Rams Trade Rumors

"A key member of the Rams' front office might be joining Al Davis' operation with the Oakland Raiders. Davis is looking for a new contract negotiator and salary-cap specialist, and Samir Suleiman reportedly is a candidate for the job. Suleiman, 32, has been the Rams' director of football operations since 2000. In that position, he assists Jay Zygmunt, president of football operations and general manager, with contracts and cap management, among other duties."

"A key member of the Rams' front office might be joining Al Davis' operation with the Oakland Raiders. Davis is looking for a new contract negotiator and salary-cap specialist, and Samir Suleiman reportedly is a candidate for the job. Suleiman, 32, has been the Rams' director of football operations since 2000. In that position, he assists Jay Zygmunt, president of football operations and general manager, with contracts and cap management, among other duties."

"But until the last name is called, the uncertainty will continue, exacerbated by last-minute reports like the one that surfaced late Thursday night that the Saints were offering starting left offensive tackle Jammal Brown to the St. Louis Rams as part of a package to move up to the No. 2 spot in the draft. New Orleans then could select LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey... The Saints could also pull off a draft-day deal to acquire disgruntled New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey, who reportedly has told the Giants he is no longer interested in playing there."

"Cornerback Lito Sheppard, barring some unforeseen development, will become a member of another team, and we'll all get to see what he brings in return. Early yesterday evening, it was the New Orleans Saints' second-round pick that qualified as the best offer on the table. A league source said five teams had made offers for Sheppard. The St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were among those teams, and the source said the Eagles were still hopeful when they went to bed last night that some team would improve its offer today."

" The New Orleans Saints are trying hard to move up in Saturday's draft for a shot to draft defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey of LSU, and one of the pieces they are shopping in a trade is left tackle Jammal Brown, according to a league source... To get to Dorsey, the Saints would likely have to work out a deal with the St. Louis Rams to get the second pick. The Rams also like Dorsey, so it might be tough to pry that pick away."

"The Titans are hoping to spend a few days practicing against the St. Louis Rams in Nashville leading up to the preseason opener between the two teams at LP Field on Aug. 9, Coach Jeff Fisher confirmed this afternoon. Fisher said the deal is not yet in place, but sounded optimistic."

"Or he can sit back and listen to any anxious last-minute shoppers willing to aggressively move up to the Rams' No. 2 slot in a trade. Devaney said that "we have reason to believe there could be some movement with our pick" from multiple teams interested in improving their draft position."

"As a restricted free agent, safety Oshiomogho Atogwe can negotiate with other teams until April 18. Unless he gets an offer from an outside club by then, the Rams retain exclusive contract rights."

"Free-agent linebacker Brandon Chillar will make a decision today on his next team, according to his agent, Brian Mackler. Mackler provided no further details, but league sources say Arizona, Green Bay and the Rams all have made offers and that the Rams very much remain in the running to retain Chillar."

"Rumors swirl like March wind this time of year. But the Torry Holt trade rumors — to Philadelphia or Cincinnati, take your pick — are simply hot air, according to coach Scott Linehan. Linehan says the Rams aren't shopping their star wide receiver."

"The Eagles came up short in their pursuit of Randy Moss and watched as Javon Walker signed Wednesday with Oakland. Now, the search for a wide receiver will likely turn to the name most frequently mentioned as their primary target -- Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald, who remains in contract negotiations with the club that drafted him. Lions wideout Roy Williams, mercurial Bengals receiver Chad Johnson and Rams veteran Torry Holt are logical choices for the Eagles to pursue if they can't land Fitzgerald."

"Quarterback Trent Green, the Vianney High product who was with the Rams in 1999 and 2000, is scheduled to pay a free-agent visit to St. Louis on Wednesday. Green arrived in New Orleans on Monday for a free-agent visit with the Saints. Another former Ram, Jamie Martin, has been the Saints' backup for the past two seasons but is an unrestricted free agent this offseason."

"The next player on their list at the position, Tennessee's Jacob Bell, is expected at Rams Park today for a free-agent visit. Bell, who turned 27 on Sunday, isn't in Faneca's class as a blocker. But he's five years younger and still developing as a player... "

"With Pittsburgh guard Alan Faneca off to the New York Jets thanks to a free-agent contract averaging a reported $8 million a year, the Rams have turned their sights on Tennessee’s Jacob Bell."

