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[MasterRamsFan]

By Nick Wagoner

Senior Writer



After a long and difficult internal discussion, the Rams released receiver Isaac Bruce late Thursday afternoon.



The Rams released Bruce in lieu of paying him a $2 million roster bonus that would have increased his salary cap number for 2008 from $3 million to $5 million. That decision came on the heels of extended negotiations intended to keep him in St. Louis at least through the 2008 season.



“(President of Football Operations) Jay (Zygmunt) had spent the last couple of weeks in negotiations with Isaac’s agent to work something out to keep him here,” coach Scott Linehan said. “But apparently it didn’t work out.”



The Rams made an offer to Bruce on Thursday afternoon (believed to be worth around $3 million) in hopes of keeping him in St. Louis, an offer Bruce rejected. In turn, the team opted to terminate his contract.



Releasing Bruce gives the Rams still more salary cap space after the release of quarterback Gus Frerotte on Thursday morning and the re-structuring of end Leonard Little’s contract on Wednesday evening.



Although the newfound salary cap flexibility could come in handy as the team hits the free agent market Friday, it doesn’t make a decision like this any easier.



“It’s a tough choice for the franchise,” Linehan said. “It’s like anything else. We make decisions as a franchise on the business side and that’s the part that makes it the most difficult. It’s not about whether you want to keep players or you have a certain amount of indebtedness to players and what they have done for your team. I think the hard part is when you start dealing with the economic side and trying to make things all work and fit. These contracts are designed a certain way. I found that out when I first got here. There was a re-done contract with him then and in fact we had to release him two years ago. The new contract was set up somewhat the same way that there would be another day like this two years down the road and today was the day.”



The salary cap has been set at $116 million and the activity of the past two days has given the Rams more than $17 million in cap room heading into free agency.



Bruce spent 14 seasons in St. Louis where he became one of the most productive receivers in league history.



Bruce has 942 catches with 14,109 and 84 touchdowns for his career. Those numbers rank him sixth in catches, third in yards and tied for 13th in touchdown receptions in league history.



Along the way, Bruce caught a game winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XXXIV and became one of the most beloved athletes in St. Louis sports history.



All of those accomplishments combined with Bruce’s off the field work and leadership made the choice to part ways even more difficult.



But Bruce will be 36 on Nov. 10 and the Rams are in search of a receiver with the speed to stretch the field and get more yards after the catch.



“It’s pretty much an economic decision,” Linehan said. “You get to the point where you have players and you get to the point where we are and we are in a position where we have to make a lot of adjustments. We made a lot of adjustments coaching staff wise, we made a big adjustment in our personnel department in adding Billy Devaney. Once that is all said and done then you turn toward the players and it always starts with the players that are up there in years. This is a business and that’s why they have the salary cap. Unfortunately it puts you in these situations where you have to make tough decisions about veterans that you think very highly of. To me he is what the Rams are all about. So it makes it really hard.”



As for the possibility of bringing Bruce back for another contract like they did in 2006, Linehan and Co. are leaving the door open for anything that might come up.



“I think the possibility is always open,” Linehan said. “The more and more these things get and you get up in years and these deals get almost to the point where you don’t want to assume anything is going to be done at that point so it’s hard to say what…we have no idea what is going to happen in free agency in the next couple of days. Whether that is retaining a player or signing a new player, I think the possibility is always open, especially with Isaac.”



Bruce is in Houston and could not immediately be reached for comment.

[Jenne74]

Hatten wir das nicht schon im letzten Jahr ?

[Rupi]

Tja, deja vu.

Aja die Whiners sind vermutlich Frontrunner in Sachen Bruce....

[Jenne74]

Tja, deja vu.

Aja die Whiners sind vermutlich Frontrunner in Sachen Bruce....

Na jetzt wo Martz bei denn am Start ist ... .