You don’t mean that literally, do you?

Not that I would object.

GreatRamNTheSky wrote:

Michael Sam made some good plays but he’s really a one-trick pony where as Westbrooks can be an every down defensive lineman. I could see Westbrooks eventually pushing Chris Long for his job. Long’s been a steady good player for the Rams but Westbooks looks to like he has more talent and ability.

Grits

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agreed, Grits…and just for everyone’s reading pleasure, here are some more thoughts from off the net on this

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Dick84

A growing number of Americans realize that most gays are like everyone else… Just trying to make their way in the world. They also realize there are still barriers out there for gays that need to be broken through, hence the celebration for Michael Sam being drafted as an openly gay man.

Most of those people also understand that the NFL is a tough game and not everyone is going to cut it.

Fisher’s genuine care for his players overall, and enthusiasm for giving Sam a shot translated well in media… People paying attention could tell it wasnt a gimmick.

Real Rams fans paying attention know Sam can play in this league… But also know Westbrooks beat him out fair & square & Sam is handling it perfectly.

There’s no “controversy” because there is no controversy.

Sam was a football player who wasnt quite good enough for the Rams… But will probably get a shot with another team. Just like any other man in his position.

And that is the beauty of this… He made history for having the courage to come out. The Rams made history by drafting him. They also preserved the integrity of the story by cutting him when he was beaten out by another player.

Sam handling it with class brings a nice close to this particular chapter.

Well done, Rams… Well done Michael Sam.

Jim Thomas @jthom1
Rams signing OG Brandon Washington to their practice squad.

Hey Grits.

And this is playful so take it in that spirit.

But, why not talk to the Herd board by agreeing with guys now and then? Rather than simply making it smack talk.

So, hey x on the herd board, hope you read this board, nice point on issue Y.

Having said that, and really done nothing but give you a minor-league hard time….carry on.

Projecting a Rams practice squad By Nick Wagoner…………………..

Quarterback

Garrett Gilbert

Running back

None

Tight end

None (for now)

Wide receiver

Austin Franklin
Emory Blake

Offensive line

Travis Bond
Brandon Washington

Defensive line

None

Linebacker

Lawrence Wilson
Phillip Steward

Cornerback

Greg Reid
Darren Woodard

Safety

Christian Bryant

Specialists

None

The PS would be in flux, right? Cause of Bailey, cause of possible pick-ups.

I think Wagoner is right that either Bayer or J.Cunningham ends up on the PS, depending on whether they think they need more blocking or catching from their TEs.

They need linemen on the PS. Right now they are carrying 3 back-up players and one injured future back-up (Jones).

It’s a shame they can’t put either Watts or Mason on the PS. 5 backs is too many, and Reynolds is an important special teamer.

The LBs make sense and so do the CBs.

Bryant was of course destined for the PS all along.

Is Gilbert really the 3rd qb or will they add a 3rd qb to the roster and stash Gilbert for next camp?

Mackeyser wrote:

Well, the Prisco article, especially just STANK of authority… as if he’d gotten inside information… because you and I both know that Pete Prisco is writer and he’s no authority on football. So for him to make bold statements like he did is either really irresponsible or he’s channeling someone else with permission.

That’s why I think Sam may not make it. I don’t hold Prisco in high regard, but I just got this feeling that before we know anything about how other teams might want him for Prisco to just say “Sam’s not good enough” as plainly as he did is about as foreboding as it gets.

The article in question. Now that I have had the chance to actually look it over, I don’t find it as objectionable as you do. While it may be true that there’s some “conventional wisdom” out there about Sam which may enable teams to let themselves off the hook for not signing him, I do think this is Prisco–down to its flaws (including the fact that if you are going to say Sam’s sack against Sherrod doesn’t really count cause of the latter’s injuries, then you also need to show Sherrod is giving up a lot of sacks to different players–otherwise you have no point.) I think this is just Prisco.

==================
NFL Cuts Musings: Tape shows Michael Sam wasn’t good enough

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pete-prisco/24688426/nfl-cuts-musings-tape-shows-michael-sam-wasnt-good-enough-for-rams

rookie defensive end Michael Sam deserve to make the St. Louis Rams’ 53-man roster?

