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znModeratorIan Rapoport@RapSheet
The #Dolphins just completed a conference call with #Rams pass-rusher Robert Quinn, informing him he’s being traded.Joe Curley@vcsjoecurley
Rams move DE Robert Quinn to Miami. Clears more than $11m off its 2018 cap. @CVRamsClubznModeratorRams general manager Les Snead is in a hurry to make his team better
GARY KLEIN
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-snead-nfl-combine-20180301-story.html
The circumstances surrounding Les Snead’s appearance before reporters at the NFL scouting combine Thursday were in stark contrast to a year ago.
In February 2017, Snead faced an uncertain future as the Rams’ general manager.The team had finished the season 4-12. Jeff Fisher, hired in 2012 along with Snead, had been fired and replaced by unproven Sean McVay, the youngest coach in modern NFL history.
To many observers, the Rams’ 2016 predraft decision to trade up to the No. 1 spot and select quarterback Jared Goff looked like a major mistake.And they blamed Snead.
But a year later, Snead — and the Rams — are riding high.
Under McVay and his new staff, Goff developed into a top-10 passer, the Rams led the NFL in scoring and they won the NFC West title.
Snead pulled off another headline-grabbing predraft trade last week by acquiring star cornerback Marcus Peters from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for draft picks, none in the first round.
Snead acknowledged Thursday that the heat was off and thanked owner Stan Kroenke and chief operating officer Kevin Demoff for keeping him in the fold after the 2016 season.
“I was fortunate that Stan and Kevin gave me that chance to stay on,” Snead said during a hallway interview at the Indiana Convention Center. “They had seen some things over the years that they felt, ‘OK, we’re going to give Les a chance to work with Sean.’“I’m fortunate to enjoy some of the fruits that were planted not just last offseason, but offseasons before. Some people in this league don’t get that chance. And for that, I’ll always be grateful.”
Throughout the Rams’ turnaround season, McVay made no secret of his appreciation for the personnel moves that Snead had engineered after McVay was hired in January 2017.
Before last season, the Rams signed free-agent receiver Robert Woods and offensive linemen Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan. They drafted tight end Gerald Everett, receivers Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds and safety John Johnson. They also traded for receiver Sammy Watkins.
The Rams’ agreement to acquire Peters, a two-time Pro Bowl player, will cost only $1.7 million in the upcoming season. The salary-cap friendly trade, which provides the Rams with flexibility in free agency and the draft, will not become official until the NFL’s new league year begins March 14.
Snead, who feared tampering charges, jokingly tried to cut off any questions about the deal as he stepped to a podium before reporters in the interview room.
“We should probably just do this on March 14,” he said. “I’ll be able to elaborate. But since it’s March 1st we’ll get 15 minutes in.”
Snead deflected questions about Peters but answered one about his own growing reputation for making predraft trades.
“It’s an urgency to get better,” he said of his philosophy. “It’s an urgency to improve. You have things you want to address and there’s a lot of avenues to address them.
“And then, just like some offensive coordinators, you like to attack. You like to put it in two-minute mode and get things done.”
Snead has a full agenda this week.
He is evaluating and interviewing prospects, and talking business with other general managers. In 2016, the trade with the Tennessee Titans that catapulted the Rams to the top of the draft and netted Goff had its genesis at the combine.
“You want it to work out for both sides,” Titans general manager Jon Robinson said of the deal this week. “I am sure they’re glad they made the trade and we are as well.”
Snead and other team executives also are scheduled to meet with agents representing Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
The NFL’s defensive player of the year is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him about $6.9 million this season. He is seeking a new deal that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player.
Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald takes the field before a game with the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sept. 21.
Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald takes the field before a game with the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sept. 21. ((Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times))Snead also is attempting to re-sign pending free agents, including safety Lamarcus Joyner and receiver Watkins.
“Obviously, Aaron’s important,” Snead said. “But we’ve got it budgeted that we’ll be able to sign someone tomorrow if Aaron’s not first. So that’s all worked out.”
The Rams used the franchise tag the last two seasons on cornerback Trumaine Johnson, another pending free agent.
Joyner or Watkins are regarded as potential candidates for the franchise tag if the Rams are unable to work out deals by March 6, the deadline for applying the tag.
“We definitely know we’ve got it, and we know we’ve got to use it strategically,” Snead said of the tag, which can be applied to only one player. “How we do that will depend on the next few weeks. But we’re well aware it’s in the back pocket. And we’re also trying to get things done without using it.”
The addition of Peters takes pressure off the Rams to specifically target a cornerback with the 23rd pick in the April 26-28 draft.
They can turn part of their focus to edge rushers and building depth along the offensive and defensive fronts.Several mock drafts have the Rams choosing Ohio State center Billy Price with their first pick. Price, who also plays guard, reportedly suffered an injury Thursday during bench-press testing. He did not appear with other offensive linemen at a scheduled media session.
Asked if the Rams would consider choosing a center in the first round, Snead said it was possible, citing the Dallas Cowboys’ selection of Travis Frederick with the 31st pick in 2013.
“That is conceivable, but you want it to be the right one,” he said, adding, “I remember when Dallas did Travis Frederick. It was, ‘Oh they took a center? Why would you take a center?’
“However many years later, they supposedly had the best line in the league.”
As he did a day after the season ended, Snead told reporters he constantly reminds himself to remember what it felt like on the drive home after the Rams lost to the Atlanta Falcons in a wild-card playoff game.
Snead said he wrote the phrase “Remember the Feeling” at the top of a computer document he checks occasionally. He uses it as motivation.
