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Segment 2 – Jim Thomas 3.11.15
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 9:09 AM
#WeenWednesday, think Tim likes saying “Ween Wednesday”, wondering if Doug can just call Jeff Fisher to get the #scoop, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch joins the show, Rams management not happy with Bradford refusing to take pay cut, do not even think that Bradford had meeting with new QB coach Chris Weinke, the return the Rams got in the transaction, what the Rams can start doing with the available cash, may not matter in a few years when the Rams could not even be here, not many playmakers for Bradford in Philly, not sure what Chip Kelly is exactly doing yet only the second day of free agency, Bradford certainly has some skills plus some appeal to certain coaches
AgamemnonGreg Cosell Breaks Down Bradford-Foles Trade on The Press Box
Brendan Marks posted on March 11, 2015 11:49NFL Films’ Greg Cosell has worked is one of the more knowledgeable men when it comes to the X’s and O’s of football.
Cosell, who’s a regular guest on The Hollywood Casino Press Box during the football season, joined Frank Cusumano on Tuesday to discuss the Rams’ and Eagles’ blockbuster trade involving Sam Bradford and Nick Foles.
We’ve transcribed the main talking points of the segment. You can listen to the whole thing below:
First thought when you heard about the trade:
“Quite honestly I couldn’t believe that the Eagles would make the deal, that was my first thought. Especially when I heard the Rams are also getting a second-round draft choice.”
What are the Rams getting with Foles?
“I think ultimately Foles is a complementary quarterback. I think he’s a quarterback that needs the run game, that needs the offense to work effectively. They’ll have a good defense. I think Foles can be a quality NFL starting quarterback. He throws the ball well. He’s a big kid. He has some movement within the pocket. The key with Nick Foles is you have to define things for him. The longer he stays in the pocket, the worse he is and his arm strength declines…because he tends to throw off balance. So things need to be defined for him so the ball comes out. But I think there’s talent there. Frank Cignetti is a detailed, disciplined guy and he’s going to make sure that Nick Foles is going to do things the right way. I think that’s important for Nick. I think he needs to be coached hard with the fundamentals because I think the talent level is pretty hard.”
On Foles’ accuracy and toughness:
“I think the accuracy is good. It obviously declines the more there’s people around him. I think that’s a critical thing that needs to be worked on. I don’t think there’s a problem with his toughness at all, he’s a tough kid. He took shots in Philly. Some of them were his own doing, because he was a little slow getting the ball out. But I don’t think there’s any issue at all with toughness.”
What do you think Chip Kelly was thinking with this move?
“The only thing you can think of is Pat Shurmur was in St. Louis…He’s the OC in Philly and has a lot to say about the offense. Sam Bradford was a No. 1 pick. He’s still viewed as a talented thrower. I think he’s a little gun shy in the pocket right now and that’s a problem in this league.”
More on Bradford:
“I don’t think his accuracy is what it was coming out of college. So I think you’re dealing with a QB that has a lot to prove. They’re starting to sell Sam Bradford jerseys on their website and that doesn’t strike me as something you would do if you were ready to flip him. Sam Bradford (ran Kelly’s) offense in college. He’s played in the speed tempo offense and has been very efficient running it.”
If you could have Sam Bradford or Nick Foles running your offense in 2015, who would it be?
“Nick Foles.”
Cosell also discussed the upcoming NFL draft and what he thinks the Rams should do. You can listen to the whole segment here:
AgamemnonGood point.
And all the guys that we tendered as RFAs this year(McLeod,,,) and next years RFAs etc.
AgamemnonA lot of players are going to be free agents in 2016. Hayes, Sims, all the QBs, Barron, and the 2012 draft class.
AgamemnonI think Blalock played LG for the Falcoons. I just thought this might be of interest, since it allows Saffold to go to RG. I am not that concerned about the 5th offensive lineman if he plays between two good players, think Jacob Bell. He did good when he had good guys next to him. On his own, he sucked. imo
AgamemnonThey could do both.
