Rams Top LB On Market

by Mitchell Maurer on May 8, 2009 3:13 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers News

The Rams cut LB Pisa Tinoisamoa today, according to ESPN.com. Tinoisamoa, a second round pick in 2002, had 104 tackles and 3 sacks in 2008, after spending much of 2007 and 2006 on I.R. Tinoisamoa is a quick, aggressive linebacker that has adequate pass coverage skills, and it's quite a surprise to see that the Rams have released him.

You would think that, with Hawk, Barnett, Poppinga, Chillar, and Bishop already at linebacker and Kampman and Matthews joining the fray, there wouldn't be any room for a player like Tinoisamoa. However, the transition to the 3-4 defense puts quick, flexible linebackers at a premium, and that's exactly what Tinoisamoa is.

Obviously, linebacker isn't an area of need right now. Nor is signing a free agent a top priority, since we have extensions to dole out (Jennings, Collins), a possible re-signing of our own (Tauscher), and the rookie class to sign up. But, Tinoisamoa was the Rams best linebacker and (probably) defender, so wouldn't that merit at least a phone call to his agent? Or does the fact that a defensively-challenged team like St. Louis just flat out released the guy send a strong signal to stay away?

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Salary

How much will he expect to make? I think we still have a need for another quality ILB.

by StephanL on May 8, 2009 3:24 PM CDT reply actions

I can’t find this information anywhere…

by StephanL on May 8, 2009 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions

He'd play outside

At 220 lbs., he’s small for an NFL linebacker, and according to Turf Show Times, it looks like his fate was sealed when they drafted Ohio State ILB James Laurinaitis. He’d be lucky to find a starting job at this point. He might be able to find backup money for around $1 million for 2009, with little guaranteed. He wouldn’t compete inside, but he could challenge rookie 7th round pick Brad Jones and Pisa’s old teammate from St. Louis, LB Brandon Chillar, for a backup spot at outside linebacker and as a special teams’ ace.

I know next to nothing about Tinoisamoa, but it doesn’t seem like the Packers need him. I’d rather see what Jones can do than sign an oft-injured veteran.

by Brandon on May 8, 2009 10:46 PM CDT reply actions

IMO OJ Atogwe was their best defender last year

If we do sign him, he’d be insurance for Nick Barnett if he can’t recover. We shouldn’t sign him.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on May 9, 2009 4:55 PM CDT reply actions