“Every now and then, I change colors,” he said. “Because you know how it is, you psychologically see it over the day — and it’s like, ‘Oh wait, I didn’t notice that today.’
“So I put it in italics.”
Snead’s handwriting is all over a roster that he began to build six years ago, and he will continue to reshape it in the coming months.
“Our goal from a philosophical standpoint was, ‘OK, let’s acquire as much young talent as possible so that as they get experience and grow, and when we do tip, there’s a chance for sustainability, because you did it with a long-term approach in mind.'”znModeratorznModeratorRams expected to move on from underachieving receiver Tavon Austin
RICH HAMMOND
Tavon Austin’s tenure with the Rams, once filled with optimism and potential, soon will end in disappointment, less than two years after the team signed him to a massive contract.
In an unsurprising move, the Rams are expected to release Austin, their top receiver in 2015, before the NFL’s free-agency period opens on March 14. NFL Network reported Thursday that the Rams might pursue a trade for Austin, but that seems unlikely, given Austin’s contract and his ineffectiveness last season.
If the Rams cut Austin, they will receive $3 million in salary-cap relief in 2018, but will retain $5 million against their cap total. For the Rams, that’s a better choice than keeping Austin, because that cap space is valuable and Austin’s role in their offense had been reduced to that of a decoy.
Austin, the No. 8 pick of the 2013 draft, signed a four-year, $42-million contract with the Rams in Aug. 2016, even though he had yet to exceed 907 yards from scrimmage in a single season.
The Rams, under then-coach Jeff Fisher, thought they could build a big part of their offense around Austin, a speedy, 5-foot-9 receiver who also contributed in the run game, but in 2016, Austin totaled only 668 yards and four touchdowns and Fisher got fired before the end of the season.
Austin never found a role in the offense of new coach Sean McVay last year. Wrist and hamstring injuries limited Austin’s role in the offseason program and in training camp, and once the season started, Austin landed low on the receiver depth chart, behind Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp.
Austin even lost his job as the Rams’ primary punt returner early in the season because of fumbling problems, and by midseason his role was limited to that of backup running back. Austin finished with 13 catches for 47 yards, and 59 carries for 270 yards.Once he is cut loose by the Rams, Austin, who turns 27 this month, will be free to sign with any other team. The Rams will use the extra cap space to help sign pending free agents.
High on that list is Watkins, who is set to become a free agent this month. If the Rams don’t sign Watkins to a new contract — as is likely — they could choose to apply the NFL’s one-year “franchise tag” to Watkins. The Rams already have Woods, Kupp, Pharoh Cooper, Josh Reynolds and other receivers under contract for 2018.
znModeratorI was sayin this way back when. But, the real Tavon was 2015. Ranking his 100 yard games as a WR is meaningless because he was not a WR, he was something else. He had 52 catches and 52 rushes in 2015, so they used him on routes where he could do it, and didn’t bother acting like he was a pure or real WR. He’s more than a “gadget” player though. He’s just not a WR per se though you can use him in the passing game.
McVay wasn’t interested in that, which is fine. McVay didn’t draft Tavon so there’s nothing that says he should be interested in that.
Teams that use him right will get value from it.
…
znModeratorMarcus Peters is in superb hands with @RamsNFL DB Coach Aubrey Pleasant.
He knows his Sh**!
I leaned from experience that he listens to is players, learns about them, & really does everything in his power to help guys succeed.Fun Fact: He Majored in Sociology at Wisconsin
— Will Blackmon (@WillBlackmon) February 28, 2018
znModerator1 Improve Run Defense. How? I dunno, draft a big fat DT ?
2 Improve Redzone Offense. How? I dunno.
3. Quality depth on OLine. Draft/sign some players.
4. Sign Donald, Joyner, Watkins, Quinn.
5. Draft lots of good CBs and a LB.
Is that about it?
w
vIMO.
They need (in no particular order) CBs, OL including LOT, one good NT (Brockers stays at end), and to sign Donald, Joyner, and Watkins.
Quinn is already signed. So with Quinn, they need do nothing, except keep him as is.
If it can be fit in, since we don’t know about Everett and I don’t hold out much hope for Higbee, I would say TE also.
I don’t see them spending big $$$ on FAs.
But low-budget FAs, and “ronin” (young veterans cut by other teams)—I would like to see some OL added that way, too. Guys like Garrett Reynolds back a few years ago.
…
znModeratorRampage2K- wrote:
Eric Berry has Marcus Peters back…..
He was one GMFB this morning and seemed pretty bummed out by the trade….mentioned all the good things MP did in the community that never got the type of news that his missteps did.
Mentioned about how he emptied his adidas account to do a “coat drive” for the homeless and other things. Dispelling the myth this guy is some sort of locker room distraction or cancer.February 28, 2018 at 9:30 pm in reply to: NFL expected to pass a rule that prevents another Josh McDaniels situation #83298znModeratorNFL expected to pass a rule that prevents another Josh McDaniels situation
I would prefer a rule that just prevents another Josh McDaniels.
.
znModeratorNo politician in American history has gotten away with as much illegality, immorality, mendacity or personalized viciousness toward others as Trump has.
I have to call my own number here. Early in election discussions, some people flirted with the idea that Trump wouldn’t be that much worse than any standard issue dem. My view was, he was going to be far far worse. By a huge margin. I think that’s exactly how it played out.
Yeah, but…that wasn’t the complete argument.
Speaking for myself (and ultimately I WOULD have voted for Clinton if California had been in single digits), I weighed not only who would be WORSE (clearly Trump), but what the likely long term voter outcome would be.