Draft one this year and next year.
After all, they used the RG3 bonus to stock a pretty good roster…they can afford to draft 2 qbs.
Anyway word I heard was that they really liked Cook and he would have been the target if he had come out this year.
…
I liked Cook. Maybe they can get him next year and Mannion this year.
AgamemnonI think if they draft a QB he won’t be the worst QB on the roster. So, they probably will, maybe in the 4th round? But next year they will have a much better chance of finding their QB of the future and they now have an extra #2 for 2016.
AgamemnonJohn E. Hoover: Sooners fans don’t have to cheer for Rams anymore
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Columnist | Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2015 12:00 am
NFL trades, retirements, and Revis Island back to NJFILE – In this Oct. 20, 2103, file photo, St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford looks to pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C. Two people familiar with the trade say the Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Rams have agreed to swap quarterbacks Nick Foles and Sam Bradford. Both people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday, March 10, 2015, because the teams are still working on the draft picks involved in the deal. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone, File)
Read John E. Hoover’s blog
There’s a lot Sooner Nation can get behind with Sam Bradford’s trade to Philadelphia.
First, they don’t have to root for a moribund franchise anymore just to pull for one of their school’s most popular players.
Clearly, St. Louis is going nowhere. The Rams haven’t even been to the playoffs since 2004, going on 11 years now. Bradford was a high school junior.
Since the Rams’ last playoff game, Bradford committed to the Sooners, signed with the Sooners, redshirted for the Sooners, started for the Sooners, won the Heisman Trophy for the Sooners, lost the national championship with the Sooners, injured his shoulder with the Sooners, became the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Rams, had a statue erected in OU’s Heisman Park for the Sooners, played in 49 games with the Rams and had two knee surgeries.
Second, Bradford has landed with a coach, Chip Kelly, who’s clearly on his way up in the profession, innovative, creative, nouveau competitive.
The Eagles finished 10-6 and out of the NFC playoff bracket last season, and that was with their quarterback situation in disarray. Nick Foles — he’s the one the Rams got in return for Bradford — started the season and the team began the year 6-2. But Foles was injured and Jets castoff Mark Sanchez couldn’t get the Eagles into the playoffs.
Kelly is banking on a healthy Bradford to get the franchise to the next level.
For Bradford, maybe being in a new environment will be good.
“I think he’s fine,” Sam’s dad, Kent Bradford, told the Tulsa World on Tuesday evening. “He just has to be upright. Healthy, you know?”
Kent Bradford said he was sitting in his office Tuesday and “helping Sam with some transportation issues” after news of the trade broke.
He said his son doesn’t have much in the way of trade details yet, but said Sam would be glad to be reunited with Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, with whom he worked in his rookie season back in 2010.
“They were close then,” Kent Bradford said. “That’s a plus, I think.”
Bradford worked with four offensive coordinators in his first four years before back-to-back knee injuries wrecked his 2013 and 2014 seasons.
After winning the Heisman in 2008 and helping OU set numerous NCAA records (99 touchdowns, 716 points) by passing for 4,720 yards and 50 touchdowns, Bradford was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft.
He signed a six-year, $78 million contract with the Rams, with $50 million guaranteed and incentives upward of $86 million. It was the largest rookie contract in NFL history, and, as part of the final year of the previous collective bargaining agreement that didn’t restrict rookie earnings, will be the largest for the foreseeable future.
Bradford was NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2010, setting NFL rookie records for completions and attempts and becoming just the third NFL quarterback (Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan were the others) to start all 16 games and throw for more than 3,000 yards.
Bradford’s best season was 2012, when the Rams finished 7-8-1. He completed 59.5 percent of his passes and threw for 3,702 yards, 21 TDs and 13 interceptions, an 82.6 passer rating.
But in 2013 and 2014, he played just seven games because of the knee injuries.
In Philadelphia, Bradford will get to work with a better offensive line than he had during his stay in St. Louis. That includes right tackle Lane Johnson, the former Sooner and No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 draft.
