James Laurinaitis (55) could be a nice addition to a team this offseason. Photo Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Three major cuts left the Rams without some of the star power they were bringing to Los Angeles, with defensive end Chris Long, middle linebacker James Laurinaitis and tight end Jared Cook released Friday.
Combined, the trio was scheduled to earn $22.525 million in base salary.
“This is the time of year when all NFL teams are faced with difficult decisions regarding their veteran players,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said. “Chris and James are the epitome of what it means to be a pro in this league and it’s been an honor to coach them both. They’ve been the pillars of our defense for many years and not enough can be said of their love for the game and for their teammates. Beyond the field, they took pride in mentoring the younger players and doing their part to make a real difference in the St. Louis community. We will always be grateful for James and Chris’ unselfish commitment to the Rams and wish them the best moving forward.”
Long was the team’s highest-paid player and he had not performed up to his scheduled 2016 salary of $14.3 million. Injuries limited him to 18 total games the past two seasons. He was a captain and arguably the most respected player in the locker room on defense. Long was the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft.
The son of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long, Chris Long started 95 games with 54.5 sacks in St. Louis.
Laurinaitis, 30, was also a team leader but releasing him saves $5.5 million against the 2016 cap. The Rams have two younger linebackers in Mark Barron, moved last season from safety, and Alec Ogletree, who is coming back from a season-ending injury in 2015.
Cook signed a five-year, $35.1 million deal in 2013 as an unrestricted free agent from the Tennessee Titans that included a cap charge of $8.3 million for 2016. Releasing him saves the team $5.7 million.