I.E. Trump was always going to be worse. No question. But he was always going to be THIS. What we are seeing. He was always going to be THIS bad. So bad that it is obvious to the entire nation that he is terrible.
VS.
Hillary. Who would have been less bad, but bad. Very bad. In all kinds of less obvious ways.
AND…
Americans are stupid. They make corrections by turning the other way. So the reaction to Trump was always going to be to pull the damn thing to the Left.
But a reaction against Hillary was going to be to pull it to the Right. And into the arms of some shithole like Pence. Or Marco fucking Rubio.
The question was…was it better to suffer bigly under Trump and hope for a hard correction to the Left…or suffer in lesser ways under Clinton and just continue to suffer with no possibility of moving to the Left of her?
And that wasn’t clear to me…although…as I said…I would voted for her if California had the least tiny chance of going to Trump.
But now I dunno. This country looks to me to be Pretty Pissed Off with Republicans right now. It wouldn’ta been this pissed with them if Hillary had won.
Not talking about who voted for whom or why. That’s a separate discussion IMO. I get that one.
Just saying, at one point, some of us entertained the idea that maybe Trump would not be as bad as people feared.
znModeratorMayock Sees Depth In First-Round Defensive Talent
Kristen Lago
Throughout the 2017 offseason, much of the Rams’ focus centered around improving the club’s offense. Through free agency and the draft, Los Angeles bolstered its offensive line and provided quarterback Jared Goff with a slew of new weapons at receiver.
But after an impressive campaign that saw the club go from last to first in the league in scoring, the 2018 offseason will bring a new set of challenges to L.A.
Los Angeles currently holds the 23rd overall pick in the first round of this spring’s NFL Draft. And the majority of analysts in mock drafts are thinking the Rams will select a defensive player. After transitioning from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defensive scheme under coordinator Wade Phillips, moving forward the Rams will look to continue fine-tuning their system.
Fortunately, there are plenty of talented defensive prospects that will showcase their skills at the NFL Combine this week — with the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock projecting as many as 12 potential first rounders.
“I think the interior defensive line at the high end is outstanding,” Mayock said. “I think at least four are going to go — Washington’s Vita Vea, Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne, Michigan’s Maurice Hurst, and Florida’s Taven Bryan.”
All four combined for 166 tackles and 14.5 sacks in 2017, but they are not alone in their ability to rush the passer.
“The off-the-ball linebackers are really good this year,” Mayock continued. “Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds, Georgia’s Roquan Smith, Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch, and Alabama’s Rashaan Evans. I think those four have the chance to go as off-the-ball linebackers. Typically, there’s only two off-the-ball linebackers, so that would be a big year.”
Rounding out the top selection of prospects are the cornerbacks, who are still a bit of a mystery for Mayock. Mayock expects Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward — who finished the year with 37 tackles, two interceptions, and 15 pass breakups — to be selected first in his position group. But Mayock said he is still figuring out where everyone else should be projected.
“Iowa’s Josh Jackson, Central Florida’s Mike Hughes, Colorado’s Isaiah Oliver, Louisville’s Jaire Alexander, [and] Carlton Davis from Auburn. I mean, there are six guys there,” he said. “I think at least four of them are going to go in the first round.”[
February 28, 2018 at 6:48 pm in reply to: Sean McVay on Year One, the NFL Draft and Year Two – Podcast… + more McVay #83289znModerator#LARams LIVE: Sean McVay NFL Combine Press Conference. Watch the #NFLCombine March 2-5 on @nflnetwork. https://t.co/sVI9cMyGfN
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 28, 2018
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TRANSCRIPT: Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay’s combine press conference
Here’s what McVay said in Indy today.
Feb 28, 2018, 2:55pm CST
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2018/2/28/17064164/transcript-los-angeles-rams-head-coach-sean-mcvay-2018-nfl-scouting-combine
(On the Marcus Peters trade)Where we’re at with the league year, we’ve got to be careful because until that trade becomes official on March 14, you run the risk of tampering. You’re trying to get me in trouble right now.
But I think when you look at it, some of the things that went into the decision-making process, we felt really good about what he’ll bring to our team, and I think we’ll be able to elaborate on that a little more at a later date.
(What he learned about having to coach players differently)
Everything that we do starts with building and developing relationships, and I think when you have an understanding of what makes a certain player tick, how they respond to different forms of motivation, it always starts with building that relationship and I think that opens up the avenues to be able to coach a player where they’re more receptive and they realize it’s not criticism it’s just how can we work together to collaborate and find a way to help a player and our team reach their highest potential. I think it’s about being around great examples. You look at just our coaching staff, and you talk about Wade Phillips and the way he’s able to connect to different types of players over the course of his career; John Fassel, we’ve got great leaders on our staff that enable you to listen and learn from them as well, and that can help you lead moving forward.
(What more can RB Todd Gurley do)
He’s a fun player to work with, and the thing I was so impressed with with Todd when we came in last year is the way that he went about his business, day in and day out, he worked extremely hard and you could see he took an intentional approach to get better and become a more complete back.
One of the things that doesn’t get as much recognition is the way that he was able to play in protection as well, allowing Jared [Goff] to be able to slide and move in the pocket, deliver the ball to some of our receivers and tight ends, but with Todd there is really no limitations in the way that you can utilize him and I think you always have to tell yourself to be smart, because you want to get him as involved as possible but you also want to be mindful of the 16 game season and then if you’re fortunate enough to have some work after that. He’s a special player, I think the year enabled us to continue to get more comfortable with what makes Todd unique and we’ll continue to try to accentuate his skillset and fortunately there’s not really any limitations. He’s going to come back, a guy you feel good about building around and with Todd in place at that running back spot, you’re in good hands.
