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znModeratorThis is the trailer for a documentary “The Brainwashing Of My Dad” I
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3771626/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl
Jen Senko, a documentary filmmaker, looks at the rise of right-wing media through the lens of her WWII vet father who changed from a life-long, nonpolitical Democrat to an angry, right-wing fanatic after his discovery of talk radio on a lengthened commute to work. In trying to understand how this happened, she not only finds this to be a phenomenon, but also uncovers some of the forces behind it: a plan by Roger Ailes under Nixon to create a media for the GOP; the Lewis Powell Memo, urging business leaders to influence institutions of public opinion – especially the universities – the media and the courts; and under Reagan, the dismantling of the Fairness Doctrine – all of which helped to change the entire country’s direction and culture, misinformed millions, divided families and even the country itself.
March 15, 2016 at 3:43 pm in reply to: 2016 mocks & rankings & general draft commentaries, thread 2 #40618znModeratorPrisco’s NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Broncos pull the trigger on Connor Cook
PETE PRISCO
When the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles made a deal that included exchanging first-round picks, it meant it was time for a new mock draft.
Why?
The bosses demanded it and you crave it.
OK, so maybe just the first part.
This is my Mock 4.0 and it takes into account the trade between Miami and Philadelphia and also the free-agent happenings. You will notice I now have four quarterbacks in the first round, with the top three being Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch.
The newcomer is Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook. I have him going to the Denver Broncos after they lost Brock Osweiler to the Texans in free agency. They have to get somebody.
There are several other changes from my last mock based on free agency. There’s a little over a month to go until the draft, so the changes will keep on coming.
1. Tennessee Titans
Laremy Tunsil, T, Mississippi: They didn’t get a tackle in free agency, but did land a center in Ben Jones. If they take Tunsil, they can really improve their line next year.2. Cleveland Browns
Jared Goff, QB, California: Even if they make a deal to get Colin Kaepernick, I can’t imagine that would take them out of the quarterback sweepstakes. Goff seems like the guy to me for now.3. San Diego Chargers
DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon: They suffered some hits in free agency on their line, and Brandon Mebane is only a little bit of a help, so they have to get help up front. Buckner is a power player who would fit what they want from their down players.4. Dallas Cowboys
Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State: They need a playmaker in the secondary. Ramsey can play both corner and safety, which offers versatility that the Cowboys need.5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Myles Jack, MLB, UCLA: They addressed the front and secondary in free agency, but they need speed at linebacker. Jack would bring that and more. He is a three-down player.6. Baltimore Ravens
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State: He would be playing more stand-up in their scheme, but Terrell Suggs made the transition when he came out. Bosa would be a nice addition with Suggs coming off injury.7. San Francisco 49ers
Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State: They don’t have an answer at quarterback, so they have to get one. This kid is raw, but talented. He is athletic, so he would fit in Chip Kelly’s scheme.8. Philadelphia Eagles
Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis: Sam Bradford isn’t the long-term answer. Chase Daniel isn’t either. The word is they are eying a quarterback, which this move up helps. They can take a player who can learn for a year or so.9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
William Jackson III, CB, Houston: They added a smaller corner in Brent Grimes in free agency, so they can get a taller corner here in Jackson. I think he could also play inside, and the Bucs need help there too.10. New York Giants
Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State: They really helped their front with Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon. And they got a good corner in Janoris Jenkins. But the linebacker spot is still a mess. Lee can fly and they need speed.11. Chicago Bears
A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama: They have issues up front and this is a power player who would really help in the run game. He won’t be much of a pass rusher, but he is powerful.12. New Orleans Saints
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville: They have to get push inside from their pass rush and Rankins is that type of player. He was impressive at the Senior Bowl.13. Miami Dolphins
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State: They signed C .J. Anderson to an offer sheet, but the Broncos might match. So I will put a back here until we know for sure. They clearly want help there.14. Oakland Raiders
Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame: If they were able to land him here, they could keep Kelechi Osemele at guard, which is his better spot. They could really be good on the offensive line if that were to happen.15. Los Angeles Rams
Josh Doctson, WR, TCU: They have to get a threat down the field in the passing game, no matter who starts at quarterback. This is the best receiver in the draft.16. Detroit Lions
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi: They added Marvin Jones to Golden Tate in free agency, but they need more. Neither one of those guys is a No. 1 receiver. Treadwell looks like Dez Bryant.17. Atlanta Falcons
Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson: They took Vic Beasley last year, so now they add his former college teammate. They have to get more from their pass rush, and even with the signing of Derrick Shelby they have to get another body.18. Indianapolis Colts
Taylor Decker, T, Ohio State: They have issues on their offensive line and this kid could play both tackle and guard. He is a tough, physical player.19. Buffalo Bills
Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Mississippi: He has some off-field issues, but that’s why he’s down here. He has a ton of talent and would be worth the risk in this spot.20. New York Jets
Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky: He has a lot of pass-rush ability and would help the outside pass rush in a big way. He would have to adjust to standing up more, but he is capable.21. Washington Redskins
Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida: They have to get better outside in coverage and this is a player who excels in man coverage. He would step in and start right away.22. Houston Texans
Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama: I know they signed Tony Bergstrom from the Raiders, but Kelly is the best center by far in this draft. Bergstrom might be little more than a backup.23. Minnesota Vikings
Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame: They got line help in free agency in Alex Boone, so they can get some speed outside for their passing game. Fuller is one of the fastest in this draft class.24. Cincinnati Bengals
Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor: They lost both Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu to free agency. They have to get a threat to go opposite A.J. Green.25. Pittsburgh Steelers
Mackenzie Alexander, CB, Clemson: He is projected to go higher than this, but his size might force him to slip some. The Steelers have to get help at corner.26. Seattle Seahawks
Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State: He is a self-made player who would really help a line that needs it. Conklin could play guard or tackle.27. Green Bay Packers
Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama: They are moving Clay Matthews back to the outside, so getting a run-thumper inside would make a lot of sense28. Kansas City Chiefs
Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State: They lost Sean Smith to the Raiders, and even with Philip Gaines coming off injury I think they could use another. Apple is a talented player who could be the nickel as a rookie.29. Arizona Cardinals
Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson: They have said that fixing the pass rush was a top priority. This is a player who impressed rushing from the left side for the Tigers.30. Carolina Panthers
Le’Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech: They have to get better at the tackle spots, and this kid has a ton of skill. He looks more like a right tackle to me, and the Panthers need help there.31. Denver Broncos
Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State: They are forced to take him here now. Why? Who do they have? What’s the plan? Cook might be NFL ready right away. The issue is what’s his ceilingMarch 15, 2016 at 3:06 pm in reply to: 2016 mocks & rankings & general draft commentaries, thread 2 #40616znModeratorprofootballfocus.com
CRIS COLLINSWORTH’S FIRST 2016 NFL MOCK DRAFT
Cris Collinsworth shares his first-round picks for all 31 teams.1. Los Angeles Rams (Trade from Tennessee) Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
While I’m only guessing that the team will be Los Angeles that trades up with Tennessee to obtain the No. 1 pick, I do believe two quarterbacks will go 1-2 in this draft. Every year the quarterbacks slowly rise to the top of the draft board. Are they the two best players in the draft class? Probably not, but as a GM you simply can’t take the chance that one of them becomes the next Peyton Manning or Tom Brady while playing for another team. Jared Goff is the better QB today, but teams won’t be able to pass on the physical traits that Carson Wentz brings to the table. Somebody will move ahead of Cleveland and get him.
