Examining Rams Core Players

The Rams’ new coaching staff and personnel department will have a lot of choices heading into the 2012 season. With the second pick in the draft and millions of dollars under the cap to spend on free agents, that puts the organization in very good position as they move forward into the future.

Below are the core players I feel will give the Rams a solid foundation. Keep in mind there are free agents that will need to be re-signed or replaced. There will be decisions on older veterans that only have a year remaining as far as productive contributions several that might have to be tolerated until they can be replaced.

Several of the players below are coming off injured reserve and will need to show they are healthy and that injury history won’t hurt their future with the club.

There is another group of players that I don’t feel are part of the team’s core. Several are free agents and many are under contract. The new coaching staff will especially evaluate those under contract and decide whether they will eventually be in training camp.

(Contract information compiled by Tony Softli and Howard Balzer)

C.J. Ah You, DE: 7/29/2011: Signed a one-year contract as exclusive-rights free agent. 2011: $525,000; 2012: Restricted Free Agent

Danario Alexander, WR: 10/12/2010: Signed a four-year, $1.825 million contract. The deal included a $35,000 signing bonus. 2011: $450,000; 2012: $540,000; 2013: $630,000; 2014: Unrestricted free agent

Danny Amendola, WR: 7/29/2011: Signed a one-year contract as exclusive-rights free agent. 2011: $525,000; 2012: Restricted Free Agent

Justin Bannan,DT: 7/31/2011: 2011: $3 million ($2 million roster bonus); 2012: $2.75 million; 2013: $2.75 million ($500,000 roster bonus); 2014: Unrestricted free agent

Ron Bartell, CB:                 3/2/2009: Signed a four-year, $25 million contract. The deal contains $13.6 million guaranteed, including a $5 million signing bonus and Bartell's base salaries in years one and two. Another $3 million is available through incentives. 2011: $5.2 million; 2012: $6.2 million; 2013: Unrestricted free agent

Jacob Bell, OG: 8/4/2011: Signed a one-year contract restructured contract. 2011: $3.1 million ($2.29 million roster bonus). 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Sam Bradford, QB: 7/31/2010: Signed a six-year, $78 million contract. The deal contains $50 million guaranteed, including a $2.88 million first-year roster bonus. Another $8 million is available through incentives based on playoff, Super Bowl, and Pro Bowl appearances. 2011: $450,000 (plus $17.974 million signing bonus); 2012: $12 million (guaranteed); 2013: $9 million ($8 million guaranteed); 2014: $14.015 million; 2015: $12.985 million; 2016: Unrestricted free agent

Josh Brown, PK: 2/29/2008: Signed a five-year, $14.2 million contract. The deal included a $4 million signing bonus. 2011: $2.6 million; 2012: $2.7 million; 2013: Unrestricted free agent

Jason Brown, C: 2/28/2009: Signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract. The deal contains $20 million guaranteed, including an $11 million signing bonus and the base salaries in years one and two. Brown's contract will void after the 2012 season if he reaches incentives based on wins and performance. The Rams can also "buy back" the year by adding $2.3 million to Brown's 2013 base salary. 2011: $4 million; 2012: $5 million; 2013: $8.5 million (including $2.3 million roster bonus); 2014: Unrestricted free agent

Chris Chamberlain, OLB: 7/29/2011: Signed one-year contract as restricted free agent. 2011: $1.2 million; 2012: Unrestricted free agent.