(On the challenges of being a first-year coach and play-caller)
There was, and I think the unique thing about it was being able to lean on different guys; working for Jay, having worked for Jon Gruden, even when coach [Mike] Shanahan did it when he was in Denver. I think being able to learn from some of the guys you’ve been around, get their advice, their perspective, and I think what was instrumental for us is being able to have great leaders really on some of those other sides of the ball that you’re not as heavily involved in. Wade Phillips on defense, John Fassel running our special teams, Matt LaFleur did a great job as an offensive coordinator. You look at
Aaron Kromer and the way he was able to help our run game and Joe Barry as our assistant head coach. It’s all about surrounding yourself with great people, certainly the year provides a great opportunity to look inward and feel like there’s a lot of things that even though you might think you did a lot of things well, if you’re really being honest with yourself you can improve just being more organized, a better play caller, a better way of being consistent with the messaging for our players.
That’s what you’re excited about going into year two, is looking at how you can improve specifically as a head coach. There were definitely some challenges but the great people kind of allow you to handle it in a manner that’s conducive to be able have a little bit of success.
(Advice for Matt LaFleur taking the offensive coordinator job with the Tennessee Titans)
There’s really not any advice Matt needs. Matt’s been doing this for a long time, and I think you just want to continue being a supportive friend. We always just enjoy talking ball. He’s ready for this opportunity. He’ll do a graet job leading. I think it’s great he’s able to get his coaching staff finalized to where you’re able to coach your coaches, working under a great coach like [Titans Head Coach] Mike Vrabel will be a unique opportunity, and calling some plays, now I’ll be able to call him and bust his chops like he did for me after some of those bad play calls I made.
(On if it was difficult to let LaFleur go)
It was but I think when you really look at it there were some specific aspects of it that make you feel a little more comfortable. One he’s a great person, I wouldn’t be fortunate enough to be in the role that I’m in if I didn’t have people that were willing to invest and allow you to take steps in your career, and play calling is one of those steps, if you continue to want to achieve being a head coach at some point. I think for Matt being a team that we just played their division, being in another conference, you felt good about that. I think it was an opportunity he’s ready for and then I think what you also felt good about were the people in the building that you’re going to move up to be able to take some of the roles of Matt LaFleur and [former Rams QB Coach] Greg Olson. You have so much confidence in [Tight Ends Coach & Pass Game Coordinator] Shane Waldron and [QB Coach] Zac Taylor and I think that’s why when you do have a good building you want to show you’re invested in helping people grow and move on, but it makes you feel more comfortable because of the pieces that we had in place as well.
(On who will fill LaFleur’s role moving forward)
It leaves a big void but you are confident in Shane Waldron’s ability to step up. Matt did a great job of being able to communicate with our quarterbacks, be able to organize some of the game plans. He was a great sounding board for me to bounce things off of. He had a huge influence and was instrumental in the success we had offensively. When you’ve got guys in place that you feel can take over some of those roles and responsibilities, you always have such a huge amount of respect for what Matt did but also confident in Shane’s ability to step up and do an excellent job having worked with him for the last couple years.
What I think what you were so impressed with was when you come in and get to know [Jared Goff], even though the rookie year didn’t go the way you wanted, I never sensed a guy that was ever fazed by that and didn’t have a sense of belief and expectation internally where he felt like he was going to do well. I think that confidence, that quiet confidence, that he carries himself, that disposition, his demeanor, it rubs off on his teammates.(On his impression of San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo)
You saw a lot of good things. I think when you look at it, a huge amount of respect for [49ers Head Coach] Kyle [Shanahan] and the way that he’s able to put his players in good spots. And then i think with Jimmy you talk about some of the traits you’re looking for, a natural thrower of the football, he can move around, buy time with his legs, change the launch point, he showed a great feel for the play action game, you see why they’re excited about him. I always joke with Kyle, i wish you were in another division. It’ll be fun competing against those guys, and Jimmy did a great job for them.
(On the rebirth of the Rams-Niners rivalry)
I think it’s fun to go against guys like that, but then you also realize you look at the consistency of coach [Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete] Carroll and what Russell Wilson’s done in leading them.
I think a lot of people forget that with two games left we were really playing them for the division. Seattle’s still a force to be reckoned with, they’re an excellent team, well coached by Coach Carroll. i’m really impressed by [Arizona Cardinals Head] Coach [Steve] Wilks and what he’ll bring to that org. So I think for our division as a whole, you’re excited about the competitiveness. i don’t know if I can say I’m excited, but it’s going to be a great challenge for us going against those three teams again next year.
(On re-signing S Lamarcus Joyner)
A huge priority for us. I think you look at what Lamarcus was able to do just moving from being exclusively a nickel over the last couple years transitioning to playing the post safety. obviously he can come down in the box and cover, I think some of the things he can do in Wade’s system makes us a huge priority. He’s a great person as well, kind of represents a lot of the things that are right about your locker room and what you want guys to embody from a football character standpoint, the way they attack every single day. Lamarcus is very important and we’d like to get him re-signed for sure.
(What QB Jared Goff needs to do to make Year 2 jump)
Each player you deal with provides a unique perspective, and that’s part of the experiences you have. But specific to Jared, what I think what you were so impressed with was when you come in and get to know him, even though the rookie year didn’t go the way you wanted, I never sensed a guy that was ever fazed by that and didn’t have a sense of belief and expectation internally where he felt like he was going to do well. I think that confidence, that quiet confidence, that he carries himself, that disposition, his demeanor, it rubs off on his teammates. He went to work, didn’t make excuses for why things didn’t work out in year one, he took full accountability went and worked with [3DQB] Coach [Tom] House, and [3DQB Motion Performance Expert] Adam [Dedeaux] and those guys, and I think he came back ready to go. He was very coachable, receptive to some of the things that Matt and Greg Olson were teaching him on a daily basis, and i thought you saw him get better, and that’s what smart, conscientious players do.
