Rams release Dunbar, give Sims extension

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams have waived outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar rather than wait for the second-leading tackler from last season to serve a four-game suspension to open the season.

But coach Jeff Fisher said after practice Wednesday that there's always a chance the Rams could re-sign Dunbar.

"Well, we haven't said this is it as far as his future's concerned here, but we felt it was in the best interest of the organization right now," Fisher said. "Of course, there's a good possibility. Anything's possible."

For now, Fisher said it's in the "best interest of the organization" to move on.

"And we'll just address things down the road, I guess," the coach added. "But we're scouring the waiver wire right now and trying to put ourselves in a position to upgrade the bottom half of the roster."

The Rams have four rookies on their two-deep roster at linebacker heading into the opener Sunday at home against Arizona. It has first-rounder Alec Ogletree starting and undrafted Darren Bates, Jonathan Stewart and Ray Ray Armstrong listed as backups.

Veteran Will Witherspoon starts at Dunbar's spot with James Laurinaitis, the team's leading tackler all four of his seasons, in the middle.

The Rams on Tuesday also signed backup defensive end Eugene Sims to a two-year contract extension. Sims has played 38 games in three seasons with St. Louis, with two starts. He had three sacks and an interception last season.

Teammates yelled congratulations Sims' way in the locker room as he met with reporters. He was a sixth-round pick in 2010 out of tiny West Texas A&M.

"It's been good. Aw man, I've had so many emotions these past three weeks," Sims said. This is a positive one, most definitely.

Sims, a sixth-round draft pick in 2010 out of West Texas A&M, had been scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

"We're planning for our future, and we felt it was in the best interest of the club to lock him in for a few more years," Fisher said. "It was a good deal for both sides, and we've got a solid defensive front now for a number of years to come."