Associated Press
Linebacker Mike Jones, hero of the St. Louis Rams’ Super Bowl victory a year ago, has been told by the team that he won’t be re-signed.
The Rams also cut two other starters from their porous defense, tackles D’Marco Farr and Ray Agnew.
The moves were made to improve one of the NFL’s worst defenses and to get the team under the salary cap of $67.4 million for the start of the free-agent period on March 2. Backup center Steve Everitt also was informed he would be cut.
Team spokesman Rick Smith said the players would be officially waived today.
Jones, who will be 32 in April, is best known for the tackle on Tennessee’s Kevin Dyson at the 1-yard line on the final play of the 2000 Super Bowl, won 23-16 by the Rams. But like most of the St. Louis defense, he had an off-year as the team allowed almost double the points it did the year before — 471 compared with 242 in 1999.
Farr, a Pro Bowler in 1999 when he had 48 tackles and 8 1/2 sacks, missed six games last season with knee problems that also hampered him when he was able to play. He finished the season with just 17 tackles and one sack. Agnew, a run-stopper who played next to Farr in the defensive line, is 33.
"Releasing them, obviously, is a very difficult thing to do," coach Mike Martz said. "Especially for a guy that’s been in the organization as long as D’Marco. But it’s something that we needed to do to create some cap room."
The Rams saved nearly $4.8 million in salary cap money with their cuts.
REDSKINS
 Someone has to pay: Paying the price for last year’s free agent spending spree, Washington announced it will cut veterans Tre Johnson, Keith Sims, Irving Fryar and Derek G. Smith in a first step to get under the salary cap.
"We find ourselves like everybody else in the NFL right now, in the process of making choices," coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "I don’t have a problem with the system because it’s equitable. Having said that, it’s never easy to release players of this quality."
Johnson, Sims and Smith all failed physicals this week and will receive injury settlements. Johnson, a Pro Bowl guard two years ago, missed most of last season with a torn knee ligament. Sims played most of the season on a bad Achilles before it finally ruptured. Smith, a second-year tackle, has been sidelined with knee injuries virtually since he was drafted.
Fryar caught 41 passes last year at age 38. Like Johnson and Sims, he was set to enter the final year of his contract, making him vulnerable to the salary cap ax.
JETS
Defensive cutbacks: Needing to clear salary cap space and planning to revamp its defensive system, New York cut Bryan Cox and two other linebackers yesterday.
Released along with Cox were fellow inside linebacker Dwayne Gordon and outside backer Roman Phifer. Also cut was defensive tackle Ernie Logan and running back Bernie Parmalee.
The Jets saved about $11 million in salary cap money with their moves. They also restructured the contract of receiver Wayne Chrebet and are close to doing the same with quarterback Vinny Testaverde, which would save at least another $2 million.
Prior to the moves, the Jets were an estimated $6 million over the cap.
EXTRA POINTS
Falcons: Cornerback Ray Buchanan signed a six-year, $36 million contract yesterday, one day before he would have been designated a franchise player. The tag would have given the Falcons a right of first refusal and compensation if Buchanan signed with another team.
Bills: Three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Ted Washington, who was scheduled to make about $7.6 million next season, will be among the first players cut by Buffalo today. The Bills are projected to be more than $13 million over the salary cap.
Dolphins: Offensive tackle Richmond Webb underwent successful surgery to remove bone spurs and loose particles from his right elbow yesterday.
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