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Robert Quinn

49ers, Browns Were Interested In Peters?

February 23rd, 2018 at 4:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs made another seismic trade this offseason, this time sending one of their best players to the Rams. But multiple other teams may have been interested in Marcus Peters prior to the Rams landing him.

Both the 49ers and Browns were interested in determining what it would cost to acquire the fourth-year cornerback, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). However, Rapoport and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo describe (on Twitter) both teams’ interest as “lukewarm” in the All-Pro corner.

However, it’s clear the Rams pushed talks to a degree their reported competition wasn’t willing to.

Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star reports (via Twitter) the Browns were not interested in bringing Peters to Cleveland. Additionally, the 49ers were interested, but both Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter link) and Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com report San Francisco did not submit an offer to Kansas City for Peters.

The Rams’ talks advanced to the point the Chiefs were seeking to add another big name to their defense in Robert Quinn, along with a pick, Rapoport tweets. This would have been interesting because Quinn’s play has not been on the level it was during his Pro Bowl seasons during the mid-2010s and the pass-rushing talent makes far more than Peters does at this point. Unlike Kendall Fuller coming to K.C. in the Alex Smith trade, the Chiefs did not get much 2018 salary relief by unloading Peters, who is entering the fourth season of his rookie deal. Quinn is set to earn $12.4MM this season.

Both the 49ers and Browns have needs at corner. Each team already visited with Vontae Davis, and Maiocco notes the 49ers are likely to be connected to big-name corners — including free agent-to-be Trumaine Johnson — come March. The Rams will not retain Johnson, per Rapoport.

Rams Notes: Donald, Watkins, Johnson

January 13th, 2018 at 8:43pm CST by Micah Powell

The Rams’ offseason plans hinge greatly on getting an extension done with All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald. However, team general manager Les Snead will not specify if he is the “first or last domino to fall,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez writes.

“What I do know is he is an important domino,” Snead said. It is likely Donald will become the highest-paid defender at some point this offseason, and the signing will dictate much of what the Rams can do with the rest of their salary cap.

Gonzalez also notes that a deal might have to wait until after Oakland resigns Khalil Mack for talks to begin to get serious. One of the frontrunners for 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, Donald is set to make $6.89MM in 2018, which is half of what Mack, who was taken eight spots higher than him in the 2014 NFL Draft, is expected to make.

Whenever Donald does ink a deal, there is no doubt he will be worth the pay raise. In his four seasons, the Pitt product has earned four Pro Bowl selections and has been named First Team All-Pro in each of the last three seasons. In 2017, Donald tied his career high with 11 sacks and furthered his reputation as the game’s top interior pass rusher.

Here is more from the Rams:

  • Gonzalez writes that using a franchise or transition tag on Sammy Watkins makes sense. Acquired by the Rams prior to the start of the 2017 campaign, Watkins provided a decent season eight touchdown grabs but only saw 67 targets. Another year in the high-powered offense will allow the fourth-year wideout to reach his potential after developing a better rapport with quarterback Jared Goff. The Rams traded a 2018 second-round pick and E.J. Gaines to the Bills for Watkins, and it would make sense they would want to see their investment for a full year in their system.
  • Snead can definitely see a scenario in which Trumaine Johnson returns to the team in 2018, Gonzalez reports. With Kayvon Webster out with an Achilles injury, it would make sense for the Rams to explore all options with the sixth-year cornerback. Gonzalez notes they would have to pay him like a top cornerback.
  • If Donald gets an extension, Watkins and Lamarcus Joyner are tagged, and Johnson is resigned, Gonzales thinks the team would look at parting with Robert Quinn or Mark Barron to make ends meet.

