Workout One-On-One with Pharoh Cooper

Reporter Dani Klupenger gets to know second year wide receiver Pharoh Cooper during the first week of Rams offseason workouts.

http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Workout-One-On-One-with-Pharoh-Cooper/4de18c5d-ea21-4bb1-90ea-31c495c54438

Deadpool wrote:

Deadpool’s 2017 Bigboard

Some notes:

I expanded from 100 to 125 this year due to the Rams not having a 1st rounder. Don’t get used to it, because in my opinion, they all get jumbled after around 75.

The QBs are ranked combinationally (is that a word? ) by where they should be ranked against everyone else and where they will probably get drafted due to the importance of the position.

I do take character issues into account, but I don’t know everything so I am sure I have missed a ton.

Same goes for injuries. Without inside knowledge, we have no idea how serious these injuries are.

Lastly, I have seen everyone of these guys play actual football from games I recorded, to youtube to draft breakdown.

Deadpool’s 2017 Big Board

1. Myles Garrett – DE – Texas A&M – Top edge rusher in the draft. No real holes in his game. Just an explosive, smooth athlete.

2. Jonathan Allen- DL – Alabama – Could play a 4-3 end in base set, move inside on passing downs or could be a 3-4 end. Serious pass rush from the inside.

3. Leonard Fournette – RB – LSU – A hammer between the tackles and enough speed to take it to the house. Rare athleticism for his size at the position. Just a punisher. Going to have to watch his weight.

4. Malik Hooker – S – Ohio State – A ballhawk with a ton of range and instincts. One of my altime safety favorites since I started doing this.

5. Jamal Adams – S – LSU – a rare heat seeking missle SS that has very good coverage skills. Great instincts and an absolute hammer. Not your typical in the box safety.

6. Marshaun Lattimore – CB – Ohio State – Very fluid cover corner with great feet. Is active in run support and is more then willing to stick his nose in the middle of things.

7. Christian McCaffery – RB – Stanford – Multiple position threat. Slot, RB, PR, KR you name it. Best pass catching RB in draft. 4.48 speed with incredible feet, is patient with burst. Just lacks some bulk.

8. Derek Barnett – Edge – Tennessee – A terror off the edge that was a sack machine. Not a liability against the run. More athletic then given credit for and plays with an edge.

9. Soloman Thomas – Edge – Stanford – Quick first step, strong and more of an athlete then we are used to seeing from Stanford lineman. A tad raw and size wise a tweener but his skill set is just too much to ignore.

10. O.J. Howard – TE – Alabama – A gifted pass catcher with the ability to block. A true size/ speed TE.

11. Haasan Reddick -OLB – Temple – I like him more then most. But he is your new age 4-3 OLB. Smooth sideline to sideline with the speed to match up with these weapon TEs.

12. Mike Williams – WR – Clemson – Not a homerun hitter, but has great size and is a master at going up and getting the ball. Not a plodder though.

13. Reuben Foster – ILB – Alabama – A thumper that has learned to stop leading with his head. Instinctive, agile, sideline to sideline and nasty. Can cover. Questionable character IMO.

14. Corey Davis – WR – Western Michigan – A favorite of mine for a few years now. He’s a size/speed/weight WR that has great hands and super college production. Level of Competition doesn’t botehr me.

15. Ryan Ramczyk – OT – Wisconsin – (pronounced Ram check) Top LT in a weak OT class. Great build for the position. Good bend and a decent hand punch. Tad raw and prolly starts on the right side.

16. Jabrill Peppers – SS – Michigan – Was fun to watch play all over at Michigan, but in reality, he is a SS only and a to return guy with freakish athletic ability. Smooth and fast, but lacks the weight to be a OLB in the pros.

17. Mitch Trubisky – QB – North Carolina – 1 spot lower then I had Goff last year. Has all the tools, a tad short at 6-2″ but that isn’t a big deal to me. 13 college starts tells me he needs time to develop. Good mobility, good arm, few interceptions with a 68% completion %.

18. John Ross – WR – Washington – An obvious speed freak (4.22) but undersized at 5-8 and 188. Vertical threat, can take the top off a defense, whatever term you like. A Desean Jackson type WR.

19. Dalvin Cook – RB – Florida State – Here’s your homerun threat. Incredible balance and feet. Just an amazingly athletic RB that has pass catching skills. Off the field red flags.

20. David Njoku – TE – Miami – Athletic freak with great size for the position but only 13 starts. A serious mismatch TE.

21. Cam Robinson – OT – Alabama – A natural RT where speed won’t affect him as much. Could be an OG. A mauling run blocker that has had issues against athletic, quick rushers in the passing game.