Rams brass has talked up Bradford this offseason, describing how much they liked his progress from the second knee injury and how he seems ready to lead the team.
But that praise, apparently, was merely trade bait.
“I kind of knew of some talks that were occurring,” Kent Bradford said. “I didn’t really know if it would occur or not. So no, I was not shocked by it.”
Kent and Martha Bradford have faithfully attended almost every one of Sam’s games over the last five years. Home games are easy: Sam has a stadium suite and it’s only a 90-minute flight from Oklahoma City to St. Louis.
Now, home games are on the East Coast.
“It’ll be longer flights is all,” Kent Bradford said. “It didn’t really matter where he ended up, I’m gonna go anyway. Just depends on where the game is that week.”
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/johnehoover/john-e-hoover-sooners-fans-don-t-have-to-cheer/article_ca40e03e-0d74-54c6-8f7d-edd572f7330b.html AgamemnonBradford/Foles Trade, Howard Balzer
Tuesday, March 10, 2015(Rambill writes:) Well, the Rams made some noise. Nick Foles is the newest Rams quarterback. Howard Balzer, original host of Prime Time, discusses the Foles-for-Bradford trade.
BALZER STARTS AT 22:22
AgamemnonI think it is as simple as this.
Kendricks is not only a good blocker, he’s a good receiver.
But last year they kept him in to pass block. This had to do with obvious issues up and down the OL. That means they did not use him as a receiver as much last year.
So “stats” tell you nothing about Kendricks and his value.
I think the Rams value him, I think Boras values him and pushed for him, and I think he will be worth the money. I don’t think any outsider would know or appreciate any of this.
So, you want to pay a TE like he is Scott Wells??????????? 😉
AgamemnonYeah if you just go by the stats, it was a bad deal.
But apparently the Rams think he is
more than a “mediocre” player.w
vYeah, the Rams have some TEs on the roster, so keeping Kendricks wasn’t about just needing a TE.
89 Cook, Jared 46 Harkey, Corey 47 Brad Smelley 88 Kendricks, Lance 48 J Cunningham 82 Alex Bayer CF14
But, it is some of the reason why I wouldn’t have paid him that much money. AgamemnonNick Foles described as “overjoyed he’s out of Philly”
Posted by Michael David Smith on March 11, 2015, 5:58 AM EDT
St. Louis Rams v Philadelphia Eagles Getty ImagesNick Foles is glad to be out of Philadelphia.
Foles, the former Eagles quarterback who was traded to the Rams for Sam Bradford and draft picks yesterday, apparently wanted to leave. Sal Paolantonio of ESPN said on 97.5 The Fanatic that a Foles relative described Foles as ecstatic to no longer be an Eagle.
“I just talked to a member of Nick Foles’s family. He is absolutely pumped, overjoyed he’s out of Philly,” Paolantonio said.
There had been no previous reports of Foles clashing with coach Chip Kelly, but it’s become clear recently that Kelly wasn’t satisfied with any of his top offensive skill position players. Foles, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin are all leaving the team this week.
In St. Louis, Foles is going to a place where he’s expected to be the starter. After enduring months of speculation that he’d be replaced in Philadelphia by Marcus Mariota, it’s easy to see why Foles would be happier as the man in St. Louis.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/11/nick-foles-described-as-overjoyed-hes-out-of-philly/ AgamemnonThe Rams-Eagles trade will take a long time to figure out. The deal no one saw coming was Sam Bradford and a fifth-round pick in 2015 for Nick Foles, a fourth-round pick in 2015 and a second-round pick in 2016. The Rams had multiple trade options for Bradford, who has had two straight seasons ended with ACL tears to his left knee, but by Monday were focused on Philadelphia because the Eagles had something no other involved team could trade—a potential starting quarterback like Foles.
“Chip came hard after Bradford,” an NFL insider said. “That’s why this happened.”
