Rams Cut Bruce and Frerotte, Then Restructure Little's Contract, Freeing Up a Combined $10.485 Million

The St. Louis Rams have released former Pro Bowl wide receiver Isaac Bruce, who was due a $2 million roster bonus on Friday, and was scheduled to make $3 million in base salary in 2008, the final year of his contract. The team allegedly made an offer to Bruce at a reduced figure for $3 million total, but he rejected it and will hit the open market and be free to sign with any team immediately. The move will save the Rams approximately $5 million against the projected $116 million salary cap for 2008. The San Francisco 49ers are expected to come calling, as new offensive coordinator Mike Martz will be looking for some veterans who are familiar with his system, and the 49ers need an infusion of talent at the position in general.

St. Louis also released backup quarterback Gus Frerotte, who was due a $500,000 roster bonus, and scheduled to make a base salary of $1.4 million in 2008. The move frees up $1.9 million in cap space for the Rams, and leave the team with Marc Bulger as the only quarterback currently on the roster.

Per John Clayton of ESPN, St. Louis also agreed with defensive end Leonard Little on a simple restructuring of his $7.17 million roster bonus that was due this weekend, and converted it to a guaranteed signing bonus, allowing them to prorate it over the final 2 years of the deal, while saving the team $3.585 million against the cap. His cap figure will be $3.585 million higher next year, however, which will most likely force the team to take action by either re-signing him to another long term deal, or parting ways with Little.