Wentz is a powerful-looking guy. His size makes an impression, but his ability to run is even more impressive. He appears to have a top-15 NFL arm. Wentz might not be as fast, powerful or athletic as Cam Newton, but at 6-foot-5 and 237 pounds, Cam is not an unfair comparison for him. Wentz has a lot to learn making the huge jump from North Dakota State to the NFL, but his talent is undeniable. His arm strength and athleticism allows him to make the off-balance throws necessary in the NFL. I worry about his release quickness — there may be a little loop in his throwing motion — but Wentz possesses too many positives to not be taken at No. 1.
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Available at 15 in this mock: Josh Doctson, Noah Spence, William Jackson III, Laquon Treadwell, Eli Apple.
znModeratorI think this article is as superficial as the one Snow critiques in another thread (here: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/wrs-in-the-draft-thread-combine-after/#post-40613 ).
It might be a while before the southern cal writers know enough about the team to write anything with informed nuance in it.
The Rams have a mixed record in free agency. Long, Wells, and Finnegan were injuries. Cook IMO was a dud and I never warmed up to him. Britt is serviceable, and not expensive. Fairley and Ayers were good signings, as were Hayes and Reynolds. Basically they do better in mid-range free agency, but then as I said 3 of the big signings were just injury casualties. I know they have the recent Demoff remarks as fodder, but then real knowledge of the team would allow someone to put those remarks in context and work around those statements instead of acting like they are the alpha and omega “big reveal” on the issue.
znModeratorWith our QB situation and offensive line still developing, I don’t expect our offense to improve with the signing of any Tier II WRs in free agency. We drafted a lot of linemen last April, I hope they improve and I hope we draft a couple more next month.
That’s a good post, which I enjoyed. I agree with most of it, but on a minor note, I don’t think they will be drafting any linemen. They actually added 12 since 2014…the 2 draft picks from 2014, the 4 draft picks from 2015, 1 UDFA (Williams), 1 supplemental draft pick, Reynolds, and then 3 “ronin” types (low budget FAs) of the kind Boudreau has made something of before. 12 is a lot. They could still add some more cuts and “ronin” style young vets. I bet they take 18 to camp, or thereabouts. Add Saffold and Barnes and they already have 14…all of whom have already been in the system to one extent or another. So unless some lineman they really prize falls in the draft (which of course is possible) I think they will generally hang tight.
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znModeratorRams seek upgrades at wideout, a position of trouble dating back to Torry Holt’s departure
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-708240-season-receiver.html
To truly understand how dire the Rams receiver shortage has become, consider this: In his final season in St. Louis in 2008, past-his-prime wideout Torry Holt grinded his way to a pedestrian 64-catch, 796-yard season.
It was a forgettable year for the seven-time Pro Bowler and potential Hall of Famer – his first sub-1,000-yard campaign since his rookie season.
That was 2008. Here’s the sad reality: Since Holt’s final season in St. Louis, no Rams receiver has managed to eclipse even 750 receiving yards.
In a golden era for passing offenses, that’s some truly remarkable futility. Last season, 47 NFL players eclipsed 750 receiving yards. Eight were tight ends. One was a running back. In all, 30 of 32 NFL teams had a player who surpassed the 750-yard mark. The Vikings were the only other team without one, but in their case, you only have to go back to 2013 to find that baseline of receiver production.
For the Rams, it has been seven long years of receiver-less drought, marked by failed draft picks and unfulfilled potential. And this season, as the franchise looks to reinvigorate its NFL-worst passing game on the West Coast, the team desperately needs to invest in playmakers for whomever ends up starting at quarterback.
“It almost doesn’t matter what type of receiver they’d draft,” Pro Football Focus analyst Sam Monson said. “They don’t have anyone on the roster that’s going to prevent you from taking a specific type of receiver. They just need to add some quality young talent there in the draft.”
Not that recent drafts have treated the Rams all that well. From Holt’s final season on, the organization selected 11 receivers, hoping to find a viable playmaker. Most often, those investments came in the later rounds. Only one – Tavon Austin at eighth overall in 2013 – was drafted in the first round. Donnie Avery (second round in 2008), Brian Quick (second round in 2012) and Austin Pettis (third in 2011) are the only other wideouts drafted by the Rams in rounds two or three.
Avery, who was drafted before Jordy Nelson and DeSean Jackson, flamed out after two years in St. Louis. Pettis lasted three seasons. Quick re-upped with the Rams on a one-year deal for 2016, but he has just 935 yards over four seasons. And Austin, despite flashes of star potential, has yet to break out. Next season, he could cost the Rams upwards of $12 million, if they choose to pick up his fifth-year option and can’t negotiate a long-term deal.
The Rams still have hope in Austin, with Coach Jeff Fisher conceding recently that they “have to do more as a staff to get him the football.” But at 5-foot-9, Austin’s best suited as a secondary option in the slot. That leaves Kenny Britt as the de facto No. 1, and while he has led the group in receiving in each of his two years in St. Louis, the team clearly needs a true No. 1 talent at the position.
“I don’t want to give too many cards away,” General Manager Les Snead said, “but we do like some wide receivers in this draft.”
That could mean investing the 15th pick in a wideout and not a quarterback. In a class light on talent at the top, Mississippi receiver Laquon Treadwell is a first-round lock and has consistently been linked to the Rams. At 6-foot-2, he’s not a deep threat, but his athleticism and ball skills remind some of Dallas Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant.
“He’s so strong at the catch point,” CBS Sports draft analyst Dane Brugler said. “For a kid that doesn’t turn 21 until June, he’s so physically mature the way he plays the game. If he’s there at 15, it’s a no-brainer pick.”
Not everyone is in agreement on that evaluation. Monson suggested that Treadwell, at his best, could become a clone of Chicago Bears’ red-zone maven Alshon Jeffery. At worst, he offered a familiar comparison: Britt.
Beyond Treadwell, the pickings get far slimmer. There might be value in the second round, when the Rams have two selections. Baylor’s Corey Coleman and TCU’s Josh Doctson might not fall that far, but could be steals as the Rams’ second pick. Ohio State’s Michael Thomas and Braxton Miller and Notre Dame’s Will Fuller could also be options.
Regardless, the Rams desperately need to add talent any way they can. And in free agency, there isn’t much to go around.
The Detroit Lions paid $8 million per year for the top prize at wideout, Marvin Jones. The Atlanta Falcons, meanwhile, spent $7 million on his former teammate in Cincinnati, Mohamed Sanu. Neither has finished a season with more than 825 yards.