What I was told reliably Tuesday night: Philadelphia coach/power-czar Chip Kelly loves Bradford, feels Bradford’s the right guy to run his fast-paced offense, and this from an insider on the trade of the day: “Chip came hard after Bradford. That’s why this happened.” I know many of you think this is some sort of precursor to Kelly stockpiling weaponry to chase Marcus Mariota in the first round of the draft, but I don’t think so. There aren’t a lot of GMs in the league who would think Bradford is clearly better than Foles. So to trade up for Mariota, from where the Eagles sit at 20, would take first-round picks this year and next year, the second-round pick this year, Bradford, and probably more. That assumes the Titans or Jets actually want the risky Bradford and would sacrifice dealing down to number 20 this year in the process. I don’t see it. It’s far more likely that, as my source says, Kelly is smitten with Bradford, who ran a fast-paced offense at Oklahoma his final season even though he is more suited to a classic NFL scheme.
Offseason Primer
Trades, tags, salary caps, free agency. This can be a confusing time of year for NFL fans. Andrew Brandt breaks down the business of football in an easy-to-understand way.
FULL STORY
Two other points to be made here: I can tell you with certainty that this was not a trade made to punish Bradford for not re-doing his contract. Bradford was owed $13 million this year, and the Rams certainly wanted him to take a major pay cut to stay, after he gave them precious little in the past two seasons. I also can tell you that, even Bradford had agreed to slash his salary prior to the weekend, the Rams still would have made this trade. They like this trade. They like Foles’ potential, they like the fact they recouped a 2016 second-rounder, and through no fault of his own they’d lost faith in Bradford. No matter what they said, they just had no faith that Bradford could stay upright for 16 games.As for Kelly, he now is under heavy, heavy pressure. No one truly buys that Bradford is a franchise quarterback. He may be, but he certainly isn’t now. He’s missed 39 of 80 possible NFL starts due to injury, he’s a 58.6 percent passer, and his passer rating is a feeble 79.3. He’s been hurt in fluky ways, but life for an NFL player starts with showing up, and Bradford hasn’t been good at that. If he either doesn’t play well or goes down by Columbus Day with another injury, it’s going to be very tough for Kelly to take the broadsides that will come his way in a tough NFL city.
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/03/11/jameis-winston-roger-goodell-nfl-trades-free-agency-retirement/
AgamemnonNews
March 10, 2015 – 11:36 pm
http://gbnreport.com/
Eagles appear to have hitched hopes to oft-injured Rams’ QB … When the trade between Philadelphia and St. Louis for veteran QBs Sam Bradford and Nick Foles, the general assumption around the NFL was that the deal would only be a steppingstone for the Eagles to find a way to move in the 2015 draft in order to grab Oregon QB Marcus Mariota. Instead, when the terms of the deal were finally announced, it appears that Philadelphia GM/head coach Sam Bradford has made the very curious decision to go with the oft-injured Bradford as his QB next fall as the Eagles actually got very little else in the deal. Indeed, in addition to Foles, the Rams also received a fourth-round pick in 2015 and a second-round pick in 2016 from the Eagles, while Philadelphia got a fifth-round pick from St. Louis in 2015. The Eagles will also get a 4th-round pick in 2016 if Bradford plays less than 50% of the team’s offensive snaps this year or a #3 next year if he doesn’t play at all. Of course, it is still possible the Eagles try and move up to get Mariota using Bradford as part of the package, however, it is difficult to see the scenario in which Foles, who is cheaper and healthier than Bradford, would not have been the more attractive trade bait. AgamemnonSegment 4 – Jim Thomas 3-10-15
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 12:11 PMJT speculates that a straight up trade for Foles would take a 3rd round draft choice, but the Rams aren’t interest.
Agamemnonhttp://walterfootball.com/freeagentsigninggrades.php
Rams re-sign TE Lance Kendricks (4 years, $18.5 million): D Grade
Uhh… did the Rams look at the wrong stats when drawing up this deal for Lance Kendricks? Or did Kendricks drug the general manager and convince him to offer nearly $5 million per season? I suppose either scenario could have occurred.
