Rookie Sam Sloman wins Rams' 3-way kicking competition

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rookie kicker Sam Sloman has won the Los Angeles Rams' three-way competition to replace Greg Zuerlein.

The Rams released Lirim Hajrullahu and Austin MacGinnis on Friday. Those moves handed the job to Sloman, the Rams' seventh-round pick.

Sloman joined the Rams after a productive college career at Miami of Ohio, the alma mater of Los Angeles coach Sean McVay. He competed with CFL veteran Hajrullahu and Kentucky product MacGinnis throughout camp.

Sloman will replace Zuerlein, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent after eight seasons with the Rams. Zuerlein was an All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection in 2017, and he scored the Rams' only points in the Super Bowl one season later.

Zuerlein was one of the league's most consistent kickers over his tenure in St. Louis and Los Angeles, but he made just 24 of his 33 field goal attempts last season in a sharp decline from his previous three years. Once known for his long-distance abilities, Zuerlein made just 10 of his 18 attempts longer than 39 yards.

The Rams waived 17 players Friday ahead of Saturday's final cutdown deadline. Those players included running back John Kelly, offensive guard Jamil Demby, linebacker Derrick Moncrief and receiver Easop Winston.

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