Rams release Laurinaitis, Long, Cook
The Los Angeles Rams parted ways with a trio of veteran players Wednesday in a series of moves to create some significant salary-cap flexibility heading into the offseason.
Linebacker James Laurinaitis, defensive end Chris Long, and tight end Jared Cook have each been released, the team announced.
Laurinaitis had been an impact player since joining the Rams as a second-round pick in the 2009 draft, appearing in each of the club's 112 games and earning himself the top spot among the franchise's all-time tackling leaders.
James Laurinaitis played 99.7 percent of all defensive snaps in his career for the Rams (7,498 of 7,519). Only missed 21 snaps in 7 seasons
— Bill Smith (@wgsmit3) February 19, 2016
Long, despite having dealt with injury issues over the past two seasons, remained a key contributor on the NFL's most talented defensive front. He went on to record an impressive 54.5 sacks across the eight seasons after being selected No. 2 overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Cook had the shortest tenure of the three, spending the past three years with the Rams after signing as a free agent in 2013, but he was a marker of consistency for an otherwise stagnant passing attack.
Los Angeles was already projected to have more than $35 million in salary-cap space prior to Wednesday's moves.
The additional $23 million saved by cutting ties makes it entirely possible that the Rams will be among the league's most active teams when it comes to adding players in free agency.