"With Todd Collins re-signing with the Washington Redskins, Trent Green looks like the next option for the Rams as Marc Bulger's backup at quarterback."

"The agent for Kansas City center Casey Wiegmann said Friday he had yet to hear from St. Louis although the Rams are thought to be interested. * The Rams are talking with Dallas cornerback Jacques Reeves. "

"Unlike some teams, the Packers don't disclose the players in whom they have interest or intend to bring in for official visits, so it's hard to know exactly how active they were Friday. But two of the players they contacted on the first day were St. Louis strong-side linebacker Brandon Chillar and Detroit defensive end Corey Smith."

"Add it all up and the Rams have a lot more money to spend. Landing a top-end guy like cornerback Asante Samuel, linebacker Lance Briggs or guard Alan Faneca will be difficult, but solid players like safety Gibril Wilson or linebacker Landon Johnson could become worthy targets."

"Decisions are looming on wide receiver Isaac Bruce and restricted free agents Trevor Johnson (defensive end) and Jerome Carter (safety). Bruce is due a $2 million roster bonus Friday. According to league sources, the Rams have discussed both a pay cut for Bruce or releasing him altogether."

"After 14 NFL seasons, you might say center Andy McCollum is semiretired. McCollum is scheduled for unrestricted free agency this week. The Rams believe McCollum, 37, can still pass block but don’t have him on speed dial."

"So if the Rams are going to do anything in free agency, which starts Feb. 29, they must free up cap space on the current roster. The most likely targets appear to be wide receiver Isaac Bruce and defensive end Leonard Little."

"The lead contract negotiators for the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams are prime candidates to become the top negotiator for the Green Bay Packers."

"When Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs resigned unexpectedly Jan. 8, Scott Linehan took particular notice. No, the Rams' third-year coach wasn't interested in replacing Gibbs. Linehan, searching for an offensive coordinator, wondered if Al Saunders, Gibbs' associate head coach on offense, might enter the market...Linehan received permission from the Redskins to approach Saunders. So when Saunders officially was dismissed Saturday, their discussions already had reached an advanced stage. "

"In another sign that Al Saunders could be headed to St. Louis as the Rams' offensive coordinator, the club has begun contract negotiations to bring the veteran NFL coach to Scott Linehan's staff."

"The Bucs are expected to move a step closer to completing their coaching staff by hiring Rams assistant Greg Olson to be quarterbacks coach. But the Bucs had not made the news official as of Monday. "

"The Rams are interested in Gregg Williams, just-fired as defensive coordinator in Washington, but only as a secondary coach."

"Defensive guru Gregg Williams parted ways with the Washington Redskins yesterday following a meeting with owner Daniel Snyder... The Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams have already asked the Redskins for permission to speak to Williams, league sources said. "

"There is continued talk that Nuggets and Avalanche owner Stan Kroenke will take over as majority owner of the St. Louis Rams in the aftermath of the death of Georgia Frontiere, who had controlling interest. Kroenke owns 40 percent of the Rams, and word is that many inside the Rams' organization want him to take control."

"Add another name to the list of Rams offensive coordinator candidates. Hue Jackson, who spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons, has interviewed for the Rams' coordinator job. Rams coach Scott Linehan said Thursday that he interviewed Jackson earlier this week in Los Angeles. So far, Jackson and Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese are the only offensive coordinator candidates that Linehan has interviewed formally."

"The Bengals, who are looking for a linebackers coach, may soon have an opening on their offensive staff to fill as well. Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese is one of two candidates to interview with St. Louis head coach Scott Linehan for the Rams' vacant offensive coordinator job."

""Possibly," Lewis said when asked if there would be more changes on the Bengals' coaching staff. Offensively, quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese interviewed for the offensive coordinator job with the Rams, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch...Another name that has surfaced in Cincinnati is Hue Jackson, who worked opposite Zimmer last season as Falcons offensive coordinator."

"Before he left for Los Angeles and the Rams' annual summit meeting, coach Scott Linehan met with Ken Zampese in St. Louis about the team’s offensive coordinator position."

"Injuries or not, Linehan will have lots of questions to answer after a 3-13 season. Shaw and Zygmunt will want Linehan's slant on what went wrong this season. Why did the offense struggle? Why did the defense take a nose dive late in the year? Why can't the Rams cover a kick?"

