Third-string quarterback Nick Foles is reportedly skipping out on all voluntary offseason workouts this year.
In fact, Jim Trotter of ESPN reports Foles has not participated in any Los Angeles Rams training sessions since the franchise took Jared Goff No. 1 overall in April.
The reason this is strange is that Foles already knew, as did we all, that the Rams were vocal about Case Keenum as the top passer on the roster heading into free agency and the draft. Obviously, the team knew it would be selecting a quarterback at the top of the draft when it made the monster trade to move up to No. 1. But it was already clear Foles wouldn’t be the guy going forward even before that move.
His 2015 campaign can only be described as disastrous. Completing 56.4 percent of his passes, he gained just 2,052 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 11 starts, posting a 4-7 record.
Now relegated to third string, it seems Foles has taken an apathetic approach to his job. No doubt, this suits Goff and Keenum just fine as they take more reps in his absence.
This is just one more cautionary tale of how dangerous it can be to pay unproven quarterbacks a lot of money. Foles received a two-year extension last year worth $24.5 million. He’s set to count $8.75 million against the cap this year and has already received a $6 million roster bonus in March.
The Rams cannot fine Foles for staying away right now. If he were to skip out on mandatory minicamps and training camp, which seems unlikely, then he’d be subject to fines.