Rams News

Rypien will sign a deal
with Falcons
03/31 11:40 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff
Mark Rypien's days as a Ram are over. Rypien, an unrestricted free agent, has agreed in principle to a contract offer from Atlanta.
Rypien will sign a two-year deal with the Falcons early next week for about $1.8 million -- a price substantially higher than the Rams were prepared to pay. The Rams had talked to Rypien about re-signing him for the same amount he made last year -- $550,000.
Rypien, 34, played in five games last season for St. Louis, completing 19 of 39 passes for 270 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.
But the Rams have made a commitment of sorts to Will Furrer, signing him to a two-year deal three weeks ago. Furrer was told he would have a chance to become the No. 2 quarterback behind Tony Banks. The Rams also have former Arena League quarterback Kurt Warner under contract.
Flannery to Rams: Center and offensive guard John Flannery, an unrestricted free agent from the Dallas Cowboys, has agreed to terms on a two-year, $1.175 million contract with the Rams. Flannery, 6-foot-3 and 304 pounds, was a second-round pick (44th overall) by the Oilers in 1991.
He has played in 64 NFL games with 31 starts. Flannery, 29, missed all of the '93 and '95 seasons because of left knee surgeries. Last season in Dallas, he started four games -- three at right guard and one at left guard -- after spending much of the preseason playing center.
Cascadden, McKinney visit: Outside linebacker Chad Cascadden, a restricted free agent from the New York Jets, and Steve McKinney, an offensive guard from Texas A&M, visited Rams Park on Tuesday.
Cascadden, 6-1, 240 pounds, would provide depth at linebacker but is also considered a very good special teams player. McKinney, 6-3, 296, played both guard positions in college, but mainly left guard. He's among several draft prospects who will visit the Rams before April 10.
Ram-blings: The Rams have released defensive lineman Cedric White, a seventh-round draft pick last season out of North Carolina A&T. White was released last August, then signed to the practice squad in late October. . . . The Rams will not renew the contract of Les Miller, the team's director of player development. Brought in by Steve Ortmayer in August 1996, Miller worked in pro personnel with the team the past two seasons.

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