James Laurinaitis may need to stop selling his Missouri Mansion.
The Los Angeles Rams announced a wave of veteran cuts on Friday afternoon, and former captain linebacker James Laurinaitis was among them. DE Chris Long and TE Jared Cook, also Rams standbys were also released in the cap-saving move.
By cutting Chris Long, James Laurinaitis and Jared Cook, the Rams save $24.375 million on their 2016 cap. They'll carry ~ $4.7M in dead $$.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 19, 2016
“This is the time of year when all NFL teams are faced with difficult decisions regarding their veteran players,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said in a release. “Chris and James are the epitome of what it means to be a pro in this league and it’s been an honor to coach them both. They’ve been the pillars of our defense for many years and not enough can be said of their love for the game and for their teammates. Beyond the field, they took pride in mentoring the younger players and doing their part to make a real difference in the St. Louis community. We will always be grateful for James and Chris’ unselfish commitment to the Rams and wish them the best moving forward.
“Jared made an immediate impact when he joined the team in 2013. It’s been a pleasure watching him grow from the time I drafted him in Tennessee to seeing him set franchise records in St. Louis. Like Chris and James, he’s been a mainstay in the community and his contributions are commendable. We hope for the best for Jared and his family as he embarks on the next steps of his career.”
The Rams selected Laurinaitis with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2009 draft. The second-round selection went onto earn Rookie of the Year as well as a Rams' captaincy. He broke the 100 tackle mark in each of his seven seasons with the team.
James Laurinaitis played 99.7 percent of all defensive snaps in his career for the Rams (7,498 of 7,519). Only missed 21 snaps in 7 seasons
— Bill Smith (@wgsmit3) February 19, 2016
The Rams' all-time leading tackler signed a five-year, $41.5 million extension in 2012 that was set to carry him through the 2017 season.