The answer is no.

Let’s put aside the social issue of him being the first openly gay player in the NFL and just focus on the football. Sam did some good things in the preseason, but he did it against backup tackles, some of the already-cut variety.

I went back and studied Sam’s preseason games and came away with this conclusion: He plays hard and has some pass-rush ability, but he needs a ton of seasoning.

One more thing: Undrafted rookie Ethan Westbrooks, who made the team, outplayed him.

Sam, who was a facing long odds as a seventh-round pick, was credited with two sacks against the Browns in Week Three, but the second one wasn’t his to be given. He did nothing on that play, and fell on the pile to get the sack. On the first one, he did beat Browns tackle Martin Wallace, who is an undrafted free agent who actually made the Browns’ 53-man roster.

On that sack, Sam looked like an NFL pass rusher, which is why I think he needs more seasoning. There is flash there, but that’s against backup linemen. I don’t think he’s explosive enough to win against good ones, although he did beat Packers tackle Derek Sherrod — a first-rounder in 2011 — for a sack, but Sherrod has been plagued by injuries in his time with Green Bay.

There’s also a play in that Browns game with 7:41 left in the third quarter that concerned me. The Browns have a first-and-goal at the 1. When I ran that play over and over again, Sam was so slow out of his stance that he was still down when the rest of the Rams line was already engaging the Browns linemen.

Those are the things that make me wonder about his explosiveness. Westbrooks, who is shorter and stouter, can turn the corner faster. He’s also quicker off the ball, which is why it made sense to keep him.

But all is not lost for Sam. I give him a lot of credit for losing weight to get faster before camp. Now he just needs to learn the tricks of the trade and work on getting off the ball quicker.

That’s why the practice squad makes sense. I would be shocked if a team claims him on waivers, which means the Rams will sign him to the practice squad where he gets to learn from good ones in Robert Quinn and Chris Long.

Admittedly, it was hard to predict all this in 99.

That Bailey would be cut by the Saints, that Holt would wear mittens.

Still. Some of it was already visible, even back then.

wv wrote:

Champ Bailey was released by the Saints,
i see.

w
v

I guess that finally settles the Holt/Bailey debate.

Holt was never released by the Saints.

So, he wins.

Jim Fadler @jimiramsboy
I hope Michael Sam makes the #Rams practice squad and really gets after it in the weight room. He can’t play in the NFL at his…..

…..current size, he needs to get to 260 at least and really work on his pass rush repertoire. He has promise but its a long way off

Defensive ends that only try and dip to the outside shoulder are unfortunately all over the NFL….you have to be able to counter.

RamBill

Fisher: “We’re starting to game plan to figure out who’s going to be on the 46 and things like that.”

Fisher: “There’s going to be some movement on the roster.”

Fisher: “We’re not going to overreact. We’re going to apply patience to this situation.”

Fisher: “The quarterback position is a position we’re going to address.”

Fisher: “We made football decisions with respect to our draft choices and with respect to our undrafted free agents.”

Fisher on Michael Sam: “He’s a much better player now than he was when he got here.”

Fisher on Michael Sam: “Mike’s got the ability. Mike played well. He has the ability to play some place. It’s got to be the right place.”

Fisher on Ethan Westbrooks: “He was very, very productive in the preseason for us and played all four spots.”

Fisher on the #Rams defensive line: “It’s the strength of our football team.”

Fisher on Michael Sam: “I was pulling for Mike.”

Fisher: “I can’t say that we’re done.”

Fisher: “Some may be coming back, you may see them Sunday on practice squad.”

Chris Mortensen ‏@mortreport

Fisher said cutting Sam was not a difficult decision. Cited roster strength; noted a 6th rounder & all four 7th rounders did not make cut

Fisher says there are no challenges if Sam gets a second opportunity somewhere else. “He just kept his head down and work.” Praised “motor.”

Fisher: “I was pulling for him. It just didn’t work out.”

Listening to Jeff Fisher, I would say Michael Sam is not guaranteed a practice squad spot because of other position needs.