Cory Littleton's first time taking it to the 🏠!

5️⃣8️⃣ days til #LARams football! pic.twitter.com/yXfV8dFe9d

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 12, 2019

Jurors find L.A. Rams strength, conditioning coach Ted Rath not guilty of sexual battery

https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/moorpark/2019/07/12/jury-finds-l-a-rams-strength-conditioning-coach-not-guilty/1719814001/

Jurors found Los Angeles Rams strength and conditioning coach Ted Rath not guilty Friday of three counts of sexual battery.

They deliberated for about an hour before returning the verdict on the misdemeanor offenses stemming from an alleged June 2018 incident.

Rath was accused of touching a neighbor on her buttocks and genitalia while she was asleep in her bed as he was visiting the house of her and her husband.

Rath, 35, of Moorpark, pleaded not guilty to the accusations. He maintained throughout the investigation and the trial that he did not remember what happened that night and had only “snapshots” of memory. His defense attorneys Vicki Podberesky and Bill Haney argued that this may have happened as a side effect from medication he was taking after suffering a stroke several weeks earlier.

“All I can say is that I’m very grateful the jury was quick in their decision. They saw right through the prosecution’s case and went right to the truth. And that’s all this is about. It’s one of those wonderful moments where the truth really prevailed,” Podberesky said.

Rath declined to comment to The Star after the verdict was read. In the courtroom, he hugged his wife as they both shed tears.

He was facing a year in custody for each misdemeanor count and lifetime registration as a sex offender, “which is something the DA should consider next time they put charges like this,” Podberesky said.

Rath’s defense team argued that the medication, in combination with the alcohol he consumed that night and his risk for suffering another stroke may have led to hazy memory.

His defense team said the case should have never been filed. Rath told law enforcement officers he had a medical condition and they didn’t give him the courtesy of investigating it, Haney said.

“He knew from day one that he would be acquitted because they never investigated his medical defense,” Haney said.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Erik Nasarenko prosecuted the case against Rath. Nasarenko walked out of the courtroom Friday as Rath hugged his attorneys.

“Obviously, we’re profoundly disappointed, but we also acknowledge this is the jury process and Mr. Rath was ultimately judged by a jury of his peers who found the defendant to be not guilty,” Nasarenko said. “It’s incredibly difficult for sex assault victims to hear and see that outcome, but ultimately this is the legal process of our state and our country.”

He said the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office files cases when prosecutors believe there’s sufficient evidence to proceed to a jury trial.

“And in this case, we had a victim who had he courage and strength to come forward and speak to what happened to her,” Nasarenko said.

Her statements were supported by multiple witnesses, and Rath’s medical condition would in “no way” have changed prosecutor’ approach to the case, Nasarenko said.

On the night of the alleged incident, Rath and his accuser had gone to a fundraiser earlier in the evening with their spouses and mingled with others from the community. The four later went to a local bar and then to the Moorpark woman’s house.

The Moorpark woman testified she was awoken to hands touching her and saw Rath standing by her bed. She pretended to mistake him for her husband and said, “not tonight, babe,” that she was tired, she testified.

The Star does not generally identify people who may be the victim of sex crimes.

Then the hands froze, she said. Nasarenko argued that Rath was allegedly cogent enough in the moment to recognize her words and stop.

Rath has been on a leave of absence from the football team headquartered in the Conejo Valley while his case was ongoing.

DeMaurice Smith Talks 18-Game Schedule

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2019/07/demaurice-smith-addresses-18-game-schedule-cba

The enduring subject of an 18-game schedule has resurfaced. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith confirmed a Wall Street Journal report (subscription required) indicating the NFL has broached the subject of an 18-game season, with 16-game limits per player, during the CBA talks.

As has been the case for years when this subject has emerged, the union is not on board with adding two more regular-season games.

“I don’t see an 18-game schedule — under any circumstance — being in the best interest of our players,” Smith said, via ESPN.com’s Cameron Wolfe. “If somebody wants to make an 18-game proposal, we’ll look at it. I haven’t seen anything that makes me think that it would be good for the players.”

The NFL has used a 16-game schedule since 1978. It moved from 12 to 14 in 1961. Packers president Mark Murphy (via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio) floated the idea of a 17-game compromise, with teams having eight home games, eight road games and one neutral-site contest — which would be a gateway to more international games. The Packers president, however, is not in favor of a 17- or 18-game schedule that limits players’ participation to 16 dates, calling it “gimmicky.”

Murphy added that he would not rule out the prospect of two byes, which the league tried in 1993, and a revised schedule moving the Super Bowl to President’s Day weekend — which Florio adds the NFL has long supported. All of this would be contingent on the preseason being slashed by at least one game.

Potential issues with salaries, roster construction, additional work commitments and players’ pensions could arise with the 18/16 format, not to mention certain fan dissatisfaction for when top players must sit out certain games.

“Why is it our job to figure out how to make 18 games work as players? You tell someone you’re going to work longer and you figure out how to make it work? That doesn’t work,” Smith said. “It’s not our job to put that square peg in the round hole.