Kellen Clemens, QB: 11/23/2011: Claimed contract on waivers from Houston. 2011: $685,000. 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Harvey Dahl, OG: 7/29/2011: Signed a four-year, $16 million contract. The deal included an initial roster bonus of $3 million. 2011: $1 million; 2012: $3 million (plus $1 million roster bonus); 2013: $4 million; 2014: $3.5 million (plus $500,000 roster bonus); 2015: Unrestricted free agent

Craig Dahl, S: 3/6/2010: Signed a three-year, $3.6 million contract. The deal included an initial roster bonus of $755,000. 2011: $1.6 million; 2012: $1.2 million (voidable year); 2013: Unrestricted free agent

A.J. Feeley, QB:                2011: $1.2 million (plus $500,000 roster bonus; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Bradley Fletcher, CB: 7/17/2009: Signed a four-year, $2.642 million contract. The deal included an $892,298 signing bonus. 2011: $525,000; 2012: $615,000; 2013: Unrestricted free agent

Gary Gibson, DT: 8/4/2011: Signed a one-year, $735,000 contract. The deal included an initial roster bonus of $50,000, paid out when Gibson made the Week 1 roster. 2011: $735,000; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Brandon Gibson, WR: 6/6/2009: Signed a four-year, $1.850 million contract with Philadelphia. The deal included a $100,000 signing bonus. 2011: $525,000; 2012: $615,000; 2013: Unrestricted free agent

Adam Goldberg, OT: 8/6/2011: Signed a one-year, $860,000 contract. The deal included an initial roster bonus of $50,000, paid out when Goldberg made the Week 1 roster. 2011: $860,000; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Josh Gordy, CB:                9/21/2011: Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $375,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: Exclusive rights free agent

James Hall, DE: 3/22/2010: Signed a three-year, $8.25 million contract. The deal included an initial roster bonus of $1.895 million. 2011 and 2012: $2.75 million; 2013: Unrestricted free agent

Roderick Hood, CB: 9/28/2011: Signed a one-year contract. 2011: $810,000; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Michael Hoomanawanui, TE: 6/26/2010: Signed a four-year, $2.0055 million contract. The deal included a $215,512 signing bonus. 2011: $450,000; 2012: $540,000; 2013: $630,000; 2014: Unrestricted free agent

Josh Hull, OLB: 6/26/2010: Signed a four-year, $1.8255 million contract. The deal included a $35,553 signing bonus. 2011: $375,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: $555,000; 2014: Unrestricted free agent

Steven Jackson, RB: Renegotiated 8/21/2008: Signed a six-year, $44.805 million contract. The deal contains $20.5 million guaranteed, including an $11.395 million signing bonus. Another $4.495 million is available through incentives. He must average 1,200 yards rushing and 400 yards receiving over the first four years to void the final two seasons on his contract. Came up short in receiving yards. 2011: $7.2 million; 2012 and2013: $7 million; 2014: Unrestricted free agent

Donnie Jones, P: 4/18/2007: Signed a five-year, $5.618 million contract. The deal included a $1.175 million signing bonus. 2011: $1.1 million; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Bryan Kehl, OLB: 2011: $600,000; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Lance Kendricks                , TE: 7/29/2011: Signed a four-year, $4.226 million contract. The deal included a $1.574 million signing bonus. 2011: 375,000; 2012: $567,059; 2013: 759,118; 2014: 951,177; 2015: Unrestricted free agent

James Laurinaitis, MLB:                 7/29/2009: Signed a four-year, $5.09 million contract. The deal contains $3.29 million guaranteed. 2011: $525,000; 2012: $615,000; 2013: Unrestricted free agent

Mark LeVoir, OT: 10/26/2011: Signed a one-year contract. 2011: $685,000; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Brandon Lloyd, WR: 2011: $1.395 million; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Chris Long, DE: 7/20/2008: Signed a five-year, $48 million contract. The deal contains $22.385 million guaranteed, including a first-year roster bonus of $2.605 million. Another $12 million is available through incentives. Long voided year six by playing in 35 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie. He is eligible for a onetime $4.01 million "likely to be earned" escalator based on performance. The contract was restructured on 9/17/2011 settling an issue of incentives and he received a $12 million signing bonus. 2011: $603,750; 2012: $10.06 million; 2013: Unrestricted free agent

Bryan Mattison, OG: Claimed on waivers from Ravens 11/25/2011: $450,000. 2012: Exclusive-rights free agent

Jake McQuaide, LS: 7/28/2011: Signed a three-year contract that included a signing bonus of $2,500. 2011: $375,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: $555,000; 2014: Restricted free agent

