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2 shutouts and we have everyone back on defense next year except, Alex Carrington, who was a healthy inactive.
AgamemnonTavon Austin with 203 all-purpose yards today: 46 rushing, 14 receiving, 143 on punt returns.
— Bernie Miklasz (@miklasz) December 7, 2014
AgamemnonFisher sounds unconcerned with Zuerlein right now. QB Shaun Hill said field conditions were worse than was visible. Tall grass, soft surface
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 7, 2014
AgamemnonFisher w/a little sense of humor. He sent Jenkins, Brockers, Stacy, Bailey, Robinson, Ogletree out for pregame coin toss at FedEx.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) December 7, 2014
What's the meaning of all that? All six were acquired as result of the RGIII trade.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) December 7, 2014
Agamemnonhttp://colinwilliamweaver.com/2014/02/12/espm-presents-the-best-worst-nfl-punter-contracts/
ESPM Presents: The Best (& Worst!) NFL Punter Contracts
Using the same method as my other posts about various good and bad NFL contracts, these are the best, best-paid, worst, worst-paid, and–most importantly–most over and underpaid punters based on their average annual salary and their play in the 2013 season.
A player’s contract quality is determined by the number of standard deviations their performance grade is above/below the average at their position, minus the number of standard deviations their average annual salary is above/below the average at their position. Player performance grades come from Pro Football Focus; salary details come from Spotrac.com.
Teams presumably pay players based not only on their on-field ability, but on their skill at attracting fans and sponsorships, their locker room mentality, and other intangibles. But then again, presumably not many fans watch an NFL game to see a punter.
These are the results. In particular, note where Johnny Hekker, an undrafted free agent signed by the Rams in 2012, pops up throughout the various measures.
The Best 5 Punters of the 2013 NFL Season (PFF Grade in Parentheses)1. Shane Lechler, HOU (40.9)
2. Johnny Hekker, STL (36.1)
3. Brad Nortman, CAR (23.5)
4. Britton Colquitt, DEN (16.2)
5. Chris Jones, DAL (15.2)The Worst 5 Punters of the 2013 NFL Season
21. Ryan Quigley, NYJ (1.6)
22. Spencer Lanning, CLE (-1.8)
23. Marquette King, OAK (-8.3)
24. Jeff Locke, MIN (-10.6)
25. Adam Podlesh, CHI (-10.8)The 5 Highest Average Punter Salaries of the 2013 NFL Season (millions of $)
1. Britton Colquitt, DEN ($3.892 million)
2. Dustin Colquitt, KC ($3.75m)
3. Mike Scifres, SD ($3.625m)
4. Andy Lee, SF ($3.4m)
5. Brandon Fields, MIA ($2.895m)The 5 Lowest Average Salaries of the 2013 NFL Season
21. Ryan Quigley, NYJ & Ryan Allen, NE ($0.495m)
22. Johnny Hekker, STL ($0.483m)
23. Marquette King, OAK ($0.48m)
24. Chris Jones, DAL ($0.465m)
25. Spencer Lanning, CLE ($0.45m)The 5 Best Kicker Contracts of the 2013 NFL Season (CQ in parentheses)
1. Johnny Hekker, STL (3.24)
2. Shane Lechler, HOU (2.48)
3. Brad Nortman, CAR (2.12)
4. Chris Jones, DAL (1.48)
5. Ryan Allen, NE (0.85)The 5 Worst Kicker Contracts of the 2013 NFL Season
21. Andy Lee, SF (-1.07)
22. Mike Scifres, SD (-1.26)
23. Britton Colquitt, DEN (-1.39)
24. Dustin Colquitt, KC (-1.79)
25. Adam Podlesh, CHI (-2.06) AgamemnonHighPlainsDrifter wrote:
“At any rate, what is the ‘point’ of telling Demoff
or Fisher they are gonna give a salute to the troops,
or pray, or give the hands up gesture ? What is
the point of informing the boss about that?
I mean, i know they can if they want to, but
why should they feel ‘obligated’ to ?”I guess the “point” would be simply a matter of courtesy. I don’t believe anyone said that the players had any obligation to inform team of their intentions. I do, however, feel that it would have been a show of courtesy and respect for the organization from which you draw your millions of dollars to give them a heads up. We’re talking about a two way street here. The team has had the players’ backs since the event. At least publicly. Would it be too much too expect that the players might give that same consideration? And, for that matter, their actions could prove to have repercussions for their teammates as well. Teammates that had no part of their actions or even knew of it. Would it be too much to suggest that the five players simply take into consideration what consequences their actions could have on their employers or their teammates and weigh the advisability of those actions? Media outlets around the country and many fans (I’ve had conversations with many who know that I am a Rams’ fan) are not separating the actions of five players from the team. It was the St. Louis Rams that did it. No one is arguing their right to do what they did. But I don’t think it is an outrageous notion that they could’ve shown their employer and teammates a little more respect and consideration than to draw them unknowingly into their protest.