22. Takkarist McKinley – OLB – UCLA – IMO a 3-4 OLB that is at his best going forward. Explosive, quick and pretty smooth. A natural edge rusher.

23. Zach Cunningham – ILB – Vanderbilt – A 3 down ILB. Love his insticts, ability to cover (watch the Engram Ole Miss game) and ability to shed. A tad narrow framed and never had a int. in

24. Charles Harris – Edge – Missouri – An athletic, speed rusher. More of a 3-4 OLB then a 4-3 end. Played with and without his hand in the dirt.

25. Marlon Humphrey – CB – Alabama – Here’s where it gets fun as far as CB rankings. I like his size/ speed combo along with his agressiveness in run support. He had a few hiccups in pass coverage this year, but nothing alarming IMO.

26. Caleb Brantley – DT – Florida – A 3 tech in a 4-3 defense. A very disruptive interior lineman. Excellent quickness off the snap. Interviewed poorly at the combine.

27. Deshaun Watson – QB – Clemson – Althetic QB that thrives in high pressure situations and seems like a natural leader. I question his accuracy and decision making with the football. The system he comes from will make for an adjustment period.

28. Taco Charlton – DE – Michigan – A riser on my personal board all year. A classic, long 4-3 end that can get after the QB.

29. Quincy Wilson – CB – Florida – Another bigger (6′-1″ 210 lb) CB that is physical. Faster than quick. Needs to stay focused.

30. Tre’Davious White – CB – LSU – 5′-11″ so average size, a 4 year starter that got better every year, including his level of aggresiveness. Smooth CB trending upward IMO.

31. Forrest Lamp – OG – Western Kentucky – could also be a OC. Prolly goes much higher then I have him but too much depth at CB and edge rushers puch him down. A OT with average arm length moving him inside. Uses his hands well and is aggresive in run blocking. Kinda narrow lower half.

32 . Gareon Conley – CB – Ohio State – 6′-0″ 195 CB that has good length to play against bigger WRs and enough speed to match up with quicker WRs.

33. Malik McDowell – DT – Michigan State – 6′-6″, 295 lbs. – played inside and out. Great length and hand use. Can play with a high motor (can also disappear)

34. Kevin King – CB – Washington – 6′-3″, 200 lbs. A lanky CB. Hass played slot and outside as well as starting his career as a FS. Smooth with nice speed and a willing tackler. A tad raw from moving around the defense so much.

35. Evan Engram – TE – Ole Miss – At 6′-3″ 235 lbs. with a 4.4 40 time is he a WR a slot WR or a TE? At TE he has elite speed that could create matchup issues. At WR not so much. Have heard his work ethic is second to none.

36. Garett Bolles – OT – Utah – Good feet with a nice punch that allows him to mirror opponents. A tad older then other prospects at 24, was out of football for 2 years.

37. Obi Melifonwu – S – UConn – 6′-4″ 225 lb. rangy safety that is ultra athletic and can work in the box or play man. In any normal year, would be the top S off the board.

38. Budda Baker – FS – Washington – plays bigger then his 5′-10″ 195 lb frame. Plays fast, plays sideline to sideline and is a willing tackler. Poor hands…

39. TJ Watt – OLB – Wisconsin – either a 4-3 SSLB or more likely a 3-4 OLB. Excellent edge rusher who also does well setting the edge. (get ready for a run on OLB )

40. Jordan Willis – OLB – Kansas State – 3-4 OLB. Another good pass rusher that can set the edge and is more athletic then he gets credit for.

41. Tyus Bowser – OLB – Houston – 3rd 3-4 OLB. Exposive first step and good bend get him to the QB. Missed a month of his senior year after breaking an orbital bone fighting a teammate…

42. Pat Mahomes II – QB – Texas Tech – The gunslinger in this class that has tons of ability and like every other QB, needs time. Confident, mobile and a huge arm. Decision making can be iffy.

43. Jarrad Davis – ILB – Florida – Sideline to sideline finisher. Athletic and decent in coverage. Only hole is he can be over aggresive and get washed out.

44. Curtis Samuel – WR – Ohio State – A combo WR/RB in college. Will be a WR in the pros. Good hands, good route runner and as dangerous as anyone in the draft in the open field.

45. Adoree Jackson – CB – USC – undersized at 5-10″ 186 lbs. More athlete then football player at this point. Going to start in the slot and will need technique work, but has ball skills.

46. Dan Feeney – OG – Indiana – I like him as a RG. Plays with a nasty streak.+ pass protecter that came from a zone scheme. Can pull. Plays with patience, ie, doesn’t lunge.

47. Tim Williams – OLB – Alabama – Gets after the QB as an OLB. Explosive with bend that makes him an excellent pass rusher. Needs work setting edge in run game.

