Rams News

Rams grant Gerak his release
06/16 09:21 PM

By Elizabethe Holland
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

John Gerak, the Rams' starting left guard last season, was released by the team Tuesday so he could pursue a starting job elsewhere.
Gerak, who started all 16 games for the Rams last year, had fallen to third on the depth chart, behind the recently signed Ed Simmons and second-year player Ryan Tucker.
``John Gerak was released based on his personal wishes,'' Rams head coach Dick Vermeil said. ``He didn't feel that he would be a starter in the coming year, and he wanted to be given the opportunity to go somewhere else and either be a starter or retire.''
After Gerak's release, the Rams signed Jamie Sumner, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound guard who had been signed by the New York Giants in January 1997, then released after training camp.
Gerak, 6-3 and 300 pounds, signed with the Rams on April 18, 1997, as an unrestricted free agent who had played four years with the Vikings. He took over the left guard position after Gerald Perry was cut from the Rams during training camp.
Despite injuries including painful bone spurs in his left elbow, Gerak played the second highest total of plays (899) on the offensive line last season. At the end of the season, he was given the team's Ironman Award on offense.
Overall, the Penn State grad has played in 61 games with 35 starts in his career. Sixteen of his 19 starts with the Vikings were at right guard; the other three were as an extra tight end.
``He didn't want to risk the chance of going all through training camp and end up not being the starter,'' said Vermeil, one of Gerak's vocal supporters last season.
The offensive line now has as its starters: Orlando Pace at left tackle, Simmons at left guard, Mike Gruttadauria at center, Zach Wiegert at right guard and Wayne Gandy at right tackle.
As for Sumner, he moved into the starting lineup at Ohio State in 1994 after transferring from Coffeyville Junior College. He came to Ohio State as a tackle, then moved to guard.

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