This is pure conjecture because I obviously don’t know what was going through the minds of those 5 players, how long beforehand it was premeditated, and what, exactly, they thought they were doing, but I just don’t think they expected it to become this…Thing.
And – I may be wrong – but I suspect that if the St. L PD hadn’t complained about it publicly, that it WOULDN’T have become this…Thing.
As for people who think it’s The St. Louis RAMS who did that, and that it was “in support of thuggery” and so on…well, they aren’t trying very hard to exercise critical thinking on the issue, are they? Seriously.
It doesn’t make any difference because all those people who are experiencing the Outrage D’Jour will be distracted by the next squirrel to dart across the headlines, anyway.
Really, I think this whole thing is blown way out of proportion by the police department and a gaggle of Side With Authority types. Nothing happened on Sunday other than the Rams slaughtered the Raiders 52 – 0.
I agree with that, Zooey
Agamemnonhttp://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/police-group-wants-rams-players-disciplined-for-hands-up-gesture/article_aac1b733-ad65-5b54-a60b-7c616baef983.html
RAMS PROTEST
Police group wants Rams players disciplined for ‘Hands Up’ gesture; NFL declines
6 hours ago • By Jim Thomas jthomas@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8197UPDATED at 5:35 p.m. with Fisher saying players will not be disciplined by team.
ST. LOUIS • After releasing a scathing statement criticizing Rams players who made a “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” pose as they came out of the tunnel for Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders, officials with the St. Louis police officers union have met with team officials and now don’t want to discuss the matter publicly.
St. Louis Police Officer Association business manager Jeff Roorda said the group will continue to meet in hopes of reaching some solution.
“We feel strongly that they better understand our perspective and the perspective of the law-abiding citizens that support law enforcement,” Roorda said. “We’re going to continue these conversations later this week and … we’re going to hold off on any further public comments in the hopes that fruitful talks continue.”
Roorda said St. Louis police Chief Sam Dotson also attended the meeting, and that Rams officials spoke earlier in the day with St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar.
Meanwhile, at his regular Monday media session, coach Jeff Fisher declined to take questions on the “Hands Up” gesture made by the players.
“It’s my personal opinion, and I firmly believe, that it’s important that I keep sports and politics separate,” Fisher said. “I’m a head coach. I’m not a politician, an activist, or an expert on societal issues. So I’m gonna answer questions about the game.”
Fisher said all questions on the topic should be directed to Rams vice president of football operations Kevin Demoff. Demoff could not be reached immediately for comment.
Fisher said he has not spoken with the five players who made the “Hands Up” gesture, but will. He said the players “made the choice to exercise their free speech (Sunday).”
Fisher also said he will not discipline any of the players.
The players who made the now-familiar “Hands Up” gesture included Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Kenny Britt, Jared Cook and Chris Givens. They hatched the idea before the game.
“Kenny Britt told me he was doing it, and some of the other guys were doing it,” Cook said. “So we all just hopped on the bandwagon and came up with the idea of how we were going to do it.”
On Sunday, Fisher said he didn’t see the gesture and was unaware of it.
“I didn’t know anything about it. I was still in the tunnel,” Fisher said.
Britt said he didn’t want to bother Fisher before the game by telling him of the plans.
The “Hands Up” gesture has been used by protesters upset over the fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown. Britt said it wasn’t used by the receivers as an indication that they were taking sides.
“No, not at all,” Britt told reporters. “ … We just wanted to let the (Ferguson) community know that we support them.”
The St. Louis Police Officer Association criticized the players’ action in a statement Sunday night, saying it was “profoundly disappointed” in the gesture. Roorda said “it is unthinkable that hometown athletes would so publicly perpetuate a narrative that has been disproven over-and-over again.”
The St. Louis Police Officers Association has called on the NFL to publicly apologize and discipline the five Rams players who stood with their hands raised before Sunday’s game. Roorda was set to meet with the Rams Monday afternoon to discuss the issue.
The officers’ association released a statement Sunday that said it was “profoundly disappointed” with the players, whose gesture it considered “tasteless, offensive and inflammatory.”
“I know that there are those that will say that these players are simply exercising their First Amendment rights,” Roorda said. “Well, I’ve got news for people who think that way, cops have first amendment rights too, and we plan to exercise ours.”
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy gave a one-sentence response. “We respect and understand the concerns of all individuals who have expressed views on this tragic situation,” he said in an email Monday.
