NFL chat with Jim Thomas

http://sports.live.stltoday.com/Event/NFL_chat_with_Jim_Thomas_20?Page=2

Is this FINALLY the end of the line for Aldon Smith?
by Rudy Bukich 1:07 PM

Not quite. But I think he’s close.
by jthomas 1:07 PM

Jim, I knew Aldon Smith a little at Mizzou. We had biology class together in 2010. Super nice guy, it is really sad to see what has happened to him. You just wonder what happened in his mind when he left Missouri and went to the Bay Area.
by TexasTiger 1:08 PM

Interesting. Yeah, I don’t know much about his time at Mizzou.
by jthomas 1:09 PM

Also, I did receive the email about Los Angeles Rams hats….just laughed and clicked the unsubscribe button in the email.
by StlFanDan 1:09 PM

Aldon Smith made a pre-draft visit to Rams Park when he came out. I know he turned off some in the Rams front office during the visit. Supposedly, they didn’t like his attitude.
by jthomas 1:11 PM

Were you invited to the Friday dinner with the Rams legends? Would’ve loved to be a fly on the wall there.
by rp 1:11 PM

I attended a media session before hand at the restaurant.. It was great to see the players, and it was great to see them interact with their former teammates. After a couple of minutes together, the old stories start flowing like the players were still in the locker room together.
by jthomas 1:14 PM

Yes – I got one of the hat emails: I unsubscribed to the Rams emails immediately.
In recognition of the event last weekend, my 5 best wins in St. Louis Rams history (not counting the Super Bowl or NFC Championship Game wins: too easy):
1. 49-37 Divisional Playoff win over Minnesota in Jan. 2000 – almost better than winning the Super Bowl
2. 27-20 Divisional Playoff win at Seattle in Jan. 2005 – 3 for 3 that season!
3. 42-20 over San Francisco in Oct. 1999 – finally breaking the 49ers losing streak
4. 33-27 (OT) at Seattle in Oct. 2004 – the most unlikely comeback!
5. 27-14 over San Francisco in Dec. 2001 – Niners were treating it like a “see where we’re at” game. Ans they found out.
Honorable Mention: 16-13 (OT) over San Francisco in Dec. 2012 – hey, a win in the Fisher Era! Memorable game, though.
by kman 1:14 PM

I like your list. I’d have to include the very first St. Louis Rams victory, 17-14, at Green Bay. Unheralded second-year pro Isaac Bruce blocked a Craig Hentrich punt, getting to the ball so quickly it hadn’t even reached Hentrich’s foot. Then on the very next play, he lined up at wide receiver and caught a touchdown pass. Some other’s to consider, the Trent Green revenge game in 2000, with Mike Martz pouring it on in a 57-31 victory over San Diego _ 13 months after Rodney Harrison crashed into Green’s leg in a preseason game; or how about that 20-17 overtime victory at Philadelphia to start the 2001 season.
by jthomas 1:21 PM

Jim do you remember on maybe back to back plays where Ironhead Heyward and Toby Wright hit each other? I think they each won one of those. Always have tried to find a clip to no avail.
by Tom 1:21 PM

I believe it was in ’96 or ’97, in Atlanta.
by jthomas 1:22 PM

In his MMQB column, this week, Peter King says the NFL doesn’t have enough minority head coaches given their success (with which I concur) but also makes a couple of other interesting points including: Head coaching is a young person’s game and head coaches don’t get enough time to succeed. Do you think Brooks, Linehan or Spagnuolu could’ve made the Rams winners, eventually? Do you think younger NFL head coaches would be better?
by bfulton 1:22 PM

Of the three, I think Brooks might have been the best head coach. With a strong general manager _ he was saddled with Steve Ortmayer _ he might have had a chance. Remember, Big Daddy got only two seasons. John Shaw felt bad about that in retrospect, and it factored into him giving Dick Vermeil a third year in 1999.
by jthomas 1:25 PM

Hey Jimbo-Come party with me!
by Tre Mason 1:25 PM

Sorry Tre. Not much of a partier these days.
by jthomas 1:25 PM

And, to keep things in balance, my 5 most excruciating losses (not counting the Super Bowl ‘loss’ to the Patriots):
1. 29-23 (OT) to Carolina in the Divisional Playoff in Jan. 2004 – to this day I can’t think about this game without getting angry!
2. 31-28 at New Orleans in the Divisional Playoff in Jan. 2000 – if Az-Hakim doesn’t fumble that punt, I still think the Rams come back to win
3. 38-35 at Tampa Bay in Dec. 2000 – Monday night, another galling loss
4. 24-22 at Seattle in Nov. 2006 – thank you, Richie Incognito
5. 10-3 at Philadelphia in Dec. 2002 – the true end of the Greatest Show on Turf era
Honorable Mention: either of 2 home losses to Seattle in 2007 (24-19) or 2013 (14-9) – gotta punch it in , guys
by kman 1:25 PM

Excellent choices, Kman. Can’t argue with anny of them. The ’02 game in Philly was the game in which Warner’s hand was bothering him badly and the aftermath led to the Brenda-gate outburst.
by jthomas 1:27 PM

My outsider view of Spags was that he was an insecure coach who wasn’t a true leader. Were the rumors true that he banned Hanifan from using the gym at Rams Park and took down pictures from the GSOT era?
by rp 1:27 PM

Yes, Hanifan was not allowed in the building. And yes, the pictures were taken down. Spags is a good man, but was just too much of a control freak as a head coach. Insecurity may have played a role in that.
by jthomas 1:28 PM

To add to the excruciating loss list, how about the loss to Detroit in 1999. 4th and 18 or something right? Or, the loss to the Titans in ’99. Wasn’t there a terrible non-call on a roughing the kicker that could’ve made a difference in that one?
by rp 1:28 PM

Taje Allen getting beat in Detroit! Some of the Rams in town for the Legends game were joking about that Friday night.
by jthomas 1:29 PM

Any behind the scenes anecdotes you can share from the Legends of the Dome “reunion” this past weekend?
by rp 1:29 PM

Mike Furrey is head coach at Limestone College, a Div. II school in South Carolina. Mike Jones is head coach at Lincoln U., a Div. II in Jeff City, Mo. I suggested to Furrey that the schedule each other. Most players signed memorabilia with their uniform numbers. I was asked to sign a few items, and put 431 next to my signature. That’s the number of preseason, regular season, and playoff games for the Rams during their 21 seasons in St. Louis. All in all, it was a great afternoon. The players genuinely enjoyed being there, and with rare exception patiently signed everything put in from of them. Not only were the former players on hand, but former Rams PR personnel, game day (press box) personnel, team doctors, trainers, equipment guys were all on hand to help run the event on their own time. It was great to see them all.
by jthomas 1:35 PM

Who does better this year, Bradford – Eagles or Rams?
by Don 1:35 PM

I’ll go Bradford-Eagles, but not by an overwhelming amount. I see the EAgles as like an 8-8 squad.
by jthomas 1:36 PM

I heard on the radio, or in a chat, or on Twitter, or somewhere, that you’re going to the opening of Rams training camp. One question: Why?
by Shirley in Fenton 1:36 PM

Because the team’s first practices in California as well as the first home game in California are part of the story of the team leaving St. Louis. If you are following our coverage of the Rams, it has been cut back drastically from what it used to be, and that will continue to be the case. But we will continue to have some coverage. Many fans are still interested because they want to root against the team. I’ve had many other fans tell me they hate what Kroenke did, but hold no ill will against the players, especially those who played in St. Louis. I’ve had some fans in StL tell me it’s the only team they’ve ever known, and will continue to follow the Rams.
by jthomas 1:40 PM

How much do you think the Rams will miss Jenkins this year? It seems as if he caught inordinate amount of criticism among fans. He stayed relatively healthy and outside of a few bad decisions seemed to be the Rams most productive corner since his arrival in STL.
by Fletch32 1:40 PM

Jenkins has a lot of talent, and was serious about his craft at Rams Park. But he could also be a selfish player, gambling for interceptions and getting burned. His tackling was inconsistent. Saying that, his play last season was easily his most consistent as a Ram. If E.J.Gaines returns to his 2014 form as a rookie, the absence of Jenkins will be minimized. If not, of if Trumaine Johnson is injured, then there will be problems.
by jthomas 1:42 PM

Any chance of Kurt Warner making a run as a third party candidate this year? He’d have my vote and I think he’d win in a landslide (and i probably don’t even agree with him on most issues).
by rp 1:43 PM

That’s funny. I’ve never asked Kurt about any political ventures. Don’t think it’s in the Cards.
by jthomas 1:43 PM

Will you still be reporting on the Rams or shifting into more of a columnist role?
by RamsFansUnited 1:43 PM

My new job description is NFL writer. So there will be some Rams coverage, but it will be more broad-based coverage. Last week, for instance, I wrote about the possibility of the Raiders moving to Las Vegas. For this Wednesday _ tomorrow _ I’m writing 10 questions (and answers) around the NFL as training camps open.
by jthomas 1:46 PM

Jim, have any of the GSOT players said anonymously anything bad about the NFL or Kroenke?
by TexasTiger 1:46 PM