“If a coal miner is willing to spend more time in the hole, does it likely result in more money? Yeah. Is that a good thing for him as a person? Probably not. That’s the question nobody confronts. It’s easy to say it’s more money. But is it good for us? The answer is no.”

The NFL and NFLPA will reconvene from July 17-19 on their latest round of talks. Smith characterized the talks as “positive” but would not provide a timeline on their prospective conclusion. The sides want to reach an agreement before this season begins. This would come after years of Smith warning his workforce to save money in the likely event of a 2021 lockout.

Jurors just went back to start deliberations in the sexual battery trial of L.A. Rams strength and conditioning coach Ted Rath. If a verdict comes back today I’ll send out an update.

— Megan Diskin (@megandiskin) July 12, 2019

Zooey wrote:

zn wrote:

Bill Barnwell@billbarnwell
I would say that I’d be a little skeptical that they’ll pull Kupp or Watkins off the field for one of the TEs on a regular basis unless one of the WRs get hurt again. (I could certainly be wrong!)

Personally, I will be shocked to see Watkins on the field for the Rams even once this whole season.

Yeah you would think he would be behind Bruce or even Amendola.

…

Most passes thrown at/behind line of scrimmage (last 3 years, reg season):

1. Ben Roethlisberger 379
2. Matthew Stafford 355
3. Eli Manning 323
4. Derek Carr 313
5. Drew Brees 304
6. Alex Smith 293
7. Philip Rivers 284
8. Aaron Rodgers 281
9. Case Keenum 279
10. Joe Flacco 274

— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) July 12, 2019

Context (or to put the obvious down in blue n white): the Gordon situation, many say, is partly a reaction to the Gurley contract. Gurley got a big RB contract & then his knee became a question, which raises old questions about RB longevity & the kind of money they should get

==

Melvin Gordon could become the line of demarcation for running backs wanting that long-term contract https://t.co/OW4KYtXfiR

— The MMQB (@theMMQB) July 12, 2019

==

Warren Sharp@SharpFootball
“We’re devalued” – Melvin Gordon on the state of RBs.

NFL’s most expensive RBs

1. Gurley: replaced by CJ Anderson after injury
2. Johnson: missed 15 of last 32 games w injury
3. Freeman: missed 16 of last 32 games w injury
4. McCoy: avg’d 3.7 YPC last 2 years

…but go pay RBs

What can we expect this season from a healthy @49ers team?

DE @SollyThomas90 stopped by the breakfast table to tell us ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/e62A1OAs6N

— GMFB (@gmfb) July 12, 2019

This one is inconsequential, though we do learn about the feud (really) between Farr and Rampage.

…

PARAM

A couple of players to note for 2019

Littleton led the team in tackles both in regular season (125) and postseason (29). Had 3 regular season picks, 1 in the postseason. Had a punt block (for a safety) in the regular season, IIRC, his 4th in 2 years. Has been a superb player for the Rams. Hell for much of the year it was either Donald or Littleton making a big play.

Everett hasn’t “broken out” yet but his receptions increased by 106% on just 56% more targets.

Mike Vrabel says he'd 'probably' cut off his genitals for a Titans Super Bowl victory https://t.co/b9gW9qwbYF

— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) July 12, 2019

from The NFL’s best and worst offensive arsenals: Barnwell’s 32-1 ranking

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27154042/the-nfl-best-worst-offensive-arsenals-barnwell-32-1-ranking#lar

1. Los Angeles Rams
2018 rank: No. 6 | 2017: No. 29

Indignant Chiefs fans are likely yelling about Todd Gurley and Cooper Kupp right about now, and indeed, there are reasons to be worried about two of the Rams’ stars. Kupp is returning from a torn ACL and should be active for Week 1, but it’s impossible to say whether he will be the same guy who was on pace for 1,132 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns before blowing out his knee.

Gurley is a scarier proposition. The reports suggesting he is suffering from arthritis in his knee seem to be accurate, and everything the Rams have done and said suggests that the days of Gurley taking 90-plus percent of the offensive snaps are over. Los Angeles is enthused about third-round pick Darrell Henderson, and ESPN college football guru Bill Connelly raved about Henderson’s explosiveness before the draft, but Gurley was the best running back in football when healthy over the past two years. It’s tough to imagine the Rams will get that sort of volume and efficiency from a combination of Henderson and an arthritic Gurley in 2019.

With that being said, this isn’t a binary problem. Gurley probably isn’t going to average nearly 23 touches per game or average five touchdowns per month like he did from 2017-2018, but he could still be a very useful running back in the range of 15-18 touches per week. That’s less exciting for fantasy football, but it’s probably better for the Rams, especially if Henderson delivers on the preseason hype. There’s not much at tight end here, but when you think about just how deep the Rams are at wide receiver with Kupp, Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods, even 85% of the old Gurley is enough to propel the Rams to the top of the weaponry charts.

Rams VS Chiefs wins best game at the ESPYS. Patrick Mahomes messes up on speech#ESPYS #rams #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/CNf7Ew2B2o

— Ta&Co (@TaCo11319) July 11, 2019