If not, I don’t get it. Lance Kendricks is a mediocre player at best, and it’s not like he’s even the starting tight end. He can block well, but 4-year, $18.5 million contracts shouldn’t be handed out to blocking tight ends. The Rams won the Sam Bradford-Nick Foles trade by a long shot – the analysis is below – but they screwed up with this deal.
I think the Rams overpaid for Kendicks, but he has a better chance of performing to his contract than Cook does. imo
Agamemnonhttp://walterfootball.com/freeagentsigninggrades.php
Eagles acquire QB Sam Bradford, 2015 5th-round pick, 2016 3rd/4th-round pick from Rams for QB Nick Foles, 2015 4th-round pick, 2016 2nd-round pick
Apparently, some NFL teams didn’t get the memo that this was the beginning of free agency. The Rams and Eagles are among those that believe that this is the trade deadline, apparently.The Rams are easier to analyze. They’ve shed Sam Bradford’s awful contract and obtained Nick Foles in return. They even improved their positioning in the 2015 and 2016 NFL Drafts on top of it to sweeten the deal. Bradford has not been able to stay healthy at all, and while Nick Foles is somewhat of a limited quarterback, he’s more reliable in terms of staying on the field. He has also posted better numbers than Bradford thus far, though, to be fair, he has enjoyed better weapons at his disposal. He’ll have more trouble being effective in St. Louis, though the Rams will be able to move on from him much easier than they could have from Bradford, otherwise.
As for the Eagles, this move is puzzling, to say the least. It was initially reported that the Eagles and Rams would swap first-round picks, which made sense because it gave Philadelphia ammunition to move up for Marcus Mariota. However, the first-round swap wasn’t even close; Philadelphia actually worsened its draft position this and next April in this deal. Making matters worse, it basically guarantees that Bradford will be the starter in Philadelphia this upcoming season.
With that in mind, Philadelphia deserves an “F” grade (Duck Kielbasa?) for this trade. Bradford is highly overpaid and extremely injury-prone, and he doesn’t fit Chip Kelly’s offense any better than Foles did. Bradford will be hurt by the middle of October, meaning Sanchez will have to start again. Perhaps that’s why Kelly overpaid Sanchez.
My condolences to all Philadelphia fans. I’ve gotten many frustrated texts this evening, and I can understand why. One such Eagles’ fan, my friend Body Burner, texted me, “Is Chip Kelly playing Madden?” I replied: “No, because the Madden computer would’ve rejected this trade.”
Grade for Rams – A
Grade for Eagles – FRams acquire QB Case Keenum from Texans for 2016 7th-round pick
The Texans were going to cut Case Keenum after re-signing Ryan Mallett and acquiring Brian Hoyer, so getting anything for him, even a seventh-round pick in 2016, is a plus. The Rams, meanwhile, needed a third quarterback behind Nick Foles and Austin Davis. Keenum could eventually evolve as the direct backup behind Foles or another quarterback when/if Davis moves on. For a seventh-round pick in 2016, that’s not a bad deal.Grade for Rams – B
Grade for Texans – B+ Agamemnoni just want to say that foles has huge hands.
1 for nick.
Just how big are they?
AgamemnonHow we doing today? Pretty quiet out here so far.
by jthomas 1:08 PMNothing yet on Pead. I’m a little surprised he’s still here as well. As for Foles, as was the case last January, there’s nothing to the Foles rumors. That’s what I was told yesterday by someone in the organization.
by jthomas 1:15 PMAs I mentioned earlier, I’ve been told by someone I trust at Rams Parks that there’s nothing to the Foles stuff.
by jthomas 2:28 PMJT must have been as shocked as everyone else. 😉
AgamemnonI did read that the NFL might have some issues with the language of the deal. But that is usually no problem, more of technical thing, I think. It seems clear, I think, that the Rams and the Eagles deal is just between them. The deal with the Jets is probably that Kelly doesn’t make the deal unless he can do something with the Jets. Evidently a lot of teams were interested in Bradford. I only mentioned the Jets cause I imagine that at some time they did talk to the Rams. Maybe the Rams did best by going through Philly? I also read that this deal started a couple weeks ago. Maybe JT will eventually shed some light on it?
