Around the league

• 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