Cook, of the Rams, said something has to change in terms of relations between police officers and African-Americans.
“Whatever happened from both sides, there has to be some kind of change,” Cook said. “That’s not cool, you know. I think President (Barack) Obama said it best: People aren’t coming up with these complaints for no reason. People aren’t saying these things just to make it up.”
In the wake of the grand jury decision not to charge Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Brown, and the subsequent arson and looting, Fisher discussed the situation during a team meeting Wednesday.
Several Rams players indicated during the week that they hoped to “win one for Ferguson” against the Raiders. The response Sunday was a 52-0 victory, the second-most lopsided victory in Rams franchise history.
“I think that the store owners that were looted, you feel for them and what they’re going through,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “You feel for the kids that had school canceled. You just want things to get back to normal as soon as possible.
“However long that road is, hopefully today for three and whatever hours was kind of a little bit of relief so people could just take their minds off of the situation and enjoy some Rams football.”
The Associated Press and Joe Holleman of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
AgamemnonSt Louis Police Assoc asked the NFL to discipline Rams players for their "hands up" gesture. The NFL says they won't. pic.twitter.com/mnHXINy4El
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) December 1, 2014
AgamemnonMonday, December 1, 2014
No fines for Rams players’ salute
ESPN.com news servicesThe five Rams players who entered the field before Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders in St. Louis with their hands in the air in “don’t shoot” poses will not be fined for their actions, NFL and team sources tell ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
Rams
The Rams players who raised their arms during pregame introductions as a salute to nearby Ferguson, Missouri, will not be fined by the league.The players had used the team’s pregame introductions to offer a show of support for nearby Ferguson. As the Rams’ offense was introduced, tight end Jared Cook and receivers Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Chris Givens and Tavon Austin stopped near the tunnel and raised their hands in a nod to the fatal shooting of black teenager Michael Brown by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9. Some witnesses said Brown had his hands up before being shot. Wilson, who is white, testified to the grand jury that Brown had hit him and reached for his gun.
The St. Louis Police Officers Association called for the players involved to be disciplined and for the Rams and the NFL to deliver a “very public apology,” its statement read in part.
“I know that there are those that will say that these players are simply exercising their First Amendment rights,” SLPOA business manager Jeff Roorda said in the statement. “Well, I’ve got news for people who think that way: Cops have First Amendment rights too, and we plan to exercise ours. I’d remind the NFL and their players that it is not the violent thugs burning down buildings that buy their advertiser’s products. It’s cops and the good people of St. Louis and other NFL towns that do. Somebody needs to throw a flag on this play. If it’s not the NFL and the Rams, then it’ll be cops and their supporters.”
In response, Brian McCarthy, the NFL’s VP of communications, released a statement Monday: “We respect and understand the concerns of all individuals who have expressed views on this tragic situation.”
“We kind of came collectively together and decided we wanted to do something,” Cook said after the Rams’ 52-0 victory. “We haven’t been able to go down to Ferguson to do anything because we have been busy. Secondly, it’s kind of dangerous down there and none of us want to get caught up in anything.
“So we wanted to come out and show our respect to the protests and the people who have been doing a heck of a job around the world.”
Earlier this week, the Rams spent time lamenting the fact there wasn’t much they could do to help with the unrest in Ferguson. But Cook said he plans to go to Ferguson once things settle down.
“My sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law — all of them went this past week for Thanksgiving,” Cook said. “They came back and reported to me about the things they saw and what was going on around there. Definitely, I will be making a trip to Ferguson.”
Britt said he and his teammates were not “taking sides” with their display.
“We wanted to show that we are organized for a great cause and something positive comes out of it,” Britt said. “That’s what we hope we can make happen. That’s our community. We wanted to let the community know that we support the community.”
Information from ESPN.com Rams reporter Nick Wagoner is included in this report.
Agamemnonhttp://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11958985/st-louis-rams-give-pregame-salute-ferguson-missouri
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Rams players salute Ferguson
By Nick Wagoner
ESPN.comST. LOUIS — Five Rams players used the team’s pregame introductions to offer a show of support for nearby Ferguson before Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders.
As the offense was introduced, Rams tight end Jared Cook and receivers Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Chris Givens and Tavon Austin stopped near the tunnel and raised their hands in a nod to the fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9.
Rams
Members of the Rams raised their arms during pregame introductions as a salute to nearby Ferguson, Missouri.“We kind of came collectively together and decided we wanted to do something,” Cook said. “We haven’t been able to go down to Ferguson to do anything because we have been busy. Secondly, it’s kind of dangerous down there and none of us want to get caught up in anything.
“So we wanted to come out and show our respect to the protests and the people who have been doing a heck of a job around the world.”