48. Sidney Jones – CB – Washington – A smooth corner with tremendous ball skills and is decent in run support and can blitz. Narrow frame may be a concern, but IMO he plays bigger then he is. NOTE: injury at proday keeps him from playing his season.

49. DeShone Kizer – QB – Notre Dame – Built well for a QB, athletic, a good arm to make all the throws. Shows some touch at times. I wish I liked him more, but he teases you one game with his talent and then it disappears. Needs some time (like every other QB this year) to develop.

50. Dion Dawkins – OG/OT – Temple – Excellent balance to go along with good technique. I like him inside as a guard where he can use his power.

51. Derek Rivers – OLB/DE – Youngstown State – I really like this FCS kid as a 3-4 OLB. He is what I like to call a speed to power converter. Can set an edge. Should be a better pro then college player. Needs to develop some pass rush moves.

52. Chidobe Awuzie – CB – Colorado – 6′, 200 lb corner that is smooth with loose hips and plays inside and out. Can get a tad handsy at times.

53. Alvin Kamara – RB – Tennessee – Explosive with some wiggle and good balance. Not as instinctive as the first 3 RBs on my list.

54. Fabian Moreau – CB – UCLA – Another smooth athlete with elite top end speed. Good size for the position. Inexperienced due to position change and it shows at times. Torn pectoral at Pro Day.

55. Carl Lawson – DE/OLB – Auburn – Explosive off the edge, also good at setting the edge. Injury history and needs to develop more pass rush moves.

56. Teez Tabor – CB – Florida – Prototypical size for position, athletic and mirrors well and has recovery speed. Had some lapses in coverage this season and a miserable 40 time is concerning.

57. Adam Shaheen – TE – Ashland – Rare size, speed, athleticism for the position. 6′-6″ 278 lbs and ran a 4.78. Can block but needs work. Major step up in competition.

58. Raekwon McMillan – ILB/OLB – Ohio State – Downhill with instincts. Plenty of speed and shows some pass coverage ability. Struggles taking on blocks.

59. JuJu Smith-Schuster – WR – USC – Strong, physical WR. Hands catcher and wins contested balls. Good route runner. Troubles with seperation.

60. Chris Wormley – DT – Michigan – Played inside and out. good bullrush. Quick but not explosive. Athletic for his size. Lacks what I would call a suddenness to his game.

61. Desmond King – S- Iowa – Played corner for the Hawkeyes but lack of speed will move him to safety. Instictive with ball skills. Physically limited.

62. Josh Jones – S – NCST – Size/speed combo with ball skills that can be over aggressive at times.

63. Gerald Everett – TE – South Alabama – Another WR in a TE body that plays fast and eats up turf. Willing blocker. Needs route running work.

64. Chris Godwin – WR – Penn St. – Excellent route runner with good hands. Plays slower then his timed speed.

65. Cooper Kupp – WR – Eastern Washington – Route technichian with excellent hands playing in the slot. Can he play outside?

66. Tarell Basham – DE – Ohio – Another speed to power athlete. High motor and can set an edge. Needs pass rush moves.

67. Cordrea Tankersly – CB – Clemson – Nice length for the position. Does well to mirror WRs and good production. Concerned about instincts / too handsy for my liking.

68. Marcus Maye – S – Florida – Prototypical size for position. Makes plays on the ball and plays sideline to sideline. Can get lost in coverage at times.

69. Marcus Williams – S – Utah – Another prototype sized S that has instincts and plays sideline to sideline. needs to get stronger.

70. ArDarius Stewart – WR – Alabama – WR that gets it done. Nothing flashy, plays tough, wins contested balls and tough to tackle.

71. Ahkello Witherspoon – CB – Colorado – 6′-3″ 200 lb. size/speed combo with loose hips but needs to add weight.

72. Taylor Moton – OT/OG – WEstern Michigan – Big and strong and needs to be a guard. has played OG and OT. Footwork and balance issues force him inside.

73. Dorian Johnson – OG – Pitt – Big, strong with an excellent lower body for a OG. Needs to stay engaged in blocks longer at times.

74. Zay Jones – WR – East Carolina – High production with good hands. Has played inside and out. Competes. Average play speed IMO. Lots of production came after team was desperately behind.

75. Montravius Adams – DT – Auburn – Disruptive, plays low and explosive. Lets blockers get into his body too often.

76. Pat Elfein – OC/OG – Ohio State – Strong lower body, plays with patience. Good hands. A little stiff .

77. Ryan Anderson -OLB – ALabama – Excellent hand work and sets a mean edge. More of an effort pass rusher. Not explosive, not real rangy.

78. Larry Ogunjobi – DT – Charlotte – 6′-3″ and plays low with decent explosiveness off the snap. Short arms and could use more size in his game.

