It’s become a tradition under head coach Jeff Fisher and General Manager Les Snead and it continued Thursday as the Los Angeles Rams signed their entire 2016 draft class at the same time.
It's official! Jared Goff has signed his contract! Congrats @JaredGoff16! pic.twitter.com/zEocLfvA1q
— Dani Klupenger (@daniklup) June 9, 2016
It was a little easier job this year, as the Rams, because of their trade up to No. 1 to pick California quarterback Jared Goff, they didn’t have a ton of picks to sign. Still, Goff, fourth round tight end Tyler Higbee out of Western Kentucky, fourth round wideout Pharoh Cooper out of South Carolina, sixth round tight end Temarrick Hemingway out of South Carolina State, linebacker Josh Forrest out of Kentucky and wide receiver Mike Thomas out of Southern Miss all put their names on their rookie contracts.
Goff’s contract is the most significant. It’s a four-year, $27.9 million deal with an $18.6 million signing bonus. Like all rookie first-round contracts, the Rams will have a fifth-year option on Goff they can pick up in 2020.
While the Rams haven’t put a single winning season together under Fisher and Snead in four seasons, they actually do a great job of preparing rookies for financial life in the NFL. The Rams make all the rookies take a life-skills training program and have financial management before they’re handed a check.
Mannion fighting for No. 2 spot
The starting job of the Los Angeles Rams belongs to Jared Goff, more likely sooner than later. The smart money is on him starting game one. That would put Case Keenum as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart and second-year QB Sean Mannion at No. 3. Only Mannion isn’t making that easy.
As promised, today’s story on QB Sean Mannion taking the first-team O reps.
READ: https://t.co/4NAg34YIci pic.twitter.com/7k9Bfwj8OM
— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) June 4, 2016
Mannion has lit it up at the team’s organized team activities and no one is happier than offensive coordinator Rob Boras.
“He (Mannion) has made huge strides,” Boras said. “Physically he’s changed his body. We’re seeing some of the foot quickness and sudden-twitch stuff that we’ve talked about. And then just, Sean’s a very smart young man. And just watching him work. So I have been really pleased. And when he’s had opportunities, he’s really grasped them right now. It’s made that room really competitive.”
Mannion was a third round pick out of Oregon State last season.
Todd Gurley’s Carl’s Jr. commercial has some issues
Being the biggest star on the team in Los Angeles comes with some perks and Rams Pro Bowl running back Todd Gurley is taking advantage of them. There’s just one problem with his commercial for the new California Classic Double Cheeseburger. See if you can spot it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY0Czs4FfAY
If you missed it, here it is.
I don’t know what that is, but it’s not in his hand and it definitely did not go into his mouth. It just seems kind of hovering there, like a cardboard cutout the real burger is hiding behind. So, you know, go get that burger from Carl’s Jr. and see if the not very lifelike photo you can touch to your face comes with it.
Bailey clears waivers, Rams keeping him in the building
As expected, Stedman Bailey wasn’t claimed off waivers and is now a free agent. A free agent that hasn’t been cleared by a doctor to ever play football again after getting shot twice in the head in a drive by last November.
“He (Bailey) will not be able to play,” Fisher said. “He’s not been cleared. As I’ve said numerous times, he’s lucky to be alive. … I’m so impressed he’s gotten back into shape and is willing to play, [but] really at this point, there’s no medical research that will permit him to play. He’s seen several specialists. With that being said, we’re going to take care of Sted.”
What the Rams are planning to do is add Bailey to the coaching staff, something he’s already been doing a little during the OTAs.
"I'm going to try to bring (Stedman Bailey) over to the coaching side & have him help."
📺 | https://t.co/RCVeppGITv pic.twitter.com/oyMQRh0qAD
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 9, 2016
“Sted was an outstanding special teams player for us and outside gunner, so there’s a lot of work behind the scenes that needs to be done,” Fisher said. “So we’ll put him behind a desk and bring him out on the field and see how he likes it.”
Last year the Rams had to cut rookie wide receiver Bud Sasser out of Missouri after it was discovered he had a heart condition. The team still signed him to his rookie contract, gave him a $113,737 signing bonus and put him to work in the alumni relations and youth football programs.