Agamemnonlaram
It’s the J-E-T-S!!!!….
March 10, 2015 06:55PM Registered: 5 years ago
Posts: 14,113
Status: HOF Inductee Donator:
All of my friends/sources in Philly are saying that the Eagles have a deal with the Jets who covet Sam Bradford.
http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,557164
If this is true, maybe it was a three team trade? AgamemnonWell, what if they can sign TWO solid
Oline free agents. Wiznewskovitz or whoever at Center,
and then a solid Guard.IF, they can pull ‘that’ off — then they
can take one of the great WRs at the ten spot,
and ‘still’ draft another OLineman in the 2nd round.w
vWe still don’t have a QB solution past this year. It all depends on how the draft falls. Snead drafts players not positions, he said. Fisher only drafts veterns. 😉
We have the money to overpay in free agency, whether that is a good thing remains to be seen. Getting a 4th rounder instead of a 5th might be a big deal.
AgamemnonWe now have more money and more draft choices. We aren’t making an all or nothing gamble on the QB. So, are we going to spend the money wisely and draft wisely? But, all in all, I consider today a plus for the Rams.
AgamemnonI would never have guessed that. I can only think Bradford pissed the Rams off about not changing his salary. Or maybe, Fisher is the ultimate BS champion. 😉
AgamemnonPossible replacement for Scott Wells? Rams have touched base with C Steve Wisniewski, the free agent from Oakland.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) March 9, 2015
But Rams still have Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney on roster at center.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) March 9, 2015
AgamemnonPrint and Go Back ESPN.com: NFL [Print without images]
Monday, March 9, 2015
Rams cut Jake Long, Scott Wells
By Nick Wagoner
ESPN.comST. LOUIS — The Rams significantly altered the outlook for their 2015 salary cap and their offensive line Monday afternoon as they informed tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells of their release.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the moves save the Rams $12 million against the cap before free agency begins Tuesday.
“Jake and Scott brought experience and professionalism to our program, and we appreciate their commitment and hard work,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “Both of them overcame injury difficulties and provided leadership for our younger players. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for both of them.”
The Rams signed Long to a four-year deal before the 2013 season, but he lasted only two seasons in St. Louis largely because of a pair of serious right-knee injuries. His release accounts for $8 million in savings this year.
Long tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Week 16 of the 2013 season against Tampa Bay and then did it again in Week 8 of the 2014 season against Kansas City. Those injuries limited Long, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, to 22 games in two seasons with the Rams.
Financially speaking, the Rams had to make a decision on Long’s future by March 14, when $4 million of his 2015 salary would have become guaranteed.
At various times this offseason, Fisher and general manager Les Snead have floated the possibility of Long playing a different position. Fisher has already committed to Greg Robinson, last year’s No. 2 overall pick, remaining at left tackle.
Releasing Wells saves the Rams $4 million this year. He originally signed a four-year, $24 million deal with the Rams in 2012. That contract had since been renegotiated and reduced; Wells appeared in 35 games over the past three seasons.
Injuries cost Wells nine games in 2012 and four in 2013, but he played through an elbow injury to appear in all 16 games last year. Had Wells remained on the roster through Thursday, the Rams would have owed him a $1 million roster bonus.
With Wells and Long subtracted and Joe Barksdale and Davin Joseph headed for free agency, the Rams could have as many as three new starters on their offensive line in 2015.
http://espn.go.com/espn/print?id=12451139&type=story
AgamemnonAlso, it's possible Rams could revisit things with Jake Long as his rehab comes along. Was never a chance he'd be back at that cap number.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) March 9, 2015
Agamemnon
