When Steven Jackson's contract officially voids March 12, that frees up $7 million. Releasing Wayne Hunter frees up $4 million. And if Quintin Mikell is released, that frees up $6 million. (The Rams want Mikell back, just not for $6 million in 2013). That adds up to $17 million. With the cap going up to $123 million, that puts the Rams just about even before the above listed cuts. The cuts above would get the Rams to about $17 million under, then subtract about $2 million or so for players hitting incentive clauses/escalators in their contract. That puts the Rams at $14-15 million under, but that's with no Jackson, Mikell, or Amendola under contract. Cook and Goldson are looking for big dollars, so as enticing as it sounds I don't think it's practical to sign both even if they both wanted to come here. For example, Goldson reportedly wants $8 million a year.

Your right, Watson's numbers weren't overly impressive at the Combine. I believe the Rams still have interest. No sure on "Q."

Legally, no contact is allowed at this point. But usually the "tampering" season begins at the NFL Scouting Combine, because all the teams are there and so are all (or at least most) of the agents. This year, there's something different. Although free agency begins March 12, contact and negotiations can begin as early as March 9. So there will be a 3-day buildup.over the weekend before free agency starts.

I would be surprised if the Rams weren't at least discussing Jake Long internally. The question on him is how much football does he have left _ is his best football behind him? And how much money does he want? If you're spending $8-10 million a year on him _ that's a gamble.

Keller here makes a lot of sense. Obviously, he played for Schottenheimer for several seasons and knows the offense. I don't think adding a second receiving TE would mean the end of Amendola.

It's pretty quiet. Not much different than what I reported last week. Obviously, that could change in an instant. And I still don't have much of a bead on what's up with Hayes.

I haven't covered college basketball in about 20 years, but from what a read and hear, SLU is trending towards a No. 4 or 5 seed, and Mizzou is looking like a No. 8.

They've got seven days to do so.

There may be some "non-sexy" signings by the Rams this year. I think the Rams certainly will look at some free agent offensive linemen, although the herd got trimmed a bit with OTs Brandon Albert and Ryan Clady getting franchised and William Beatty getting re-signed.

Counting dead money and some escalators, I think they're well over $111 million. As for Mikell, the bonus money counts against the cap: The best way of looking at it is he counts $9 million against the cap now, but would count only $3 million if released _ for a net savings of $6 million. As for Mikell and Hunter, it could come any day now. There's really no rush until March 12. The Rams know what the math is.

Justin Hunter of Tennessee would be one.

I think the $3.5 million is very much in the ballpark; don't know about the three years though.

The interesting thing about that is OL and S _ two positions of need for the Rams _ are deep in free agency and the draft. So it's kind of take your pick. But keep in mind, you're in direct competition for players in free agency. In the draft, no one is drafting when you are. So if a couple of players you like in free agency go elsewhere, the worst thing you could do is sign a tackle that is rated pretty low by your scouts just to sign a tackle.

I've got to say two: Wide receiver and offensive tackle.

Right now, they figure to have good cap space in 2014. At the moment, the only pending free agents of consequence off the top of my head for 2014 are Rodger Saffold and Jo-Lonn Dunbar.

Obviously since Cook played for Fisher in Tennessee.

I don't think he'd be at the top of the list.

Well, Blount is a restricted free agent, which means if Tampa Bay tenders him _ and there was a report out of Tampa today that the Bucs are considering a first-round tender _ the Rams not only would have to give up money to sign him but would have to give up a draft pick. So I don't think that's happening.

One, I don't think Warmack will get out of the top 10. Dahl did play pretty well there at the end of 2011 but I don't think the Rams plan to do anything like that. They're looking for a right tackle.

I don't think there's much buzz about him here at Rams Park. My whole thing about Vaccaro is, if he's so good in space as a free safety, how come he had only 5 INTs during his entire college career in the pass-happy Big 12? Unless something happens in free agency with the Rams at another position, I really don't think the Rams go safety in free agency.

I just don't buy the old axiom that you don't use a first-round pick for a right tackle. There are a lot of good pass rushers who line up over right tackles these days in the NFL. Chris Long being one. If you think a guy like Fluker would be a very good NFL right tackle, why not take him. Especially under the new CBA and especially drafting in the lower half of the first round, it's cheap labor for several years.