That’s what you can expect from those guys that are wired the right way like Jared.
(On how Goff grew in his offensive system)
I don’t know if it’s necessarily about Jared growing in our system. I think what’s unique is it’s really the Rams’ system, and our system is highly predicated on what he felt comfortable with, and that kind of evolved as we got a comfort level with what he felt comfortable with. I think his ability to be able to communicate that to us was paramount to be able to adjust and alter the game plans. He’s one of those guys, he doesn’t have many limitations so it’s about finding what he consistently does well, putting our players in good positions, and that’s what we’ll strive to do moving forward into next year.
(On mid-round rookie WRs outplaying high picks in 2017, like WR Cooper Kupp)
I don’t know. specifically with cooper, one of the things you don’t want to lose sight of when you do come to the combine,and it’s such a great event and opportunity to evaluate these guys, it’s still about playing football, and whether a guy runs a certain 40, can he separate, can he catch the ball, can he create, does he have the mental capacity to do a bit more than most rookies are capable of handling , and I think when you look at cooper specific situation, to play with Robert [Woods], with Sammy [Watkins], some of the tight ends and Todd at running back, he was a perfect fit. you talk about an impressive rookie, where he really sees the game through the eyes of a quarterback. It’s a credit to him as an individual, and we’re fortunate to have cooper and glad we got him when we did.
(On when his scouting process starts)
The most important thing for us is first let’s evaluate our own roster and then that affects how we move forward with free agency and the draft and any potential trades you want to look into if there are certain players you can acquire. For us it’s about evaluating our players and then as far as getting familiar, that’s where it’s so important to be in alignment with our personnel staff, where General Manager Les [Snead] and his guys have gotten a chance to get a jump on knowing the nuances of what this draft entails. You always try to have a good pulse for the free agency, a good feel for the league.
It’s a bit different because week in week out you cross over with a lot of teams and get a feel for what the free agency market looks like. It’s a process for us, and we’re kind of diving into that right now as a coaching staff, getting more familiar with how we want to supplement our own roster with some of these guys from the draft.
(On the difference between this offseason and last year’s)
It’s instrumental to us being able to move forward and at least having a better idea of what do we have now, and then how that alters the way that we want to get some of those pieces in place, provide some depth, specifically to the receiver position last year. you look at tight end position, we feel pretty good about the depth that we have there on the offensive side of the ball. It’s looking at the depth up front, you feel good about your quarterback room, and then you can never have enough guys that can rush and cover on defense. Being able to know what our own roster looks like, having had year of seeing how these guys fit in our system, but also how we adjust our system to them, gives us a good opportunity to try to continue to build on what last year was.
(Editorial note: A huge thanks to USA Today National NFL Report Lindsay Jones and all the media members who take the time to transcribe the interviews for fans. At a time when NFL ratings and interest in the sport are declining, providing this kind of information to fans is absolutely vital. I honestly don’t know why the league itself isn’t committing more effort to things like this. But that there are media members like Linsday and others who make the effort to fill in the gaps that the league doesn’t deserves our thanks.
So thanks.)
February 28, 2018 at 6:42 pm in reply to: Sean McVay on Year One, the NFL Draft and Year Two – Podcast… + more McVay #83287znModeratorcollected by CROMWELL21 :
Myles SimmonsVerified account @MylesASimmons · 14m14 minutes ago
Among the highlights from HC Sean McVay’s media session:— Rams planning on meeting with Aaron Donald’s representation this week in Indy.
— McVay called re-signing Joyner “a huge priority”
— McVay said LA still has interest in re-signing CB Trumaine JohnsonMyles SimmonsVerified account
@MylesASimmonsFollowing Following @MylesASimmons
Also on potentially bringing back WR Sammy Watkins, McVay said, “If we can make it work, that’s definitely something we want to do.”On evaluating Watkins’ performance in 2017, McVay said, “As a play caller, I can put him in some better spots.”
Rich HammondVerified account @Rich_Hammond · 2m2 minutes ago
McVay also said, on 710, that Rams would look at adding depth on the offensive line in the draft. He specifically mentioned interior linemen. (editorial note: I think they’ll grab a center.)
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Joe Curley@vcsjoecurley
Coach Phillips had a decent pair of corners in Denver. Peters/Johnson would be a decent pair.
Asked about traffic in LA, Sean McVay laughs as he calls it “horrible.” Now that he’s keeping offseason hours, coach says he’s “questioning living in Encino…. 12-mile commutes that take two hours are mind numbing.” I hear TO is beautiful this time of year. @CVRamsClub
Sounds like Jedd Fisch, hired as a senior offensive assistant, will have a significant role on gameday.Joe Curley added,
Speaking on @SiriusXMNFL, Sean McVay says Shane Wadron “will really take Matt (Lafleur’s) role.”
Sean McVay on homework process of Marcus Peters trade: we got people’s opinions that we trusted
Gruden on Sean McVay: “Everything he touched worked. I’m looking forward to competing” against him.
Asked about offensive weapons Josh Reynolds and Gerald Everett, McVay calls them “two guys that you’re excited about” entering their second seasons.
