The Rams Franchise Free Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe

NFL News - July 17, 2009 - Written by Ryan Smith

The Rams had until 4 pm Wednesday July 15th to try and work out a contract extension with 5 year free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe. Atogwe was drafted by the Rams in 2005 and has played with the St. Louis team ever since, asserting himself as one of the key defensive players on the team. In the last three seasons Atogwe has started all 16 games and amassed over 420 tackles and 17 interceptions in that short time span. The Rams have tried repeatedly to offer Atogwe a deal he would be sure to except but, do to the inabilities to negotiate a contract offer between both sides it seems as if Atogwe is done with the Rams franchise.

The Rams were forced to pay Atogwe who attended college at Stanford University with the franchise exemption. Slapping Atogwe with the franchise tag means the Rams will keep him for just one more year at a price of 6.34 million. That is more than the Rams wanted to pay their starting free safety the last three years, for just one years service. In 2007 Atogwe made a name for himself by snatching 8 interceptions in one season the most by any defensive player in the NFC that year. In three years starting for the Rams Atogwe has accumulated over 70 tackles each season and got a career high 85 tackles in 2008.

The Rams only won two games in 2008 a strong reason why Atogwe wants to relocate his talents to a team that has a chance to make the playoffs. Atogwe will likely be coveted by a playoff contending team after his contract ends in 2008 if the Rams don't trade his contract mid-season, something i doubt they will do. This will become a constant situation for the Rams if they don't start wining football games. Highly talented draft picks don't want to resign contracts with bad teams. The only way the St. Louis Rams can fix this problem is to win games.