Not as much as you’d think. Otherwise no comment.
by jthomas 1:46 PM

Jim, was there any talk among the guys this past weekend about trying to do a charity game again in the future or was this it?
by WIU Leatherneck 1:46 PM

Some thought it would be a good idea. But the cost and time expended by Tiffani Burris of the Isaac Bruce Foundation and Bruce himself, probably means it’s a one-shot deal. For example, it cost more than $100,000 just to open the dome doors for business. Bruce got no breaks on that from the stadium people. Plus, it’s difficult to get all these players together at one time.
by jthomas 1:49 PM

Since you’re doing more reporting on the entire NFL, now, could you do reporting for fantasy football?
by bfulton 1:49 PM

Thanks for asking. As part of a regular Sunday NFL package we’re planning, we will have some sort of Fantasy Football presence.
by jthomas 1:50 PM

Hi Jim, here’s the link to bring the nfl back to st louis on facebook. http://www.facebook.com
by Alton Ken 1:50 PM

Alton Ken, believe it or not I’m not a facebook guy. But my wife is on facebook and I’ll try to have here punch it in for me. Thx.
by jthomas 1:51 PM

Where do you see, the PD NFL coverage in 3 years? Next year, I expect to see a heavy Rams coverage with more coverage than previous years of the other regional teams (Chiefs, Colts, and etc) but in three years and as the Rams roster churns, there will be less connection with the team.
by Mark S 1:51 PM

That’s a good question. So the short answer is probably less Rams coverage and more regional or overall league coverage as the years go by.
by jthomas 1:52 PM

Howcome no Faulk this past weekend? He was at a golf tournament? Weak. In my opinion, he has been tepid at best in his defense of St. Louis’ football fans, in the wake of StanK’s condemnation of our value as a football town. I get that he works for NFL network, but so does Kurt.
by rp 1:52 PM

Yeah, I talked to Marshall about this a couple of weeks ago, and I believe he was in the big charity pro-am at Lake Tahoe and couldn’t get out of that commitment.
by jthomas 1:53 PM

Jim, Josh Gordon had drug issues in college. I believe he has 3 suspensions in the NFL. I believe in second chances, but what kind of message is Goodell sending. When is enough enough? Thanks.
by Michael 1:53 PM

Well, there’s no indication that he will make the Browns’ final roster. And yes, Gordon has had more chances here than many people get in life.
by jthomas 1:54 PM

Jake Long to the Ravens. Not that he’s away from that cancer of a team…pro bowler again?
by Road to 0-16 1:54 PM

Don’t think the knees and other assorted injuries/surgeries over the years will allow it.
by jthomas 1:54 PM

Several teams, including the Rams, have made big and risky investments in unproven QBs, this offseason. Who do you think made the best bet?
by bfulton 1:55 PM

I still think Paxton Lynch could very well be considered the best of the lot when all is said and done in a few years. Plus Denver didn’t have to give up all those picks to get him like Philly did for Wentz and the Rams did for Goff.
by jthomas 1:56 PM

Hello Jim, What are your thoughts about moving T. J. McDonald to LB to replace Akeem Ayers (hybrid S/LB)?
by Pat M 1:56 PM

You know, T.J.’s hard-hitting playing style could make him an effective undersized LB, but the Rams already have one of those in Mark Barron. They probably don’t need two.
by jthomas 1:57 PM

Do you think if the Rams get off to a good start the rating here will drop? I will watch every week as long as they’re getting blown out.
by Road to 0-16 1:57 PM

Interesting question. Will most of the Rams fans watching here root for the team to lose, or to win? It could be a mixture.
by jthomas 1:58 PM

I sure hope Ike’s foundation didn’t get stuck with a bill after the event last weekend. Any info on that? I was hoping more fans would show up than that. I’m sure he didn’t, but that would’ve been a great opportunity for Kroenke to make amends…maybe a nice sized donation towards the event and Ike’s foundation.
by rp 1:58 PM

I’m told they made a modest profit when all was said and done, but nothing to write home about. The only Rams involvement that I’m aware of was sending a list of former dome suite holders to the Legends organizers, but most of those e-mails bounced back. The Bruce Foundation people asked for a season-ticket list from the Rams _ for help in contacting potential Legends ticket buyers _ but I was told the Rams declined to do so. The LA Rams had an employee there who’s involved in the team’s charity flag football game in Carson, Calif. next month. Interesting, isn’t it, that after zero flag football games in 21 seasons in St. Louis, the Rams decide to hold one in their first year back in LA next month, just a few weeks after Bruce’s game.
by jthomas 2:05 PM

I guess what i meant was, in Irvine will you be covering the Rams like a beat reporter covering the team, or more as a columnist on the aftermath of the move, if that makes sense…
by RamsFansUnited 2:05 PM

I get it. The short answer is a little of both. I’ll certainly want to describe the scene and atmosphere in Irvine. But also write about some of the players.
by jthomas 2:06 PM

Attendance figure for Legends of Dome was just over 10,000, correct? Did you get any sense that Bruce was disappointed in turnout?
by Andy 2:06 PM

Yes, he would’ve liked to have seen more people there, but was very happy about the response and the warm feelings generated by those who were there.
by jthomas 2:07 PM

Hi again, More about moving T. J. opposite of Barron. I was thinking more into the future if Ayers doesn’t work out
by Pat M 2:07 PM

Again, I don’t think you necessarily want two undersized linebackers lining up _ meaning Barron and McDonald both lining up at linebacker at the same time.
by jthomas 2:08 PM

What we’re the deciding factors that led to the cards leaving after 1987?
by Corey 2:08 PM

I was covering Mizzou football and basketball at the time, so I wasn’t involved in the coverage. But it was all about the stadium, a football only stadium because the Big Red as they were called locally at the time had been sharing Busch Stadium with the baseball squad. The big difference between then and now as I recall is that St. Louis civic, business, and political leaders didn’t really have anything resembling a stadium plan. This time around, with the Rams, there was a stadium plan in place by Peacock & Blitz. A stadium plan that Houston owner Robert McNair, chairman of the NFL finance committee, said was “pretty close” to being a good plan in early December.
by jthomas 2:12 PM

jim used to be a rams fan. now I’m going for the titans what do u think their record will be.
by scott 2:12 PM

I think the Titans will be improved. It looks like they want to re-establish themselves as a power running team, hearkening back to the days of Eddie George. Dorial Green-Beckham needs to step up his game at wide receiver. But I think the AFC South will be an improved division overall this year after being a floor mat in recent years. I think Jax will be much improved. Houston bears watching with Osweiler. And the Colts should rebound with a healthy Andrew Luck.
by jthomas 2:14 PM

See another team that may have interest in Foles for a backup? Thanks
by Paul 2:18 PM

Unless there are some injury needs that crop up in the preseason/training camp, I can’t see anybody trading for him. So teams I think will wait to see if he gets released at the end of camp.
by jthomas 2:19 PM

With ESPN Nick Wagnor headed to the 49ers any chance you can take his spot for the Rams?
by Dwayne 2:19 PM

Nope. But best of luck to Nick, a good man and a good reporter.
by jthomas 2:20 PM

What if Nick Foles came into camp and set the field on fire?
by Dwayne 2:20 PM

Don’t think he’ll get that chance.
by jthomas 2:20 PM

do u think st.louis will ever get a team again
by scott 2:20 PM

Doesn’t seem likely in the short term. For one, I don’t think the current group of civic, business, and political leaders have any appetite for pursuing a team, not after they spent lots of time, effort, and money ($16 million) to keep the Rams here and felt like they got nothing resembling a fair shake in return from the league _ and certainly not Kroenke. I do wonder about the long-term viability of the Jaguars in Jacksonville. But that’s a ways down the road, if it materializes.
by jthomas 2:24 PM

Any chance Higgbee beats out Kendriks in camp?
by Dwayne 2:24 PM

Slim. . .and none.
by jthomas 2:24 PM

I recently watched a documentary on Netflix called “Sonicsgate” that discussed Seattle’s loss of its NBA team. Many similarities in this situation and to the loss of the Rams in STL. If the opportunity was presented to you, would you consider being the local journalist who is interviewed to provide background and details on the shady moves by Stan, Demoff, Grubman, owners, etc.? Know any good, local filmmakers who may want to create an ESPN “30 for 30?”
by Greyhound314 2:25 PM

I don’t know. If ESPN has no apparent interest in doing a 30-for-30 on the Greatest Show on Turf _ which I think would be a compelling story _ why would they have an interest in the Rams departure from St. Louis?
by jthomas 2:27 PM

Question for the big O.. As a HOF left tackle what does he see or not see in GRob that is causing him to get so many penalties and does he think GRob can overcome those issues?
by Players fan, not NFL fan 2:27 PM

I’ll pass it along.
by jthomas 2:28 PM

My 2 cents, I left the dome last Saturday with my family and grateful feelings towards the GSOT and Isaac. Truly enjoyed seeing many people I got to know over the years, looked at my old booth which is now empty and closed that chapter. I hope the players are not strangers to STL, but that ending was for us and it ended on our terms. Long live the St. Louis Rams.
by TK 2:29 PM

