St. Louis Rams to retain DE Leonard Little
INDIANAPOLIS _ At least one of the Rams dwindling number of Super Bowl ”survivors” is staying with the team. During a Sunday evening meeting here at the NFL Scouting Combine, the Rams informed the agents for Leonard Little that they are retaining the veteran defensive end on their 2009 roster.
Little, 34, has one year remaining on his contract. Although he counts $7.6 million against the cap this coming season, only $2.5 million of that amount comes in the form of base salary and roster bonus. So the team wouldn’t really save all that much money by trading or releasing Little, who finished second on the team with six sacks in ‘08 despite playing much of the year with a torn hamstring.
Little, wide receiver Torry Holt, and left tackle Orlando Pace are the only remaining players on the current roster who played in the Super Bowl 34 victory over Tennessee in 1999.
It would be nice to get a healthy year or 2 out of Leonard as he heads into his sunset years. You know, the Rams got a lot of mileage out of this guy when you consider that he came into the league as a linebacker, developed into a force at Left DE. Our memory of him will always be tainted by the horrific fatal accident caused by his drinking. But, I give the guy credit for overcoming that experience and doing something positive with his life. If you’ve ever heard Leonard speak, he’s very remorseful about that the tragedy he caused. The guy is a decent human being and wicked defensive football player.
Well, that makes us have 1 d lineman worth having. Now, if we can just beat the bushes and find 4 or 5 more.
You don’t like Long, Carriker or Ryan? Lets at least give these young guys a chance with a hopefully talented coaching staff
Flash - Aren’t Carriker and Ryan defensive tackles? Last I checked, those two aren’t DE’s. But are best two DE’s are Little and Long. I like what I saw from Long last season, he’ll be a lot better with good coaches.
Hey Einsteins……Our defense sucks! Everyone on that side of the ball is culpable. No one is going to be considered untouchable. Just leave the evals to me and my staff. You guys just waddle your fat asses to Ted Drewes.
Uh… Green was on the original 1999 team, JT did you forget that one?
Has anyone noticed that, since Leonard Little’s second DWI, the Rams have fared poorly on the field? Karma?
Hey Derek, Trent didn’t play in the Super Bowl - that’s what was reported by JT.
Defence defence defence? Maybe i’ve been watching a different Rams the past 25 years Because i don’t see the defence as the main problem.
When i think back to all the years the rams had winning seasons I remember
Offence offence offence. Weather it was Dickerson and co, Everett and co.
or The greatest show on turf. I have sat through too many painfull games where some of our best defences held the line for well over two quarters just to watch a feeble offence stoop,puke and punt. If not just turn the ball over on our own 25.
O-line O-line O-line.
I feel sorry for the family that had their wife and mother taken away by Little. I think the Rams showed no class in keeping him in St. Louis. The family must relive that experience everytime he is seen on TV or the newspaper makes him out to be some type of hero.