Thus is the free-spending nature of free agency, and it has burned the Rams in the past. They signed Jared Cook to a contract that made him the fourth-highest paid tight end in the NFL last season. He finished 21st in receiving yards at the position and didn’t score a touchdown. He was cut this offseason.
Free agent receiver Rueben Randle, who has played four seasons with the New York Giants, was scheduled to visit the Rams. He had 57 receptions for 797 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
The rest of the Rams’ receiver rebuild will come elsewhere – bit by bit.
And after seven long seasons of futility at wide receiver, there’s no time left to waste.
znModeratorAs second wave of free agency hits, #Rams getting active
Vincent Bonsignore
link: http://www.insidesocal.com/nfl/2016/03/14/as-second-wave-of-free-agency-hits-rams-getting-active/
While the Rams focused primarily on retaining their own free agents during the first week of free agency – and ultimately retained LB Mark Barron, DE’s Williams Hayes and Eugene Sims, C’s Tim Barnes and Brian Folkerts, S Cody Davis and WR Brian Quick – they always had their eyes on the open market.
And with the secondary phase of free agency hitting, they are starting to kick the tires on some potential additions.
The Rams hosted Chicago Bears free agent tight end Zach Miller this weekend and he was remained in town meeting with coaches on Monday. Sources have now confirmed they are bringing in free agent defensive end Quinton Coples and New York Giants free agent wide receiver Rueben Randle for visits.
Coples played last season with the Miami Dolphins after three-plus disappointing seasons with the New York Jets. Coples was the Jets first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2012 draft, but never lived up to expectations. He’s still relatively young – 25-years-old – and Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and defensive-minded head coach Jeff Fisher have a track record of figuring out ways to best utilize players who fell out of favor elsewhere. See Mark Barron.
As for Randle, he’s a big (6-4 205 pounds) fast, durable target who would be welcome addition to a team in desperate need of production at the wide receiver position. Randle is not a No. 1 receiver by any stretch, but his 128 catches for 1,735 yards and 11 touchdowns over he last two seasons would fit nicely in an offense in search of more punch.
znModeratorBreaking down Eugene Sims’ new deal with Rams
Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/27636/breaking-down-eugene-sims-new-deal-with-rams
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The Los Angeles Rams struck a deal with defensive end Eugene Sims over the weekend, bringing him back for a third contract with the team.
Sims’ deal is for three years and includes a guarantee of $3.75 million, most of which comes in the first year and essentially means the Rams can move on after one year if they choose.
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of Sims’ new contract with all numbers courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information:
2016
Base salary: $2.25 million (guaranteed)
Roster bonus: $750,000 (fully guaranteed, paid out on Tuesday)
Cap charge: $3 million
Cash: $3 million
Notes: Can earn up to $750,000 in not likely to be earned incentives based on sacks, playing time and postseason achievements.2017
Base salary: $2.75 million ($750,000 guaranteed for injury only at time of signing, total becomes fully guaranteed on fifth day of 2017 league year)
Roster bonus: $500,000 (to be paid on fifth day of 2017 league year)
Cap charge: $3.25 million
Cash: $3.25 million
Notes: Can earn up to $750,000 in not likely to be earned incentives based on sacks, playing time and postseason achievements.2018
Base salary: $3.25 million
Roster bonus: $500,000 (to be paid on fifth day of 2018 league year)
Cap charge: $3.75 million
Cash: $3.75 million
Notes: Can earn up to $750,000 in not likely to be earned incentives based on sacks, playing time and postseason achievements.March 14, 2016 at 8:18 pm in reply to: Zach Miller scheduled to visit the Rams…but (3/14) re-signs with Chicago #40603znModeratorIan Rapoport @RapSheet
The #Bears agreed to terms with TE Zach Miller on a 2-year deal worth $6M, source said. $2M more in incentives. He stays where he broke outznModeratorNick Wagoner @nwagoner
Just spitballin’ here but Sensabaugh addition could theoretically open door for Rams to look at L. Joyner at FS if they want to go that way.===
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from off the net
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no name
I said it since before the Rams drafted him. Joyner has elite instincts from range. He is a panther. You take away his greatest skill by telling him to line up as a cb. He was made to diagnose and find his way to the ball or ball carrier. He was one of the most natural safeties that I can remember. Smooth and ready to hit or break up.
Joyner’s height has caused the Rams to protect him but when you are built like a tank and have hard nose instincts you simply cannot tell a player to loosen up. Let him fly.
znModeratorJoe Klecko: Quinton Coples “looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane”
May 4, 2014
“A little bit of the time he looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane,” Klecko said on WFAN, via the New York Daily News. “I don’t know him at all, but understanding attitude and body language, he sometimes comes out there I think and thinks ‘Don’t you know who I am? I’m here.’ He has to start proving that he is something to be reckoned with.”
Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com follows up on Klecko’s comments, writing that Coples has “tested the patience” of the team’s coaching staff and it’s not the first public airing of grievances about his effort level. Coach Rex Ryan said last year that Coples needed to work harder in the weight room and Coples was dogged by questions about his work ethic coming out of college.
znModeratoroples flamed out with the Dolphins last season after three-plus underwhelming campaigns with the Jets
Another Waufle/Wms reclamation project?
On a different level, it’s kind of like Ayers and Fairley. Or, the intent is. We don’t even know if they will sign him.
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Coples had a $7.8 million option this coming season, something the Dolphins felt was too rich for their blood. Coples did not produce the great numbers the Jets had hoped and did not fit in at all on new head coach Todd Bowles’ defense.
The Jets moved Coples to OLB from defensive end when they brought in Sheldon Richardson in 2013. Coples, 6’6″ and 290 pounds played fairly well at linebacker, but he was clearly too big physically for the job. He is much better suited for defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. Bowles’ instituted that in 2015 but Coples just did not fare well.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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Flipper336
Some ask, is this a weak draft? I wouldn’t call it weak at all but if you want Julio Jones, Andrew Luck, Marcel Dareus, Joe Thomas types at the top of the draft….then yes, it’s weak. The depth is just crazy good though, and not late round/UDFA grade types. You are going to get legit Top 50 tier “grade” talent in the 4th round. Especially because of the players that are very scheme specific and small school talent.
Obviously just my opinion but this is one of the most interesting drafts I can remember.
Example – The difference between #14 OT Jack Conklin or #28 OG Joshua Garnett and #89 OT Germain Ifedi or #97 OG Christian Westerman is RAZOR thin. In fact I’d switch them and I really like Conklin and Garnett.
znModeratorNFL Free Agency Grades: 32 grades for 32 teams but only one big, fat F
Pete Prisco
The 2016 NFL free-agency period will be remembered as one for wild spending, good, not great, players getting contracts with generational money and seeing a Super Bowl team get picked apart like road kill by vultures.
The first week is in the books and most of the top free agents are gone, so I thought it a good time to look back on this crazy flurry of activity, which was highlighted by mega-deals for players like Olivier Vernon and Malik Jackson, two players who weren’t exactly household names when the 2015 season opened.