Thanks for sharing those thoughts.
by jthomas 2:29 PM

Fisher should have picked up Anquan Boldin while he could and cut Quick real quick?
by Dwayne 2:29 PM

I think Boldin would prefer playing for a contender, particularly at this stage of his career.
by jthomas 2:30 PM

Only reason I ask about cards is it makes me wonder if we had our act together they’d be here today. I think that’s where we dropped the ball.
by Corey 2:34 PM

I don’t think St. Louis had it’s act together when it came to the Cardinals. Keep in mind, we also fumbled as a city/region when it came to the expansion bid in the early 1990s.
by jthomas 2:35 PM

Any injury report from Saturday? I saw more than a few guys holding on to their hammys by the 3rd quarter.
by rational fan 2:35 PM

Jeff Wilkins suffered at the least a sprained ankle when he was thrown down on the sidelines by his former long snapper, Chris Massey. His left ankle was wrapped as he left the field Saturday, said it would truly mess up his golf game for a while. I’m sure there were plenty of aches and pains for others on Sunday and Monday as well.
by jthomas 2:37 PM

Jim, This is truly outrageous. Today I got an email from the LA Rams trying to sell Rams’ hats and jerseys. Are they nuts? Anyone else get such an email? Your thoughts.
by Snugglemoose 2:37 PM

Yeah, seems like a lot of people got the e-mail.
by jthomas 2:38 PM

I’m at a weird pace as far as what I would like to see the PD cover NFL-wise. As an organization, I hope the Rams continue to perform exactly as they did here for the last 12 years indefinitely. However, there were players who showed true compassion for STL fans (Heck, Quinn among others) that I will continue to root for and Gurley has a fan for life for immediately acknowledging STL fans when he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. However again, I’m looking forward to your broader-based coverage of the league.
by YZ 2:44 PM

We plan to make some training camp stops in the Midwest. And we’ll be in Arrowhead on Sept. 11 for the Chiefs’ season opener. Interesting question. Will most of the Rams fans watching here root for the team to lose, or to win? It could be a mixture.
by jthomas 2:45 PM

I’m rooting that the Rams lose for as long as Kroenke owns the team. That would be an interesting poll question. My gut is many in St. Louis feel the same way I do, but I’m open to the possibility some misguided souls will still root for them – like an addict that can’t kick a bad habit.
by JR 2:46 PM

Maybe that will be a poll question next week.
by jthomas 2:47 PM

Last year Jeff Fisher was on the sideline(forget the game) with the player huddled around him while he was trying to motivate them. I knew then that the Rams were missing players how were leaders. Now with C. Long and JL55 gone they are even more devoid of players who are leaders in my mind. How do you see stepping up now on O and D?
by Players fan, not NFL fan 2:48 PM

I think Ogletree has some leadership qualities that will come to the forefront this season at middle linebacker. William Hayes has always been a team leader. On offense, I’m thinking Cory Harkey, maybe Lance Kendricks.
by jthomas 2:49 PM

I would love to hear about Orlando’s memories of Coach Hannifan during games.
by Trip 2:49 PM

Good one. I’m writing it down.
by jthomas 2:50 PM

Do you see Mason eventually using up all of his chances and getting cut?
by steve r 2:50 PM

He’s getting ever closer to that point.
by jthomas 2:50 PM

I’d like to see the Rams references removed from the Post Dispatch. No sense giving free publicity to the team owner that didn’t want to stay in our town.
by MB 2:50 PM

Well, you’ll have to settle for fewer Rams references.
by jthomas 2:50 PM

Where their guys you were suprised to see didnt show for the Legends game?
by Jiffy Jeff 2:54 PM

Not really. I had contact with Faulk and London Fletcher, and knew they had commitments they couldn’t get out of. I was told Kevin Carter also had such a commitment. As for Steven Jackson, I was told he’s still contemplating playing this year, so he didn’t want to commit. And Long and Laurinaitis are reporting to camps this week and I’m sure didn’t want to pull a hammy or something in a flag football game. Fred Miller had agreed to play but didn’t show. Don’t know why. Tommy Polley was a surprise appearance, organizers didn’t know he was coming, but there he was. (He was the one _ the only one _ on the field without a legends jersey.)
by jthomas 2:58 PM

Hi Jim, Here is a question for Orlando Pace, ask is the Rams have a “ring of fame” once they get the new stadium in Inglewood built, would he be receptive to being there for the honor even though he never played in LA? As a Ram fan, I know he would surly deserve it as one of the greatest Rams of all time.
by RR 2:58 PM

I’ll ask. Thx.
by jthomas 2:58 PM

I pull for individual success of SOME of the players, especially after they leave the team via FA, but hope for the franchise to fail miserably. I’m not sure if that’s possible, but that’s what I feel. Make sense? I wonder if others feel that way.
by steve r 2:58 PM

Makes sense. I’m sure there are others that feel the same way.
by jthomas 2:59 PM

With no injuries involved can Reynolds beat out Saffold straight up?
by Dwayne 2:59 PM

Can’t see it. Reynolds is tough and smart. But Saffold is strong and athletic.
by jthomas 2:59 PM

Do you see enough improvement in the Rams’ o-line?
by damien 3:00 PM

A healthy Saffold means instant improvement right off the bat. A healthy Jamon Brown and another year for Rob Havenstein should only help. Greg Robinson of course is a key.
by jthomas 3:06 PM

I’ll be rooting for certain ex-StL Rams (Long, Laurinitis, Gurley). But, I hope the Rams go 0 for eternity. I also hope they continue to have the worst HC and GM in the business. Also, you may still have to deal with him, so you probably can’t answer honestly…but, did you always know Demoff was a little weasel?
by rp 3:07 PM

Honestly, Kevin and I always had a good relationship. Sure we had some ups and downs. But I can only think of one time he misled me. I get the ill-will. It’s totally understood. And I’m sure there are some things Kevin regrets doing or saying and would have done differently.
by jthomas 3:08 PM

Couldn’t help but think Of Bryan Burwell when I was at the Dome on Saturday. I used to have a press pass and even as a radio nobody, Mr Burwell was always very nice and always said hello when a lot of other guys wouldn’t even look us.
by Jiffy Jeff 3:08 PM

He was the best. I think of him often. And miss him dearly.
by jthomas 3:09 PM

not much of an o-line, Case as QB, no-one to catch a ball….how long before the Rams use up Gurley?
by Bigtuna 3:09 PM

That could be a concern given Gurley’s past injury history and the lack of anything resembling a proven passing game.
by jthomas 3:10 PM

Had the same thought about Burwell while at the game Saturday. He and Strauss are really missed.
by rp 3:10 PM

No doubt. I didn’t know Joe nearly as well as I knew Bryan _ in part because of his time spent as a Cardinals baseball beat writer. But I got to know Joe better once he became a columnist, and yes, I think about him a lot as well.
by jthomas 3:12 PM

So Kroenke wanted a fee from Shad Kahn to sell his 40%!to him?
by Tim C 3:12 PM

As I recall at the time, that was the case.
by jthomas 3:13 PM

I always get the impression that the national media thinks the Rams have moved back “where they belong”, hence there’s really no outrage on the move outside of St. Louis. Seems to me that the GSOT was undervalued nationally way back when too; there seemed to be a bias against St. Louis as the Rams’ home the whole time.
Also, was there any bias against the Rams because they were the only team owned by a woman (seen by some as ‘eccentric’)?
by kman 3:13 PM

I know some in the national media have expressed that sentiment to me, and if that’s the case, perhaps the Lakers should return to Minneapolis, the Clippers to San Diego, and the Dodgers to Brooklyn to square all accounts. And I guess the Rams by all rights should return to Cleveland _ they spent their first decade there after all. The Greatest Show Rams were considered a finesse team by some, and trust me, that description rankled Martz and the players at the time. But I think they got plenty of respect overall. In the case of Georgia, I think some of those feelings were present when it came to the league and some club owners _ she was eccentric. But I don’t recall that such feelings were prevalent among league owners however.
by jthomas 3:19 PM

Randy Kariker (sp?) said on the radio the other day that a close friend of Georgia’s told him Saturday that when she wasn’t doing well StanK promised her that he wouldn’t move the rams from STL when he took over the team. Have you ever heard anything about this before?
by steve r 3:20 PM

Sorry, haven’t heard that one.
by jthomas 3:20 PM

Gut feeling for Rams record this season?
by Adam 3:21 PM

OK, one more. I’ll make some kind of prediction at the end of training camp.
by jthomas 3:22 PM

Head Coach Jeff Fisher –– June 1, 2016

(Opening Remarks)
“We are the last team to start OTAs, and we started them yesterday. We did that for a reason and that is to get the rookies caught up over this period of time so they can compete out here on the field, at least physically and we did a lot of mental work. Yesterday, we started our OTAs with a team meeting and you go through the administrative stuff, and I talked to them about the three players that were not here in yesterday’s meeting and wouldn’t be there. One is (RB) Tre Mason who has been excused for personal reasons, we’re in contact with Tre. Second is (S) T.J. McDonald, and that’s also the case – he’s been excused for personal reasons and we’ve been in touch with T.J. And lastly it was (QB) Nick (Foles).

