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• Free agency in Bulger's future? It's virtually impossible in the NFL anymore to have a quarterback still in his prime hit the open market in free agency. Franchises typically lock up their centerpiece players with new long-term deals well in advance of the expiration of their current contracts. That's why it is notable that St. Louis starter Marc Bulger, who never seems to warrant the credit he deserves as one of the game's top 10 passers, still doesn't have an extension, and, thus, is into the final year of his contract, with a scheduled base salary of $3.95 million.
Marc Bulger
Quarterback
St. Louis Rams

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
Att Comp Yds TD Int Rat
588 370 4301 24 8 92.9


Bulger turned 30 last month and, given the age at which quarterbacks are still productive in the league, could have a half-dozen big years still in his right arm. He has three seasons of 3,500 yards or more and in 2006, even with new coach Scott Linehan emphasizing the run more with emerging star tailback Steven Jackson, the Rams' star still managed to throw for a career-best 4,301 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Bulger never had a howitzer for an arm, but he is very precise, doesn't turn the ball over and has all the intangibles you want at the position. His career quarterback rating of 91.3 is tremendously impressive. The Rams could always use the franchise marker on Bulger next spring if they don't finish off an extension, but the cost of the tag for the qualifying offer was $12.615 million this year and will be more in 2008. The smart money says that agent Tom Condon and team president Jay Zygmunt, who have a ton of mutual respect, hammer out a deal before things get close to crunch time. But if the Rams ever got crazy and allowed Bulger to get to the open market, he wouldn't lack for serious suitors ready to throw open the vault

He's a guy that's noted for getting great deals for his clients. But also for being fair. Him and Jay Z have made several deals in the past.

Thank God it's not a Poston tough..

I think Ram fans must worry until Bulger is signed. It would be a collossel mistake to not resign him. I have faith in the Rams doing the right thing and signing him. Hopefully they will do like they did last year when they signed Tinoisamoa and Little durring the season and do the same this year for Mark.

and they take time to get everything right. I've got no doubts they get it done, but given the fact that Jay Z has to sign our rookies as well i wouldn't expect anything until Pre-Season is up and running

It probably has more to do with how imginative Condon will allow Zygmont to be as for as spreading it out and still saving cap space.

The signing bonus will be 15-18 million and the contract will carry a value of 60 million give or take a few million.

I hope its a 6 year deal. It would be nice to finally see a Rams QB actually RETIRE a Ram instead of leaving and playing somewhere else.

How he didn't have his best year statistically under Martz.

I hope the Rams aren't stupid enough to let him walk. They need to wrap him up now.

60M was the contract that Brees signed in NO before the start of the 06 season and way before the prices went up this season.

It think we're looking at 25+ million in guarantees and an overall value of close to 80M.

I'm not saying Bulger is worth more than Brees....just pointing out that everything has gone up, so I assume that goes for QB contracts as well.

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