Comments on: A closer look at the Rams' decision not to negotiate with possible No. 1 picks

By: vesselsk

vesselsk — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:31:45 +0000

Its kinda nice to see the GMs for the teams at the bottom of the league being glib and not totally showing their hands to the rest of the table.

By: mzezulak

mzezulak — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:41:45 +0000

Rams draft Bradford #1 then trade him to Washington for Okung @#4 , Mcnabb and haynesworth. Blockbuster

By: hotchick

hotchick — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:08:16 +0000

It will be whatever happens on Thursday night.
I love this. We all acknowledge that every team lies or implies they are lying about what they are going to do. But there is no limit to the number of numbskulls who know what each team, or any team, is going to do.
And as we point to the fact that the expects draft Russel and Leaf #1, and point to where Brady was drafted as proof they are only correct 50% of the time at best…. The numbskulls again act as if they, from their chairs of expertise in their basements, are correct 100% of the time.
Lets just see who drafts who and in two or three years which teams made mistakes and which players surprised everyone by being a bust.

By: floriosadildo

floriosadildo — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 17:52:06 +0000

Huh?

By: MI-Patrick

MI-Patrick — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:11:42 +0000

The Rams are not going to take Bradford, It will be Suh or trade. Interest in Bradford is a smokescreen to milk a deal for extra picks, my guess Cleveland sends Delhome+#7+#85 for #1 and maybe #163. Cleveland will hope for a shot at Colt McCoy in the 2nd. They consider this a safer investment.

By: Slow Joe

Slow Joe — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 15:51:31 +0000

@L-train: Excellent post.

By: L-train

L-train — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 15:20:10 +0000

Both Bradford and the Rams probably feel they will have more leverage after the draft.
Bradford feels that if he waits, the pressure will then be on the Rams to sign him or he re-enters the draft next year and gets his money from someone else.
However, the Rams feel that once the rookie wage scale is in place for 2011, the pressure will be on Bradford to get signed or re-enter the draft in 2011 and get a fraction of what he would get this year. Once the parameters of rookie wage scaled are leaked for 2011, the Rams will have all the leverage – a lot more than now. I would also bet that the parameters of a 2011 rookie wage scale will be made known before the start of training camp to entice the first 10-15 picks to get signed.

By: edgy1957

edgy1957 — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:25:50 +0000

Reason 3, they’re idiots. Seriously, San Diego lucked out because while Rivers held out and was never a serious contender for the job, Drew Brees FINALLY came around but the Rams don’t have the kind of luxury.

By: Gray Eagle

Gray Eagle — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:00:15 +0000

Do I detect Dan Snyder’s finger in this pot? Shanahan is very strong on Bradford.

By: magsdad1

magsdad1 — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:53:36 +0000

“Second, it’s possible that the Rams are trying to line up an Eli Manning-style pick-and-trade, which would make negotiating a contract with Bradford or anyone else irrelevant. Under this scenario, the Rams would have a tentative deal lined up with a team drafting in a lower slot, the Rams would tell that team which guy to pick when on the clock, and then the swap would occur.”
Buffalo or Cleveland.

By: HellsGrimTyrant

HellsGrimTyrant — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:51:35 +0000

Given the Rams FO performance the last few years I’m going to go with “paralyzed with uncertainty”

By: Buschman

Buschman — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:51:14 +0000

Could it be that they are holding out hope that a new CBA will be negotiated that has a rookie wage scale?

By: ninerfan

ninerfan — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:48:55 +0000

Wow! Trying to read that was painful.

By: Lorenz67

Lorenz67 — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:47:04 +0000

1 word, collusion… The Rams have been told not to in case a rookie wage scale is in place predraft…

By: scrapdawg12

scrapdawg12 — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:36:35 +0000

Bradford is gonna be a bust

By: el_dude00

el_dude00 — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:33:36 +0000

“So: (1) if the Rams start talking to the likes of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, tackle Russell Okung, and/or quarterback Jimmy Clausen; (2) if the Rams start making progress with one or more of them; (2) if Bradford digs in his heels and refuses to negotiate; (4) if the Rams have a guy teed up to take a deal that represents a package in the ballpark of the contract signed last year by No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford; and (5) if the Rams still pick Bradford anyway, word will get out that they could have had one of the other guys for far less than what they eventually pay Bradford.” – Mike Florio
I see what you are saying here. The elimination of the third “if” is what is curious about these suppositions.There are two #2s. Got it!
Damn dude. You’re good.

By: KingJoe!

KingJoe! — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:30:29 +0000

or maybe they just figure their leverage is just as good after they pick.