79. Antonio Garcia – OT – Troy – very athletic with +feet. Needs to add some weight, short arms not ideal.

80. Chad Hansen – WR – Cal – good size @ 6′-2″ and deceptive speed. Plays smooth and physical. Good hands. needs to create more seperation.

81. Cameron Sutton – CB – Tennessee – Instinctual CB with good hands and smooth feet that needs to add some size.

82. Isaac Asiata – OG – Utah – has played OG/OC – A flat out non-stop mauler thjat can be over aggressive at times.

83. Davis Webb – QB – Cal – Big arm, big body. Comes from a air raid offense so needs to sit and learn…

84. Ethan Pocic – OC – LSU – Tall and athletic for a center. Good hand usage. Not strong and can get leveraged.

85. Justin Evans – S – Texas A&M – Some of the best ball skills in the draft and is always around the ball. Likes to hit, but doesn’t tackle. Needs more size.

86. DeMarcus Walker – DE – Florida – Has excellent hand work, nice array of pass rusah moves and finds ways to get to the QB. Very inconsistant when you watch him from game to game.

87. Joe Mixon – RB – Oklahoma – does it all. Excellent burst, can thump between the tackles, excellent pass catcher and has excellent feet. As a human being, the guy is a repeat offender dirtbag I wouldn’t touch.

88. Dalvin Tomlinson – DT – Alabama – Big, thick space eater in the middle. Not very athletic, but does the dirty work.

89. Jordan Leggett – TE – Clemson – Good length for the position at 6′-5″. Hands catcher that really puts pressure on the seam. Can block. Stiff and needs to put in consistant effort.

90. Amara Darboh – WR – Michigan – Excellent size and ran a 4.45 but doesn’t play to that speed. Physical, heady player.

91. Eddie Jackson – S – Alabama – Rangy S that has played CB. Has good ball skills and is a +punt returner. Average athlete.

92. D’Onta Foreman – RB – Texas – excellent feet and athleticism for a big back. Needs to work on ball security.

93. Taywan Taylor – WR – West. Kentucky – Slot WR that gets seperatuion with his athleticism and speed. Does let the ball get into his body.

94. Jourdan Lewis – CB – Michigan – undersized nickel CB that plays much bigger then he is. Great feet. Good speed and athletic. Just lacks size.

95. Carlos Henderson – WR – Louisiana Tech – Under-rated WR that has top end speed, ok runner, good hands and has returner experience. Is he a slot guy in the NFL? Step up in competition.

96. Charles Walker – DT – Oklahoma – Strength and quickness is very good. Consistancy is not. When is is is right, he is tough to stop. Concussions could be an issue.

97. Nathan Peterman – QB – Pitt – Average physically, inc. his arm. Came from a pro style offense so can drop back. mechanics need work, but he is accurate.

98. Dede Westbrook – WR – Oklahoma – Smooth route runner that is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Extremely light in the weight deptartment.

99. Kendall Beckwith – ILB – LSU – Physical, old school MLBer that is willing to take on blockers. Average athletically. torn ACL may have him drop.

100. George Kittle – TE – Iowa – Good blocker, +hands that can press the seams and is more of a reciever then your typical Iowa TE. needs route work.

101. Rasul Douglas – CB – West Virginia – Big, physical CB at 6′-2″. Excellent awareness with OK speed. Burner WRs will give him trouble. Serious concerns about his smarts.

102. Alex Anzalone – OLB – Florida – Can play inside and out, 3-4 or 4-3. Good moving forward or backward. Injury history concerns.

103. Tanoh Kpassagnon – DE – Villanova – A tall, long 3-4 DE that uses his athelicism and long arms to get to the QB. Good at setting the edge and holding his ground. Not explosive.

104. Eddie Vanderdoes – DT – UCLA – Athletic and powerful. Looked better pre-ACL tear. Played all last year and seemed off. Knee is an issue.

105. Anthony Walker Jr. – ILB – Northwestern – instinctive middle LBer works best going downhill. A little limited athletically.

106. Jake Butt – TE – Michigan – A tough in-line chain moving TE with strong hands. OK as a blocker. Tore his ACL in bowl game.

107. Trey Hendrickson – DE – Florida Atlantic – Good burst with good arm use. Uses a couple of rush moves. Force fumble machine. A little small and can have issues setting the edge.

108. Roderick Johnson – OT – Florida State – Tall OT with long arms and uses them well with a solid punch. Strong. Balance and movement issues make him a RT.

109. Malachi Dupree – WR – LSU – good size at 6′-2″ 200 lbs, solid hands with excellent body control. QB play makes him a hard eval. Doesn’t play to his 4.5 speed.

110. Jaleel Johnson – DT – Iowa – Athletic with a revved up motor for a big kid. Excellent hand use. Gets upright at times and issues once a blocker gets into his body.