It’s tough to hand out grades for free agency, since there are teams, such as the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers, who sit and watch as the activity unfolds in front of them. That’s easy to do with their elite passers and good drafting, but for other teams it’s an opportunity to supplement their rosters.
Just remember that these grades can look bad a year from now. Remember when everybody was raving about the Eagles’ free-agency haul last spring? Now look. It turned out to be a disaster. So take the grades for what they are, an immediate reaction to the moves because nobody really knows how they will turn out.
Right, Chip Kelly?
Arizona Cardinals
The Skinny: They wanted to add a pass rusher, and were in on Jason Pierre-Paul, but he opted to go back to the Giants. The only addition was safety Tyvon Branch from Kansas City. They did re-sign backup quarterback Drew Stanton, but lost right tackle Bobby Massie.C-: Not getting a pass rusher has to hurt, but they were mostly inactive, which is a sign of a good team.
Atlanta Falcons
The Skinny: They were aggressive in free agency and added players at need spots. They landed center Alex Mack from the Browns and he will be the anchor they need inside. They paid him a lot, but he’s a good player. Defensive end Derrick Shelby comes over from the Dolphins and he’s an underrated player who will help the pass rush. They did pay receiver Mohamed Sanu too much, but he will be their No. 2 to Julio Jones.B-: Mack fills a big need, but he’s on the decline. Shelby was a nice signing. Solid, not special.
Baltimore Ravens
The Skinny: They had cap issues, so they couldn’t do a lot in free agency. They did lose guard Kelechi Osemele to the Raiders, which is a hit. The only outside free agent they signed was tight end Ben Watson. This isn’t a team that usually gets involved early in free agency.C: They didn’t make any moves, but they were kind of hamstrung by the cap.
Buffalo Bills
The Skinny: They did the smart thing and made sure to keep the left side of their offensive line in tackle Cordy Glenn and guard Richie Incognito. They had some cap issues, so they did suffer a few losses like Mario Williams (released), corner Leodis McKelvin (released) and linebacker Nigel Bradham.B: Keeping your own is important and they kept the players they wanted to keep.
Carolina Panthers
The Skinny: They didn’t do much, other than bring back veteran defensive end Charles Johnson and fullback Mike Tolbert. They did sign center Gino Gradkowski for depth, but that’s it for outside signings. They lost punter Brad Nortman.C-: Not much here, but again this is a talented team that doesn’t need a lot and has some cap issues.
Chicago Bears
The Skinny: I like both of their top free-agent signings. They landed linebacker Danny Trevathan, who John Fox had in Denver. He will bring speed to a unit that needed it. Right tackle Bobby Massie will allow the team to move Kyle Long back to his natural spot of guard. That’s a smart decision there. Jerrell Freeman is another solid signing at linebacker.B+: They didn’t get a lot, but what they did get was two important pieces and potentially a third.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Skinny: They didn’t sign anybody outside of their team, but they brought back three key free agents in safety George Iloka, corner Adam Jones and linebacker Vincent Rey. That’s big for the defense. They did lose receivers Marvin Jones, who they wanted back, and Mohamed Sanu, which creates a void there.B: Keeping the key defensive players was big for them. Losing Marvin Jones hurt.
Cleveland Browns
The Skinny: They let so many good players get out the door, and did little in terms of replacing them. I get the idea that they didn’t want to overpay for some of their own, but all of them? They let Mitchell Schwartz, Tashaun Gipson, Alex Mack and Travis Benjamin all leave. I would have kept a couple, especially Benjamin since his deal with San Diego isn’t that much. They added tackle Alvin Bailey and linebacker Justin Tuggle, but that’s not a lot.F: I get not overpaying, but keep some of the guys. Or go get some others.
Dallas Cowboys
The Skinny: The only player of note outside the team they added was defensive lineman Cedric Thornton from the Eagles. He is a good player, and that’s a good signing. They did re-sign some of their own in corner Morris Claiborne and linebackers Kyle Wilbur and Rolando McClain.C: They weren’t active, but still landed a solid player in Thornton. The draft will be big in April.
Denver Broncos
The Skinny: Super Bowl teams usually get targeted in free agency, but the Broncos suffered the worst hit of all: They now have no quarterback. Yes, they traded to get Mark Sanchez from the Eagles, but he is stopgap at best. Allowing Brock Osweiler to sign with Houston is a major fail — no matter what the price. They also lost Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan, two key defenders. But you can’t keep them all. That’s understandable. They did sign tackle Donald Stephenson from Kansas City.D: This is a bad grade for having no plan at quarterback after Peyton Manning retired. They lost some talented players.
Detroit Lions
The Skinny: They needed to sign a receiver with Calvin Johnson retiring, so landing Marvin Jones was a solid move — even if he’s more of a No. 2 receiver. They added two safeties in Rafael Bush and Tavon Wilson to give them a chance to compete on the back end after losing Isa Abdul-Quddus. They also were smart in re-signing defensive tackles Tyrunn Walker and Haloti Ngata and linebacker Tahir Whitehead.B: It was a solid class for the Lions, especially re-signing their own. Jones will make or break this class.
Green Bay Packers
The Skinny: The Packers are a team that won’t usually dive into the market. That’s not Ted Thompson’s style. So it’s tough to grade them. They did re-sign Nick Perry and inked Mike Daniels before he hit the market. Those are solid moves. But as far as diving in, they just don’t do it.Incomplete: They just don’t get involved with other team’s free agents, so it’s hard to give them any grade. This grade can be the same every year.
Houston Texans
The Skinny: They made one of the biggest splashes of the period by landing Denver quarterback Brock Osweiler. They paid him a ton at $18 million per season, but it was a move they had to make. They also added a solid back in Lamar Miller, even if it’s not something I would have done. They lost guard Brandon Brooks and center Ben Jones, but replaced them with Jeff Allen and Tony Bergstrom.A: They had to get a quarterback, and they got the best in this class. This could end up being their marquee free-agent class if Osweiler becomes what they think he will be.
Indianapolis Colts
The Skinny: They didn’t do much of anything, other than re-signing tight end Dwayne Allen and letting Coby Fleener leave to sign with the Saints They also re-signed kicker Adam Vinatieri. There wasn’t much activity for the Colts.C-: It was a pretty blah free-agency period for them, but they’ve tried spending big in the past and it’s failed. They also have a big deal coming up with Andrew Luck.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Skinny: They went into free agency with the idea of upgrading their defense, which they did. They landed defensive lineman Malik Jackson on a mega-deal and then added free safety Tashaun Gipson. They also signed Giants corner Prince Amukamara to a one-year deal. That’s three starters. They missed on the pass rusher, but tried. They paid too much for running back Chris Ivory, but that’s my personal bias against paying backs.B+: They added three starters on defense, which was a must. The only knock is missing on the edge rusher, but they tried hard with Vernon. He just wanted to go to the Giants.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Skinny: The Chiefs did a really nice job of keeping their own. They re-signed edge rusher Tamba Hali, linebacker Derrick Johnson and defensive end Jaye Howard, a rising player. They added Mitchell Schwartz to play right tackle, and he’s an upgrade over Donald Stephenson, who went to the Broncos. They did lose corner Sean Smith and guard Jeff Allen, two quality starters.B+: I like the idea of keeping that defense intact for the most part. Schwartz is an upgrade.
