I never thought a “Pay Cut” was going to happen. But, I did think a short term extension that gave Sam incentive money if healthy might work for him and the Rams would get short term cap relief and injury protection relief. His agent and Sam obviously didn’t think he “owed” the Rams any kind of a deal to stay in a Ram uniform such as what Manning did to stay in Denver. And, I really think they knew what QB market was for Sam.

But, what do I really know about this? Sam and Fisher might have gotten sick of each other for who knows what reason. It appears that Snisher drew a line in the sand regarding Sam’s contract\injury assurance and Chip Kelly helped them out.

So, again it seems like it’s all about the money.

Fairly was a beast inside pass rusher and disrupter in college. He’s also a little bit of a knucklehead who doesn’t always work as hard as he should which is also evident in his weight problems.

A perfect Fisher project.

I’m with ya on this – a “Britt” type one year deal is a great fit for him. It’s kind of all about Nick so far.

I think they should add somebody to the mix. It would be a good idea for the Rams to evaluate all of this years draftees and any FA opportunities closely and add value when it’s available.

No NFL ticket!! – that’s crazy talk there. I’d have to watch the vikings every week or talk to my wife more. Not many solid options there.

Wonder why Kelly loathed Foles so much.

I think old Chip Kelly get run out of town on a rail after the first hint of suckiness.

What a surprise move and it’s sad to see Sam leave but what don’t I know about this. I liked him and wish him the best except agin the Rams. I’d guess his agent said something like pay up or move him to the Rams. Snisher might have been backed into a corner – probably was.

Rams have more flexibility now regarding all kinds of stuff.

I want a pedestal too.

“Well the Snisher era, now depends on them
getting their OLine personnel decisions RIGHT.

So far they have a mixed bag of OLine personnel decisions.

They need to get it right this year.

And they know that. So, i think they will.
I think they will probably make ‘safe’
personnel decisions about the OLine.”

I say we start heating up the tar right now!

You mean ‘safe’ as in signing additional injury prone veterans like Mr Long and Mr Wells? Nothing they’ve done has been perfect – but at least they tried. I think they’ll try again and at least make an effort to sign one or more veteran OL to fill their perceived gaps. Blalock, who I’m not all that familiar with has never had a significant injury – so to me he seems like more of ‘safe’ gamble than either Wells or Long were.

Plus he can toot his own horn

• This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by sdram.

Happy birthday ZN. Have your cake and eat it too.

My PC Is MOTHERLESS – MUST FIND ANOTHER MOTHER for my pc cauae my fingers dont work on my wife’s laptop.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25067278/nfl-combine-prospects-with-the-most-to-gain-or-lose

NFLDraftScout.com
2015 NFL Combine: Prospects with the most to gain or lose
By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
February 12, 2015 7:00 pm ET

When high school students apply to college, they rely on their grade point average and extracurricular activities, but that’s not quite enough. Admissions departments need SAT and ACT scores, or in other words, they want to know how students test. High school transcripts and grades aren’t on the same level around the country with different curriculum in different parts of the country. But standardized testing puts all students on a level playing field.

That’s the NFL Combine.

The 323 invited prospects who will travel to Indianapolis for the 2015 NFL Combine represent 24 college conferences, 115 NCAA teams and 323 different situations and sets of game tapes. But for one week, Feb. 17-23, they will all be evaluated in the same environment at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The NFL Combine could be divided into four critical areas that NFL teams will focus on: agility tests and drills, one-on-one interviews, medical evaluations and verified measurements. Below is a look at notable prospects with the most to gain or lose in each category.

AGILITY TESTS AND DRILLS

WR Phillip Dorsett, Miami (Fla.)
Entering the NFL Combine, Dorsett is the favorite to burn up the track and run the fastest 40-yard dash at Lucas Oil Stadium. He claims that “anything under 4.3” is his goal.

WR Sammie Coates, Auburn
Coates will win the weigh-ins with his chiseled frame for the position and he has a good chance to win the workouts as well. He has above average top-end speed with the long strides to get vertical in a hurry and will create buzz with his 40-yard dash.

WR Devin Smith, Ohio State
Not only is Smith fast, but he has the lower body explosion that will test well with the vertical and broad jump tests. He was the state of Ohio’s long jump champ out of high school, also running a 10.56 100-meter dash.