111. Bucky Hodges – TE – Virginia Tech – Tall, smooth TE with 4.57 speed. Will work the seam and the redzone. Needs route work. Hands can be iffy at times.

112. Duke Riley – OLB – LSU – Downhill read and react LBer. Average athlete.

113. Blair Brown – OLB – Ohio – Instictive, downhill LBer that finishes. A tad undersized.

114. Josh Reynolds – WR – Texas A&M – Long WR with 4.5 speed that wins jump balls. Wins contested balls and is a vertical threat. Thin framed that has problems with the jam.

115. Carlos Watkins – DT – Clemson – Big and athletic. Good hand use. Can get leveraged by OGs, needs to play lower.

116. Samaje Perine – RB – Oklahoma – A bruiser back with yards after contact power. Not much wiggle.

117. Nico Siragusa – OG – San Deigo State – A muscular fire hydrant. Excellent run blocker. Needs work on pass pro.

118. Elijah Qualls – DT – Washington – A 6′-1″ space eating fire hydrant. Short arms and legs make it difficult for him to make plays.

119. Daeshon Hall – DE – Texas A& M – High motor guy that has played as a LB and DE. IMO a 4-3 DE. Can set the edge against the run and has shown he is athletic enough to rush the passer. 1 yr as a DE makes him raw.

120. Jonnu Smith – TE – Florida International – Another seam pressing TE with 4.6 speed. Decent blocker. Doesn’t have natural hands.

121. – Vince Biegel – OLB – Wisconsin – 3-4 OLB with a high motor. Plays the run well. At his best playing downhill. Needs to get stronger (once he gets engaged, tough to disengage)

122. Eric Magnuson – OL – Michigan – Gets the OL designation because I feel he could play multiple positions. Experience at OG and OT. I think he ends up inside. Needs to get stronger.

123. -Dawuane Smoot – DE – Illinois – 6′-3″ 265 lb DE/OLB tweener with 4.77 speed. High motor, good athlete with some speed to power that I like. Can have issues against the run.

124. Noah Brown – WR – Ohio State – A big, physical WR that wins contested catches and moves the sticks. Really raw and young.

125. John Johnson – S – Boston College – Has played CB and S. Smooth with +footwork. Excellent ball skills and gets sideline to sideline. Needs to play more physically as a S.

Based on “so far” that’s the obvious choice you make at this point in each case.

We’ll see if GR can settle down.

…

poplarbluffman wrote:

pro day meetings give a good peek at priorities and player interest also interesting tp see where the Rams aren’t …..pro days are usually used to stack boards for later rd/priority udfa signings

Alabama will have all 32 teams but Idaho might have only 3,4 NFL teams there when I come across them I’ll post

Idaho Nose tackle Glen Antoine put up some impressive numbers. Tipping the scales at 337 pounds Antoine completed 37 reps on the bench (31 7/8 inch arms) posted a 30 inch vertical jump and 8-foot-7 broad.
The New York Jets met with the potential nose tackle (third one of the week) while Antoine also met with the Browns, Steelers, Bengals and Los Angeles Rams.

David Jones Richmond FS He measured 6014 and 205 pounds today and timed 4.43s/4.45s in the 40 and 4.3s in the short shuttle. His vertical jump topped 34 inches, and his broad measured 10-foot-9. Jones also completed 12 reps on the bench.Today he met with the Los Angeles Rams,

David Jones Richmond 6’1 210 led FCS with 9 int in 2015 broke arm in 2016 off the charts character/intelligence and ran 4.45 at pro day might of gone has high as 3rd rd if if stayed healthy

At today’s @PittStGorillas Pro Day. Rams, Broncos, Cardinals and Eagles amongst teams present for Wilson, Washington and Copelin’s workout

Copelin wass a former Mizzou wr behind Sasser on the depth chart.. Missouri WR Levi Copelin suspended by NCAA for 2014 season…Missouri redshirt sophomore wideout Levi Copelin will miss the entire 2014 football season through suspension after failing an NCAA-administered drug test. In a statement, Copelin says he took an over-the-counter nutritional supplement which is “legal and available to the public” but on the NCAA’s list of prohibited substances, leading to the failed test and the NCAA’s subsequent year-long suspension.