“I explained to the players, as it was correctly reported this morning, that he has not been here and participating in the offseason program since the draft. I’ve had conversations with Nick and we’re on the same page. We’re trying to work things out and that’s pretty much all I can say. These are voluntary. We have three quarterbacks on the field right now, it’s hard enough to get reps for all three of them. We’re in the process of sorting things out with Nick. It has nothing to do with him not wanting to come in and compete at all. He’s very, very competitive. We appreciate everything he did for us, and his leadership, his teammates miss him. But, I don’t have any more information other than we’re just trying to work things out.

“The big picture of the OTAs, we are going to have all of our offense in, all of our defense in for second time by the end of the OTAs, same thing with our special teams and then we’ll take a break. We have one more this week and then we have three the next couple weeks. With that being said, I’ll entertain your questions.”

(On when he says that he is on the same page with Foles, if that means that he’s telling him to stay away because the team may try and trade him)

“We talked again, as I said, and I think Nick has the feeling that if things stay the same, he’s probably not going to be on the roster. But beyond that, it was more of a mutual thing. It’s not that we said don’t come, it was just saying, ‘Hey Coach, I would just rather stay away until we get things figured out,’ and I said, ‘I’m fine with that.’

(On how disappointed he is that Foles isn’t participating in OTAs)

“I’m on the same page with Nick, so it has nothing to do with being disappointed. It has to do with the business side of our game right now.”

(On if he saw what he expected he would see on the field today)

“Yes, it’s a progression. We introduced more offense. Got some good things out of (QB) Case (Keenum), and good things out of (QB) Sean (Mannion), and some really good things out of (QB) Jared (Goff). Everybody is running around good. We have a time limit here, so we’re abiding by the time limit. We’re trying to practice as fast as we can, and at the same time, protect each other.”

(On how he gauges when to give more reps to a young quarterback like Goff and/or get him reps with the 2s and 1s)

“Our plan is to continue to increase the reps through the OTAs. By the time the OTAs are done, he’s going to have reps with the 1s. That’s how you develop a young quarterback is give him reps with the 1s. Now, we had a period out here, we call it a 4-on-3 period, where it’s passing only and there’s four defenders defending three interior receivers, and he was working against our starting defense and they made a couple plays and there’s no receivers outside to throw to and he’s never done that before – it was his first time in a 4-on-3 drill, so nothing to be alarmed about.”

(On if this week has a normal feeling to it with the team back on the field after the relocation)

“Yes, it was exciting to get back in the meeting. There was a little break for the vets last week. It was really exciting to get back in the meeting and start things yesterday.”

(On if Mason and McDonald will not participate in any of the OTAs)

“It is quite likely that they will miss the OTA sessions.”

(On if this relocation has been easier since he has gone through it once before and if it has been difficult for him to move back home)

“Well, there’s nothing difficult about me coming back home personally – that’s a really exciting opportunity. As far as the move is concerned, it’s different. It’s different than the first time around. As we’ve said, we’ve got tremendous help. Our support staff has done an incredible job considering that we had to come here and then set back up downtown for the draft. And now we have a couple weeks here and then we have to go to UC Irvine – we’re looking forward to that. But, we’ve got great partners out there helping us right now – that includes the University of Southern California, the Coliseum Commission and everybody.”

(On what his number one priority is during OTAs considering they have a limited time period)

“Well, it’s to get through the entire offensive playbook with all the players. We got through it the first time in Phase I and Phase II and now we’re re-installing again, and that’s really what everybody does. Then you come back and you install a third time in camp. As we move into next week and the following week we’ll be doing a lot of situation things – the two-minute and the four-minute and all those other things that come up – but right now we’re kind of in that base offense and defense and third-down phase. From a competitive standpoint, you have to be careful. The closer you get to the goal line the more competitive it gets and we don’t have pads. So we have to do our best to avoid contact and it’s been a good learning experience for the young guys learning how to practice without pads. If you’re familiar college football they put pads on in the spring practice. This is our equivalent of spring practice without pads.”

(On his message to young players developing into a leadership role, particularly with Jared Goff playing the quarterback position)

“It’s be yourself. He wouldn’t have had the success he had at Cal had he not had those qualities, so just be yourself. Come in and learn the offense, execute and things fall into place that way.”

(On CB E.J. Gaines’ status and if they’re being cautious with him)

“Yeah, there’s a few players that are coming off some things that occurred at the end of the season last year. Typically speaking, there’s always going to be a few offseason surgeries. We call them ‘tune-ups’ and things like that. You’ve got to make sure the guys are ready and able to compete. We have a lot of different practice categories. Most are ‘full,’ some are ‘limited,’ some are not permitted to practice right now. Our training staff does a great job keeping us informed and in turn we’re obviously trying to get everybody back on the field.”

(On where Gaines falls in the Rams’ practice category as it relates to injured players)

“You guys are going to hate this answer, but I’ll have an injury report for you the first week of the regular season (laughs).”

(On WR Stedman Bailey and how happy he is to have him around)

“It’s been great to have him. He’s been in the meetings, been helping out. We’ll have some more information here shortly I’m sure.”

(On what he’s expecting to see from WR Tavon Austin this season as a player and as a team leader)

“Tavon, he’s learning this offense because the offense has changed. So, his focus is just on that right now. This offense has been re-designed to make sure he gets touches of the football. As a result there’s a lot more for him to do. But we’re only in the second day, so Tavon will be fine. He’s doing a great job. He hasn’t missed a day. He’s going to have a big year this year.”

(On OL Greg Robinson and what he’s looking to see from him during OTAs)

“The entire offensive line has doubled in size here in the weight room. They’re all bigger and stronger and quicker, so that’s a good thing. Greg is throwing around a lot more weight. He has a much better feel for what we’re doing. He’s sitting at the front of the classroom. He wants to prove something and that’s a good thing for him.”

(On how Goff has progressed since he was first handed a playbook to now in terms of how quickly he’s been able to pick up on everything)

“He’s done a great job. There’s a lot involved and it takes time, but he’s way ahead of where he was even a week ago and that’s only going to get better as we move through the next couple of weeks.”

(On how he can measure Goff’s progression with the playbook and if he has any specific examples)

“Yes, it’s the time that he’s spent in the classroom with the coaching staff, with (Quarterbacks) Coach (Chris) Weinke, and then what’s translating over on the field. We give him more and more offense. As I said, he’s going to get more and more reps. There may be a day when he gets all the No. 1 reps before we’re done with camp. That certainly doesn’t mean to say that he’s won the job, but it means to say he’s developing in the offense and you want to give him that opportunity. It’s different when you’re under center and you’re working with the starting tight ends and the starting receivers as opposed to an undrafted receiver who doesn’t have the complete understanding of the offense and breaks a route off short and he ends up throwing an interception, and then you go, ‘Oh, it’s the quarterback’s fault.’ So, it’s a progression. That’s the best way to describe it.”

(On how pleased he is with Goff’s progression and comfort being under center compared to when he was in college)

“Yeah, he’s coming on. It’s not an issue. There was one issue today, but every quarterback occasionally has an issue. Again, you’ve got an offensive guard playing center so when you have an exchange issue it’s not always the quarterback, it’s a combination.”

(On how much it helps RB Todd Gurley physically and mentally to be participating in OTAs and a full offseason)

“Well, he’s not missed a day and he’s running extra after practice. He looked pretty good running a straight line a year ago at this time. He’s doing everything to the point where you almost say, ‘Let’s back down a little bit.’ He’s had an impressive offseason.”

—

RB Todd Gurley –– June 1, 2016

(On how it feels to be back out at practice)

“If feels good being back out here. Last year this time I wasn’t. Starting off pretty good, trying to keep it rolling.”

(On how much he thinks it helps him to be doing everything this time of the year compared to last year when he wasn’t able to because of his injury)

“Most definitely helped me out a lot more than not being able to do anything last year and to just to get back on the field and do football stuff. Being able to get the plays back and just being out here with my teammates so that’s always a good thing.”

(On coming in weighing less this year and if that was done by design)

“I don’t know what happened this offseason. I was just losing weight. It’s probably just having the first offseason not doing anything for about a month or two. I feel fine how I am. I’m not going to add weight.”

(On Head Coach Jeff Fisher’s remarks that he’s had an impressive offseason and what he thinks is the reason and what he’s doing physically different this year)

“It was just my first real offseason so being able to take some time off and being able to rest and then just getting back to work and working hard to just try to make sure I have a great year this year. I’m eating right, and making sure I’m taking care of my body and doing all the right lifts.”

(On if there was a renewed enthusiasm to finally return to football given the relocation)

“It was fine. Definitely went by fast. We’re just excited to be back and playing football right now. This is what we do. This is our job. We love being out here, being around our teammates. We have a great group of guys. We love each other and we have fun while we’re on the field and we compete.”

(On his impressions of QB Jared Goff thus far)

“I like him. He’s definitely a good quarterback. He’s going to be doing big things. I’m excited to see what else he does during OTAs and camp.”

