The Los Angeles Rams released LB James Laurinaitis, DE Chris Long and TE Jared Cook, the team announced on Friday.
“This is the time of year when all NFL teams are faced with difficult decisions regarding their veteran players,” Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher said. “Chris and James are the epitome of what it means to be a pro in this league and it’s been an honor to coach them both. They’ve been the pillars of our defense for many years and not enough can be said of their love for the game and for their teammates. Beyond the field, they took pride in mentoring the younger players and doing their part to make a real difference in the St. Louis community. We will always be grateful for James and Chris’ unselfish commitment to the Rams and wish them the best moving forward.
“Jared made an immediate impact when he joined the team in 2013. It’s been a pleasure watching him grow from the time I drafted him in Tennessee to seeing him set franchise records in St. Louis. Like Chris and James, he’s been a mainstay in the community and his contributions are commendable. We hope for the best for Jared and his family as he embarks on the next steps of his career.”
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Laurinaitis was drafted in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He led the team in tackles in his first four seasons and reached the 100 tackle mark in each of his seven seasons in the league. Last season, he passed Hall of Famer and 14-time Pro Bowler Merlin Olsen to become the all-time leading tackler in franchise history.
Long, an eight-year veteran, was drafted second overall by the Rams in 2008 out of the University of Virginia. He started 95 of 114 games over his career, and notched more than 300 tackles and 54.5 sacks. He led the team in sacks in 2011 and 2012, and recorded double-digit totals in both seasons. Additionally, he has forced eight fumbles and recovered five, one of which went for his first NFL touchdown (11/10/13 vs. Indianapolis).
Cook joined the Rams as a free agent during the 2013 offseason after spending the previous four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. In his first season with the Rams, he set franchise records for most receiving yards by a tight end both in a single season (671, 2013) and in a single game (141, 9/8/13 vs. Arizona). As a Ram, he recorded 142 receptions for 1,786 yards and eight touchdowns.
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