--With one week until players report to Concordia University in Mequon, Wis., for training camp, progress was reported in contract negotiations with Marvin Demoff, the agent for first-round pick Chris Long. The second overall pick, Long is the only player in the top four selections of the draft unsigned.
Said general manager Jay Zygmunt, "We remain very optimistic that we're going to be able to get everything worked out and that Chris will be in camp on time. Marvin expressed how important that is to Chris, and we expressed how important it is to the Rams."
Offensive tackle Jake Long, the first overall pick in the draft signed a five-year deal that averages $11.46 million and includes $30 million in guarantees. Quarterback Matt Ryan, the third choice in the draft, signed a six-year contract that averages $12 million and has $27.3 million in guarantees.
While Ryan's contract is worth potentially more per year, he is signed for one more year, and he is a quarterback.
--WR Keenan Burton officially signed his three-year contract July 16, almost two weeks after he had agreed to terms.
Burton, a fourth-round pick, signed a three-year contract with minimum base salaries and a $309,000 signing bonus. What might have delayed Burton signing the contract was his involvement in a week-long football camp for kids age 5-14 in his hometown of Louisville.
Said Burton, "When you have guys like this doing something positive in the community, you can't help but to want to come back. They're not getting paid for this; I'm not getting paid for this. It's not about the money. It's about the kids. I feel fortunate to be a part of it."
The Rams have three of their eight draft picks signed to contract,
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I can tell you this: We're going to do everything we can to do the right thing, whatever that is. That's the only thing we can do." -- Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom on rumors the team is for sale.
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