Los Angeles Rams
The Skinny: They franchised corner Trumaine Johnson, but lost corner Janoris Jenkins. They picked the right corner. They were also wise to bring back defensive ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims. They paid way too much to keep linebacker/safety Mark Barron. Losing Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod were hits to the secondary. They didn’t do anything about the offense.C: Keeping Johnson and Hayes were smart moves, but they didn’t do a lot outside of their own.
Miami Dolphins
The Skinny: Give general manager Mike Tannenbaum credit for trying to improve his team. But trading for two big contracts from the Eagles in Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso is risky. Defensive end Mario Williams could be a steal if he decides he wants to play hard. Safety Isa Abdul-Quddus is a solid signing who will be a nice complement to Rashad Jones. If the Broncos don’t match the offer to running back C.J. Anderson, that would be five starters out of this class. Not bad, but time will tell.B-: They took on some risk with the Eagles contracts. But they feel like they’ve added good players to their defense.
Minnesota Vikings
The Skinny: The addition of 49ers guard Alex Boone gives them a nice addition to the offensive line. He will toughen that group up. Safety Michael Griffin will come in and compete with others for the job next to Harrison Smith. Linebacker Emmanuel Lamur played for Mike Zimmer with the Bengals and had his best year under him. He is an athletic kid coming off an injury. Re-signing Mike Harris was a solid move as well for the offensive line.B-: It wasn’t a big haul, but landing Boone will really help.
23. New England Patriots
The Skinny: The Patriots are another team that usually waits until the big-ticket items are gone, and then they jump into the mix. The only major signing so far was tendering an offer to Bills restricted free-agent receiver Chris Hogan. That’s it. They also added outside linebacker Roman Humber from the Saints.C: As usual, they draft and develop. The odd thing is the offer sheet to Hogan. Why not a deep threat?
New Orleans Saints
The Skinny: They didn’t have a lot of cap room, so the only major addition was tight end Coby Fleener from the Colts. They paid a lot of money for him, but he should be a nice fit in their passing offense. They re-signed some of their own, including backup quarterback Luke McCown, but the cap situation didn’t help their chances to land top players.D: They got themselves into this mess, so it’s on the front office. They have a lot of needs and did little to help fix them.
New York Giants
The Skinny: General manager Jerry Reese spent money like he prints it this year. Desperate moves or smart ones? Whatever the reason, they added some good players, but it cost a bunch. I love the signing of Olivier Vernon to help the pass rush, but there is no way he should be paid what he’s getting. That’s the system though. I also like the additions of corner Janoris Jenkins and nose tackle Damon Harrison. That’s three quality starters for a defense that needed it. They also kept Jason Pierre-Paul on a one-year deal.A: I love what they did, but was it out of desperation for Jerry Reese?
New York Jets
The Skinny: The biggest uncertainty is what they plan to do with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. So far, there is no deal. But it’s still possible. They did put the franchise tag on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, which was a wise move. They brought in running backs Matt Forte and Khiry Robinson to help offset the loss of Chris Ivory. They also re-signed Bilal Powell. They made a push for pass rusher Olivier Vernon, but that will have to be addressed in the draft. Losing Damon Harrison on the nose will hurt.C+: Keeping Wilkerson was smart, but the quarterback uncertainty drives down the grade for now.
Oakland Raiders
The Skinny: They were the in the race to be the champs of the free-agency period. That doesn’t always mean you win, but they killed it. They had money to spend and spent it on good players. They landed Ravens guard-tackle Kelechi Osemele, which will really help their line. I also like the addition of tough-guy Bruce Irvin as a linebacker on the defense. Sean Smith is a nice man-cover player who fills a need.A: Reggie McKenzie and Jack Del Rio added some good pieces to a team on the rise.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Skinny:They had a great free-agency period. General manager Howie Roseman dumped some bad deals from a year ago, re-signed Sam Bradford and also added some good players in guard Brandon Brooks, corner Leodis McKelvin and safety Rodney McLeod. They also traded to move up five spots in the first round with Miami, dumping two Chip Kelly players in corner Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso. They also traded DeMarco Murray to the Titans, dumping his big contract.A+: Ridding themselves of the bad Kelly deals in those trades and moving up in the first round makes this grade. But then they also added some quality players and others for depth. But this grade is about the Chip dump.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Skinny: Like the Packers and Patriots, the Steelers usually sit out free agency for the most part. I did like the signing of Chargers tight end Ladarius Green, a pass-catching player who will fit perfectly into their offense. Bringing back guard Ramon Foster was also a nice move.C+: They added one key component in Green, which I liked. But, as usual, they sat back and watched — which isn’t always a bad thing.
San Diego Chargers
The Skinny: I really liked the signing of receiver Travis Benjamin, giving them a nice down-the-field threat. He can fly. They also added Brandon Mebane up front on defense, which is a good move, and Casey Hayward, a good corner, who should start. Bringing back Antonio Gates and tackle Joseph Barksdale were good moves.B-: Benjamin will be the guy who defines their class, and I think he’s a heck of a signing.
San Francisco 49ers
The Skinny: They were relatively quiet, but re-signing nose tackle Ian Williams was a smart move. They did lose guard Alex Boone to the Vikings, which is a hit. The only outside guy they brought in was backup quarterback Thad Lewis.C-: There just wasn’t a lot of activity and the Colin Kaepernick situation still hasn’t unfolded yet.
Seattle Seahawks
The Skinny: They suffered two big hits, losing guard J.R. Sweezy and linebacker Bruce Irvin. But both can be replaced, especially for a team that drafts well. They also lost defensive tackle Brandon Mebane. Bringing back receiver Jermaine Kearse, corner Jeremy Lane and defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin were good moves. They didn’t sign one player from another team.C: Losing players is always tough to handle, but that’s what happens to good teams.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Skinny: They were aggressive in free agency and landed three players at need positions. They got guard J.R. Sweezy from Seattle, a solid player who probably got too much money. But he’s a tough guy, and they need that. They then helped the defense with corner Brent Grimes and defensive end Robert Ayers. The big move was re-signing running back Doug Martin, which is OK since he’s their back and not another team’s discard.B: They had issues they needed to address and they did so. Not with stars, but solid football players. Getting Martin back was big.
Tennessee Titans
The Skinny:They added three pieces for the offense in running back DeMarco Murray, who came in a trade from the Eagles, center Ben Jones, who comes over from Houston, and receiver Rishard Matthews, who comes over from Miami. They had to get better on the offensive line, and Jones will help that. I don’t like trading and paying backs, even if Murray is an upgrade. Re-signing nose tackle Al Woods was also a good move.B-: When a team can pick up three starters for a young quarterback, it’s a solid class.