(On what he likes that he’s seen from Goff)

“Just his composure. Real chill, laid back type of guy. He can sling it. He has a quick release. I’m not a quarterback guru (laughs), but that’s how I see it. He’s got a quick release. A lot of improvement. That’s why we’re in OTAs right now, so we can get better.”

(On if he feels like he needs to take more of a leadership role now that players like James Laurinaitis and Chris Long aren’t on the team)

“I just kind of do my game. I feel like sometimes I can be a natural leader more in terms of being in the weight room, working hard. Guys see that and they feed off of that. So, just basically doing what I’m doing not doing anything extra and making sure I’m holding myself accountable as well as my teammates.”

(On how he sees Goff balancing the need to take ownership of the team vs. getting acclimated with the veterans as a rookie quarterback)

“It just depends what kind of guy you are. You know, Goff he’s probably more of a laid-back kind of guy. Where my friend Jameis (Winston), he comes in and he’s like, ‘This is going to be my team.’ So, it just depends on what type of guy you are. You come in, work hard and eventually it’s going to be his team. So, it’s only a matter of time. No need to rush into it.”

(On QB Nick Foles not being at OTAs)

“We would definitely love to have Nick out here, but he made a decision. I hope he gets back sometime soon. I gave him a text a couple of weeks ago just to check up on him. Hopefully, he’ll be back, but I still love Nick.”

(On if there’s anything particular he wants to focus on this year)

“Definitely, routes and catching. I’ve got to get more catches this year, stay healthy and then run the ball. Get my line right and make sure we start off strong and finish strong. But most definitely I want to work on catching.”

(On having Rob Boras as the offensive coordinator)

“I love Coach Boras. He’s just so relaxed. He’s like, ‘Don’t let me tell you where to run. You just do what you do.’ He’s definitely a good coach. He’s got great concepts. Love the things he’s doing. Great communicator. He gets feedback of what I see on the field or what I actually like, so that’s always good for a coach to do to be able to work with the players. So, I’m definitely excited to have him.”

(On if he’s been able to talk to some of the alumni players regarding the traditions and history of LA Rams football)

“I haven’t talked too much of the older guys that have been on the LA Rams. I’ve hung around with ‘E.D.’ (Eric Dickerson) a couple of times, so I’ve been able to talk with him. It’s been fun. We’re definitely excited to be back. Happy to have you all here. We’ve got to get some wins for sure.”

(On how good the Carl’s Jr. Burger was)

“The burger was excellent. Go get the California Classic Burger from Carl’s Jr. There’s one right up the street, so I don’t want to hear any excuses (laughs).”

(On Running Backs Coach Skip Peete)

“I love Coach Peete. He’s a cool guy. He’s definitely going to tell you if you’re wrong or if you’re right, but he’s going to support you and he’s going to make sure that he coaches you well. He does a great job of coaching us, so I love his style.”

(On if he’s enjoying the transition to LA with regards to being out in the community and his recent endorsements)

“Yes. Like I said, this is my first offseason and I’m in Cali. We just moved here. I’m excited, back at OTAs, back doing football and enjoying a new city. So, it’s definitely been exciting for sure.”

==

Rams QB Jared Goff -– June 1, 2016

(On how the first two days of OTAs have been)

“Good. A lot of learning. Trying to catch up with the speed and learn as best as I can. I feel like every day I come out here and get a little bit better, a little bit better – learn a little bit more. It’s gone really well so far.”

(On if he has to remind himself not to get too worried about learning everything right away because it takes time to adjust to the professional level)

“Absolutely. I think right now, it’s my second OTA, my rookie year and mistakes aren’t the worst things in the world. I’m learning a lot of stuff. The guys are helping me out. (Quarterbacks) Coach (Chris) Weinke’s been great, (Offensive Coordinator) Coach (Rob) Boras has been great, and I’m getting a lot of support from those guys. It’s been a really good transition. I’m learning every day. Trying to get better at something every day and I have been.”

(On how far along he is with grasping with the playbook)

“I don’t know. I think I’m pretty far along. I’ve done a pretty good job with what they’ve given me so far. There’s obviously a lot left, but what they’ve put my way so far, I’ve picked it up pretty well.”

(On if he feels like the coaches are putting a lot on him so far)

“I wouldn’t know it any other way, I guess. This is the only NFL team I’ve ever been on. But, again, it’s not anything that seems overwhelming. I’m picking it up at a pretty good pace, I think, and I feel really good as far as how fast I pick it up. I’m able to apply most of it out here. Again there’s mistakes, but that happens because I’m learning. When there is a mistake, just learn from it and try not to let it happen again.”

(On if there is something that he is pleased with so far in terms of where he is at this point)

“Overall, just being able to functionally operate out there. Just be able to understand what they’re putting in my ear and then being able to spit it back out and then run the play and operate it. At base form, that’s kind of just what you want to do right now. I feel like so far, I’ve done a decent job of that.”

(On if he feels like he has been able to sort of put his head down and show his teammates what he’s about and if he is getting positive feedback from the veterans)

“I’m just continuing to try to fit in with these guys and mesh with them as best I can. A lot of the guys have been really welcoming, really supportive. There have been zero negative things to say about anybody on the team. It’s all been very positive, very supportive, and very helpful. Even with (QB) Case (Keenum) and (QB) Sean (Mannion) – they’ve been very helpful. It’s been a great experience so far.”

(On his goal during OTAs)

“Learn as much as I can and get as comfortable as I can, as quickly as I can. My first two practices, I’ve just tried to pick it up as best I can and try to just functionally be able to do it out there. Like I’ve said a few times now, there’s going to be mistakes, but at the same time – you can’t be perfect. You try to be, but as a rookie in my second OTA, I’m trying to do it…there’s a lot of thinking going on, so you can’t be as perfect as you want. But, so far, I think I’ve done a decent job.”

(On if his rookie year reminds him on his previous transitions from high school to college)

“Yes, it reminds me of when it was my first year on varsity, my first year in college. It’s all a transition every time. I was able to make those transitions pretty well, so we’ll see.”

(On what is the biggest thing that he has to overcome at this point)

“Man, it’s all of it – just learning. Every time I have a play, try to operate it as best as I can. If I make a mistake, learn from it. What the reason for the mistake is, can change every play, so I don’t know exactly what it is. There’s going to be mistakes in my second practice in the NFL, but so far I think I’ve picked up what they’ve given me pretty well and been able to regurgitate it and perform decently.”

(On the how the absence of QB Nick Foles has affected him and how they have told him to deal with it)

“I don’t know anything about that. That’s between (Head) Coach (Jeff Fisher) and Nick. They’re dealing with that.”

(On how much his friends and family back home are messing with him for being an LA Ram)

“It’s been interesting trying to do that transition, especially publicly. I’m obviously born and raised in the Bay and am making the transition down here and making the transition to the fan bases down here and politicking it a little bit, doing the best I can.”

(On if he is a Golden State Warriors fan)

“I am a Warriors fan. I have been forever. Plan to have a little bit of a dual fan-ship with the (Los Angeles) Lakers as well.”

(On if his dual fan-ship will be with the Los Angeles Clippers as well)

“Maybe them too. I like all of the teams down here.”

(On how nice it is to be back to football)

“It’s awesome. I think yesterday it kind of hit me like finally, after I get my first play in, my first completion, it’s alright, we’re back to playing football, back to doing what I’ve done for my whole life and hopefully what I can do for a career for a long time. There’s so much in that pre-draft process that’s non-transferable to actually playing, so it’s nice to get back out on the field and get to see my new teammates and get to form relationships is kind of something I like.”

(On if he has targeted something as his first purchase after he signs his contract)

“No, I have not. Don’t know yet. I’ll let you know when I do.”

Sources: D’Brickashaw Ferguson retiring at age 32

http://www.theredzone.org/BlogDescription/tabid/61/EntryId/55831/Sources–D-Brickashaw-Ferguson-retiring-at-age-32/Default.aspx

New York Jets left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, a former Pro Bowl player known for his remarkable durability, is retiring Friday at the age of 32, league sources told Rich Cimini of ESPN New York.

Ferguson, the fourth overall pick in 2006, has no known injury issues. Not only did he play every game in 10 seasons — 167 consecutive starts, including playoffs — but he also never missed a practice and never appeared on an injury report.

In fact, Ferguson missed only one offensive snap in 10 years, and that was a trick play when the entire offensive line was removed.

Ferguson couldn’t be reached for comment, but sources say he has decided to retire because he no longer feels he can play up to his usual standard.

Jim Thomas ‏@jthom1
Gurley looking iffy for San Francisco

===

Todd Gurley sits again as Rams add running back to roster

Nick Wagoner
ESPN Staff Writer

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/25486/todd-gurley-sits-again-as-rams-add-running-back-to-roster

St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley did not practice for the second consecutive day Thursday as he continues dealing with a foot injury.

Gurley came up limping late in last week’s 23-17 win against the Seattle Seahawks and did not practice on Wednesday, either. While his status for Sunday’s game against San Francisco is up in the air, the Rams added some insurance at running back on Thursday.

