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Significant Investments: 12 Questionable Checks that Stan Kroenke has Written Since Purchasing the St. Louis Rams

By Patrick Karraker

Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke on the sidelines prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke on the sidelines prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at St. Louis Rams
Dec 22, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams tackle Jake Long (77) is taken off the field during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Jake Long

Jake Long, the first overall pick in the 2008 draft and a four-time Pro Bowler, was one of the most highly-anticipated free agent signings in Rams history, if not the entire history of St. Louis sports. Though he was coming off a 2013 season that was below the standard that he’d set with his previous Pro Bowl-level play, Long was still regarded as one of the best left tackles in the NFL and was seen as a player who could get the Rams’ offense over the hump and help build them into a perennial NFC West contender.

After a short adjustment period in his first few games with the Rams, Long certainly seemed to fit the bill. For a large chunk of the 2013 season, he was one of the NFL’s best left tackles, and his blocking helped rookie running back Zac Stacy pick up 973 rushing yards in just 12 starts, a feat that seems all the more impressive now that Stacy has collected just 97 yards in his subsequent two seasons.

In a wildly unfortunate occurrence, though, Long tore his right ACL and MCL in the Rams’ December 22, 2013 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Rams obviously didn’t have a whole lot of faith that he’d hold up after the long haul after that injury, drafting left tackle Greg Robinson with the second overall pick in the 2014 draft. Though Long regained his starting position at left tackle to begin 2014, he wasn’t able to bounce back to his previous form and frankly was a liability for much of the time that he was on the field. Long suffered another torn ACL in the Rams’ Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, which ended his season, and ultimately his Rams career.

The Rams were decently intelligent in structuring Long’s contract, basically making the last two years of the deal inconsequential. The fact that they guaranteed him $20 million for what really amounted to just one season of productivity makes him one of the worst free agent signings in Rams history, and definitely the most disappointing “significant investment” that’s occurred as part of the team’s free agent activity under Kroenke.

Next: 2. The Rockstar Coaching Staff

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