Washington Redskins
The Skinny: The only outsider they added was defensive lineman Kendall Reyes from San Diego. They also paid out $20 million to keep quarterback Kirk Cousins on a franchise tag, which limited what they could do. They did re-sign several of their own, including backup quarterback Colt McCoy.C: I think they were smart to put the franchise tag on Cousins and not give him a long-term deal. But that limited what they could do. He is playing for his future in 2016.
znModeratorNo, as zn said, this is not a sequel and may not even take place in the same fictional universe as the original Cloverfield.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_Cloverfield_Lane
10 Cloverfield Lane is a 2016 American science fiction thriller film directed by Dan Trachtenberg (in his directorial debut), written by Josh Campbell, Matthew Stucken and Damien Chazelle, and starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman and John Gallagher, Jr. It is the second film in the Cloverfield franchise. The film was developed from a script titled The Cellar, but under production by Bad Robot Productions, it was turned into a spiritual successor of the 2008 film Cloverfield.
During production, the filmmakers noticed core similarities to Cloverfield,[32] and decided to make the movie what Abrams calls “a blood relative” or “spiritual successor” of that film.[33][34] “The spirit of it, the genre of it, the heart of it, the fear factor, the comedy factor, the weirdness factor, there were so many elements that felt like the DNA of this story were of the same place that Cloverfield was born out of,” said Abrams. In other interviews he explained: “Those characters and that monster [from Cloverfield] are not in this movie, but there are other characters and other monsters,”[34] and “This movie is very purposefully not called Cloverfield 2, because it’s not Cloverfield 2, […] So if you’re approaching it as a literal sequel, you’ll be surprised to see what this movie is. But while it’s not what you might expect from a movie that has the name Cloverfield in it, I think you’ll find that you’ll understand the connection when you see the whole thing.”[35] Trachtenberg stated that 10 Cloverfield Lane does not take place in the same fictional universe as Cloverfield.[36][37] Winstead and Gallagher mentioned that during production they were aware that the movie had thematic similarities to Cloverfield, but did not learn that there would be an official connection until they were informed of the chosen title, only a few days before the release of the trailer.[38] Abrams came up with the title after finishing Star Wars: The Force Awakens.[39][40]
znModeratorLooks to be around 4.6 M.
~5.5 – (6x~0.5) = cap cost of ~2.5 M.
Thanks!
March 13, 2016 at 7:49 pm in reply to: Rams called on some fancy-dancin in their contract language #40567znModeratorRams concede California law will apply to contracts after move is finalized
Mike Florio
Rams concede California law will apply to contracts after move is finalized
The NFL Players Association has taken issue with the apparent effort of the Los Angeles Rams to circumvent the California workers’ compensation system. In response, the Rams concede that, once the move is final, California law will apply regardless of the language of the contract.
Via Rich Hammond of the Orange County Register, the Rams have responded to Saturday’s PFT report regarding the NFLPA’s objection to contractual language selecting Missouri as the forum of choice by admitting that “once the team officially has moved out of Missouri, all of its contracts automatically will fall under California law.” Hammond adds that Rams executives have said the team intends to completely move out of its Missouri headquarters before March 31.
Meanwhile, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News suggests that the Rams made the contracts subject to Missouri law through the official consummation of the move before the end of March in order to ensure that any players who sign new contracts before the move happens will pay Missouri state income tax, not California state income tax, at a difference of seven percent savings in favor of the player.
If that’s the case, the move actually represents one last gift to the state of Missouri, via the taxes collected on money paid to players while the team is still technically headquartered in the state. If that’s the case, maybe improved communication between the Rams and the NFLPA could have helped this issue from becoming a thing
znModeratorEugene Sims Rams deal $10 million, $3.75M gtd, salaries $2.25M (gtd), $2.75M, $3.25M, $750K roster bonus this week
So 3 M this year.
I forget where that leaves the cap.
znModeratorLooks to be around 4.6 M.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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Deadpool
mock draft 2.0
Version 1.0 had the Rams trading back with Houston and still grabbing Lynch. The thought was Lynch would slide a little and Houston would want to trade up for Elliott. Well with QB and RB taken care of for Houston, they are not trading up for Elliott.
So this time I am trading up for a QB. In 2013 Oakland traded the #3 overall for Miami’s #12 overall and #42 overall. So there is some precedent as far as moving up into the top part of the draft from the middle. Also, in that same draft the Rams moved from 16th to 8th for TA. Buffalo and the Rams swapped 1sts, 3rds and the Rams threw in their 2nd and 7th.
Another thing about the Rams since Fisher and Snead took over. They move around in the middle of the draft. Either to add picks or add players, giving up picks. With a shortage of picks, I could really see a move down in the 2nd to add a pick or 2 later on.
2012 – swapped 2nds and added a 5th
2013 – traded 2 6ths for a 5th
2014 – nothing of note
2015 – swapped 2nds for a 3rd and a 6thPoint is, I’m not worried about losing a draft pick to get the QB I want, as you can move around and pick up picks later.
Needs in order:
QB – starter or future starter. Keenum is fine short term.
WR – You need a 3rd WR, cannot count on Bailey for multiple reasons, and Quick is a huge ?
DE – Need some depth behind Quinn and Hayes.
FS – with McLeod gone, it looks pretty thin there.
TE – its Kendricks and Cunningham and that’s it for now. Throw Harkey in there as well I guess.
CB – Depth needed, plus EJ and Tru have missed time to injury. You can never have enough CBs.
DT – Rotational depth.I think DT depth will be filled in FA later on as that is a place to find some value.
TE will also be addressed in FA, they pursued Lewis and Miler is in for a visit today. Still, depth is needed.
C isn’t a big concern for me right now. And 1 of 2 things will happen this year: 1. Barnes plays well and that’s that or 2. Barnes plays poorly and C becomes a focus next year.
FS concerns me, but the consensus (and I agree) is that the brain trust doesn’t prioritize the FS spot. And they think they can develop 1.With that my mock 2.0
1.15 Trade – Rams trade the #15 overall, the #43 overall (1st 2nd rounder) and a 2017 3rd or 4th for the Ravens #6 overall. The Rams need a QB and it seems like they like none of the FAs available. They also have an extra 2nd and that even if they give up next years 3rd or 4th, they will still have comp picks in both those rounds. So looks at like this: swapping 1sts an extra for Bradford and a pick for losing JJ or McLeod gets you your QB of the future. The Ravens need help all over and were heavily represented at Clemson’s pro day. So Alexander? Maybe Dodd or Lawson? They could use Ragland. All these picks make more sense at 15 then 6.
1.8. Jared Goff – QB – Cal – I’m not sure he is the typical QB Fisher likes, but he needs a QB that can start and start sooner then later. Goff is a California kid and not that I think FOs and coaches care about ticket sales, he could be popular in LA. He can make all the throws, is accurate and his hand size doesn’t bother me. This assumes Wentz is gone to Cleveland regardless of where Kaep. goes. And that Dallas passes on a QB.