WR Mario Alford, West Virginia
With Kevin White’s breakout season in 2014, Alford went somewhat overlooked, although he led the Mountaineers in yards per catch (14.5) and touchdowns (13), using his speed and change of direction skills to stretch the field as a receiver and return man.

OT T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
A good-sized athlete at 310 pounds, Clemmings started his career on defense as a pass rusher before moving to the offensive line in 2013. He is still raw in several areas, but there is no questioning his athleticism and movement skills.

DE/OLB Vic Beasley, Clemson
A former tight end, Beasley moved to pass rusher and was a nuisance for opposing blockers, running circles around offensive tackles with quickness and closing burst. His exact size dimensions will be important as well, but it’s his speed numbers that will receive the headlines.

DE/OLB Bud Dupree, Kentucky
Similar to Beasley, Dupree started at tight end before moving to defense, using his athleticism to launch off the line of scrimmage to penetrate the backfield. And similar to Beasley, he should turn heads in every drill for a 265-pounder.

DE Danielle Hunter, LSU
A unique specimen, Hunter has a tall, long frame with a quick ignition out of his stance and light-footed movements. He is very much a work-in-progress as a pass rusher, but Hunter’s workout results will show why scouts are highly intrigued with his athletic upside.

DL Arik Armstead, Oregon
A freakish two-sport player in college, Armstead suited up for the Ducks on the football field and basketball court his first two years at Oregon before deciding to focus on football. At 6-7 and 295 pounds, Armstead will test off the charts for an athlete his size.

LB/SS Shaq Thompson, Washington
Thompson played on both offense (running back) and defense (linebacker) for the Huskies with versatile athleticism and skills for a 230-pounder. That quickness and agility will likely stand out during drills at Lucas Oil Stadium.

CB Ronald Darby, Florida State
Darby led his high school to the Maryland 3A state championship in track, winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes, also earning a gold medal in the relay at the 2011 World Youth Championships in France. Simply put, this kid can fly.

CB Nick Marshall, Auburn
Auburn’s starting quarterback the last few seasons, Marshall is making the transition to cornerback and will be an enticing prospect with his size (6-2, 205) and athleticism. But his 40-yard dash will be important to show his long-speed in order to match up with NFL wide receivers.

ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS

QB Jameis Winston, Florida State
Winston’s off-field transgressions have been well documented and he better be ready to answer the myriad of questions that NFL teams have for him. Clubs have only have 15 minutes to interview each prospect so Winston can expect the tough questions to come early and often.

RB Thomas Rawls, Central Michigan
A Michigan transfer, Rawls was arrested for stealing a 62-year old woman’s purse at a casino last April, which raises a number of obvious concerns. Before transferring to CMU in 2014, he managed only 333 rushing yards in three seasons in Ann Arbor and couldn’t set himself apart in a crowded Michigan backfield.

RB Mike Davis, South Carolina
Although injuries played a significant part in his struggles, Davis seemed to have “Clowney Syndrome” in 2014, showing up with some bad weight and spotty effort. Davis’ older brother (RB James Davis) went through this process a few years ago and will be able to offer him insight.

RB Karlos Williams, Florida State
Although he wasn’t formally charged, trouble seemed to follow Williams this past year as he was investigated for domestic abuse and his part in a drug deal gone bad. It was a very disappointing year for Williams both on the field and off.

WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma
Another player with a well-known rap sheet, Green-Beckham hasn’t been seen on the field in over a year and teams will be interested to probe his mindset and attitude. There might not be a more talented prospect in this draft class but his flags are bright red.

WR DaVaris Daniels, Notre Dame
Entering the 2014 season, Daniels was expected to be the No. 1 receiver for the Irish after 49 catches, 745 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. But he decided to cut ties with the program after he was one of five Notre Dame players suspended last season for academic impropriety.

OT Tayo Fabuluje, TCU
Fabuluje is a talented blocker, but he enters the NFL with several question marks. He sat out three seasons with multiple transfers on his résumé, bouncing between TCU and BYU, and his fluctuating weight has also been a concern with questionable practice and conditioning habits.

OT Donovan Smith, Penn State
Although he appeared to flip the switch at the Senior Bowl, Smith left Happy Valley with a poor reputation as a worker. He has “lazy tendencies” according to several NFL scouts and his work ethic and football character will be heavily scrutinized.

