Re: St. Louis Rams receiver Torry Holt asks for his release
von MasterRamsFan » 10.03.2009, 21:41
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Holt and Pace not invited to Rams offseason program
By Howard Balzer
Further evidence that wide receiver Torry Holt and tackle Orlando Pace are not considered part of the Rams’ present or future is the existence of a simple letter that neither player received.
The Rams will begin their offseason conditioning program Monday (March 16), and players expected to participate were sent letters by the team detailing the program and expectations. Holt and Pace, both under contract for 2009, did not receive the letter. In addition, Holt has had no contact from anyone in the organization since Steve Spagnuolo was hired as head coach.
It has been widely reported that the Rams have been trying to trade both Holt and Pace. Teams mentioned as potential suitors for Holt include the Jets, Giants, Ravens and Titans.
Holt is due a $1.25 million roster bonus next Tuesday, which means he would have to be released or traded prior to that date for the Rams to avoid paying the bonus and keeping that money off the salary cap. Holt currently counts more than $10.2 million against the cap, a figure that includes the roster bonus, $6.65 million salary, a $100,000 workout bonus and slightly more than $2.2 million in prorated signing bonus. This is the final year of his contract. A trade or release would save the Rams around $8 million of cap space.
Pace counts $8.975 million against the cap: $5.975 million in base salary and $3 million in prorated signing bonus. He has two years remaining on his deal with salaries of $7.175 million in 2010 and $8.375 million in 2011. However, because of the way the contract was structured, this is the final year of prorated bonus due so there would be no additional acceleration if he is traded or released. His departure would save the Rams $5.975 million in cap space.
The issue is whether the Rams want both player’s status settled prior to the beginning of the offseason program. Each player could report to the program anyway, and the Rams couldn’t stop them. An injury, no matter how unlikely, could result in the Rams being on the hook for the player’s salary.
Several years ago, then-Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was not allowed in the team facility during the offseason while the team decided what to do with him. Eventually, he was traded to Baltimore. However, McNair filed a grievance and it was ruled the team could not bar him from the facility.
How 'bout them Raaaamms!!!!
(Kurt Warner nach der Übergabe der Vince Lombardy Trophy SBXXXIV)