Earlier this week, the Rams spent time lamenting the fact that there wasn’t much they could do to help right now with the unrest in Ferguson. But Cook said he plans to go to Ferguson once things settle down.
“My sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law — all of them went this past week for Thanksgiving,” Cook said. “They came back and reported to me about the things they saw and what was going on around there. Definitely, I will be making a trip to Ferguson.”
Britt claimed that he and his teammates were not “taking sides” with their display.
“We wanted to show that we are organized for a great cause and something positive comes out of it,” Britt said. “That’s what we hope we can make happen. That’s our community. We wanted to let the community know that we support the community.”
Despite that intention, the St. Louis Police Officers Association released a statement Sunday night decrying the players’ display.
“The SLPOA is calling for the players involved to be disciplined and for the Rams and the NFL to deliver a very public apology,” the statement read in part.
“I know that there are those that will say that these players are simply exercising their First Amendment rights,” SLPOA business manager Jeff Roorda said in the statement. “Well I’ve got news for people who think that way, cops have first amendment rights too, and we plan to exercise ours. I’d remind the NFL and their players that it is not the violent thugs burning down buildings that buy their advertiser’s products. It’s cops and the good people of St. Louis and other NFL towns that do. Somebody needs to throw a flag on this play. If it’s not the NFL and the Rams, then it’ll be cops and their supporters.”
Multiple players and coach Jeff Fisher spoke during the week about trying to offer a three-hour or so distraction from what’s happening in their community.
But Cook said that the Rams, who won a 52-0 rout over the Raiders, did not necessarily need to win in order to cause a diversion.
“I wouldn’t consider it necessarily a diversion, because [the unrest in Ferguson] is an important issue as well,” Cook said.
On Sunday, the Rams offered a few other small ways to offer support.
The Rams players, coaches and staff also locked arms during the National Anthem in a sign of support for the community.
In addition, the Rams took some steps to reach out to those affected by the unrest. The team hosted small business owners who lost their businesses to fires and volunteers who helped the ensuing cleanup efforts at the game. The team also ran the PSA at halftime called “St. Louis Stands Together.”
“The organization has been doing those type of things without the intention of getting recognition,” Fisher said. “They’re just doing it to help. I’m just glad that we could put together a great win here today.”
The Rams also planned to play a series of public service announcements featuring Fisher and some players discussing how to build a stronger St. Louis.
Leading up to Sunday, there had been some speculation that the Rams-Raiders game might be moved from the Edward Jones Dome because of the unrest, but the game went on as scheduled with additional security in place.
According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the team did, however, explore some contingency plans that included the possibility of playing Sunday or Monday night in nearby NFL cities such as Indianapolis.
AgamemnonOL Rodger Saffold says shoulder issue similar to what happened about a month ago. He expects to be fine next week.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) November 30, 2014
AgamemnonMistakes, the good the bad and the great all make mistakes. They all make the same mistakes. The better players just make them less often.
AgamemnonI might have redi-whip, but you are more likely to get real whipped cream or some sort of mixture with made with some sort of cheese and/or sour cream and citrus and some sort of sugar and some sort of spice.
BYOPP, I have pineapple upside down cake today.
AgamemnonActually today is the main meal, cause company comes today. I pushed stuff back so everyone could get their visits in. Every year there are more places to eat. Now, Xmas is different, I always do Xmas on Xmas. I fit Thanksgiving to others schedule, but they will have to fit Xmas to my schedule. I do the cooking. I rule. 😉 Of course they can are always welcome to come at any time, but if they want the full dinner, they will have to be here when it is served.
AgamemnonLOL, I remember when they were talking about how poor our division was and if it was really right that .500 team or worse would make the playoffs. 😉
The total regular season wins by NFC West teams from 2006 to 2010: 29, 26, 22, 24, and 25.
The total regular season wins from 2011 to 2013: 32, 34, and 42. Agamemnonit’s the same system as Peyton
Same system, different QB. Rivers is way more comfortable getting some hits than Peyton. The excessive blitzing played into SD’s hands. imo And in effect it takes away our defense’s biggest strength, the ability to rush the passer with just our 4 defensive linemen and leave an extra player in coverage.
AgamemnonRams must create additional roster spot later in the week when they activate DE Chris Long from IR/designated for return, as expected
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) November 25, 2014
AgamemnonTeam replaces Williams on roster by promoting TE Justice Cunningham from practice squad.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) November 25, 2014
So there's still a practice squad spot available with the promotion of Cunningham.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) November 25, 2014
Another team was interested in signing Cunningham to its active roster. Rams like him enough that they promoted him to 53-man.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) November 25, 2014
Agamemnon