With Gurley ailing, the Rams promoted running back Malcolm Brown from the practice squad to the active roster. To make room for Brown, the Rams placed defensive tackles Nick Fairley (concussion) and Doug Worthington (thigh) on injured reserve. Brown took one of those roster spots with defensive back Troy Hill coming over via waivers from New England.

It would stand to reason that the Rams might not want to push Gurley and potentially risk further injury in a meaningless game unless he is feeling much better on Sunday. Promoting Brown would lend credence to that idea.

The Rams also “officially” added linebacker Alec Ogletree as returning to practice though coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday that it’s “very unlikely” Ogletree will be activated from injured reserve/designated to return and play on Sunday.

Here’s Thursday’s entire injury report:

Did not participate — RB Todd Gurley (foot), CB Eric Patterson (ankle).

Limited participation — LB/S Mark Barron (concussion), OL Andrew Donnal (knee).

Full participation — DT Michael Brockers (thigh), DL Ethan Westbrooks (concussion).

*Fairley and Worthington did not participate and were placed on the injured reserve list.

Practice Report 12/30: Offense Improving with Boras, Keenum

By Myles Simmons

http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-practicereport/Practice-Report-1230-Offense-Improving-with-Boras-Keenum/c5fd0504-88d1-4775-9e10-27ee1066220f

NAPA, Calif. — With the team staying on the West Coast to eliminate a few hours of travel, the Rams got back on the practice field Wednesday afternoon in preparation for the 49ers. Coming off Sunday’s victory, spirits have been up as the team looks to finish the season at .500.

“This has been really good,” head coach Jeff Fisher said of practicing in Napa, Calif. “We’ve cut way back on the travel time and we’ve got great accommodations. Meeting spaces are good, game plan is in. We had a really good Wednesday.”

Rob Boras, now entering his fourth game as the offensive playcaller, likened the experience to preparing for a college bowl game.

“It’s great being here. The guys have bought into it,” Boras said. “We’ve kind of talked about it as our bowl trip, and the guys are all in their sweats just like when you’re in college going to bowl games.

“The energy and enthusiasm has been great in the meetings,” Boras continued, “and then for them to come out here and have a practice like they did, I thought, was really good.”

Boras’ unit has performed well enough to win over the past three weeks, particularly with clean performances. The Rams have not turned the ball over in their last two games. Plus, St. Louis had no pre-snap penalties or sacks against Seattle, illustrating strong growth with the offensive line.

“As an assistant coach, I always want to credit the guys. And

Boudreau and [assistant OL coach Andy] Dickerson have done a great job,” Boras said. “To go in that environment, that was kind of our focus as an entire offensive staff, was just playing with poise in the noise. And the guys did it.”

“Actually, I didn’t get touched that much,” quarterback Case Keenum said. “It’s incredible. You’ve got to hand it to those guys. That’s a tough environment to play, tough environment to hear. For those tackles to be able to sit in there and not [false start], and still be able to block those guys coming around the edge, you’ve got to give those guys a ton of credit. It was an outstanding performance from them. And they’re coming together really well.”

Since re-entering the starting lineup, Keenum has completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 461 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

“I think just the process that he’s going through now, it’s completions,” Boras said. “He’s a natural leader. Guys like playing for him. He’s got a grasp of what we’re trying to do. I think just continuing along that same path — it’s not going to change. I don’t see the formula for us changing a whole lot.”

“When we decided to go with Case, which was the Baltimore game, we were a play away in regulation from winning that game,” Fisher said. “He’s technically 3-1 as a starter — very close to being 4-0 as a starter. I’d say he’s done a really good job for us.”

Keenum is up to 7.44 yards per attempt in the three-game winning streak as well. With his recent performances, it’s clear the timing has been strong between he and his wideouts.

“During preseason, you kind of rep with everybody,” Keenum said. “I’ve thrown to these guys a bunch. But it’s coming together. We’re getting used to the plays Rob likes to call, and kind of getting where everybody’s on the same page with that. And just executing.”

Keenum and Kenny Britt have shown a strong rapport on deep balls in particular over the past two games. On Sunday, Keenum threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to the wideout, which Britt brought in with a dive.

“It’s easy to build a rapport with a guy who makes plays, and he’s made some big plays the last few weeks,” Keenum said. “It’s been a lot of fun to throw to guys who get open. You tend to look their way a little bit more. And he’s been running great routes and getting open. I think it’s just happened, it’s been on the right play at the right time, in the right coverage. He’s taken advantage of it.”

These four games represent an audition of sorts for Keenum, not just for the Rams, but also for the 32 teams around the league. Even so, Keenum says that’s the way it is for not just him, but everyone who plays.

“Anytime the lights come on, or anytime we step on the field between the white lines and the film’s on, that film goes around to everybody,” Keenum said. “And it’s not just the TV copy — they see everything from a lot of different views. So in the NFL, that’s what your resume is — what you put on tape.”

The same situation could possibly be said about Boras. Since assuming the duties of offensive coordinator a few weeks ago, Boras said he hasn’t necessarily received notification as to whether or not the role will be permanent. And he’s OK with that.

“I’m a tight ends coach who’s getting to call some plays right now,” Boras said. “We can only control what we can control. Right now, this is what coach [Fisher] has asked us to do, and we’re doing it, and we’re having fun doing it. Whatever happens, happens.”

“Right now, he’s running the offense and he’s 3-0 since he took it over,” Fisher said, adding he’s staying focused on the present, too. “It’s a good thing.”

OGLETREE RETURNS TO THE FIELD

No. 52 was a welcome sight on the practice field Wednesday afternoon, as linebacker Alec Ogletree did some work on the side as he progresses in his rehab from a lower-leg fracture.

“It’s good to get him back on the grass,” Fisher said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and try to get him involved in more than just walk-thru stuff. Maybe some scout-team stuff.”

Ogletree was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, though the team figured it wasn’t necessarily likely the linebacker would play once again in 2015. Fisher confirmed that train of thought on Wednesday.

“From a timing standpoint, he’s ready to start doing things on the grass,” Fisher said. “He’s been straight-line running for a week or so, and we wanted to introduce some change-of-direction him. So no better place to introduce change of direction than on the field with his teammates.”

INJURY REPORT

The Rams listed eight players on Wednesday’s injury report.

For the three players in the concussion protocol, defensive tackle Nick Fairley and safety Mark Barron did not practice. But defensive end Ethan Westbrooks did participate on a limited basis.

“[Westbrooks] was limited today, which was good,” Fisher said. “Overall, I would think the concussion issues which we had should be behind us before the weekend.”

Todd Gurley sat out Wednesday’s session with a foot injury, for which Fisher said the running back was receiving treatment during practice. Defensive tackle Doug Worthington (thigh) also did not participate.

Defensive tackle Michael Brockers (thigh), cornerback Eric Patterson (ankle), and offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (knee) were all limited in Wednesday’s session.

Rams’ Robert Quinn, T.J. McDonald working back after surgeries

Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/25186/rams-robert-quinn-t-j-mcdonald-working-back-from-surgeries

EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams defensive end Robert Quinn (back) and safety T.J. McDonald (shoulder) recently had surgery, according to coach Jeff Fisher.

Fisher said Wednesday that Quinn and McDonald have had the procedures done on the injuries that cost them the rest of their 2015 seasons and are beginning the process of rehabbing.

“Their procedures are both done,” Fisher said. “They’re doing well. Rob had immediate relief, which was great, which we expected. T.J.’s shoulder was not in good shape, to say the least. But he’s got a new shoulder. T.J. has been through a lot when you talk about the offseason injury and the foot injury and everything and the shoulder. He’s been through a lot. He should be good to go. From a timing standpoint, we needed to do it just so we can get them in the offseason program.”

Quinn and McDonald were placed on injured reserve in recent weeks, ending their season, but Fisher said that both players should be back in time to participate in the early portions of the offseason program.

As for players still on the roster, the Rams’ injury report was a bit smaller on Wednesday. Here’s a look:

Did not participate: OL Andrew Donnal (knee), CB Eric Patterson (ankle).

Limited participation: CB Lamarcus Joyner (back), WR Bradley Marquez (knee).

Anybody know exactly what kind of back surgery
Quinn is having?

Remember Kevin Carter, people.

Best player on the team
having back surgery. Not good.

w
v
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Ram notebook: DE Quinn, S McDonald are out for rest of season
By Joe Lyons

[www.stltoday.com]

The Rams’ injury situation seems to get bleaker by the day.

Following Wednesday’s practice at Rams Park, coach Jeff Fisher said that he’d soon have a couple of roster spots to fill.

That’s because two of the team’s better defenders — defensive end Robert Quinn (back) and strong safety T.J. McDonald (shoulder) — will be undergoing season-ending surgery.

“Unfortunately, we lost two really good defensive players for the remainder of the season,” Fisher said. “It’s just an unfortunate part of the game…. But we’ll move on. It’ll give (Eureka High’s) Maurice (Alexander) a chance to play (at safety), you’re going to get a chance to see Ethan (Westbrooks) play” at defensive end. “It gives us a chance to play some younger players and get them some more experience.”