Extra Points: Ja. Peppers, Rams, Texans

April 17th, 2017 at 9:42pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Jabrill Peppers played both linebacker and cornerback at Michigan, but nearly all NFL teams view the draft-bound prospect as a safety, he told the Associated Press. Peppers is on board, saying, “I didn’t play safety, but I’m going to be a safety.” While one club informed Peppers it would use him at linebacker, another had an outside-the-box idea. “One team told me they thought I should play offense,” revealed Peppers, who did see time on that side of the ball at Michigan last season. Peppers rushed 27 times for 167 yards, caught two passes and scored three touchdowns. He also fared well in space as a punt returner, posting a Big Ten-leading 14.8-yard average on runbacks.

More from around the game:

  • Ravens college scouting director Joe Hortiz is the Rams’ top choice to take over the same position in Los Angeles, reports CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (all Twitter links). The Rams have shown interest in Hortiz in the past, notes La Canfora, who adds that Baltimore wouldn’t be able to prevent him from leaving. Los Angeles started reshuffling its scouting department when it dismissed four evaluators on April 9.
  • The Rams are also making changes on the field, with several familiar names apparently set to switch positions as the Sean McVay era begins, according to Myles Simmons of the team’s website. Contrary to a prior report, the signing of left tackle Andrew Whitworth will not force Greg Robinson to shift to guard; rather, Robinson will head to right tackle, leaving Rob Havenstein to move inside. Elsewhere, cornerback Lamarcus Joyner will play free safety and Maurice Alexander will take over at strong safety in the wake of the team’s addition of Nickell Robey-Coleman, who’s primed to handle Joyner’s old job as a slot corner. Finally, Robert Quinn is transitioning from defensive end to outside linebacker, though his role as a pass rusher will remain the same.
  • Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles visited the Texans on Monday, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. With potential first-rounders in Bolles, Alabama’s Cam Robinson and Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk on their radar, it’s clear the Texans are strongly considering taking a tackle with the 25th pick in the draft.
  • The surgery Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster underwent on his right rotator cuff in February won’t keep him out for any portion of training camp, his agent, Malki Kawa, announced Monday (on Twitter). The soon-to-be first-rounder is “ahead of schedule,” per Kawa.

Rams Place Robert Quinn On IR

December 15th, 2016 at 2:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams have placed running back Benny Cunningham and defensive end Robert Quinn on injured reserve, the team announced today. In related news, the team has promoted offensive lineman David Arkin and defensive end Morgan Fox to the 53-man roster. Robert Quinn (vertical)

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Quinn has missed the last two games with a concussion and he’ll have to wait before he can take the field in the post-Jeff Fisher era. After missing time with other injuries this year, Quinn’s 2016 season ends with an efficient four sacks in just nine games. After missing half of the 2015 season, Quinn hopes to come back strong and healthy in the New Year. When he’s on the field and playing at 100%, Quinn is one of the most intimidating young edge defenders in the league.

Quinn showed his true potential in 2013 when he earned First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as he tallied 19 sacks. He also received a tremendous 98.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. He came back down to earth a bit in 2014, but he still racked up 10.5 sacks on his way to yet another Pro Bowl selection.

Without Cunningham, the Rams are left with three running backs on the roster: Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, and Chase Reynolds.

Rams’ Robert Quinn Released From Hospital

November 15th, 2016 at 2:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Great news out of Los Angeles as Robert Quinn has been released from the hospital, according to NFL Network’s Steve Wyche. Today, Quinn is back at the Rams’ practice facility but there’s no word yet on when he might return to the gridiron. Robert Quinn (vertical)

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At this stage, we still don’t know much about what landed Quinn in the hospital. All that we know is that it was a non-football related illness and not related to the benign brain tumor he dealt with in high school. From the little that Jeff Fisher disclosed yesterday, however, it sounds like Quinn is not facing anything too serious. Now, we’ll have to wait to find out how it may impact him on the field. It seems unlikely that he will play this weekend against the Dolphins, but we won’t know for sure until the team shares more about the defensive end.

So far this year, Quinn has has two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two passes defensed in seven games. That’s not quite on the level with his best campaigns. In 2014, his last full season, he totaled 10.5 sacks and 46 tackles. In the year prior, he earned an All-Pro selection as he tallied an eye-popping 19 sacks and 57 tackles.

