Rams News

Strategy & Personnel
June 24, 1998

The Rams have re-signed two key free-agents -- starting right guard Zach Wiegert and kickoff returner David Thompson. Wiegert started 15 games last season. He committed the fewest penalties among the club's offensive linemen with three. Wiegert was a restricted free agent who was late in signing because he switched agents. He is now represented by Jim Steiner of the St. Louis-based Sports Management Group.

Thompson was the Rams' rookie of the year after setting a club record with 1,110 kickoff return yards. He was an exclusive rights free agent as was defensive end Jay Williams, who also signed last week. Williams is one of eight players remaining with the Rams who were members of the team during its last season in Los Angeles.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: CB Ryan McNeil ($3.22M tender).

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offer): LB Britt Hager (a special teamer and backup who will not be re-signed); P Mike Horan (won't be re-signed); C Vernice Smith (will not be re-signed); LB Brett Wallerstedt (won't be back).

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT (tendered offer): OG Ernest Dye (could be back on one-year contract).

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: S Billy Jenkins, Jr.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: OT Ethan Brooks (EFA; terms unknown); LB Troy Dumas (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); WR Malcolm Floyd (UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown); QB Will Furrer (UFA; $825,000/2 yrs, SB unknown); RB Derrick Harris (EFA; terms unknown); TE Aaron Laing (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); RB Amp Lee (UFA; $4M/3 yrs, $1.25M SB); DT Chris Maumalanga (EFA; terms unknown); S Gerald McBurrows (RFA; 397,000/1 yr); CB Joe Rowe (EFA; terms unknown); S Mike Scurlock (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); WR Donald Sellers (EFA; 1 yr, terms unknown); LB Lorenzo Styles (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); WR J.T. Thomas (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); RB David Thompson (EFA; terms unknown); OG Zach Wiegert (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); DE Jay Williams (EFA; terms unknown).

PLAYERS ACQUIRED: DT Ray Agnew (UFA Giants; $8M/4 yrs, $2M SB); TE Tyji Armstrong (FA); QB Steve Bono (Trade Packers for 7th-round pick in 1999 draft); RB Kevin Bouie (FA); CB Willie Clark (UFA Eagles; $700,000/1 yr, $100,000 SB); OL John Flannery (UFA Cowboys; $1.175M/2 yrs, $175,000 SB); LB Eric Hill (UFA Cardinals; $5.25M/2 yrs, $1M SB/$3.125M guaranteed); DT James Manley (FA); DT Joe Phillips (FA, had been cut by Chiefs; $1.6M/2 yrs, $500,000 SB); WR Ricky Proehl (UFA Bears; $6M/4 yrs, $1.6M SB); OT Ed Simmons (FA, had been cut by Redskins; $550,000/1 yr, $50,000 SB); P Rick Tuten (UFA Seahawks; $1.9M/3 yrs, $300,000 SB).

PLAYERS LOST: WR Keith Crawford (UFA Falcons; $1.2M/2 yrs, $200,000 SB); OG John Gerak (cut); DT Bill Johnson (UFA Eagles; $3.9M/2 yrs, no SB/$2.3M guaranteed); LB Robert Jones (cut); DE Leslie O'Neal (cut); QB Mark Rypien (UFA Falcons; $1.8M/2 yrs, $400,000 SB); WR Torrance Small (UFA Colts; terms unknown).

MEDICAL WATCH: S Toby Wright took part in non-contact drills as he continues his rehab from reconstructive knee surgery. Wright isn't expected to be cleared for full contact until August.

WR Malcolm Floyd has returned to the practice field for the first time since undergoing surgery for a torn Achilles tendon in December.

OG Ryan Tucker won't be fully recovered for one more week from a partially torn hamstring he suffered while running 10-yard dashes as a training exercise.

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