James

Laurinaitis

Brockers is massive and long, and the Rams will count on him to tie up blockers so that Laurinaitis runs free. “He’s what you want in a defensive tackle,” said Fisher of Brockers. “Especially in our division with the downhill runs. One person I know that’s smiling right now is James Laurinaitis.” Laurinaitis could see a production bump if Brockers pans out as St. Louis envisions.

Kehl was set to test the ankle today but apparently couldn’t put enough pressure on it to be available for Sunday. Brady Poppinga is expected to start in a linebacker group that features a host of BYU and Ohio State connections in Kehl, Poppinga, and James Laurinaitis.

Both players are in contract years. As ESPN’s Mike Sando notes, Demoff’s father, Marvin, is Long’s agent. So we’d have to believe those talks will go smoothly. Laurinaitis is severely underpaid with a $620K salary in the last year of his rookie deal. Re-signing both players should be priorities for the Rams.

The Rams website interprets Fisher’s comments as “undoubtedly” referring to contract talks with MLB James Laurinaitis. One of the league’s most underpaid players, Laurinaitis is due to earn just $620,000 in the final year of his rookie deal. A foundation player on defense, Laurinaitis has lost a few pounds to handle more deep coverage with the Rams mixing in more Cover 2 looks.

Beat writer Jim Thomas believes the sides are “probably” close to an agreement. Laurinaitis is currently due just $620,000 in the final year of his rookie deal. Laurinaitis has tallied at least 114 tackles every year since being the No. 35 overall pick of the 2009 draft. He’ll play at 245 pounds this season after weighing in at 254 in 2011.

Laurinaitis is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is set to earn just $620,000. He’s never missed a game in his three-year career, has made at least 114 tackles in every season and ranked third in the league in solo tackles (105) last season. Along with LE Chris Long, Laurinaitis is a building block for the Rams’ defense.

The deal includes $23.5 million guaranteed and runs through the 2017 season. Laurinaitis was entering the final year of his rookie deal and due just $620,000 in 2012. He has quietly become one of the better Mike linebackers in the league and locking him up along with LE Chris Long is a great start to the Les Snead tenure in St. Louis. Laurinaitis has yet to miss a game in his three-year career.

Laurinaitis said he injured his back when he recovered a fumble late in the first quarter last Sunday against Buffalo, “and a really heavy man landed on my back. I was so slow that the lineman got me.” Laurinaitis will play, so owners in IDP leagues can breathe a sigh of relief.

The outcome is surprising, but over the last two days it became increasingly evident that voters were bothered by the idea of a re-vote. The re-vote count, though, was much closer. Cushing received a whopping 39 first-place votes on the January 5 ballot. He garnered 18 votes this time. Bills S Jairus Byrd again finished second with 13 (he got six in January). Clay Matthews (10), Brian Orakpo (3), and James Laurinaitis (1) rounded out the re-vote’s top five.

Laurinaitis hurt his quad in Week 4 practice, and was sent to injured reserve earlier this month. Always overrated during his time in St. Louis, Laurinaitis was a calamity in three appearances for New Orleans. His name recognition figures to earn him another look, but Laurinaitis is not an effective NFL player.