Torry Holt, Jacksonville Jaguars / Photo: Newscom

As far as I’m concerned, Torry’s got six-to-eight more years left in his career. You can’t base an opinion on his production — or lack thereof — with the Rams last season (64 catches, 796 yards, three TDs). STL was a train wreck. And they let their best receiver go in some kind of crazy “youth movement”. But if any other team needs help at the receiver position, it’s the Jags. Last offseason they thought they were getting some quality depth with the additions of Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson, but Jerry is no longer with the team and Troy struggled to stay on the field. Plus Matt Jones was waived because he can’t stay out of trouble. And unrestricted free agent Reggie Williams (an 11-game starter last season) is not listed on the team’s current roster. So, the receiver-depleted Jaguars are suddenly feeling a lot better about themselves.

Source: Jaguars.com

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Jaguars Sign Torry Holt

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To create nearly $8 million in salary cap space, the St. Louis Rams released seven-time Pro Bowl receiver Torry Holt today. Torry was one of the few remaining players from the Rams’ glory days — aka “The Greatest Show on Turf.” Ironically, one of the other remaining players, tackle Orlando Pace, was also released this week. That leaves only defensive end Leonard Little and quarterback Marc Bulger from the team that lost Super Bowl XXXVI to the Patriots. Owner Chip Rosenbloom said the decision wasn’t an easy one:

“The Rams will forever be grateful for the way Torry Holt represented the Rams on the field and in the community. Over the past 10 seasons Torry has proven himself to be one of the finest wide receivers in league history. This is a difficult decision because Torry has meant so much to the organization.”

Torry was one of the first players I interviewed when I began my NFL writing career back in 1999. He was the 6th overall pick in the NFL Draft that year. And he’s played in all but two games for the Rams since then. I think you find a way to keep this guy on your team. No matter what kind of rebuilding excuse you have, it makes no sense to get rid of your best offensive weapon. Torry led the Rams in receptions (64) in what was a miserable 2008 season. Of course, he’s spent most of his career leading the Rams in receptions. And Torry ranks 11th in NFL history with 869 receptions and he’s 14th overall with 12,660 receiving yards. To top it off, his 80.1 yards-per-game career receiving average is the best in NFL history. So, its the Rams loss. And forget T.J. Houshmandzadeh (who signed with the Seattle Seahawks a couple weeks ago). Torry Holt has suddenly becoming the most sought after free agent receiver this offseason (if you were compiling the entire list of free agents this offseason). I believe this is a guy who has five more years of great production and any receiver-needy team should be knocking down his door.

Source: StLouisRams.com, Photo: Newscom

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Rams Release Torry Holt

It’s been a busy week for the St. Louis Rams. In an attempt to shake-up the organization after an 0-3 start, the team released starting cornerback Fakhir Brown and then demoted quarterback Marc Bulger in favor of veteran backup Trent Green on Wednesday. Both were unusual moves, especially benching Marc. Running back Steven Jackson (arguably the Rams best player) was vocal about his displeasure on a St. Louis radio station last night, saying it was the “wrong decision” to bench Marc and that you don’t pay someone “$60-something million” and then sit him on the bench.

Steven’s right. The Rams woes are not Marc Bulger’s fault. He needs time to throw the football. Even receiver Torry Holt pointed to the offensive line last week before the Rams went out and got blasted by the Seattle Seahawks. But whoever’s fault it is, head coach Scott Linehan is on the verge of losing this team. With all the finger-pointing and turmoil surrounding the Rams and with the losses piling up and the undefeated Buffalo Bills next on the sked, coach Linehan might find his spot in the unemployment line before Lane Kiffin.

Source: STLtoday.com

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Steven Jackson Upset About QB Switch

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The St. Louis Rams stink. And wide receiver Torry Holt blames the offensive line for his team’s pathetic 0-2 start to this 2008 season. Not only are the Rams struggling, they’re dead last statistically on both sides of the ball. But let’s focus on the offense for this particular post. Torry is one of the few remaining players from the “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams that included Super Bowl glories and future Hall of Fame players like Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce. So he inherited great talent around him since he entered the league as a rookie back in 1999. And he’s not happy about losing:

“Those guys, the offensive line guys, have to continue to take more pride in what they’re doing to keep the quarterback clean. I can stand here and say what needs to be done and who needs to do what, but that’s not going to solve anything. It’s going to come down to the guys up front that’s protecting Marc and giving Steven (Jackson) running lanes and giving us time to get open in the secondary to make things happen. They have to continue to take a stronger initiative, a more sense of urgency to keep No. 10 off his back. If he continues to get smacked around, we won’t be seeing No. 10 for long.”

Torry is one of the leaders of this team and when something needs to be said, aside from the coaches, he should be one of the players saying it. You’ll notice he said “continue to take more pride in what they’re doing” and “continue to take a stronger initiative.” He’s giving them the benefit of the doubt and the O-line should figure out that Torry’s right and they need to lead the way as the foundation of the offense. I don’t care how good your “skill players” (I hate that term) are, without an offensive line to both protect the quarterback and open lanes for the running backs, it’s setting up a long season for any team. The Rams may not have the talent they had during their Super Bowl years, but they have enough to be better than the worst team in the NFL.

Source: STLtoday.com, Photo: Newscom

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Torry Holt Calls Out Offensive Line

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The St. Louis Rams agreed to terms on a three-year deal with rookie wide receiver Keenan Burton yesterday. Keenan was a fourth round pick out of Kentucky. He’s expected to make an immediate impact for the Rams after a great college career where after 45 games, he finished fourth in Kentucky history in catches, third in receiving yards, second in touchdowns and third in all purpose yards. Injuries kept him from being drafted higher so durability is a concern. But VP of Player Personnel Billy Devaney is optimistic:

“He fits the mold we have been stressing. Now we have some depth at wide out and it has put us in a position where there is going to be great competition once we get to training camp.”