McVay says retaining Lamarcus Joyner is an important piece of business this offseason, “We’d like to get him resigned for sure.”I asked Sean McVay about the importance of coaching each player differently. He quickly mentioned the leadership of Wade Phillips and John Fassel and their experience in leading different personalities. #Rams #NFLCombine
McVay calls Matt Lafleur “instrumental” in the offense’s success last year, but says Shane Waldron and Zac Taylor are ready to step forward as coaches on the staff.
Sean McVay said he can’t talk much about Marcus Peters trade because if something fell through before March 14 it would be considered tampering.
McVay says he’s excited to improve in his second year: “You can improve, being more organized…a better play caller.” @CVRamsClub
Asked about Marcus Peters’ deal at the combine, Rams coach Sean McVay declines until the deal goes through next month, joking “You’re trying to get me in trouble right now.”
——
@greggrosenthal
McVay says the Rams will meet with Aaron Donald’s reps this week. (Few teams have more personnel work to do than Rams.)
February 28, 2018 at 11:18 am in reply to: teachers (images/ideas of teachers in the wake of Florida) #83260znModerator
znModeratorNo politician in American history has gotten away with as much illegality, immorality, mendacity or personalized viciousness toward others as Trump has.
I have to call my own number here. Early in election discussions, some people flirted with the idea that Trump wouldn’t be that much worse than any standard issue dem. My view was, he was going to be far far worse. By a huge margin. I think that’s exactly how it played out.
znModeratorI hope so. I want Trump impeached.
Him being in trouble in the polls has nothing to do with being impeached. Bad poll results don’t get you impeached.
February 27, 2018 at 9:55 pm in reply to: Schefter: “Rams finalizing trade with Chiefs for CB Marcus Peters #83250znModeratorFor the Chiefs, Marcus Peters Wasn’t Worth the Trouble—and Only Three Other Teams Had Any Interest
PETER KING
Day by day, we learn more about the Chiefs-Rams trade that netted Los Angeles a 25-year-old star cornerback, Marcus Peters. On Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the terms of the deal: Kansas City dealt Peters to Los Angeles for a fourth-round pick this year (the 124th overall pick) and a second-round pick next year.
The compensation, even for a problem player like Peters, seemed light to me. The Rams won 11 games in 2017, and if they win a similar number next year, they’d likely have a second-round pick in the low 50s. So, let’s say Peters was acquired for the 124th pick in 2018 and 58th pick in 2019.
Seems like the Rams got a heck of a deal for a 25-year-old turnover-creating machine who’s been named to two Pro Bowls in his three seasons and was All-Pro in 2016.
Now I’ll tell you a few reasons why the compensation was as light as it was:
• I’m told the Chiefs called all 31 other teams in the league this month on Peters, looking for a trade partner, and 28 teams either said they were not interested or did not make an offer of any value. For a player with the playing history of Peters at a vital and hard-to-fill position, that’s amazing. One team made an offer of a mid-round pick, laughable for a player of Peters’ age and stature. (My guess is that was Cleveland or Indianapolis.) Two were in it until the end—the Rams and 49ers. And the Rams’ offer of second- and fourth-round picks was evidently better than San Francisco’s.
• The fact that a GM who knew Peters very well—Indianapolis’ Chris Ballard—did not pursue Peters hard for the Colts this month was viewed as telling by several other teams in the league. Ballard was the Chiefs’ director of player personnel in 2015, and visited Peters and his parents that spring at their Oakland home, before the draft. He was in favor of the Chiefs picking Peters, which they did in the first round of the 2015 draft, 18th overall. Clearly, Ballard would have a pipeline to the inner feelings of the Chiefs, and when he didn’t engage the Chiefs seriously, one source close to the deal said it was a telling sign. However, there is one counterpoint to this: Because the Colts are in full rebuilding mode, they’re not a great fit right now for a very good player who could be a handful, and who could leave in free agency in two years.
• Those around the Chiefs saw there was life after Marcus. The team played one of its best defensive games of the season last year without Peters. He got suspended for a game by the Chiefs for freaking out on the field in a Week 13 loss at the Jets, throwing a penalty flag into the stands and stalking off the field while the game was in play though he had not been ejected. The next week, without Peters, Kansas City held Oakland to 104 total yards and no points through 48 minutes, building up a 26-0 lead. The Chiefs won the game, 26-15.
• The fact that the Chiefs were calling every team in the league about Peters let teams know that Kansas City coach Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach were desperate to dump him.
• Peters’ behavior had become erratic, apparently, capped by the Week 13 meltdown in the Meadowlands. The Chiefs decided they couldn’t trust his behavior anymore and, despite his playmaking ability, felt whatever they could fetch for him in trade would be better than Peters returning in 2018.
• His protests during the national anthem didn’t help—at various points he raised his fist, sat on the bench and stayed in the locker room—but weren’t the driving force behind a trade.
• Peters loves football. He practiced hard in Kansas City. But his tendency to lose it was a divisive part of his résumé too, and a big reason why the Chiefs dumped him.
So, did the Rams make a bad trade?
I don’t think so. The Rams have a defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, who has handled high-maintenance players, and who puts great cover corners like Peters in position to maximize their ability and earning power. Peters is due $10.7 million over the next two years, very reasonable for a player who at his peak is a shutdown cornerback and one of the best in the league. So even if the Rams don’t keep him after 2019, they’ve (theoretically) paid $10.7 million over two years for a cornerback who should be supremely motivated to be great. It’s the only way he’s going to get paid Revis money.