We here at PFR wish Quinn nothing but the best and look forward to seeing him back on the field, when he is ready.

Rams DE Robert Quinn Hospitalized

November 15th, 2016 at 7:50am CST by Zachary Links

Rams defensive end Robert Quinn went to the hospital on Monday morning with a non-football-related illness, the team confirmed in an announcement. Details of the issue have not been disclosed yet, but coach Jeff Fisher did sound upbeat when discussing Quinn’s early prognosis. Robert Quinn (vertical)

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“I spoke with Rob several hours ago, in addition to Christina, his wife,” Fisher said (via the team website). “He was, in fact, admitted to the hospital this morning for tests. He’s feeling much better. He kept saying to me over and over, ‘Coach, I just want to get back and get my body right and get back to the practice field as fast as I can.’ So, we’re still undergoing tests, and things look encouraging.”

Fisher added that it is “highly unlikely” that Quinn’s current issue is related to any past malady. That would include the benign brain tumor that he was diagnosed with as a teenager.

By the end of the week, we should know much more about Quinn and fellow defensive end Eugene Sims. Sims left Sunday’s game with concussion-like symptoms, leaving Quinn to play an uncommonly high number of snaps. Next up for Los Angeles is a home game against the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon.

Watt, Bryant, Others Get Salary Guarantees

March 13th, 2016 at 6:20pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Several NFL players have contracts containing language which states that they’ll get a full or partial salary guarantees for 2016 and/or 2017 if they remained on their respective teams on Sunday, the fifth day of the league year. Let’s check in on those players (link courtesy of CBS Sports’ Joel Corry):

  • Ryan Tannehill, quarterback (Dolphins): $3.5MM of $17.975MM base salary for 2017 is guaranteed.
  • Dez Bryant, wide receiver (Cowboys): $13MM base salary for 2017 is guaranteed.
  • T.Y. Hilton, wide receiver (Colts): $3MM base salary for 2016 is guaranteed. $6MM roster bonus now "<strongpayable.
  • Anthony Castonzo, offensive tackle (Colts): $2.5MM base salary for 2016 is guaranteed. $4.5MM roster bonus now payable.
  • Tyron Smith, offensive tackle (Cowboys): $10MM base salary for 2016 is guaranteed.
  • Branden Albert, offensive tackle (Dolphins): $6MM of $8.245MM base salary for 2017 is guaranteed.
  • Mike Pouncey, center (Dolphins): $9MM base salary for 2016 is guaranteed, as is $2MM of Pouncey’s $7.95MM base salary in 2017.
  • Maurkice Pouncey, center (Steelers): $3.5MM roster bonus now payable.
  • Cameron Heyward, defensive end (Steelers): $5MM roster bonus now payable.
  • J.J. Watt, defensive end (Texans): $10.5MM base salaries for 2016 and 2017 are guaranteed.
  • Robert Quinn, defensive end (Rams): $7,777,777MM base salary for 2016 is guaranteed.
  • Lavonte David, linebacker (Buccaneers): $5MM base salary for 2016 is guaranteed.
  • Chris Harris Jr., cornerback (Broncos): $6.9MM base salary for 2016 is guaranteed.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC West Notes: Mathieu, Rams, 49ers, Lynch

December 24th, 2015 at 10:35am CST by Sam Robinson

Tyrann Mathieu‘s season-ending ACL tear did come with some positive news. Bruce Arians informed media the standout defender’s tear is “clean,” unlike the ACL and LCL tear the Cardinals‘ third-year dynamo suffered in Dec. 2013, NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling reports.

Arians hopes Mathieu will be ready for OTAs, as Carson Palmer was following his late-season tear in 2014.

The former LSU star boasted a brace on his right knee and was instructing Arizona defensive backs on the practice field Wednesday.

Here is some more from the NFC West.

