If Wistrom Leaves, Don't Blame Pace
By Rams Nation's Howard Balzer
Such a beliefe is misguided, and here's why. While Pace's agent (Carl
Poston) is a bozo and his demands are outrageous, that has very little to do
with the value the Rams place on their other players.
The issue with Wistrom is that the Rams don't value him more than Leonard Little,
thus they won't pay Wistrom significantly more than Little, who signed for $3.5
million a year two years ago, with a $5 million signing bonus.
What the Rams have offered Wistrom counts about $1.4 million against this year's
cap. To give Wistrom what he is seeking would count about $1.7 to $2 million
against the cap. Clearly, an extra $300,000 to $600,000 would not cap-strap
the Rams.
The bottom line is that Wistrom and his agent believe he can get $4 million
a year and a bonus of at least $6 million in the open market, and the Rams don't
believe he's worth that much, especially as it relates to Little. There's nothing
wrong with debating that stance and giving opinions on it. But it is unrelated
to Pace. Just because the Rams would have extra cap room with a long-term deal
for Pace doesn't mean they would overpay (in their minds) other players.
The same is true with Brian Young. I am told his agent made such a ridiculous
proposal that the Rams people laughed almost as hard (privately) as they do
when they talk to Poston.