Decision Nears on Atogwe

As talks between the two sides continue, the June 1st Restricted Free Agent (RFA) deadline has arrived and the future of Oshiomogho Atogwe with the Rams will be more clear by midnight.

Either the Rams and OJ will be able to work out a new deal, or the safety will become an unrestricted free agent.

Currently tendered the minimum amount, NFL rules call for the Rams to bump their offer to 110% of Atogwe's salary from last year--which would equal close to $7 million.

The Rams aren't likely to do so.

But that doesn't necessarily mean the Rams would be out of the running if Atogwe were to hit the open market.

The team simply loses their exclusive negotiating rights, but they would still be free to make offers and compete with any other interested team for OJ.

Dallas, Miami, and Jacksonville are all reportedly interested in Atogwe, but none signed him to an offer sheet prior to the April 15th deadline.

That could have been in part to the Rams retaining matching rights and a team not wanting to lower the market and in essence do the Rams a favor. But it also lends to the belief that the market will be well below the $7 million the Rams would have to offer due to the 110% rule.

Back in March, Billy Devaney made it clear the Rams would like to keep Atogwe, but also had plans in case he would've been offered a deal they couldn't match.

"We have other safties lined up," explained Devaney. "We have fall back plans, it's just part of the business at this point. It doesn't change how we feel about OJ, we'd love to have him be part of this for a long time to come but we also understand what's at stake."

Atogwe himself seemed to have an understanding of what the offseason would be like when he spoke with media prior to having his shoulder surgery.

"I expect to be playing football next year," answered OJ when asked if he thought he may have taken his final snap as a Ram.

"Like I said, you never know. They (the Rams) have to make decisions. The best case scenario might not be me here. It may be me here. You never know what's going to happen. I don't have any expectations at this point except that I will be playing football next year. Wherever I am, that's where I am supposed to be."

Last season, as a franchise player, Atogwe earned a cap figure of $6.349 million--fourth most for his position.

Twenty nine safeties ranked ahead of OJ in tackles--who was tied for 95th overall in the NFL with 74. But he missed the last four games of the year, add the 6 tackles per game average and Atogwe was on pace to finish with 98 tackles--a career best.

Only one safety, Charles Godfrey, had more forced fumbles than the 3 from Atogwe, who recovered two of them.

Atogwe was tied with six others to lead his position with 2 interceptions, but that was down from his previous two seasons (8,5).

The takeaway numbers were down, but again, OJ missed the final four games. Hard to predict what would've happened in those games had he played, but even one or two more takeaways and the numbers look very different.

And rehabbing from shoulder surgery is a factor too.

Negotiating on the open market will provide a true sense of Atogwe's worth and may in turn make it easier for the Rams to work out a long term deal.

However, there is also the risk that Atogwe receives an overwhelming offer from a different team or simply chooses a change in scenery.

Teammates have shared that OJ is upbeat and realizes this is all part of the business in the NFL, not personal.

Kevin Demoff and Devaney have been on record that they would like to work out a long-term deal to keep Atogwe in St. Louis. But the Rams also traded for Kevin Payne, who has been working exclusively at free safety in OTAs. Craig Dahl and David Roach also have experience at the position.

As of Monday afternoon, I was told the two sides are still talking but there was "nothing new". That's about to change, it's a deadline league and time is counting down.