6’1 190 tall lanky fast wr solid st player

Rams attended Toledo’s pro day to watch Kareem Hunt rb my 58th best player in the draft…knocked a full sec off his combine 40…

could he possibly fall to to 4th rd? true #1 back..can pass protect, cath the ball and very, very good as a rb…with Gurley sucking for a season and a half Rams need draft a rb with #1 potential

CB Brendan Langley (6-0 7/8, 196) stood on all of his combine numbers, and had a very good workout, showing quick feet. He also went through punt-return drills. Rams one of 11 teams there

really impressive player with the signing of Robey would expect Rams will look harder at outside cb’s

St. Louis suing Rams, NFL for leaving for Los Angeles

Vincent Bonsignore

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20170412/st-louis-suing-rams-nfl-for-leaving-for-los-angeles

It’s been more than a year since the National Football League approved the Rams’ relocation from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

And now St. Louis wants payback.

The city and county of St. Louis and the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority (RSA) filed a 52-page lawsuit Wednesday against the NFL and its 32 teams seeking damages and restitution of profits over the loss of the Rams.

The suit accuses the NFL and the Rams of violating the league’s relocation policies put in place in 1984 to avoid antitrust liability for any future franchise relocations.

You can read the entire lawsuit here.

Among the specific accusations, the suit claims the NFL:

• Failed to require the Rams to meet its “primary obligation … to advance the interests of the League in its home territory” including “maximizing fan support.”

• Allowed relocation when the Ram’s “viability in its home territory” was not “threatened.”

• Failed to require the Rams to “work diligently and in good faith to obtain and to maintain suitable stadium facilities in their home territory.”

• Failed to provide the notice of relocation, statement of reasons, and accompanying material to the RSA or home market in a timely fashion to allow Plaintiffs to respond adequately to the “proposed transfer.”

• Failed to have any notice of relocation published in newspapers of general circulation and failed to require the Rams to address “specifically” “each of the factors” identified in the Relocation Policy.

The suit also accuses the Rams and owner Stan Kroenke of fraudulent misrepresentation and the NFL – specifically Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones – of intentionally interfering with the business relationship between the Rams and St. Louis’ by “encouraging, promoting, and conspiring with the Rams to develop a plan to relocate the Rams to Los Angeles and convincing the other member-teams to approve the relocation.”

“There is no legitimate basis for this litigation,” an NFL spokesman said. “While we understand the disappointment of the St. Louis fans and the community, we worked diligently with local and state officials in a process that was honest and fair at all times.”

A Rams spokeseman said the club does not comment on pending litigation.

According to the suit, St. Louis has lost between $1.85 million and $3.5 million in amusement and ticket tax revenue since the Rams left before the 2016 season and $7.5 million in property tax and $1.4 million in sales tax revenue. It also claims the departure of the Rams has resulted in in hotel tax, property tax, and sales tax revenue.

The Rams played 21 seasons in St. Louis after relocating there from Los Angeles in 1994, but began looking a new home after the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission declined an arbitrators ruling to pay $700 million to renovate the Edward Jones Dome in 2013.

By declining the arbitrators decision, St. Louis triggered an early out clause in the Rams Edward Jones Dome lease and freed the Rams to look elsewhere for a new home.

Ironically, that out clause was negotiated into the original lease as part of the deal to lure the Rams from Los Angeles to St. Louis. Essentially it stipulated St. Louis was financially responsible for making sure the Edward Jones Dome remained a first-tier NFL venue and that the Rams could convert to year-to-year leases beginning in 2015 if St. Louis opted not to honor the clause.

Kroenke and the Rams soon began contemplating a new home after the decision by the St. Louis CVC, with Los Angeles emerging as their desired location after Kroenke got control of nearly 300 acres of open land in Inglewood on which he hoped to build a new stadium as part of a massive multi-use development project.

St. Louis’ decision not to renovate the Edward Jones Dome, and the out clause it resulted in in the lease, played a key role in the NFL eventually approving the Rams to move back to St. Louis.

And while St. Louis and Missouri simultaneously worked toward a local stadium project they hoped would convince the NFL to block the Rams from moving to Los Angeles, the NFL deemed the St. Louis riverfront stadium project non viable shortly before owners voted to allow the Rams to move back to L.A.

RAMS DRAFT: SECOND ROUND NFL PROSPECTS FOR LOS ANGELES AFTER PRO DAYS

link: http://www.inquisitr.com/opinion/4138259/rams-draft-second-round-nfl-prospects-for-los-angeles-after-pro-days-opinion/

The Los Angeles Rams do not have a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, so they must explore many options in the second round. Los Angeles’ first selection in the 2017 NFL Draft occurs at No. 37 overall. Therefore, they will need to address one of their many needs on offense or defense via their top draft selection.

Zay Jones

Eastern Carolina receiver Zay Jones is my favorite for the Rams second round pick in the NFL Draft. He was my ideal fit in a recent seven-round Mock Draft. Jones brings the size and production that Los Angeles needs at receiver. A recent ESPN article detailed that the Rams are one of the most undersized receiver groups in the NFL. Adding Jones would give them a possession receiver to compliment the quick and shifty guys that they already have at the position.

