There was a chance, ever slight, that quarterback Nick Foles would attend the Los Angeles Rams’ training camp in order to practice and perform well enough to set up a trade. On Wednesday, Foles decided that’s not what he wanted to do. Foles officially asked the Rams to grant him his release and they did so, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Foles agreed to reduce the guaranteed money in his contract as part of the release and the opportunity to sign with any team he chooses, as opposed to being traded just anywhere.
“We have been in contact with Nick and his representation throughout the offseason,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement. “And we feel that this is the best decision for all parties involved. We appreciate the contributions that Nick has made to our organization in this time as a Ram and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
The Rams have released QB Nick Foles.
He is now a free agent.
(First reported by Nfl Network and confirmed by ESPN) pic.twitter.com/9PzMBd3ONi— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 27, 2016
The Rams acquired Foles in a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia Eagles last season that really didn’t work out well for anybody. The Rams got Foles and the Eagles’ 2016 second round draft pick. The Eagles got Sam Bradford. Both teams ended up spending plenty of future pick this year to move up to Nos. 1 and 2 in the draft in order to take quarterbacks to replace their floundering acquisitions.
As of today Bradford is still the starter in Philly, but has one foot out the door with rookie Carson Wentz the future of the franchise. If No. 1 pick Jared Goff isn’t the Week One starter for the Rams, something has gone terribly wrong in the preseason.
Foles started 11 games for the Rams last season, going 4-7 while completing 56.4 percent of his passes for 2,052 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was eventually benched for Case Keenum.
Rams release QB Nick Foles
Fisher's Statement 📰 | https://t.co/AztceI8hEA pic.twitter.com/qBOpseUcM5
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 27, 2016
Bradford started 14 games for the Eagles, completed 65 percent of his passes for a career high 3,725 yards, 19 touchdowns and a career-high 14 picks. He led the Eagles to a 7-7 record.
Foles now joins a very week crop of free agent quarterbacks led by journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick has been in ongoing negotiations with the New York Jets about returning to the team, but Foles may end up the guy that throws a wrench in that. Foles could also easily end up on the Denver Broncos’ roster, the Cleveland Browns’ roster or the Kansas City Chiefs roster.
The Nick Foles era comes to a close with the Rams…. pic.twitter.com/sTAnXRj0Ny
— SeattleRams (@seattlerams_nfl) July 27, 2016
Foles’ best fit would be with the Pittsburgh Steelers as Ben Roethlisberger’s back up, a player of similar size and talents who Foles could actually sit and learn from for a few seasons.
The Rams will begin their training camp now with four quarterbacks on the roster. Goff, Keenum, second-year man Sean Mannion and camp arm Dylan Thompson.
No shortage of Rams on television
If you’re interested in your new Los Angeles Rams, there’s going to be plenty of opportunities to get to know them. In addition to being featured on this year’s installment of HBO’s Hard Knocks, several Rams players have signed on to do a documentary series for the E! Network.
The show will be called Hollywood and Football and will focus on wide receivers Kenny Britt and Bradley Marquez, offensive lineman Rodger Saffolrd, tight end Lance Kendricks, running back Chase Reynolds and fullback Corey Harkey. The fact that Marquez and Reynolds may not even make the team this year doesn’t seem to bother anyone associated with the program.
The show is supposed to focus on the family dynamic for each player. Kind of like a Keeping Up with the Kardashians, only with a lot less cellulite and, presumably, significantly less comatose Lamar Odoms.
Rams and 49ers will play in China in 2018
You’d think with the team back in Los Angeles for the first time in 20 years, they might actually want to play all their games there. Nope.
The Rams have already given up a home game this season to play the New York Giants in London. Earlier this month it was announced that they surrender another in 2018 to play their arch rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, in China of all places.
The idea that the Rams, freshly returned to Southern California, would play overseas is already ridiculous. The fact that it will be a conference game with a fellow California team makes it downright stupid.
Of course both of these games will happen before the new Rams stadium in Inglewood is ready, but I can’t help but feel SoCal fans will be a little cheated for losing these matchups.