"Rams coach Scott Linehan apparently is beginning to reshape his staff. On Thursday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant Art Valero told reporters in Florida that he would be joining the Rams. "I do have a job'' with the Rams, Valero told the Tampa Tribune. A Bucs source confirmed that Valero had cleared out his office at the team's practice facility."

"Tampa Bay assistant coach Art Valero has talked to the Rams about a position on Scott Linehan’s coaching staff, according to league sources. Valero, 49, was assistant head coach-running backs coach for the Buccaneers, but it’s believed he’s being considered as an offensive line coach by the Rams now that his contract is expiring with Tampa Bay."

"At least one Bucs assistant coach may be leaving. Running backs coach Art Valero has had discussions with the Rams about joining their revamped staff under coach Scott Linehan. The move had not been announced Wednesday, but it's likely Valero would coach the offensive line. St. Louis fired offensive line coach Paul Boudreau last week and Greg Olson was informed he would not be the offensive coordinator in 2008. "

"The talk abounds that Cam Cameron is their top choice to replace Olson as offensive coordinator and that two of the best available offensive line coaches, Mike Solari and Hudson Hauk, are also on Shaw's wish list. But this is the ultimate in pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking, because on the NFL job market, these guys are hot properties, and the Rams are definitely not."

"For Paul Boudreau, the end of his two-year tenure as Rams offensive line coach came quickly and unceremoniously. According to Boudreau, he was informed of his dismissal Thursday evening via a brief phone call from coach Scott Linehan... The ouster of Boudreau and potential departure of Olson may not be the only staff changes, according to Zygmunt, as Linehan continues to evaluate his staff."

"Offensive coordinator Greg Olson and offensive line coach Paul Boudreau are on the way out with the Rams, and recently fired Miami Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron could be on the way as Olson's replacement."

"Or go to free agency, where Chicago's Bernard Berrian is among the wide receivers scheduled to be on the market. Holt should be commended not only for playing through his knee problems, but maintaining his productivity. But the knee injury appears chronic. And what happens to Bruce, who's scheduled to make $5 million while turning 36 next year?"

"Rumors of Tony Softli’s demise with the Rams have swirled for weeks. But they intensified Sunday with Internet reports that he would be out as the Rams’ vice president of player personnel after just two seasons on the job in St. Louis."

"According to several team and league sources, vice president of player personnel Tony Softli, with the organization for exactly 1 ½ years, will be fired sometime between now and the completion of the draft."

"Falcons owner Arthur Blank has enlisted former New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi as an adviser in his search for a new general manager and a coach, according to Kim Shreckengost, chief of staff for the Falcons... Coaching candidates include two Falcons assistants, offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer; Marty Schottenheimer, a longtime NFL coach with Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington and San Diego; San Francisco assistant head coach Mike Singletary; Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett; Green Bay assistant head coach Winston Moss; St. Louis defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, a former coach of the Saints; and two Patriots assistants, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and assistant head coach Dante Scarnecchia."

"Rams fans can shout out, threaten to cancel season tickets, boo John Shaw, or vow to never enter the Edward Jones Dome again. Scott Linehan will be back as the head coach in 2008. This is the reality. "

"That won't be necessary, although the Rams probably will look to re-work Little's contract before the start of next season because he's due a $7.17 million roster bonus and counts more than $9.5 million against the cap in '08."

"Of the 12 prospective unrestricted free agents, only strongside linebacker Brandon Chillar and center Brett Romberg are primary starters. Of the two prospective restricted free agents, Oshiomogho Atogwe is the only full-time starter."

"Scott Linehan will be the Rams' head coach in 2008. Shaw wasn't budged by the 41-24 loss to the Steelers. He wasn't moved by Torry Holt's sideline denunciation of Linehan in the waning moments of a defeat that dropped the Rams to 3-12. "

"Rams coach Scott Linehan said he has worried about winning games — not his job security — as the 2007 season has progressed."

"Naturally, many fans are crying for Linehan’s dismissal. Their emotions range from outrage to frustration to apathy. They vow to avoid the team at all costs if Shaw doesn’t make major changes with the football operation."

"It looks like Scott Linehan will be back in 2008. In a handful of interviews this season, Rams President John Shaw has been adamant that he will make no coaching change during the 2007 season. But that's as far as he would go."