LA Rams still active as second wave of free agency hits

While the Rams focused primarily on retaining their own free agents during the first week of free agency, they always had their eyes on the open market.

Sure, they ultimately retained linebacker Mark Barron, defensive ends Williams Hayes and Eugene Sims, centers Tim Baes and Brian Folkerts, safety Cody Davis and receiver Brian Quick.

But with the secondary phase of free agency hitting, they are starting to kick the tires on some potential additions.

The Rams hosted Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller this weekend and he remained in town meeting with coaches Monday. Sources have confirmed they are also bringing in defensive end Quinton Coples and New York Giants receiver Rueben Randle for visits.

Coples played last season with the Miami Dolphins after three-plus disappointing seasons with the New York Jets. Coples was the Jets’ first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2012 draft, but never lived up to expectations. He’s still relatively young at 25, and Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and defensive-minded head coach Jeff Fisher have a track record of figuring out ways to best utilize players who fell out of favor elsewhere. See Mark Barron.

As for Randle, 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he’s a big, fast, durable target who would be a welcome addition to a team in desperate need of production at the receiver position. Randle is not a No. 1 receiver by any stretch, but his 128 catches for 1,735 yards and 11 touchdowns over the past two seasons would fit nicely in an offense in search of more punch.

Rams change wording on contracts

After the NFL Players Association raised some conces about the language the Rams were using on player contracts, the Rams resolved the issue by making an easy fix and changing the wording.

The NFLPA essentially had issues with wording that suggested the contracts — and any disputes or workers compensation claims — would be subject to Missouri state laws rather than Califoia. The Rams are still operating out of their Earth City, Mo., headquarters, so the contracts still being negotiated and executed there reflect that workplace point.

The Rams, incidentally, will officially make the move to Southe Califoia in April.

While the NFLPA conces seemed valid, it was ultimately a moot point as all Rams contracts — whether they were signed two years ago, two days ago or two months from now — will transfer to Califoia jurisdiction as soon as they arrive in Califoia.

Just to be on the safe side, though, the Rams will change the wording on any contracts signed in Missouri to point out they will transfer to Califoia rules and regulations upon the team landing there.

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As Rams president Kevin Demoff explained in an email:

“The team’s legal move to Califoia coincides with the start of the offseason program on April 18. As such, all contracts are still subject to Missouri law at time of signing. We were able to work with agents on a simple fix saying the contracts will transfer to Califoia law once the team move is official.

“This really shouldn’t have been an issue given that all involved also believe that all of the contracts signed in previous years transfer to Califoia as well. If that position was assumed by both the team and the agents, then it only logically follows that any contracts signed this offseason would transfer as well.”