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HOT TOPIC
The long-awaited restructuring of the Rams' personnel department finally happened with the hiring of Tony Softli as vice president of player personnel. Softli leaves the Carolina Panthers, where he was director of college scouting since 2000 and had been with the Panthers since their inception in 1995.
In the restructuring of the front office, general manager Charley Armey was reassigned as vice president of pro personnel. Lawrence McCutcheon retains the title of director of player personnel, but he is essentially the college scouting director. Softli will oversee the entire personnel department.
Said Jay Zygmunt, Rams president of football operations, "Tony brings a wealth of talent evaluation knowledge and will work closely with our scouts and with Lawrence McCutcheon and Charley in the coordination of our efforts on the collegiate and professional levels."
"This gives me a chance to run both the college and pro sides of a department," Softli said. "It gives me a chance to work with Jay. With his knowledge of the salary cap, he has a lot to teach me."
The Rams have not had someone run their pro personnel department since Mike Martz was named head coach in 2000. Martz did not believe in advance scouting, but Armey will now head up that effort as he nears retirement.
"We are grateful of Charley's willingness to take on this new role for the organization," said Zygmunt. "Charley's 26 seasons of NFL experience as an evaluator in all areas of the game will be invaluable."
Softli and Rams coach Scott Linehan were on the same staff as coaches at the University of Washington in 1994.
"We got along well then, and I think we laid the groundwork for a good working relationship," Softli said. "I'm ecstatic. I'm leaving a great organization to come to another with a lot of history."
PLAYER NOTES
--The Rams' depth chart at quarterback got larger when the team acquired Dave Ragone from the Cincinnati Bengals. The Rams will give a seventh-round pick in the 2007 draft to the Texans only if Ragone makes the roster.
The timing of the move is odd considering that Ragone, a former third-round pick of the Houston Texans, was waived by Houston in May and the Rams did not put in a waiver claim at the time. Ragone was claimed by Cincinnati and Indianapolis, and was awarded to the Bengals.
He has a connection with coach Scott Linehan when Linehan was a coach at the University of Louisville.
The addition of Ragone creates a crowded position with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jeff Smoker already competing for the team's No. 3 job behind Marc Bulger and Gus Frerotte. Rarely, if ever, do teams take five quarterbacks to training camp.
Ragone played in two games in his three seasons with the Texans. He started two games during his rookie season, and completed 20 of 40 passes for 135 yards, with one interception. He did run for 51 yards on six attempts.
The Texans sent him to NFL Europe in 2004 where he played for Berlin and was offensive MVP. He completed 158 of 251 passes for 1,746 yards with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions. At one point, he threw 174 consecutive passes without an interception.
--Following the team's final practice at their recent minicamp, there was a barbecue for players, coaches and their families. The only negative was that the get-together had to be moves inside because of inclement weather.
"It doesn't seem like you ever take time to kind of say hello to your new teammates," coach Scott Linehan said. "Shoot, I've got coaches' families that I haven't gotten a chance to meet yet.
"I said from the onset, I want people to feel great about being here, and have a great sense of pride in where they work. And I want the families to feel welcome."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--P Bryan Barker (not tendered June 1).
--RB Aveion Cason (not tendered June 1).
--CB Terry Fair (not tendered June 1).
--G Tom Nutten (not tendered June 1).
--TE Roland Williams (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
--CB Dwight Anderson got a second chance late in 2005 season and can develop if he matures.
--DT Jeremy Calahan is somewhat undersized, but works hard and gives great effort.
--S Dwaine Carpenter was signed late in the season, and could be in the mix at a position that needs help.
--TE Jerome Collins has excellent athletic ability, but remains very raw at the position.
--LB Mike Goolsby was added to the roster late in the season, and contributed on special teams.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--WR Isaac Bruce (had been released; $15M/3 yrs, $1M SB/$5M base guarantee; 2006 cap: $7.273M.
--WR Kevin Curtis: RFA; $1.573M/1 yr.
--DE Brandon Green: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--CB DeJuan Groce: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--LS Chris Massey: Potential UFA; $2.73M/4 yrs, $300,000 SB.
--WR Shaun McDonald: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--OG Blaine Saipaia: Potential ERFA; $385,000/1 yr.
--QB Jeff Smoker: Potential ERFA; $385,000/1 yr.
--LB Drew Wahlroos: Potential ERFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--CB Fakhir Brown: UFA Saints; $12M/5 yrs, $2.5M SB.
--S Corey Chavous: UFA Vikings; $16M/5 yrs, $4M SB/$1M RB; 2006 cap: $3.3M.
--RB Tony Fisher: UFA Packers; $625,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2006 cap: $465,000.
--DT Jason Fisk: FA Browns; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--QB Gus Frerotte: FA Dolphins; $6.3M/3 yrs, $2.1M SB/$500,000 RB '07-08; 2006 cap: $1.51M.
--DT La'Roi Glover: FA Cowboys; $12M/3 yrs, $3M SB; 2006 cap: $3.506M.
--WR Brad Pyatt: Not tendered as RFA by Colts; $432,500/1 yr, $7,500 SB).
--QB Dave Ragone: Trade Bengals.
--FB Paul Smith: UFA Lions; terms unknown.
--LB Raonall Smith: UFA Vikings; $750,000/1 yr, $150,000 SB.
--OT Todd Steussie: UFA Buccaneers; $850,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2006 cap: $465,000.
--P Matt Turk: FA; $850,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2006 cap: $465,000.
--LB Will Witherspoon: UFA Panthers; $33M/6 yrs, $9M SB/$2M, $4M base guarantee 2006-07; 2006 cap: $3.5M.
PLAYERS LOST
--S Adam Archuleta: UFA Redskins; $30.18M/6 yrs, $5M SB.
--LB Chris Claiborne (released; failed physical/knee).
--S Mike Furrey: Not tendered as RFA/Lions; $540,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.
--RB Arlen Harris: Not tendered as RFA/Lions; $500,000/1 yr.
--CB Corey Ivy: UFA Ravens; $2.16M/3 yrs, $250,000 SB.
--DE Tyoka Jackson: UFA Lions; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Chris Johnson: Not tendered as RFA/Chiefs; $940,000/2 yrs, $5,000 SB.
--DT Damione Lewis: UFA Panthers; $3.9M/2 yrs, $1.5M SB.
--LB Jeremy Loyd: Not tendered as ERFA/Patriots; terms unknown (subsequently cut).
--TE Brandon Manumaleuna: Traded Chargers.
--QB Jamie Martin: UFA Saints; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--OT Matt Morgan: Not tendered as ERFA/Bills; terms unknown.
--NT Ryan Pickett: UFA Packers; $14M/4 yrs, $2M SB/$3M RB.
--OL Rex Tucker: UFA Lions; $3.65M/3 yrs, $1M SB.
MEDICAL WATCH: OG Adam Timmerman, who spent his 2005 offseason rehabbing shoulder and foot surgery, was held out of the first minicamp because of minor knee surgery. Also unavailable for some of the work was center Andy McCollum, who had minor surgery on his collarbone and knee.
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