Mina Kimes mock draft.    She picks two possible guys for the Rams:

Johnny Newton or Brock Bowers.   (she says Bowers would score a million TD’s in McVay’s system)

At about the 33 minute mark.

InvaderRam wrote:

this is a real bummer. i think the rams are still in contention for making the playoffs but that’s it. superbowl i think is out the door. you’re not just trying to replace a hall of famer. you’re trying to replace a guy against whom all others at his position and likely even other positions will be compared. i do think it’s useless to try and debate best defensive player ever. there’s just too many variables and it’s too subjective an argument. but the fact that he’s even in that realm to have such a discussion. how in the hell do you replace him? yeah with multiple players sure. but the odds of that in one year are nigh impossible. i’m happy for him. i certainly don’t want him walking away from the game physically and mentally a shell of himself. for that i am actually truly proud of him. it doesn’t surprise me either. i partially expected him to do something like this. he just strikes me as that type of guy. but it is a bummer from a selfish point of view.

Yeah, you dont replace him.   And the defense ‘could’ be really lame.   Dunno, yet.

But maybe they come up with a top-five offense, and a decent-enough defense.

They still have the best QB in the NFC.    Thats a great start.

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Its interesting to compare Faulks makeup/characteristics to AD.

There’s some similarities — the football IQs etc.

But I dont remember people raving about Marshall’s ‘work ethic’.   Was he known for the work ethic the way AD is/was?

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Cards have Two number-one picks, a 2nd, and THREE 3rd round picks.

If they do well they could turn the corner.

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zn wrote:

I get why so many say AD is the greatest defender to ever play the game, but I personally can’t rank it that way. I put him on the same unranked elite tier with the greatest defenders plural of all time–Olsen, Jones, Lilly, Page, Greene, Taylor, Reggie White. It’s very select company. Rams always had a chance when AD played. Needless to say, they won’t be able to replace him with one guy. They will need 2-3 great ones for their defense to have the same luster again.

Yeah, i do it the same way.    Reducing it down to one player always seems purty silly to me.   It can be fun, but it aint real.

And how the heck do you compare/rank players who play different positions who played under different NFL rules ?   LT vs AD, eg.    Its silly.

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Mina gets to J.Jackson at about the 3:30 mark or so.

Zooey wrote:

Okay. Just don’t draft Bill Hawkins, Adam Carriker, or Sean Gilbert.

3/4s of Some sort of Mt. Rushmore, there.

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Glad for AD that he’s getting out healthy and at the top of his game.   How many players have walked away in that condition? Jim Brown.  Barry Sanders.   A few others maybe.

Merlin and AD.   Both spent their whole careers as Rams.

I’m nonplussed, though.  Still in shock.  Thought sure he’d stick around two more years.

Certainly a big challenge for the Rams, now.   Changes expectations, for me, anyway.

Big challenge.  How do they manufacture pressure, now?    Sigh.

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Chris Long.  Always so articulate.   I wish the Rams experience had been more fun.    Ah well.

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Signings.

San Francisco 49ers

• Released: CB Isaiah Oliver
• Re-signed: T Colton McKivitz (one year, $7M)
• Re-signed: QB Brandon Allen (TBD)
• Signed: EDGE Leonard Floyd (two years, $20M)
• Signed: EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos (two years, $18M)
• Re-signed: S George Odum (two years, $10M)
• Signed: DI Jordan Elliott (two years, $10M)

Seattle Seahawks

• Released: TE Will Dissly
• Released: S Quandre Diggs
• Released: S Jamal Adams
• Released: DI Bryan Mone
• Released: FB Nick Bellore
• Re-signed: TE Noah Fant (two years, $21M)
• Re-signed: DI Leonard Williams (three years, $64.5M)

Arizona Cardinals

• Re-signed: EDGE L.J. Collier (one year, TBD)
• Signed: CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (three years, $25.5M)
• Signed: DI Bilal Nichols (three years, $21M)
• Signed: DI Justin Jones (three years, $30.1M)
• Signed: LB Mack Wilson (three years, $12.75M)
• Signed: RB DeeJay Dallas (three years, $8.25M with upside to $10.5M)
• Extended: C Keith Ismael

I never hear a word about Wentz.   He would be as good a backup as there is in the NFC.    Why is it a foregone conclusion he is leaving?

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Ok, great.   But i’m still pissed-off that Zack Martin wasn’t a Ram.

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Saw a stat on the Patriots.   Over last ten years, they have had 18 first or second round picks.

Of those picks on 1 made a probowl, and that was QB Mac Joens who made it one year.

Zero first team all-pros.

Zero players signed by Pats to a second contract.

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Rams locker room at So-Fi, rated D+ (bout the seven minute mark)