Additionally, Jones has an NFL pedigree and he set a tone of collegiate records. He also answered questions about the competition that he played in college by impressing at the NFL Combine and Senior Bowl against the Draft’s top prospects. Jones has all the makings of a can’t miss second-round selection for the Rams.

Moreover, Penn St. receiver Chris Godwin deserves some consideration from the Rams at No. 37. Los Angeles needs to add some offensive firepower. Remember, their offense ranked as the worst unit in the league. Giving young quarterback Jared Goff some capable targets will be critical to his development. The Rams may find a pass catcher in the second round at tight end, but they should strongly consider Godwin if he is available.

When we last saw Godwin, he torched the USC defense for 187 yards and two touchdowns in the Rose Bowl. Godwin followed that by testing well at the NFL Combine. In fact, he and Jones have a very similar athletic profile. Godwin does not have the gaudy production of Jones, but he did play in bigger games. Los Angeles would be lucky to grab Jones or Godwin. Both could become a starting receiver from Day One.

Budda Baker

Washington safety Budda Baker might deserve a first round selection. He was highly productive in college and he tested well by all accounts. There are some questions about his size and this NFL Draft safety class is deep. Thus, Baker could fall to the Rams in the second round.

For Los Angeles, they’ve lost a starting safety in the last two free agency classes. In 2015, Rodney McLeod bounced and T.J. McDonald left this past free agency period. Now, the Rams are trying LaMarcus Joyner at safety. Therefore, the Rams could use an instant starter at safety like Baker. Baker also played some corner in college, so he could play the slot corner position too.

Cam Robinson

Los Angeles did address the offensive line by signing free agents Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan. However, they still need young offensive linemen for depth. They may add one in the second round with the hopes that he can develop as a long term protector for Goff and running back Todd Gurley.

Insert Cam Robinson as one of the most logical options for Los Angeles in the second round. Robinson was productive at Alabama and played in some big games. However, there are questions about his ability to finish blocks and protect the quarterback’s blind side in the NFL. This could make Robinson available in the second round. He is an ideal prospect for the guard or right tackle position as he is a mauler who can open running lanes. The Rams need as much blocking help as they can get, so they should be happy to get Robinson. He could develop into a really good NFL starter.

Adoree Jackson

USC corner Adoree Jackson may be available for the Rams due to questions about his size and a deep class of corners in the 2017 NFL Draft. That would be an ideal situation for the Rams. Los Angeles needs another starting corner opposite Trumaine Johnson. Jackson has the speed and ball skills to be an ideal man-coverage corner with the Rams.

Plus, the Rams could use Jackson as a returner. Jackson returned four kicks for a touchdown in college, so Los Angeles will gladly take Jackson’s big-play ability on special teams. Not to mention, Jackson’s USC connection would make him an instant fan favorite for the Rams. Jackson may be too tempting for the Rams to pass on in the second round of the NFL Draft.

At the end of the day, the Rams may not wait until the second round to make a selection. Los Angeles could trade back into the first round. Otherwise, they may find that none of these players are available in at No. 37. Regardless, Los Angeles should consider Zay Jones, Chris Godwin, Budda Baker, Cam Robinson, and Adoree Jackson during Day Two of the 2017 NFL Draft which begins April 28.

Astronomers piece together first image of black hole

Laurence Coustal

https://phys.org/news/2017-04-astronomers-piece-image-black-hole.html

After training a network of telescopes stretching from Hawaii to Antarctica to Spain at the heart of our galaxy for five nights running, astronomers said Wednesday they may have snapped the first-ever picture of a black hole.
It will take months to develop the image, but if scientists succeed the results may help peel back mysteries about what the universe is made of and how it came into being.
“Instead of building a telescope so big that it would probably collapse under its own weight, we combined eight observatories like the pieces of a giant mirror,” said Michael Bremer, an astronomer at the International Research Institute for Radio Astronomy (IRAM) and a project manager for the Event Horizon Telescope.
“This gave us a virtual telescope as big as Earth—about 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) is diameter,” he told AFP.
The bigger the telescope, the finer the resolution and level of detail.
The targeted supermassive black hole is hidden in plain sight, lurking in the centre of the Milky Way in a region called the Sagittarius constellation, some 26,000 light years from Earth.
Dubbed Sagittarius A* (Sgr A* for short), the gravity- and light-sucking monster weighs as much as four million Suns.
Theoretical astronomy tells us when a black hole absorbs matter—planets, debris, anything that comes too close—a brief flash of light is visible.
No going back
Black holes also have a boundary, called an event horizon.
The British astronomer Stephen Hawking has famously compared crossing this boundary to going over Niagra Falls in a canoe: if you are above the falls, it is still possible to escape if you paddle hard enough.
Once you tip over the edge, however, there’s no going back.
The Event Horizon Telescope radio-dish network is designed to detect the light cast-off when object disappear across that boundary.
“For the first time in our history, we have the technological capacity to observe black holes in detail,” said Bremer.
The virtual telescope trained on the middle of the Milky Way is powerful enough to spot a golf ball on the Moon, he said.
The 30-metre IRAM telescope, located in the Spanish Sierra Nevada mountains, is the only European observatory taking part in the international effort.
Other telescopes contributing to the project include the South Pole Telescope in Antarctica, the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii, and the Atacama Cosmology Telescope in the desert of northern Chile.
All the data—some 500 terabytes per station—will be collected and flown on jetliners to the MIT Haystack Observatory in Massachusetts, where it will be processed by supercomputers.
“The images will emerge as we combine all the data,” Bremer explained. “But we’re going to have to wait several months for the result.”