In the end, Peters’ temper and disposition probably cost him a long career in Kansas City. But talent always gets a second chance (and a third, if the talent is as big as Peters’), and the Rams are betting that Sean McVay and Phillips and a more forgiving environment will be a good new start for a very good player.
znModeratorWith Marcus Peters on board, Rams have flexibility at combine
Alden Gonzalez
A closer look at the positions the Los Angeles Rams could target at the NFL combine next week in Indianapolis:
Positions of need: The Rams altered the complexion of their entire offseason on Friday, when they sent this year’s fourth-round pick and next year’s second-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for shutdown cornerback Marcus Peters. Before this move, the Rams seemed very likely to draft a cornerback with the No. 23 overall pick in this year’s draft. It was that big a need. Now, as they descend on Indianapolis for this week’s combine, they have the flexibility to basically go in whichever direction they choose.
They can look for edge rushers, or run stuffers for the interior, or offensive linemen to groom. Or they can keep their focus on the secondary, where plenty of holes remain. Peters enters as the Rams’ primary cornerback, but their No. 2 man, Kayvon Webster, is recovering from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in December, and their slot guy, Nickell Robey-Coleman, is an unrestricted free agent. Behind them, there isn’t a whole lot of depth. Still, though, the Rams now have the benefit of targeting overall talent as opposed to specific positions.
Three players the Rams should focus on at the combine:
Marcus Davenport, DE, UT San Antonio: This draft isn’t necessarily strong on edge rushers, but Davenport is one of few exceptions. The question is whether he can fall to the bottom half of the first round. Davenport didn’t wow at the Senior Bowl and is still a little bit raw. But he is a quick-twitch, 6-foot-6, 255-pound athlete who is reportedly most comfortable as a stand-up rusher in a 3-4 defense. He still needs time to develop, but Wade Phillips is the perfect guy to mold him.
Billy Price, G/C, Ohio State: ESPN’s Todd McShay has Price going to the Rams in each of his first two mock drafts, which might mean they find their long-term solution at center. A four-year starter for the Buckeyes, Price would be ready to play immediately. He won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center and was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2017, before spending the previous three seasons excelling at guard. Listed at 6-4, 312 pounds, Price is strong, explosive and intelligent. But there are reported concerns about his personality, and the Rams could get some answers.
Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa: Jackson was linked to the Rams in Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft. Jackson finally got a chance to start for the Hawkeyes in 2017 and made a name for himself, leading the nation with eight interceptions and 28 disrupted dropbacks. He has everything you want in a lockdown corner — 6-1 with length, great ball skills and a strong work ethic. But he has had only one season as a full-time defensive player. Teams like the Rams need a closer look.
February 26, 2018 at 11:45 pm in reply to: some tweets, 2/26, including on Peters on NFL.net … & the interview (vid) #83225znModeratorMy gut sez, he’ll be ok.
Honest question. Give me a fair percentage on your gut being right on things like this.
Because it’s the net, I have to add–there’s no hint of irony in that. Like I said, honest question.
February 26, 2018 at 8:49 pm in reply to: some tweets, 2/26, including on Peters on NFL.net … & the interview (vid) #83216znModeratorFebruary 26, 2018 at 8:45 pm in reply to: some tweets, 2/26, including on Peters on NFL.net … & the interview (vid) #83215znModeratorCraigMatson wrote:
Still mid interview but he Said ” Let me play football I have watched Woodson and Deion and I play football from the Streets,,,Im talking about everything I get the ball.”
Speaking on the Rams …
We are a young team …we have a front seven , we all want to win ,Cooper Kupp, Jared Goff “.
We’re going to get Gurley the Ball ,I play Madden I know this team.”
He sounded excited to be here.
It was encouraging to see.February 26, 2018 at 8:36 pm in reply to: teachers (images/ideas of teachers in the wake of Florida) #83214znModeratorznModerator#Chiefs get:
2018 4th-Rd
2019 2nd-Rd#Rams get:
CB Marcus Peters
2018 6th-rdFebruary 26, 2018 at 5:28 pm in reply to: teachers (images/ideas of teachers in the wake of Florida) #83205znModeratorAll West Virginia public schools remain closed as teachers continue to strike
All 680 public schools in West Virginia are closed for the third day as thousands of teachers walked out to fight for higher wages and benefits — a first in the state’s history. According to the National Education Association, WV educators are the 48th lowest-paid in the country.
znModeratorDoes it mention that Republican insiders were shocked that he wound up with Trump, at least at first? Former GOP campaign gurus like Nicole Wallace and Steve Schmidt have said that Manafort was well known as seriously damaged goods long before he ended up with Trump. They’ve stated no one else would have hired him.
This article goes way deeper and further back then any of that.
znModeratorBill Barnwell, ESPN Staff Writer
http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-40016950-4
Grades for the Marcus Peters trade: The Chiefs get a C for their end of the swap, in which they sent Peters and the 196th pick to the Rams for the 124th selection and a 2019 second-rounder. If the Rams finish 20th in the draft order next year and we don’t depreciate the pick’s value for time (both of which are perhaps conservative estimates), the Chase Stuart suggests the Chiefs picked up the 33rd selection in a typical draft for a 25-year-old former All-Pro cornerback on a below-market deal for the next two seasons. While Kansas City clearly wanted to trade Peters, this is a price point at which the Chiefs probably needed to trust their ability to rehabilitate Peters and bring him back into the fold. The Rams, meanwhile, get a B+ for their end of the bargain. They probably need to start holding onto their draft picks after sending high selections out in the trades for Peters, Jared Goff, and Sammy Watkins, but they’re not incurring an enormous amount of risk in trading for Peters. They can go year-to-year and pay the Washington product just $27.5 million over the next three seasons, which is less than inferior cornerbacks like Dre Kirkpatrick and Logan Ryan got in their free-agent deals last offseason.
