Turk and Rams are at a stalemate in contract talks
March 21st, 2007 | by Kevin Morris |
Punter Matt Turk revived his career in St. Louis last season after a groin injury in training camp in Miami wrecked his 2005 campaign. After not punting it all in ‘05 because of the injury, Turk averaged 43.5 yards per kick last
season, the best gross average for a Rams punter since Rick Tuten’s 44.2 average in 1998.
Even more impressive was Turk’s 38.3 net punting average — a figure that subtracts return yards and yards lost on touchbacks. That was the seventh-best total in the NFL last season, and the highest for a Rams punter since the
franchise moved to St. Louis in 1995.
So as he entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, Turk had every expectation of playing for more than the veteran’s minimum of $810,000 (for a 10-year veteran) that he earned in ‘06. But it hasn’t happened yet. Nearly
three weeks into free agency, Turk and the Rams are at a stalemate in negotiations, leaving Turk puzzled and frustrated.
“I’m just a little confused,” Turk said in a telephone interview from his Florida home. “Usually after a punter has a year like I had, you expect your team to step up to the plate. … Teams get a good punter and they usually want
to keep ‘em.”
Turk made his comments one day after the Rams brought in five punters — all street free agents — to work out at Rams Park. None of those punters was signed, but earlier in the offseason, the Rams signed former Green Bay punter
B.J. Sander to a one-year deal.
Meanwhile, Turk has been working out in south Florida.
“I feel great,” he said. “I’m in better shape right now than I was last year at this time. I’m just very confident in my own abilities. So to settle for something that’s really not fair just doesn’t make sense.
“If there was any flexibility on the part of the Rams, I would be flexible as well. But (the Rams) just really haven’t budged at all. It was more or less a stance of: ‘This is our offer, take it or leave it.’ ”
Turk said he has told his agent that he doesn’t want to be greedy — but that he does want a fair deal. Turk said he would prefer a multiyear deal but would agree on a one-year deal if the numbers were right.
“I’m not going to sell myself short,” he said. “By signing a contract that puts you outside the top 10 punters, you’re saying you’re not as good as those guys. And I think I’m as good as any punter in the league. I really do.
“We proposed numbers that were lower than the top seven punters, and it wasn’t accepted. And that was on a one-year deal. We proposed a two-year deal where the (average) numbers were even lower, and they didn’t want to do that. That’s just the stance that they’re taking right now. I’m hoping that they change their minds.”
Rams president of football operations Jay Zygmunt could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
From a Rams standpoint, the team could be concerned about Turk’s age — he turns 37 in June. Or they could be concerned about his past groin problems.
Turk said a couple of other teams have shown some interest. He thinks teams needing a punter might wait until after the draft to address their needs. But he’d still like to make it work with the Rams.
“I love St. Louis,” Turk said. “I would love to come back to St. Louis and move my family there. And give them the best punter in the league for the next few years.
“I’m a man of faith. I pray about everything. I’m patient. And I still have hope it’ll get done with the Rams.”
By
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
