St. Louis Rams release QB Green and WR Bennett
The Rams will have a new backup quarterback in 2009. The team released Trent Green, who was one year into his second tour of duty with the team on Wednesday in a move that saves the team $1.3 million of salary cap space.
A local favorite, Green, 38, attended Vianney High and grew up in suburban Oakville. He played in three games for the Rams last season, including a start against Buffalo on Sept. 28 after then head coach Scott Linehan had benched Marc Bulger.
But any chance Green had of continuing as starting quarterback was gone after that game, a 31-14 loss in which Green completed 17 of 32 passes but threw a costly interception. Linehan was fired after that game, and interim head coach Jim Haslett immediately re-instated Bulger as the starter.
The departure of Green, a two-time Pro Bowler who was with the Rams previously in 1999 and 2000, means the Rams will have a new No. 2 quarterback in 2009. One possibility is Tampa Bay free agent Jeff Garcia, who played for Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur in Philadelphia in 2006.
The team also released wide receiver Drew Bennett, who had been a major disappointment since signing a $30 million free-agent contract two years ago. Bennett’s relieve is a wash, saving the team only $50,000 in cap space.
Ding-Dong, the witch is dead!
Thank you, Billy & Spags, for ridding our team of the walking-wounded Bennett.
These guys know what they’re doin’
These moves look to be part of rebuilding the entire team — as much as can reasonably be done in an off-season — not just freeing up cap space.
Excellent moves- What a waste of money Bennett was! Nice to start freeing up some cap room and ridding ourselves of dead weight.
I think Billy D has had an excellent off season so far! We still have tough choices with Torry and Orlando but things are looking up. I would love to see us go after J. Brown of the Ravens.
If I had a Pro Football Weekly and a Sporting News, I could have done a better job of building this team than Jay Zygmunt. What a terrible signing!! Bennet over Kevin Curtis and Isaac Bruce????????
drew bennett is gone oh thank goodness there is a god after all
What? Trent has a chance of not getting another concussion? Halleluiah
Hallelejah, let the praises roll! Seriously, Bennett may be one of the all-time worst FA signings in the history of football. You may say “who could know he would be such a flop” but if you review his stats he built his entire career resume on a 6 game stretch in 2004 where he had an unreal run. Since them he has done n-o-t-h-i-n-g.
So good riddance, Mr. One Catch For Four Yards Equals Millions.
As far as Trent, great guy, but too old, too late, too banged up. I’m glad he didn’t get hit hard while in a STL uniform and end up wearing a drool bucket the rest of his life.
See ya, Trent, enjoy retirement with the cash you took from us.
Did Bennett actually play for the Rams? Wow, could have fooled me, I never saw him out on the field!
+1, Cyclone Ram, on the Center Brown.
They need to go after 2nd tier guys, of course, & young guys goin’ after their 2nd NFL contract.
My wish list is Brown @ Center, Tauscher from G.B. @ Tackle, Garcia to compete w/the Bulge for starting QB job ’til we groom a franchise guy, Buckhalter as our primary backup RB, Crowder, the LB from Miami & finally either Butler or Wilson ala the Spags connection @ Safety.
Sure, they prob can’t add all these guys, but, if we cut right people to save us ‘nough moolah (only need $5-6 mill for rooks) & can add handful of these guys, then hopefully can get Curry w/our 1st pick & Brace w/our 2nd, that would make me an extremely happy Ram fan!
Oh, & p.s., would love to see Harrell from Tech drafted in 3rd or 4th. Just have an inkling ’bout that guy, that he could develop into a fine QB in this league.
Another great decision by the Rams personnel department. They could have kept Kevin Curtis, he wanted to stay, basically the same money. Instead, they went after Bennett who had on so so year with the Titans. That is why this team in this position, every year, bad decisions.