Versatile blocker Harkey is back
The Rams’ retained another one of their free agents Tuesday as tight end/ fullback Cory Harkey resigned. Terms were not disclosed.
Harkey, 25, started six games last season and had f ive catches. He mainly was utilized as a blocker and helped running back Todd Gurley, the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year, to a breakout season.
The 6- foot 4- inch, 259pound Harkey played at UCLA and signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He has 27 career receptions, three for touchdowns.
Rams tight end Lance Kendricks had 25 catches last season, two for touchdowns. The Rams released tight end Jared Cook in February. Tight end Zach Miller visited with the Rams last weekend, but he re- signed with the Chicago Bears on Monday. The Rams resigned free- agent defensive Eugene Sims on Sunday.
Bonus pay
Offensive lineman Rob Havenstein, who moved into the starting lineup as a rookie last season, earned the largest payout among 65 Rams players who received bonuses distributed through the NFL’s performance- based pay program.
The yearly program was implemented as part of the NFL’s 2002 collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Assn. The formula for bonuses weighs playing time against salary.
Each team had a distribution pool of about $ 3.8 million, which does not count against the salary cap.
Havenstein, a tackle who played in college at Wisconsin, was a second- round pick in the 2015 draft. He had a base salary of $ 435,000, according to spotrac.com, and started 13 games. Havenstein’s performance- based bonus was $ 187,747.81. He was one of 15 Rams who received more than $ 100,000. The Rams’ top five bonuses: Havenstein, $ 187,747.81; wide receiver Bradley Marquez, $ 186,217.86; offensive lineman Cody Wichmann, $ 181,801.06; center Tim Barnes $ 165,530.66; and safety T. J. McDonald, $ 162,447.84.
Denver Broncos center Matt Paradis earned the NFL’s top f igure at $ 391,647.56.