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[MasterRamsFan]

Friday, February 29, 2008

By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer


Two days after ensuring one starting defensive end will stay in St. Louis , the Rams parted ways with another. The team released defensive end James Hall on Friday as it continues to build additional cap space.


Hall was due a base salary of $3 million in 2008 with a roster bonus of $500,000 that was due Sunday and on the heels of the release of quarterback Gus Frerotte and receiver Isaac Bruce, the Rams suddenly have much more financial flexibility heading in to the start of the free agency period.


With the salary cap set at $116 million, the savings the team has accrued from the re-structure of end Leonard Little’s contract and the release of Frerotte, Bruce and Hall has the Rams with about $18 million in cap space.


Hall spent one season in St. Louis , a season that for the most part was a disappointment. The team traded for Hall on the opening day of free agency a year ago, sending a fifth-round choice to Detroit in exchange for Hall.


An undrafted free agent out of Michigan , Hall was a bit of an injury risk when the Rams traded for him. But Hall’s pass rushing skills made the risk worth it in the team’s on going search for a bookend to Little.


In 15 games, Hall posted 2.5 sacks, the most by a Rams defensive end in 2007. He added 59 total tackles and a pair of passes defended. He missed the Atlanta game on Dec. 2 because of an ankle injury.


In eight seasons in the league, Hall has 395 tackles and 35.5 sacks.


Hall’s release leaves the Rams with an even more glaring need at defensive end, a position that has already been made one of, if not the, top priority for the team entering the offseason.


Not including Adam Carriker (who can play end but spent most of the season at tackle), the Rams have just Little, Victor Adeyanju and Eric Moore under contract at end.

[Xzibit23]

Rams agree to terms with Hall

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/25/2008

James Hall
June 13, 2007

James Hall, who started 15 games last season at right defensive end, is back with the Rams. Financial terms of his new two-year contract weren’t immediately available, but it’s a more cap-friendly deal according to team sources.

Hall was released 3½ weeks ago in a salary cap move. He was scheduled to make $3.5 million in 2008 under the old contract, including a $500,000 roster bonus due the first weekend of the free agency period.

Bothered much of last season with a high ankle sprain, Hall tied for seventh on the team with 59 tackles. He registered a team-high 20 quarterback pressures, but posted only 2½ sacks.

"He was definitely a guy that we had high expectations for," coach Scott Linehan said Monday night. "But he played hurt most of the year. We think he has a couple of more years left."

Hall made free-agent visits earlier this month to Buffalo and Minnesota.

Linehan doesn’t think the addition of Hall will have any impact on what the Rams do with their first-round pick in the upcoming draft. Defensive ends Chris Long of Virginia and Vernon Gholston of Ohio State are prime candidates to be taken by St. Louis.

"We still could (take a defensive end)," Linehan said. "It’s just as wide open as ever."