Quinn, 25, earned trips to the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons and in 2013 set a franchise record for sacks, with 19. He started this season’s first seven games, sat a week and then had limited action in the team’s loss Nov. 15 to Chicago. He has been inactive for the last three games.

Even with all the time missed, Quinn is second on the team in sacks, with five.

“We’re moving forward with this,” Fisher said. “We’re being aggressive with this so that he can come back at 100 percent because … our concern is his future. … It’s a 10-12-week rehab and he’ll be back at 100 percent.’’

Fisher said Quinn’s inability to play has impacted the entire defense.

“Offenses are going to game-plan around his presence and they’re concerned about where he is and what he’s doing,” the coach said. And that, in turn, helps create opportunities for teammates.

The hard-hitting McDonald, 24, hurt a shoulder Sunday in the team’s 27-3 loss to Arizona. Playing through pain this season, he managed to make starts in 11 of 12 games. McDonald is third on the squad in tackles, with 80. He’s also recorded one sack, three pass defenses, a forced fumble and recovered a fumble.

“He’s been dealing with a few things, but the shoulder subluxed and we’ve got some things we’ve got to get fixed,” Fisher said. “He’ll come back 100 percent, but it’s not fair to ask him to play under the circumstances.”

Linebacker James Laurinaitis, a defensive co-captain along with Quinn, said the injuries simply present a new challenge.

“Rob’s been dealing with that for a while,’’ Laurinaitis said. “He really wanted to wait, hoping it’d come back, hoping it’d stop hurting enough at some point that he could make a go of it, but it just wasn’t getting any better.

“T.J.’s been playing hurt for a little bit, too. Heck, it’s been hard to even watch him walk sometimes, let alone to go out there and practice.”

Laurinaitis continued: “Whenever you have injuries, you have to battle through it. That’s not an excuse for us. We know we’re going to miss those guys and that we’re better with them, but you can’t drop your expectations. You still have to go out and do your job.”

MORE INJURY NEWS

Including Quinn and McDonald, the club had 12 players on its initial injury report of the week. Others missing from practice Wednesday were CB Janoris Jenkins (concussion), DE William Hayes (thigh), K Zach Hocker (thigh), OL Andrew Donnal (knee) and P Johnny Hekker (not injury related).

TE Lance Kendricks (concussion), CB Trumaine Johnson (thigh) and WR Wes Welker (calf) were limited, with Greg Zuerlein (right hip) and quarterback Case Keenum (concussion) full participants.

Zuerlein “kicked and he kicked well,” Fisher said. “We’re going to rest him (Thursday) and then we’ll kick him again on Friday and see where he’s at.

“Lance did well today. He exerted; he’s really ahead on the protocol. He did well; Janoris, on the other hand, did not. … It’s hard for me to predict, but we’re hoping Janoris comes around.’’

For Detroit, the host Rams’ foe Sunday, the following players were limited Wednesday: DE Ziggy Ansah (hamstring/elbow), WR Calvin Johnson (ankle), WR Lance Moore (ankle), T Michael Ola (knee), S Glover Quin (ankle), DT Crauan Reid (ankle) and C Travis Swanson (ankle). LB Travis Lewis (ankle) was a full practice participant.

• This topic was modified 10 years, 10 months ago by wv.

Defensive dip has fueled Rams’ decline

Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/after-strong-start-rams-defense-appears-to-be-wearing-down/article_05939265-9187-5892-baea-f95bb74a8c95.html

After a hard-fought overtime loss in Minnesota, the Rams nonetheless reached their apex defensively.

Despite that bitter 21-18 defeat, the Rams moved up to fifth in the NFL in total defense, looking every bit the snarling, physical unit envisioned when this season of great expectations began three months ago.

But then came Chicago, Baltimore, and Cincinnati. Three veteran, skilled quarterbacks in Jay Cutler, Joe Flacco, and Andy Dalton.

Minus Matt Forte and with a gimpy Alshon Jeffery, the Bears put 37 points and 397 yards on the Rams, including two touchdowns of 80 yards-plus.

Minus Steve Smith and with Justin Forsett out early with a broken arm, Baltimore put up 388 yards and wiped out a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, winning 16-13 on a walk-off field goal.

Then came Cincy with 376 yards in a 31-7 shellacking of the Rams. Granted, seven of those points came on an interception return for touchdown, but the Bengals were in control offensively.

“For whatever reason, we haven’t held up our end of the bargain against Chicago and last week (vs. Cincinnati),” defensive captain James Laurinaitis said. “And like I said after the Baltimore game, we had a lead going into the fourth quarter — we gotta win that.”

And now, with the NFL’s top-ranked offense — Arizona — coming to town for Sunday’s noon kickoff at Edward Jones Dome, the Rams have fallen to the middle of the pack at No. 13 in total defense.

They have tumbled all the way to 21st in rushing defense, and given up seven touchdown passes in the past three weeks. By way of comparison, the Rams have scored only eight TD passes all season.

“We’ve been just self-reflecting in that defensive room,” Laurinaitis said. “How can we play better? Everyone individually has to do it.

“What am I doing to contribute to these losses? Am I part of the problem? Am I part of the solution? You hope that you have enough guys in there that want to be part of the solution and fix it.”

Yes, it’s come to this. The one thing the Rams could count on all season — a stout defense — seems to be wilting over the second half of the 2015 season. The players and coaches might never admit it, but the defensive unit has been carrying the burden of a struggling offense nearly all season.

The defense has been on the field for an average of 4½ minutes more per game. And nearly 80 plays more over the course of the first 11 games. Cumulatively, it’s as if they’ve played an extra game compared to the offense. As the injuries pile up, the strain may have finally caught up with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ unit.

“We don’t ever, ever think that,” Williams said. “We really don’t. It doesn’t make a difference if we’ve gotta play 150 snaps; if we’ve gotta play 35 snaps. That doesn’t make any difference.

“When we’re mentally strong, we understand that our job is playing no matter what the situation is, no matter how many snaps we have to play. We have to keep on doing that. So we’ll never use that as an excuse at all. No, we’ve gotta play.”

The Rams were able to withstand the loss of linebacker and leading tackler Alec Ogletree two months ago when the team first played Arizona, thanks to the impressive conversion of Mark Barron from safety to weakside linebacker.

They weathered the storm when defensive end Chris Long suffered a fractured bone in a knee-to-knee collision with Green Bay’s David Bakhtiari and missed the next four games.

But the somewhat mysterious injury woes of defensive end Robert Quinn, a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the league’s elite pass rushers, simply might be too much to overcome.

While applauding the play of Eugene Sims in place of Quinn, coach Jeff Fisher said of Quinn, “We miss him. He’s a difference-maker. He’s one of those guys that can change the game at any point in the game.”

Over the past month and half, Quinn has been variously described as having knee, hip, and back injuries. He never was seen going down with an injury, and there was not an in-game injury announcement at any time. But he hasn’t been the same since the Green Bay game Oct. 11. He didn’t practice during the bye week, nor did several other Rams veterans. At the time, Fisher said some players were merely being rested but others were banged up. With no official injury report that week, there was no way to tell which was which.

During the Cleveland practice week coming out of the bye, Quinn first showed up on the injury report with a knee injury. His playing time against the Browns and San Francisco the following week was cut back to only 28 and 38 snaps respectively. Up to that point, he had been averaging more than 50 plays per game.

Sunday’s game will mark the fourth he has missed in the past five contests. He played a mere 14 defensive snaps against Chicago — his only appearance since the Nov. 1 San Francisco contest.

Fisher, who’s hit-and-miss when it comes to disclosing injury information, said a knee injury initially was Quinn’s issue but the main problem now is a back issue.

Quinn has declined to provide any injury details and the situation may be reaching the point at which the team simply shuts down Quinn for the season. His absence has made it tougher on the pass rush, and tougher on defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

“Any time you lose a playmaker it’s gonna be tough,” Donald said. “He’s a guy that’s a leader, and a guy that makes a lot of plays for us. So other guys have got to step up and continue to do what we’ve been doing.”

Easier said than done, however, when it comes to replacing a player of Quinn’s caliber.

The Rams’ pass rush started the season with a bang, registering six sacks in a 34-31 overtime upset against Seattle in the season opener. Seven games into the season, the Rams were among the league leaders with 26 sacks.

But over the past four games, coinciding with the first game Quinn missed (Minnesota), the Rams have only four sacks. They went sackless last week in Cincinnati, snapping a 22-game streak with at least one sack dating back to last season.

Without a premier rusher on the edge to worry about, opposing teams have been able to concentrate their blocking and pass protection schemes on Donald in the middle. That has made double-teams the order of the day on Donald, the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year in 2014.

“Yeah, I’m getting a little more attention here,” Donald said.

Recently the secondary suffered a blow with the absence of cornerback Trumaine Johnson because of what’s been described as a thigh injury. Johnson was enjoying his most consistent season when he suffered the injury on an interception return against Baltimore.

Teams have picked on his replacement, Marcus Roberson, to a degree, and Johnson is expected to miss the Arizona game as well.

Tough as it’s been, everyone in the NFL copes with injuries. With five games left to play, the Rams must figure out a way to get their mojo back on defense.

