| Samari Rolle to the Rams? Now that’s a
transaction worth pondering. Rumor has it that Rolle, a great, young cornerback
entering just his fourth season, is visiting with the Rams as this column is being
written.
Rolle, a restricted free agent, has certainly made his mark with the Titans, who could
have a real hard time matching any contract offer made by the Rams for his services. St.
Louis is blessed with roughly $7 million in salary-cap room after recently trading DE
Kevin Carter to Tennessee in exchange for the Titans’ No. 1 pick (29th
overall). The Titans reportedly are less than $100,000 under the cap at the moment.
The departure of Rolle would go a long way toward offsetting the significant addition
of Carter, who could be a terror in tandem with Jevon Kearse should he decide to apply
himself. A first- and a third-round draft pick — which would be what the Rams would
have to give up to Tennessee as compensation for signing Rolle — would lessen the
pain somewhat.
But Samari Rolle is a stud, folks. He runs the 40 in 4.3. He has tremendous instincts
and is a bona fide scoring threat after every interception he makes (he tied for the most
picks in the AFC last season with seven). And he’s very aggressive and very physical.
In other words, he’s just the kind of speedy, impact defender the Rams desperately
need.
A real (dare I say it) Samari warrior.
The Rams are determined to upgrade a defense that yielded a league-high 471 points last
season. And they’re in a great position to do just that. Not only do they have all
that cap money courtesy of the Carter deal. At the moment, they have extra picks in both
the first and second rounds of the upcoming draft.
A draft, it should be noted, that is particularly deep at the position where they
arguably need the most help — defensive tackle.
If the Rams end up sacrificing one of their first-rounders as a result of signing
Rolle, they can come right back and regain a No. 1 pick by peddling backup QB Trent Green
to Kansas City.
While the Chiefs continue to insist they’re unwilling to part with the first- and
third-round draft picks the Rams have demanded in exchange for Green, the feeling here is
they’ll reconsider as Draft Day gets closer.
Do you really think Kansas City will start the season with Todd Collins as their
starting QB replacing Elvis Grbac?
I say no way.
I say the Rams are sitting pretty. Recently they quietly landed a quality free agent,
Kim Herring from the Super Bowl champion Ravens, to replace the departed Keith Lyle at
free safety. With Herring, Rolle and CB Dexter McCleon, one of the few defensive holdovers
from last year’s sorry unit who is worth a hoot, the Rams’ secondary would be
dramatically upgraded.
St. Louis has also been talking to free-agent OLB Mark Fields, who like Rolle made the
Pro Bowl last season as a member of the surprising Saints. Fields’ attractiveness is
limited by the fact he wasn’t used in passing situations in the Saints’ defense
last season. But Fields has great speed and raw ability and would appear to be a nice fit
in the keep-it-simple scheme being installed by new Rams defensive coordinator Lovie
Smith.
Fields concluded his visit to St. Louis last Friday without receiving a contract offer
from the Rams. But he says he’s extremely excited by the prospect of joining up with
the Rams. Stay tuned.
I’m not saying you should sign, seal and deliver the Rams as the 2001 Super Bowl
champs. Their front seven still needs an almost total makeover.
But they’ve got more ammo right now than any team in the league with Draft Day
just around the corner.
I think the Rams are on a very fast track toward returning to the playoffs and doing
some big-time damage.
Especially if there’s a Samari Rolle in their future. |