Quintin Mikell, S: 7/29/2011: Signed a four-year, $27 million contract. The deal contains $12 million in signing bonuses. 2011: $1.0 million; 2012: $1.0 million; 2013: $6.0 million; 2014: $7.0 million; 2015: Unrestricted free agent

Brit Miller, FB: 10/13/2010. Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $525,000; 2012: Exclusive-rights Free Agent

Jerome Murphy, CB: 6/26/2010: Signed a four-year, $2.728 million contract. The deal included a $937,739 signing bonus. 2011: $450,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: $555,000; 2014: Unrestricted free agent

Nate Ness, CB: 12/14/2011: Signed a two-year contract. 2011: 450,000; 2012: $540,000.

David Nixon, LB: 11/9/2011: Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $525,000; 2012: $615,000.

Jerious Norwood, RB 8/2/2011: Signed a one-year contract. 2011: $710,000 (includes $25,000 roster bonus); 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Austin Pettis, WR 7/29/2011: Signed a four-year contract. The deal included a $614,000 signing bonus. 2011: $375,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: $555,000; 2014: $645,000. 2015: Unrestricted free agent

Brady Poppinga, OLB: 8/2/2011: Signed a one-year contract. The deal included a $50,000 roster bonus paid when Poppinga was on the game-day roster for 10 or more games. 2011: $735,000; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Robert Quinn, DE: 7/30/2011: Signed a five-year, $9.4 million contract. The deal included a $5.363 million signing bonus. 2011: $375,000; 2012: $803,011; 2013: $1.233 million; 2014: $1.662 million. 2015: Unrestricted free agent

Fred Robbins, DE: 3/8/2010: Signed a three-year, $11.25 million contract. The deal included an initial roster bonus of $3.395 million. Another $725,000 is available through incentives. 2011: $3.5 million; 2012: $3.75 million; 2013: Unrestricted free agent

Rodger Saffold, OT: 7/28/2010: Signed a four-year, $6.3 million contract. The deal contains $3.9 million guaranteed of which $2.32 million was a signing bonus. Another $250,000 is available through "unlikely to be earned" incentives based on Pro Bowl berths and the 2010 offensive rookie of the year award. 2011: $450,000; 2012: $540,000; 2013: $655,000; 2014: Unrestricted free agent

Greg Salas, WR: 7/29/2011: Signed a four-year contract. The deal included a $451,154 signing bonus. 2011: $375,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: $555,000; 2014: $645,000; 2015: Unrestricted free agent

Darell Scott, DT: 7/30/2009: Signed a four-year, $2.270 million contract. The deal included a $519,719 signing bonus. 2011: $525,000; 2012: $615,000; 2013: Unrestricted free agent

Eugene Sims, DE: 6/26/2010: Signed a four-year, $1.893 million contract. The deal included a $103,301 signing bonus. 2011: $450,000; 2012: $540,000; 2013: $630,000; 2014: Unrestricted free agent

Jason Smith, OT: 7/30/2009: Signed a six-year, $61.775 million contract. The deal contains $33 million guaranteed, including a second-year option bonus of $16.3 million and all of Smith's first three base salaries. 2011: $8.5 million; 2012: $10 million; 2013: $12 million, 2014: $3.325 million (voidable year); 2015: Unrestricted free agent

Stephen Spach, TE: 9/5/2011: Signed a one-year contract. 2011: $685,000; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Darian Stewart, S: 4/30/2010. Signed a two-year contract that included a $12,500 signing bonus. 2011: $450,000; 2012: Exclusive-rights Free Agent

Cadillac Williams, RB: 8/5/2011: Signed a one-year, $735,000 contract. The deal included a $50,000 signing bonus. 2011: $735,000; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Tony Wragge, G: 9/5/2011: Signed a one-year contract. 2011: $860,000 (includes a $50,000 signing bonus); 2012: Unrestricted free agent

It will be exciting to watch the new regime build the roster for the future. Keep in mind, this team doesn’t need a total rebuild, but a tweak here and there to get them back in the mix within the NFC West.