  • Rams starters Robert Quinn and T.J. McDonald went on injured reserve just before Mathieu, and both St. Louis defenders underwent successful surgeries this week, Joe Lyons of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Both Quinn (back) and McDonald (shoulder) should be back for OTAs in April, Lyons adds. “From a timing standpoint, we needed to do it, just so we could get (McDonald) in the offseason program. Both of them will be fine early in the offseason,” Jeff Fisher told media, including Lyons.
  • Although Fisher noted Stedman Bailey‘s injuries were severe enough to end his NFL career, the third-year Rams wideout returned home from the hospital a month after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the head, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk reports.
  • Marshawn Lynch will return to an altered Seahawks offense now that Russell Wilson‘s taken his game to a higher level. A faster Seahawks tempo will be an adjustment for the Pro Bowl running back, offensive line coach Tom Cable told media (including Pro Football Talk’s Curtis Crabtree). “We’re counting on him to get healthy whenever that is and then once that happens, it’s for him to come back in and be able to adapt to this football team and the way it acts and the way it’s moving right now collectively,” Cable said. “That will be his challenge, but right now his number one thing is getting healthy.” Pete Carroll remains iffy on when the 29-year-old bruiser will return, noting there’s “a chance” he’s back by the time Seattle plays its wild card game in just more than two weeks. PFT’s Mike Florio continues to opine that Lynch, due to occupy an $11.5MM cap number in 2016, will not be back with the Seahawks next season.
  • 49ers GM Trent Baalke has been out on the practice field instructing defenders, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes, despite his only coaching experience coming as the defensive line/strength and conditioning coach at South Dakota in the early 1990s. Although it’s unlikely 49ers defensive coordinator Eric Mangini would tell one of his bosses to step off here, the former Jets head coach said Baalke hasn’t been shy about helping out on the field. “I haven’t been everywhere, but there are some GMs who might not be as present and maybe that works for their style,” Mangini told media. “For these guys it’s a little bit different and Trent has always been on the field at different points.”
  • The 49ers’ No. 1 need going into 2016 will be on their offensive front, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee writes. Although Barrows offers recently retired right tackle Anthony Davis could well return for his age-26 season, the Northern California scribe obviously notes the team cannot count on him. Both starting guards, Alex Boone and Andrew Tiller, are due to be free agents.
  • Jarryd Hayne remains in the 49ers’ plans going forward despite being passed over for a late-season promotion onto the active roster, 49ers OC Geep Chryst told media (including Maiocco). The former rugby star not being as likely to be active on game day as newly signed DuJuan Harris led to the 49ers leaving Hayne on the practice squad.

 

Rams To Place Quinn, McDonald On IR

December 17th, 2015 at 4:22pm CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 4:22pm: St. Louis placed Quinn on its IR list, ending his season, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Defensive tackle Doug Worthington will ascend to the active roster in Quinn’s place, Nick Waggoner of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 4:45pm: The Rams will place two key defensive players on injured reserve this week, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, who tweets that defensive end Robert Quinn and safety T.J. McDonald will both land on season-ending IR within the next day or so. According to head coach Jeff Fisher, Quinn will require back surgery, while McDonald will require surgery on his shoulder (Twitter link).

Quinn, 25, is one of the league’s best pass rushers, having racked up double-digit sacks every year from 2012 to 2014. However, injuries have slowed him down this year, limiting him to just eight games. He recorded five sacks and three forced fumbles in those contests.

As for McDonald, he has started 37 games at safety for the Rams since joining the team in 2013, including 11 this season. McDonald and teammate Janoris Jenkins had a nasty collision during the Rams’ loss to the Cardinals on Sunday — in addition to sidelining McDonald, the hit also left Jenkins with a concussion.

The Rams will have two open roster spots to add defensive reinforcements prior to the team’s Week 14 game against the Lions.

Notable Contracts Guaranteed Today

March 14th, 2015 at 4:25pm CST by Rob DiRe

On today, the fifth day of the league year, a number of contracts have become fully or partially guaranteed.

Below are a number of notable contracts that have money guaranteed as of today, according to Joel Corry of CBS Sports. All links are via Twitter.

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