DE Frank Clark, Michigan
A mid-round prospect based on his play, Clark was arrested and dismissed from the program last November for a domestic abuse incident. It was just the latest strike for the former Wolverine who has a long rap sheet including a second-degree conviction for felony home invasion. It’s hard to see Clark getting drafted, but any hopes at damage control will start at the Combine.

LB A.J. Johnson, Tennessee
A player known as the leader and lifeblood of the Volunteers’ defense the past few seasons, Johnson was indicted by a grand jury this week in a rape case. According to his attorney, Johnson plans to surrender and it is unknown if he will be able to participate in Indianapolis.

CB Marcus Peters, Washington
The interview process is crucial for Peters, who was dismissed from the Washington program in early November for multiple verbal and physical run-ins with the coaching staff. He hasn’t received high marks from the current Huskies coaches or the former staff, bringing up strong concerns regarding his attitude and maturity.

CB P.J. Williams, Florida State
A New York Times article broke the story that Williams was involved in an Oct. 2014 hit-and-run accident, but he somehow avoided charges. The story didn’t receive a lot of traction, but it will be a topic that is frequently brought up when teams sit down with the possible first rounder.

MEDICAL EVALUATIONS

QB Connor Halliday, Washington State
In Mike Leach’s air-raid offense, Halliday was on pace to shatter several passing records in 2014 before a broken tibia and fibula against USC in November ended his college career. He has been the forgotten man in this quarterback class, but positive reports from the Combine could change that.

RB Todd Gurley, Georgia
Gurley is a special talent and should snap the two-year drought of first round running backs, but his draft projection is up in the air after tearing his ACL last November. Nonetheless, as long as his rehab proves to be on track when trainers examine his knee in Indianapolis, Gurley should still hear his name in the top-32 picks and be ready for game action in August.

RB T.J. Yeldon, Alabama
Yeldon battled through nagging ankle and hamstring issues in 2014 and had his least productive season in 2014, never quite looking like himself. NFL teams will want to know if the medical staff in Indianapolis finds any long-term damage that will be a concern for his pro future.

WR Dres Anderson, Utah
Scouts haven’t seen Anderson, who is the son of former NFL receiver Flipper Anderson, on the field since October when he suffered a knee injury that prematurely ended his time at Utah. He isn’t expected to be ready to run in Indianapolis, but teams will soon receive an update on his rehab process.

WR DeVante Parker, Louisville
Parker is arguably the most talented receiver in the 2015 draft class, but durability concerns are an issue after several college injuries, including surgery on his left foot that sidelined him for the first seven games of his senior season.

WR DeAndre Smelter, Georgia Tech
At 6-3 and 222 pounds, Smelter has an enticing skill-set for the NFL, but he suffered a torn ACL in the regular season finale against Georgia. NFL teams will have an opportunity to find out how his knee rehab is progressing while at the Combine.

TE Jeff Heuerman, Ohio State
Although he started 14 games in 2014, Heuerman managed only 17 catches and was limited most of the season with a stress reaction to his surgically repaired foot from March 2014. If healthy, Heuerman is in the discussion to be the top senior prospect at his position.

OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
After a senior season where it appeared he was playing not to get hurt, Ogbuehi unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in Texas A&M’s bowl game. His lower body movement skills are first round worthy, but now his draft projection is a question mark.

OG Arie Kouandjio, Alabama
Like his younger brother Cyrus last year, the medical portion of the Combine might prove to be more important for Kouandjio than any drill or interview. He started the last 27 games for Alabama, but underwent multiple knee surgeries to both knees as an underclassman.

C Hroniss Grasu, Oregon
There is no questioning his toughness as Grasu played through several injuries in 2014 despite not being at 100% health. But his medical evaluation will better detail the damage and whether or not any issues are worrisome long-term.

DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA
A possible first round prospect, Odighizuwa should test off the charts in Indianapolis, but his medical reports will be even more imperative for his future after a pair of hip surgeries in 2013, one on the left side and one to his right hip.

DT Leonard Williams, USC
Williams, who is NFLDraftScout.com’s No. 1 rated player in the 2015 NFL Draft, played through two torn labrums in 2014. He might not be able to lift at the Combine due to the shoulder rehab, but more importantly, the medical examinations will be able to tell how serious the issue is.

DT Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma
Few human beings at 6-6 and 330 pounds can move like Phillips, but his medical reports will be crucial to his draft grade. He started the first four games in 2013 before he was out for the remainder of the season due to back surgery, which addressed a nagging issue. Phillips stayed healthy in 2014, but his back durability needs thumbs up from trainers before a team drafts him.

CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
Durability was never an issue for Ekpre-Olomu after starting 40 consecutive games for the Ducks, but he suffered a serious knee injury during practice a week prior to the Rose Bowl. Ekpre-Olomu isn’t considered an elite athlete at the position so his knee rehab will be closely inspected.

DB Byron Jones, Connecticut
A good-sized cornerback prospect, Jones was lost for the season in October after a left shoulder injury required surgery. He didn’t participate in the Senior Bowl, but hopes to be healthy enough to compete during NFL Combine drills.

VERIFIED MEASUREMENTS

QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon
With 27 career fumbles and concerns about his grip and ball control as a passer, Mariota’s verified hand size will be a much anticipated number. Smaller hands (9 inches or smaller) don’t preclude a quarterback from playing at a high level in the NFL, but it might help explain some of Mariota’s struggles.

RB Duke Johnson, Miami (Fla.)
One of the several underclassmen running backs in the second round discussion, Johnson’s lean body type leads to durability concerns, holding your breath after every hit. Is his frame maxed out at 205 pounds?

OL Brandon Scherff, Iowa
The Hawkeyes’ left tackle has the skill-set ideally-suited to bump inside to guard, similar to Zack Martin a year ago. And if Scherff’s arms measure under 33 inches, that might confirm it for several teams.

WR Rashad Greene, Florida State
There is no questioning Greene’s toughness and receiving skills, but does he have the frame to ever carry 190+ pounds of good weight?

CB Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest
A healthy scratch from the Senior Bowl, Johnson is an impressive player with natural cover skills and above average height for the position. But he has a pipe-cleaner frame with very lean limbs so teams will be eager to get his exact measurements.

DT Michael Bennett, Ohio State
One of the unsung heroes of the Buckeyes National Title run, Bennett was a consistent inside penetrator down the stretch for Ohio State in 2014. But his lack of size might limit him at the next level to a three technique role in a four man front.

DE Mario Edwards, Florida State
Edwards was already a big player when he arrived at Florida State around 270 pounds, but he seemed to be carrying some bad weight on his frame as a junior last season. Lining up as a defensive end for the Seminoles, he might eat his way into a new position at defensive tackle if his weight continues to increase north of 300 pounds.

rfl wrote:

sdram wrote:
Without further ado, here are Around The NFL’s top 25 NFL free agents for 2015:

Not one OL on the list.

Zowie! Gotta question the criteria for a list that has no OL.

There’s one but he’s been panned by several – Iupati from SF. Who would you add or change? It’s one guys opinion of the top 25 right now – but many of them will be resigned by their current teams. it appears to me that he values 3-4 pass rushers highly.

Cake……

11-25 –

I’m gonna go out on a high limb and say that more guacamole will be consumed tomorrow in the US than on Cinco de Mayo.

Score will be Pats 29 – Hawks 24

Manziel’s maturity issues aside – Size Matters in the modern day NFL. He ain’t got it, he ain’t never gonna get it. He would need other, greater attributes to over come his size limitation. Not sure if he has any type of ability to overcome this.

Not sure if it equates but Brett Favre’s rookie season came to my mind while reading this. He wasn’t as celebrated as a rookie and in my opinion was definitely more talented but his maturity level coming out of college was comparable I would say. He partied his way out of Atlanta. But, after a laughable and wasted rookie season, he got his shit together as a football player even if he drove his coaches crazy on the field. So, from a maturity standpoint I’d say all is not completely lost for Manziel yet – but he’s not big enough in my opinion and that’s not going to get any better. What is he 22, 23? Nobody I know has changed one iota from the day they turned 22 until they were 25 or 30. Well, except everybody. He might get a chance to show he can be a better pro although the odds are against him at this point.

Rams scouts talking to prospects at SR Bowl

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461483/article/look-whos-talking-chargers-ravens-active-at-senior-bowl

St. Louis Rams

Harvard LB Zack Hodges
Alabama OL Austin Shepherd
Oklahoma LB Geneo Grissom
Texas LB Jordan Hicks

Nice summation by the Deadpool> Maybe there are some secondary prospects who can do it.

I watched Hundley several times this season and came away underwhelmed each time – he has some splainin to do before he runs an nfl offense. The rest, haven’t seen a lick of them but they sound interesting.