Other players

Billy Bajema, TE: 3/31/2009: Signed a three-year contract that included a signing bonus of $100,000. 2011: $985,000; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Cornell Banks, DT: 1/3/2012: Signed a two-year contract after ending season on practice squad. 2012: $390,000; 2013: 480,000; 2014: Exclusive-rights free agent

Tim Barnes, C: 1/3/2012: 1/3/2012: Signed a two-year contract after ending season on practice squad. 2012: $390,000; 2013: 480,000; 2014: Exclusive-rights free agent

Tom Brandstater, QB: 12/3/2011: Signed a one-year contract. 2011: $450,000; 2012: Exclusive-rights free agent

Kendric Burney, CB: 1/3/2012: 1/3/2012: Signed a two-year contract after ending season on practice squad. 2012: $390,000; 2013: 480,000; 2014: Exclusive-rights free agent

James Butler, S: 8/1/2011 (renegotiation): Signed a one-year contract. 2011: $685,000; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

WR John Chiles, WR: 1/3/2012. Signed a two-year contract after ending season on practice squad. 2012: $390,000; 2013: 480,000; 2014: Exclusive-rights free agent

Mark Clayton, WR: 8/31/2011: Signed a one-year split contract that paid less when on injured reserve or physically unable to perform. There was also a $19,689 bonus paid for each game he was on the game-day, 46-man roster. That only happened twice. 2011: $1 million/$500,000 split. 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Justin Cole, LB: 11/15/2011: Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $450,000; 2012: $540,000; 2013: Restricted free agent

Demarco Cosby, TE: Signed a two-year contract after ending season on practice squad. 2012: $390,000; 2013: 480,000; 2014: Exclusive-rights free agent

Jermelle Cudjo, DT: 9/25/2010: Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $450,000; 2012: Exclusive-rights free agent

Dominique Curry, WR: 5/2/2010: signed a two-year contract. 2011: $375,000; 2012: Exclusive-rights free agent

Adam Goldberg, OT: 8/6/2011: Signed a one-year contract. 2011: $860,000 (includes $50,000 roster bonus); 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Ben Guidugli, TE: 12/28/2011: Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $375,000; 2012: $390,000; 2013: Exclusive-rights free agent

Al Harris, CB: 7/30/2011: Signed a one-year contract. 2011: $960,000 (including $50,000 roster bonus; 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Kevin Hughes, T/G: 11/19/2011. Signed a three-year contract. 2011: $375,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: $555,000; 2014: Restricted free agent

Brian Jackson, CB: 10/10/2011: Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $450,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: Exclusive-rights free agent

Marquis Johnson, CB: 1/4/2011: Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $375,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: Exclusive-rights free agent

Justin King, CB: 3/3/2011: Signed a one-year contract. 2011: $875,500 (including $250,500 signing bonus/$100,000 roster bonus); 2012: Unrestricted free agent

Ryan McKee, OT: 1/3/2012: Signed a two-year contract after ending season on practice squad. 2012: $465,000; 2013: $555,000; 2014: Exclusive-rights free agent

Mike McNeill, TE: 12/20/2011. Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $375,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: Exclusive-rights free agent

Nick Miller, WR/KR: 11/25/2011: Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $525,000; 2012: $615,000; 2013: Unrestricted free agent

Quinn Porter, RB: 9/15/2011: Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $375,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: Exclusive rights-free agent

Chase Reynolds, RB: Signed a two-year contract after ending season on practice squad. 2012: $390,000; 2013: 480,000; 2014: Exclusive-rights free agent

Chris Smith, CB: 12/7/2011: Signed a three-year contract, 2011: $375,000; 2012: $465,000; 2013: $555,000; 2014: Restricted free agreement

Thomas Welch, OT: 11/22/2011: Signed a two-year contract. 2011: $450,000; 2012: $540,000; 2013: Exclusive-rights free agent