2.45 Carl Nassib – Penn State – This is the one pick I would love to see get moved to the tail end of round 2 to pick up a 3rd or 4th and a 6th like last year. Maybe for Cook? Maybe for Lynch if he slides in the 2nd? I think you could still get Nassib at the end of the 2nd and add valuable picks in the process. He’s a really nice strength/ speed combo guy that could use some seasoning behind Hayes.
3.76 Rashad Higgins – Colorado State – He ran slow, but he plays smoother and faster then he times IMO. Catches everything and would fit with what the Rams need.
4.107 KJ Dillion – West Virginia – He had a great combine running a 4.53 and 4.48 and I thought he looked very good. He played all over for WVU, slot, Big nickle, deep safety. He loves to hit, can make plays on the ball and has a swagger about him. 4th round seems right for where the Rams will start looking for a replacement for McLeod. 6′-0″ 210 lbs. As a bonus – he’s a kick and punt returner.
I would love to get an extra #4 for some help at CB or DL or LBer
6.172 David Morgan – UTSA – slow 40 time, but like I have said earlier, he is a old school blocking TE that is a safety blanket for the QB and not a seam stretcher. I compared him to the retiring Heath Miller. A throwback TE for a throwback offense is a nice fit.
1 caveat – If Jaylon Smith is still around in the 4th round, I would have a seriously had time passing on him. With Tree and Barron, he can rehab and isn’t needed immediately. But could be a heck of a steal.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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-X-
I didn’t see {Barnes get pushed back] a bunch of times. Sure it happened on occasion, but that doesn’t make him unique. He’s actually very good at reach blocks, picking up the defender on the pulling guard in zone, and you don’t often see defenders crossing his face. He could use a little polish with his footwork, but I don’t know that he’s actually weak in the lower body. Could be a leverage problem or communication/assignment issues when flanked by lesser guards.
We could obviously upgrade, but I (personally) don’t view him as a liability. Hell, move the pocket if it’s clear he can’t beat big-on-big.
,
March 13, 2016 at 1:09 pm in reply to: Zach Miller scheduled to visit the Rams…but (3/14) re-signs with Chicago #40550znModeratorfrom off the net
—
Riverumbbq
Some don’t like PFF’s scoring, but Zach Miller graded #8 for all TE’s out of 67. Cook graded at 53 and Kendricks at 56. Harkey was graded # 7 out of 22 FB’s, but Miller had an overall score over 15 points higher in total over Harkey, although his run blocking is markedly worse. Anyway, big upgrade over Cook.
znModeratorLooking at next step for Rams in free agency
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The offseason is here for the Los Angeles Rams, and now that we know where they’ll be playing their home games for the long-term, things have settled down enough to spend our weekends answering a few of your Twitter questions.
As always, you can find me on Twitter @nwagoner and fire away with any Rams-related questions you might have. Please use hashtag #RamsMail so I can see them.
On to your questions.
WineGuyDavid @WineguydavidCom
@nwagoner Snead said re-signing DB’s was #1 priority. I would say he failed since we lost 2 starters. What’s his next priority?@nwagoner: There’s no doubt the Rams were disappointed to lose Janoris Jenkins and Rodney McLeod. Both were players they wanted back, though I believed (and wrote) that Mark Barron and William Hayes were highest on the priority list after the team put the franchise tag on Trumaine Johnson. So the Rams didn’t completely fail in that they were able to keep three of their top five targets. They also probably had a good idea that they would lose the cornerback they didn’t tag given what the market would bring and were prepared to do that given their depth at the position. Again, that’s not to say that Jenkins’ loss won’t be felt. That’s an important loss and we still need to see how E.J. Gaines bounces back from injury. McLeod’s departure might be harder to cope with since solid free safeties who can play single-high coverage as much as he did are hard to find. I got the feeling his price just went beyond what the Rams were comfortable spending. As of Friday, the Rams had about $25 million in cap space with about $8-10 million of that set aside for a draft class and injury contingencies. We’re also past the first wave of free agency, which means now is the time to find potential bargains and players with something to prove. It’s how the Rams landed defensive tackle Nick Fairley last year. They have needs for depth all across the defense, and could use substantial help at quarterback, receiver and tight end. Given what’s left on the market, the depth is more likely to be found than the substantial help. It’s also possible the Rams could use some of that money to sign players they want to keep who aren’t free agents yet, such as linebacker Alec Ogletree and defensive tackle Michael Brockers.
Victor Aldaco @VAS039
@nwagoner between Joyner, Davis and Alexander, who do you see taking McLeod’s spot? Or does it get filled early in the draft?@nwagoner: The early read on this year’s draft is that it actually has a pretty solid amount of free safety options, so it would seem that’s probably the first place to look for a potential replacement for McLeod. I broke down the in-house and free-agent options the other day in this piece. Cody Davis is the closest thing to a true free safety on the roster, and it’s possible they will take a look at him there. The thing the Rams have working for them is that defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is excellent at adapting to the players he has rather than trying to force square pegs into round holes. He can figure out the best 11 guys he has and figure out a way to get them on the field together. I don’t get the impression that want to move Lamarcus Joyner based on head coach Jeff Fisher’s comments in the past, though I suppose that could change. I’m sure they will be taking a long look at the draft prospects at that position over the course of the next month and a half.
March 13, 2016 at 12:42 pm in reply to: Demoff, "Rams have been really crappy in free agency" #40548znModeratorMaybe it is his way of blaming his minions, cause he was away working on other things? But, then his minions work for him. I read that there was someone else doing a lot of the contract work.
I don’t think it was the contracts per se. I think that’s just a substitute term for signing the player, and the issue is the player. So I signed a lot of bad contracts to me just means we signed a lot of bad players.
March 13, 2016 at 10:54 am in reply to: Demoff, "Rams have been really crappy in free agency" #40545znModeratorafter quarterback Sam Bradford tore his ACL for the second straight year during a 2014 preseason game in Cleveland. Demoff “jumped on a plane” the next morning for San Francisco for a meeting about stadium development at the Hollywood Park site in Inglewood. Because the Rams’ season was “about to be a trainwreck,” Demoff welcomed the opportunity to “focus on something else.”
I will say, we’ve been really crappy in free agency. I’ve written a lot of bad deals. We just haven’t found a lot of success in free agency. And so I think there’s a buyer beware in all of that, in terms of going out and buying other people’s players, that we just haven’t figured out.
Well, it’s the exact opposite of Zygmunt, but, I have this wince-filled feeling he is being TOO forthright.
March 13, 2016 at 10:50 am in reply to: Demoff, "Rams have been really crappy in free agency" #40544znModeratorRams COO: Move to LA in the works since summer of 2013
By Ron Clements
The Rams decided to move back to Los Angeles before the 2014 season, according to team executive Kevin Demoff.
Demoff, the executive vice president of football operations and chief operating officer, spoke March 1 at Harvard-Westlake High School in the northwest L.A. suburb of Studio City. He said the franchise’s official announcement on Jan. 12 “was two-and-half years in the making.”