“We’ve gotta find a way to get everybody on the same page, just go out there and play good football,” Laurinaitis said. “Not try to do too much. I think a lot of our problems have come from guys trying to make a play, maybe do a little too much.”

And in the NFL, trying to do too much frequently achieves too little.

Would Colin Kaepernick fit with the Rams?

Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/24417/would-colin-kaepernick-fit-with-the-rams

EARTH CITY, Mo. — In looking at the St. Louis Rams’ current and future prospects at the quarterback position, there doesn’t appear to be any obvious solution.

Yes, the team has Nick Foles under contract and drafted rookie Sean Mannion in the third round this year, but Foles has proved he’s not the answer right now, and Mannion is a ways off from even being in position to be fairly judged.

All of which is to say that quarterback can and should be a position of priority for the Rams once again this offseason. As Foles’ case represents, teams are unlikely to let a legitimate starting quarterback leave either via trade of free agency. That leaves the NFL draft, which is also known for being something of a crapshoot, especially when it comes to quarterbacks.

Could the Rams’ ongoing search for a long-term answer at quarterback include the Niners’ Colin Kaepernick?

But ESPN’s Mike Sando and Matt Bowen offered a discussion Thursday on one quarterback who probably will be available and has had some success in his career. That would be the San Francisco 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick is an interesting player in that he has the type of talent that has allowed for success in the past, but as defenses caught up to him he began to regress. To get back to success, it seems Kaeparnick would need to go somewhere with a run-centric offense.

In the piece, Sando mentions four teams with run-oriented offenses that also could have the need for a quarterback: Denver, St. Louis, Philadelphia and Buffalo. Bowen followed up by saying the Rams and Houston Texans would be logical fits for Kaepernick based on their approaches.

So would Kaepernick be worth a look for the Rams? He actually could. The Rams seemed to have patterned themselves after the Seattle Seahawks, a team with a run-focused offensive scheme that leans heavily on its defense. But the Seahawks have Russell Wilson, a quarterback capable of running around and making plays when things break down. Wilson also gives Seattle zone-read elements to its offense that the Rams simply don’t have.

In that sense, Kaepernick might be worth a look, depending on the cost. Of course, if the Rams did pursue Kaepernick, they’d need to adjust the scheme to suit his skills. Making this topic even harder to project is the fact we don’t know how many teams will be changing coaches and philosophies this offseason. If the Rams are one of them, it might mean Kaepernick isn’t much of a fit.

But if nothing else, it’s something to keep an eye on as the Rams again search for a long-term solution at the game’s most important position.

ICYMI

A roundup of Thursday’s Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. … We began the morning with a look at the Rams’ return to NFC West play in which they’ve actually had some success. … The Ram-blings began with a look at the Rams’ chances of getting the No. 1 overall pick. … Where things stand with the Rams and relocation. … Mannion doesn’t look as if he’ll be getting a chance to start anytime soon. … We finished the day with a look at Thursday’s injury report.

Elsewhere:

The NFLPA says it believes the Rams should be punished for Case Keenum’s concussion incident.

The NFL Live crew makes its picks for Sunday’s Rams-Cardinals game.

A Los Angeles vote is expected next month.

At 101sports.com, Bernie Miklasz writes that both Stan Kroenke and the city of St. Louis are feeling the heat when it comes to relocation.

The Stats Doctor offers some numbers on how the Rams’ passing struggles are making the ground game less effective.

At stltoday.com, Ben Hochman wonders how St. Louis could possibly lose in the battle to keep the Rams.

Ben Frederickson ponders how Kroenke would react if he’s denied Los Angeles.

CB Trumaine Johnson (thigh), DE Robert Quinn (back), and K Greg Zuerlein (right hip) of Rams all doubtful for Arizona.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) December 4, 2015

Johnson, Quinn did not practice all week; Zuerlein did not kick Fri., as Fisher originally had hoped _ so it's Zach Hocker kicking again.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) December 4, 2015

G/T Andrew Donnal (knee) ruled out for 2nd straight week.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) December 4, 2015

But Rob Havenstein (calf) was full participation; looks like he'll return vs. Arizona at RT, after missing 3 of last 4 games.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) December 4, 2015

With Havenstein back, Garrett Reynolds probably will kick back inside to LG, where he has been helpful to LT Greg Robinson.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) December 4, 2015

Practice Report 12/2: Back in the Division

Myles Simmons

http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-practicereport/Practice-Report-122-Back-in-the-Division/ecb7ca71-8cb6-49f8-a7a6-611af3fbb18c

After head coach Jeff Fisher shifted the practice schedule for the week so that the players’ day off came Tuesday, the Rams got back on the field Wednesday in preparation for the Cardinals.

Sunday’s game represents the second matchup between St. Louis and Arizona this year — the first coming back on Oct. 4 in the desert. That was one of the Rams’ better victories of the season, as the club won 24-22.

“I think we just know them very well,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “We see them twice a year and know exactly what they’re going to run — we know what to do to stop it. It’s just a matter of who can execute, and play faster, and make the big plays. When we played them last time, we were able to do that and get a takeaway, and capitalize on those things.”

St. Louis has played its best football within the division this year, going 3-0 in the first round of NFC West matchups. Fisher said it’s disappointing that the club has not performed as well in the rest of its games, but there are reasons why the Rams have beaten Arizona, Seattle, and San Francisco.

“We built this team to compete in the division. There’s familiarity,” Fisher said. “I’m disappointed that we haven’t played good football outside the division, but we have good matchups. We understand the matchups. We understand the challenges.”

There isn’t any one particular factor for the discrepancy in the team’s play, either.

“I can’t put my finger on it. If I could, we’d try to get that fixed and get this thing rolling,” quarterback Nick Foles said. “I think it’s just the way it is some years. It gets difficult at times, but you just have to keep working.”

“Honestly, it just comes down to us not finishing games this year,” Hayes said, adding there have been games that have come down to a very slim margin. “I just think us as a collective group — the players — we’re not doing a good job of finishing plays and doing the things we need to do to win these football games.”

Still, given the familiarity between the teams, there are some advantageous factors that come from facing a division rival for the second time.

“I think both teams are going to know each other better,” defensive end Chris Long said. “You have that tape where you have the exact same personnel and the same schemes, and it just helps a lot. It feels like yesterday you played them, and here they are again. And that’s just the way it goes in the division.”

And because the Rams won the first contest, wide receiver Tavon Austin said he feels the Cardinals will be particularly fired up to come to St. Louis.

“I’m thinking they’ll come with a different type of attitude,” Austin said. “Right now they have a great record and we’re trying to knock them off. That’s how it always goes. We’re coming with a good attitude, too. Keep battling and hopefully we get the win.”

“They’re a talented team, so they’re going to be ready to go,” Foles said. “They’re going to look at that film and try to do things better. It’s going to be a hard-fought game.”

Fisher had a similar assessment for the way Arizona will likely come into the Edward Jones Dome.

“Unfortunately for them, we were one of the two games that they lost,” Fisher said. “I’m sure that there’s extra motivation there in addition to their playoff run and trying to secure a home field advantage and all those kinds of things. But, we’re going to play. We’re going to play hard.”

MAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

Long has been noted for his strong play on the field for years. But this year, his work off of it is being recognized, too, as he’s been named the Rams’ 2015 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is the only league honor recognizing a player for excellence on and off the field. Long has been especially remarkable this year for his work with Waterboys, the cornerstone initiative of the Chris Long Foundation, which raises funds to provide clean water wells in sub-Saharan Africa.

“[Football] has given me a platform, so if I don’t use it, I feel like I’m shorting myself and I’m shorting everybody else,” Long said Wednesday.

Hayes, who is one of Long’s closest friends on the team, said he’s happy his fellow defensive end’s extensive charity work is being recognized.

“It’s awesome,” Hayes said. “He’s got his Waterboys thing going, and he’s going 100 miles-an-hour with it. I’m proud of him. And it’s an honor to be named that because it just shows all the good work that you’re doing.”

“He works hard within the community, and it’s well deserved,” Hayes added.

To find out more about the award and how you can help Long win it, check out our full story in the link here.

INJURY UPDATE

At quarterback, Fisher said Case Keenum has not yet passed the concussion protocol and therefore is still limited in practice.

“He had good work Monday [and] yesterday. He was limited today. He feels good, but he’s still yet to be cleared,” Fisher said. “As you observed, Nick got most of the reps today and we’ll just kind of see how things go tomorrow.”

Though the situation is once again fluid at quarterback this week, Foles said the biggest difference between being named the starter and serving as the backup can be the practice reps.

“There is a little difference, but you prepare every week like you are the starter,” Foles said. “I know that’s a saying that a lot of us say, but you really try to do your best to prepare like you’re the starter. Got a lot of reps today and we’ll just see how the week goes.”

Elsewhere on the injury report, defensive end Robert Quinn (back), offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (knee), cornerback Trumaine Johnson (thigh), and kicker Greg Zurelein (right hip) all did not participate in the session. 


And there was good news on the injury front, as right tackle Rob Havenstein returned to practice as a full participant. Fisher said Monday Havenstein has a good chance to get back to the starting lineup this week.