EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Over the weekend, Pro Football Talk reported that contracts offered to players included language that referred to the state of Missouri, rather than California, would be governing those deals for Los Angeles Rams players.
According to the report, the NFLPA has instructed player agents to view any mention of Missouri as inappropriate and to reject such verbiage. Pro Football Talk goes on to assert that the Rams were specifically attempting to push workers' compensation claims from California into Missouri.
The Rams, however, say that the use of such language is more geared toward player bonuses paid out in March as an effort to help players pay a lesser state income tax, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. Pro Football Talk offered another follow up on Sunday with the Rams offering further clarification that all deals will simply roll over into California when the team moves in April.
Forbes has yet to release its 2016 valuation of every NFL franchise, but the man in charge of putting them together told the Washington Post in January that upon moving back to Los Angeles, the Rams doubled their value.
Michael Ozanian, Forbes's executive editor, said then that the Rams are now worth about $3 billion following the move to Los Angeles and the construction of their palatial new stadium in Inglewood. Assuming that value, the Rams would then trail only the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots in Forbes' rankings.
The team is planning to move out of Rams Park and St. Louis by the end of the month.
I.C.Y.M.I.
A roundup of the weekend's Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. ... The Rams are bringing back another of their own, this time it's defensive end Eugene Sims. ... The Rams would be well-served to bring back running back Benny Cunningham. ... The Ram-blings opened with a look at the Rams and the next wave of free agency. ... We then broke down linebacker/safety Mark Barron’s new contract. ... The Rams got no compensatory picks in this year's NFL draft. ... Saturday's mailbag explored the possibilities for the Rams and free-agent cornerbacks. ... Sunday's mailbag took a look at where the Rams go from here.
Elsewhere:
Bears reporter Jeff Dickerson reported that the Rams planned to visit with tight end Zach Miller on Sunday.
The latest updates on all free-agent moves.
At ESPN FC, Kroenke stressed the need for sensible ownership of Arsenal.
Rams COO Kevin Demoff returned to his high school to talk Rams and relocation.
LATimes.com writes about owner Stan Kroenke's comments from the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.