Keenan will go camping with Torry Holt, Drew Bennett, Dane Looker, Dante Hall, Marques Hagans, Reche Caldwell, Eric Fowler, Derek Stanley and Brandon Williams — not exactly the Greatest Show on Turf on paper. But with Marc Bulger at quarterback, Keenan will be a welcome addition. He’s the the third member of this year’s Rams Draft class to sign, following fifth round guard Roy Schuening and third round tackle John Greco.

Source: StLouisRams.com

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Rams Sign Rookie Receiver Keenan Burton

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The Dallas Cowboys placed a league-high 12 players on the NFC All-Star team. Among the players selected to the NFC squad was Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who died last month. Sean received the most votes at his position and was chosen as the starting free safety for the NFC team. A replacement will be announced at a later date. Eleven NFC players will participate in their first Pro Bowl, including Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson, who leads the NFC in rushing yards with 1,278.

Five of the Cowboys’ Pro Bowl players – running back Marion Barber, guard Leonard Davis, rookie kicker Nick Folk, safety Ken Hamlin and cornerback Terence Newman – are also first-time All-Stars. They join tackle Flozell Adams (fourth Pro Bowl), center Andre Gurode (second), wide receiver Terrell Owens (sixth), quarterback Tony Romo (second), linebacker DeMarcus Ware (second) and tight end Jason Witten (fourth) to equal the largest Dallas Pro Bowl contingent ever. Dallas also had 11 players named to the All-Star team in 1993 and 1994.

The starting quarterback for the NFC is nine-time All-Star Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers. Brett, also the leading vote-getter among fans, ties Pro Football Hall of Famers John Elway, Dan Marino, Warren Moon and Norm Van Brocklin for the second-most Pro Bowl selections by a quarterback behind Johnny Unitas with 10. Joining Brett at QB are Dallas’ Tony Romo and Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck. Tony is the first Cowboys QB to be chosen for back-to-back Pro Bowls since Hall of Famer Troy Aikman (1992-97). Matt joins Dave Krieg as the only Seahawks quarterbacks to be named to three Pro Bowls.

Starting at running back for the NFC is AD, who seeks to become the first rookie to lead the NFC in rushing since Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (1989). He is joined by Dallas’ Marion Barber and two-time Philadelphia Eagles All-Star Brian Westbrook, who has an NFL-best 1,896 yards from scrimmage. I kind of scratched my head at Marion’s selection, but he is the first Cowboys RB to be chosen since the 2000 Pro Bowl (Emmitt Smith) and Brian is the sixth Eagles running back with multiple All-Star selections. Filling out the backfield is Minnesota fullback Tony Richardson, who makes his third Pro Bowl appearance (Kansas City, 2004-05) and first for the NFC.

Along with Dallas’ TO, now chosen as an All-Star with three teams (San Francisco, Philadelphia), the NFC’s other starting wide receiver is Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, who played in the 2006 Pro Bowl. Rounding out the position are a pair of Pro Bowl veterans in seven-time All-Star Torry Holt of the St. Louis Rams and three-time All-Star Donald Driver of Green Bay.

The starting tight end for the NFC is Jason Witten, making his fourth consecutive appearance in Hawaii. He is joined by Washington’s Chris Cooley, who deservedly will make his Pro Bowl debut.

Minnesota’s Steve Hutchinson will make his fifth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl and start at guard along with the Cowboys’ Leonard Davis. Philadelphia’s Shawn Andrews was named an All-Star for the second year in a row and fills out the position.

Starting at center is Dallas’ Andre Gurode, joined by Minnesota’s Matt Birk, a six-time Pro Bowl selection.

The starting tackles are Seattle’s Walter Jones, an eight-time All-Star, and the Cowboys’ Flozell Adams. Washington’s Chris Samuels, making his fifth Pro Bowl appearance, is the NFC’s third tackle.

A pair of two-time All-Stars will start at defensive end for the NFC in Green Bay’s Aaron Kampman and Seattle’s Patrick Kerney. New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, making his second trip to Hawaii, also was chosen to represent the NFC.

Two Vikings will start on the interior defensive line in three-time All-Star Kevin Williams and two-time Pro Bowl selection Pat Williams. These two combine to make the Vikings the best in the league against the run. Chicago’s Tommie Harris was chosen for the third time in his career.

Seattle’s Lofa Tatupu makes his third Pro Bowl trip and will start at inside linebacker. He will be joined at the position by rookie Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers, the No. 11 overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. The outside linebackers are Chicago’s Lance Briggs (third Pro Bowl), Seattle’s Julian Peterson (fourth) and Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware. Julian and DeMarcus were chosen as the starters.

All three cornerbacks on the NFC team are Pro Bowl newcomers. Green Bay’s Al Harris and Seattle’s Marcus Trufant will start with Dallas’ Terence Newman coming off the bench.

At free safety, the late Sean Taylor was selected as the starter. Dallas’ Ken Hamlin also was chosen at free safety and four-time All-Star Darren Sharper of the Minnesota Vikings will be the starting strong safety.

Two Bears are among the quartet of players who will handle special teams duties for the NFC. For the second consecutive year, Chicago’s Devin Hester will be the return specialist and Brandon Ayanbadejo will be the coverage specialist. Dallas’ rookie Nick Folk is the kicker and San Francisco punter Andy Lee was selected for the first time in his career.

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Dallas Cowboys Lead NFL With 12 All-Stars, 11 First-Time Selections For NFC