have the cap space...Makes NO sense...

 

[Vitamike]

With 11 unrestricted free agents, almost all of whom they have an interest in retaining, the Rams will spend most of the first day of the 48-hour legal tampering period of free agency focused on their own players.

The tampering period begins at 1 p.m. PST,

That doesn’t mean they won’t reach out to other unrestricted free agents across the NFL — with whom they can negotiate all aspects of an NFL player contract over the next two days but can not technically agree to anything — but their primary focus is on their own free agents.

The bulk of those players are on defense, which means retaining starting cornerback Janoris Jenkins, free safety Rodney McLeod, outside linebacker Mark Barron and defensive linemen William Hayes, Eugene Sims and Nick Fairley.

Among the other unrestricted free agents are kicker Greg Zuerlein, receivers Brian Quick and Wes Welker, tight end Cory Harkey and center Tim Barnes.

The Rams have already addressed one of their unrestricted free agents by applying the franchise tag to starting cornerback Trumaine Johnson. Johnson signed the designation and will earn $13.9 million in 2016. The Rams will continue to work with Johnson on a long-term extension.

Barring an agreement with Johnson, the Rams have approximately $45 million to work with under the salary cap.

The Rams also have six restricted free agents: linebacker Daren Bates, safety Cody Davis, quarterback Case Keenum, running backs Benny Cunningham and Chase Reynold and offensive lineman Brian Folkerts.

The deadline to extend qualifying tenders on restricted free agents is Wednesday.

Free agency officially opens Wednesday, at which time any “agreements” reached during the 48-hour legal tampering period can be announced.

One player the Rams can officially talk to is quarterback Robert Griffin III, who was released Monday by the Washington Redskins. Griffin is immediately free to talk to, visit and sign with any team.

A pair of former Rams — defensive end Chris Long and linebacker James Laurinaitis — could soon be finding homes.

Long, whom the Rams released two weeks ago, has a visit set up Tuesday with the Washington Redskins. Larinitis is in Atlanta to visit with the Falcons on Tuesday.

Long, 30, was released by the Rams last month after eight seasons with the organization.

Long attended nearby University of Virginia and, provided he’s healthy, could find a spot in a retooled Redskins defensive line. For his career, Long has totaled 246 tackles with 54.5 sacks, eight passes defended and eight forced fumbles.

Laurinaitis visited the New Orleans Saints last week and will now meet with their NFC South rival Falcons.

The former second-round draft pick out of Ohio State started 112 consecutive games and has 852 career tackles, 16.5 sacks and 10 interceptions. If he signed with the Falcons, he’d likely compete with Paul Worrilow for the starting middle linebacker posotion.

 

[zeke2829]

what, he's not a likable person. he had his chance and blew it. DO you really want another banged up on this team? He should just retire and save his legs.

I'll actually be surprised if we sign him, I'm thinking he will end up in Dallas or Pittsburgh as a back up.

 

[zeke2829]

Bingo, I don't get it. We could've locked at least one or two of these guys up(even if it was more than we wanted to pay)...NOW we're going to have multiple bidders on these guys driving their price up even higher. It's not as if we don't have the cap space...Makes NO sense...

yep.... this is typical strategy by our team management! Lets just sit on our hands while other teams are agressive!

 

[Retroram52]

Hayes may be headed to Miami as the Dolphins are very interested. Alex Mack is now becoming a focus for a FA signing at center. Barnes has essentially disappeared even though the Rams want him back. Barron is next up along with McCleod. Harkey will probably resign as usually does every year right before camp.