National Football League

Rams release stars Laurinaitis, Long

Published Feb. 19, 2016 8:01 p.m. ET

foxsports

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Rams released veterans James Laurinaitis and Chris Long, and also cut tight end Jared Cook on Friday.

In what appears a salary-cap purge as the team relocates from St. Louis, the Rams departed with star linebacker Laurinaitis and defensive end Long. Laurinaitis has been one of the NFL's leading tacklers throughout his seven-year pro career. Long, the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, has been their top pass rusher for most of his eight seasons.

Cook joined the Rams as a free agent before the 2013 season and set franchise records for most receiving yards by a tight end both in a single season (671 in 2013) and in a single game (141 on Sept. 8, 2013 vs. Arizona).

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