Re Rams exercising 5th-year option on Aaron Donald, team not expected to do the same on OT Greg Robinson, No. 4 pick in 2014.

— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) April 12, 2017

..

Klein of course got the pick wrong. Unless he has a special mental disability that causes him to add 2 to every number he writes or speaks. So for example “my hand is fine and healthy and I have all 7 fingers intact.”

More on Robinson:

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/9313/greg-robinson

The Los Angeles Times’ Gary Klein reports the Rams will decline 2014 first-rounder Greg Robinson’s fifth-year team option for 2018.

Duh. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft, Robinson has been a colossal bust. He’s arguably been the worst left tackle in the sport since entering the league and is now being flipped to right tackle by the Sean McVay coaching staff. We doubt he proves much better there. The Rams haven’t been able to find a capable left tackle since Hall of Famer Orlando Pace moved on, and they smartly plugged the hole with veteran Andrew Whitworth as a priority free agent.

Coach Sean McVay sets a new foundation with Rams this week

GREG BEACHAM

http://www.wpxi.com/news/coach-sean-mcvay-sets-a-new-foundation-with-rams-this-week/511261627

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) – Sean McVay had been waiting three months to get all of his players in the same room for the first time since he took over the Los Angeles Rams.
As you might expect, the youngest head coach in modern NFL history doesn’t like to wait.

When McVay finally got to say his first words to his new team Monday as the Rams opened their offseason training program, he got right to work building a winner on the wreckage of the Rams’ homecoming season.

“Really right now, it’s about building relationships with these guys,” said McVay, the former Washington offensive coordinator. “It’s very early in the process. We’ve got some time right now, so we want to make sure we do a great job establishing a foundation, so that it can be conducive for that long-term success. But I think today went as well as we could have hoped.”

McVay’s early impact on the Rams includes new T-shirts with the slogan “We, Not Me” on the backs. Almost every employee in the Rams’ training complex appeared to be wearing them, but McVay cleverly said the shirts weren’t his idea: “It was OUR idea.”

When he finally stepped in front of his players, McVay had deeper thoughts than a three-word catchphrase. Linebacker Alec Ogletree described McVay’s opening address as an attempt to create “a whole different culture, just making sure we’re accountable and dependable.”

The Rams’ key players have already met McVay, but they got their first real taste of his oratorical and motivational skills at their team meeting. The 31-year-old coaching prodigy appears to be making a good early impression on the Rams, who are very open to change after last season’s collapse from a 3-1 start to a 4-12 finish.

“He is a young guy,” said Todd Gurley, the Rams’ 22-year-old running back. “But he’s got that energy about him, that swagger about him that you like in a coach, and it’s definitely great to see that.”

Gurley is among the numerous projects facing McVay as his coaching staff crafts a game plan to fix the NFL’s worst offense for the past two seasons.

Gurley rushed for 885 yards last season, but averaged a measly 3.2 yards per carry. It was a sharp decline from his rookie year, when he put up 1,106 yards and 4.8 per carry.

McVay’s Redskins split the carries among three running backs last season, but all three averaged 1 yard or more per carry than Gurley.

McVay also has work to do with quarterback Jared Goff, who went winless as a starter in his rookie season, throwing five touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

Goff has already been in private coaching during the offseason with quarterback gurus Tom House and Adam Dedeaux, and he appeared to be noticeably bulked up. After participating in Kirk Cousins’ growth into a top-shelf NFL starter, McVay is eager to get a chance to coach Goff – and the former No. 1 overall pick seems extremely eager to learn.

“I think there’s some really good, new energy here,” Goff said. “Coach McVay and the rest of his staff have done a great job exuding that energy and really letting us feel it. I think it’s really a fresh start for a lot of people. I think it’s a really good feeling. Just freshness is the best way to describe it.”

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