Demoff, who was a senior at Harvard-Westlake when the Rams moved from Los Angeles to St. Louis in 1995, admitted to being “guarded” during his web-streamed presentation, but said he would privately tell those interested the “unadulterated truth.”
Demoff gave the same presentation he gave to the NFL in January. He began by explaining the process, which began with an early morning phone call from owner Stan Kroenke in the summer of 2013. Demoff was in St. Louis for training camp when he got a call from Kroenke, who said he was driving around possible sites near Hollywood Park in Inglewood.
“When you get a call from your boss at 7:15 and you know they’re on the West Coast, it’s either something really great or you’re going to be fired,” Demoff said. “He said, ‘This is an unbelievable site. Do we think this can really happen?'”
Following a two-hour conversation, Demoff said it was the first time he believed a move back to Los Angeles “could really happen.” Kroenke purchased a 60-acre portion of land in the area in January of 2014, beating a bid from the NFL. The Rams then “very quietly” began exploring options to acquire the other 240 acres in Hollywood Park.
Demoff blamed the city of St. Louis for not upgrading the Edward Jones Dome into a first-tier stadium by the end of the 2014 season, meaning the Rams “became a free agent in March of 2015.”
But the Rams had already begun piecing together the project in April of 2014. Demoff and Kroenke met in Denver that summer with other investors and the HKS architectural firm that was “stealthily” brought in to build the football stadium in the 298 acres of land Kroenke now owned.
By the end of that meeting, the decision to move back to Los Angeles was essentially made. Demoff said the motto over the next two years was, “Do not undersell this opportunity. You only have one chance to move back to Los Angeles and only one chance to do it right.”
“We were starting to see this thing come to fruition,” Demoff said. “We worked on this for months and months.”
Demoff even used the L.A. stadium project as a distraction after quarterback Sam Bradford tore his ACL for the second straight year during a 2014 preseason game in Cleveland. Demoff “jumped on a plane” the next morning for San Francisco for a meeting about stadium development at the Hollywood Park site in Inglewood. Because the Rams’ season was “about to be a trainwreck,” Demoff welcomed the opportunity to “focus on something else.” The Rams went 6-10 in 2014 and finished their St. Louis tenure with a 7-9 campaign last season.
By September of 2014, the NFL had created its Los Angeles committee and in November of 2014, the first official presentation was made to the league in a meeting in Atlanta that also included the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers. The Rams tried to move to L.A. for the 2015 season, but were blocked by the league — but the process was well on its way.
Demoff praised Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for being one of the project’s “champions” to get the move done.
“It was a tremendous opportunity for the NFL and I was fortunate enough to work for Stan Kroenke, who had a tremendous vision in how we could bring the NFL back to Los Angeles and solve this riddle of 20 years,” Demoff added. “He was the first person to have the team, have the real estate acumen to get it done, pair those two and then we could go to the league and say, ‘This is what we can do for you.'”
Demoff admitted relocating an NFL franchise is necessarily difficult, but was happy to be the “storyteller with a terrific vision” to pitch to the league.
znModeratorRams re-sign Eugene Sims
Josh Alper
The Rams re-signed defensive end William Hayes early in free agency and they’re holding onto another member of their defensive line as well.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Rams have re-signed defensive end Eugene Sims. It’s a three-year deal worth up to $10 million with $3.75 million in guaranteed money.
Sims joined the Rams as a sixth-round pick in the 2010 draft and has been a regular in the lineup since his rookie season. He appeared in 13 games last year, starting nine times, and had 24 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. He has 9.5 sacks over his entire career.
The Rams now have Hayes and Sims to go with Robert Quinn at the top of the depth chart at defensive end. They released Chris Long before free agency.
znModeratorLos Angeles Rams: Hesitancy in Free Agency a Result Of Being “Really Crappy” In It, Says Demoff
By Brandon Bate Mar 13
Los Angeles Rams’ COO Kevin Demoff was recently at his former high school, Harvard-Westlake School, giving what was, essentially, the same presentation on the Inglewood project that he’d provided at the NFL Owners meetings.
The majority of the presentation, which lasted an hour and 26 minutes, was simply Demoff speaking on the how the project came to be, the stadium and it’s amenities, and what’s in store for the team until it’s built.
The last few moments [starting at the 58:00 mark] were a Q&A with the audience, and the questions were not relegated to their move to Los Angeles or the stadium.
Demoff spoke openly about the Rams’ approach to free agency this year, and provided some insight on why they’ve not been so active in the early goings:
What Was The Plan To Spend $60 mil?
We have a lot of free agents of our own that we’re trying to re-sign. We always planned – when we started this process – that with the youngest team in the NFL, when it came up for contracts, we wanted to be able to re-sign all our own. So of our $60M, almost all of it is earmarked for our own guys.
What About Next Year?
[And then] starting to re-sign Tavon Austin and Michael Brockers. Aaron Donald, when he comes up, is not going to be cheap, and I don’t even have to preface that by saying it. He knows it, I know it. We all know it.
Really, most of our money, because we have $60M this year…right now we’re scheduled to have about $75M next year, all of it is so we can re-sign our own guys, and keep drafting and developing and moving forward.Why So Quiet In Free Agency This Year?
I will say, we’ve been really crappy in free agency. I’ve written a lot of bad deals. We just haven’t found a lot of success in free agency. And so I think there’s a buyer beware in all of that, in terms of going out and buying other people’s players, that we just haven’t figured out.
When Might The Rams Start Making Move in Free Agency?
When you get in the second wave, and I’ll say the one thing at the Combine last week, the number of agents that came up to us and said ‘my guy really wants to play in Los Angeles,’ and it was a player we’d never considered, we plan to take full advantage of that.
Once the first wave kind of starts, players who are looking for a home who want to be here, we’ll be aggressive in going after them and trying to get them come. But in terms of other free agents, I wouldn’t expect a ton from us.
Any Interest In A Free Agent Quarterback?
My favorite free agent quarterback is Case Keenum.
March 13, 2016 at 9:38 am in reply to: Zach Miller scheduled to visit the Rams…but (3/14) re-signs with Chicago #40533znModeratorYou know that thing where some links turn into a box that adverts the source?
Some people don’t mind it in their posts when they post, some do.
YOu can get rid of it though if you don’t. The link just has to be on the same line with some text. (For example, I write “link”).
Example
with text
link: http://fansided.com/2016/03/03/2016-nfl-free-agency-will-zach-miller-sign/
without
That of course is up to the poster, which one they would rather do or if they care at all either way
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March 12, 2016 at 11:36 pm in reply to: Zach Miller scheduled to visit the Rams…but (3/14) re-signs with Chicago #40526znModeratorMiller has familiarity with several members of the Rams’ coaching staff. Los Angeles hired former Bears wide receivers coach Mike Groh to be its passing game coordinator/receivers coach, while Rams offensive coordinator Rob Boras, used to coach tight ends in Jacksonville.
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