February 26, 2018 at 2:11 pm in reply to: Schefter: “Rams finalizing trade with Chiefs for CB Marcus Peters #83200znModeratorCooney: Reid gives Peters wakeup call
Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange
link: http://nfl.tsxfiles.com/2018/02/24/shocking-trade-from-chiefs-to-rams-a-wakeup-call-for-peters/
Controversy ramped up rapidly Friday when a pending deal was revealed that will trade Pro-Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Los Angeles Rams.
Such transactions cannot be officially consummated until March 14, the official beginning of the 2018 NFL league year.
Peters is arguably one of the top three cornerbacks in the NFL and still on a rookie contract that for the Chiefs would have counted only $3 million against the cap, including a guaranteed base salary of $1.74 million. That is an outright steal in today’s NFL and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is being ridiculed for making such a shocking move.
Not here. In an era where the NFL pretends to care about the conduct of players, Reid should be congratulated. We will get into the on-field ramifications later. First, let’s take a serious look at what is really happening.
Reid is giving Peters a much-needed wakeup call. How Peters’ career plays out in Los Angeles will be totally up to him. And he need only look at the lives and careers of two other NFL veterans to understand his choices for a future in the NFL and in life.
Peters’ history aligns closely with two other NFL defensive backs — Tyrann Mathieu of the Arizona Cardinals and Adam Jones of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mathieu and Peters were both kicked out of college — Mathieu from LSU for failing too many drug tests (marijuana); and Peters from Washington for consistently defying team rules.
Jones wasn’t kicked out of college, but he was suspended from the NFL for an entire season for repeatedly violating the league’s conduct policy. That was in 2007.
Numerous arrests later, Jones is still trouble looking for someplace to happen. My lasting memory of Jones is from September of 2015 at the Oakland Coliseum when he straddled Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper on the ground after a play. Jones took Cooper’s helmet and bashed it against the wide receiver’s head. Amazingly, Jones wasn’t ejected for an act that was worthy of an arrest and jail time.
And then there is Mathieu, whose talents as LSU’s Honey Badger were so remarkable that the safety was a Heisman Trophy finalist as a true sophomore in 2011. But in 2012, LSU head coach Les Miles announced that Mathieu was dismissed from the team after failing too many drug tests. In October, Mathieu was arrested and began to realize he needed to change.
He threw away his cell phone — the umbilical cord that constantly tied him to bad influences — and hid out in Florida to get his body and mind in shape for football and life in general.
By February of 2013 a clean, sober, in-shape Mathieu took part in the NFL Scouting Combine. In March, he looked even better at LSU’s Pro Day. Although his issues in college erased his name on many NFL draft boards, the Cardinals took a chance and stole him in the third round, No. 69 overall.
Unfortunately, the combination of Mathieu’s size — only 5-foot-9, 186 pounds — and aggressive play has resulted in numerous injuries. But when he is healthy, Mathieu shows remarkable abilities, especially when it comes to causing turnovers.
On the field, Peters is a bigger version of Mathieu in terms of sensational ball skills. In three seasons, he has 19 interceptions in 45 games plus two in four playoff games. But his attitude and actions were obviously not acceptable to Reid, whose offseason moves are a neon sign that he is rebuilding the Chiefs.
And, regardless of Peters’ ability as a player, Reid does not want the wrong type of influence in his young locker room.
It definitely will be a young locker room seeking leadership and an identity. Alex Smith was traded so second year quarterback Patrick Mahomes can take over. The Chiefs have also moved on from 13-year inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, and he will test free agency.
So there were plenty of signs that Reid was going to deal Peters without even considering last season’s three unsportsmanlike fouls, two for unnecessary roughness, and the idiotic idea to throw an officials’ flag into the stands. Reid suspended Peters one game for that, which is probably when the die was cast.
In the pending trade that will send Smith to Philadelphia, it was no coincidence that the Chiefs named cornerback Kendall Fuller as part of the compensation. And the Chiefs signed cornerback David Amerson, previously with Washington and Oakland.
Neither of them has the ability of Peters, but that obviously was not the primary consideration.
We don’t yet know what the Rams gave up for Peters, but there is no denying they are getting one of the best shut-down corners in the NFL, and everything that comes with him. The Chiefs were faced with deciding whether to exercise their fifth-year option by May on Peters, who was a first-round pick in 2015. Now, the Rams will have the ability to do that; otherwise he will become an unrestricted free agent in March, 2019.
In 2018, the Rams are on the hook for his guaranteed salary, while the Chiefs will absorb as dead money the remaining prorated $1.3 million of his signing bonus.
If Peters wants to maximize this chance, he needs to heed the trade for what it is — a wakeup call. Maybe he can call Mathieu, who learned his lesson and once again carries a cell phone. Mathieu can tell Peters that it is worth the struggle to straighten up and warn him that the opportunity to backslide will always be there.
A year ago, while recovering from knee surgery, Mathieu was asked if all his injuries or setbacks could make him depressed enough to fall off the wagon and revert to his old ways.
“No, no, no,” he said. “Once you go through something like that and you experience the worst of it, you know you don’t want to go down that dark road ever again.”
Peters has All-Pro and even Hall of Fame ability. Whether he lives up to that potential is up to him.
–Frank Cooney is founder and publisher of The Sports Xchange, has covered football for six decades and is a selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
znModeratorA smarter president would have just shut his mouth, and made sure he and his team got all of the usual forms right from Day One.
All true.
But Manofort is interesting in his own right way beyond this year’s headlines.
That’s a long article but it’s an invaluable read.
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