It’s unlikely that the St. Louis Rams will keep quarterback Marc Bulger at his $8.5 million salary for 2010. But as Jason La Canfora of NFL Network points out, the Rams have no reason to make any moves in the immediate future. Sure, Bulger would likely prefer to be released now so that he can hit the open market when the money (if there is any) will be flowing. But the Rams can squat on his rights without owing him a dime until September 11 or thereabouts.
Why not wait and see whether a team that wants a quarterback and doesn’t get a quarterback via free agency or the draft comes calling? With so many holes on the roster to plug, the Rams would be wise to finagle any and all help they can get if they’re going to be cutting players who would be in demand elsewhere.
That said, things could get interesting once the offseason program launches. The Titans tried several years ago to lock out quarterback Steve McNair due to concerns that a significant injury could put them on the hook for a huge salary obligation. Though McNair won a grievance in this regard, other teams have since found ways to keep a player destined to be cut out of harm’s way during the helmets-only portion of the calendar.