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znModeratorIf health were the only question with Marcus Mariota, it would make his next contract easier to figure out. But then you look at his actual play the last two seasons, and he's an even bigger mystery. The 2019 Titans preview starts with their enigmatic QB. https://t.co/hOLDjZ9ZNl
— Frank Schwab (@YahooSchwab) July 8, 2019
July 8, 2019 at 9:59 am in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102764
znModeratorJohn Franklin-Myers says he 'became an adult' after reaching Super Bowl https://t.co/lnhEwznfRR
— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) July 8, 2019
znModeratorhttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2019/07/5-key-nfl-stories-63019-7719
NFL, NFLPA hope to sign new CBA soon. Things appear to be going surprisingly smoothly in negotiations between the two sides. Earlier this week, we heard that they were hoping to have a deal done before the start of the 2019 season. For the past year-plus, there’s been constant worrying about a potential work stoppage, but that doesn’t seem too likely at the moment. That being said, there are still some potential hiccups, which we outlined here. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is also reportedly taking on a prominent role in the negotiations. We’ll likely be hearing a lot more about this situation as the summer progresses, and we’ll make sure to keep you posted.
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https://www.profootballrumors.com/2019/07/extra-points-cba-supplemental-draft-saints-onyemata
As we track the negotiations this summer, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com is out with a great piece detailing the fight ahead. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27103713/2021-nfl-cba-negotiations-nine-biggest-looming-issues
Graziano broke down the nine biggest issues in the talks, and the whole article is well-worth a read. Graziano cautions that while everything seems positive for now, it’s “a complex negotiation with pitfalls.” Graziano writes that the owners have run out of money for stadiums that they were allotted in the previous CBA, and that’s “seen by many connected with the talks as the main reason the owners are interested in doing a new deal as soon as possible.” He writes that “they need money to help with stadium projects in places such as Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Carolina, Washington and even Los Angeles, where Rams owner Stan Kroenke would likely enjoy a bit of league-sponsored help with his project.” If the players are going to allow the owners to take more money off the top for ‘stadium credits’ as they’re called, Graziano writes that they’ll demand a greater share of the net revenue in return.
Among many other interesting nuggets, Graziano notes that the players have a good shot of getting the ‘fully funded rule’ erased, which “requires teams to hold in escrow any portion of a player’s contract that is fully guaranteed.” It currently dissuades owners who might not want to tie up all the cash from giving out longterm guaranteed contracts, and doesn’t exist in any of the other major leagues.
July 7, 2019 at 8:50 pm in reply to: the one-shot tweets thread (diff'rent stuff, funny angry interesting) #102759
znModeratorI'm all here for drunk Alex Morgan#USWMNT pic.twitter.com/NZ3QrRv37N
— Alex Morgan Brian 🍵 (@AcheleBaby) July 7, 2019
znModeratorI noticed the interest in the Lakers by some guys here, so since I ran across this, thought it would fit.
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After Saturday spending spree, Lakers have players, not answers
https://theathletic.com/1065411/
Here is what the Lakers had on June 30, at the dawn of free agency: Two of the greatest forwards in the modern NBA and a whole lot of uncertainty about the team that would surround them.
Now, here is what they have on July 6, after a flurry of free-agent additions: pretty much the same thing.
Kawhi Leonard? A Clipper.
Big three? Still two.
Betting favorites for the title? No more.
Spurned by Leonard in prime Las Vegas gambling hours, Rob Pelinka was forced to Plan B and quickly went to work locking up commitments from Danny Green, Quinn Cook, JaVale McGee and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. On Saturday, he added Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins, who will soon be two years removed from a torn Achilles. Alex Caruso, who spent the past two years on a two-way contract, was also brought back.
The question oft asked about the Lakers and their hard-earned $32 million in salary-cap space before free agency was answered for them: spend it all on one player or split it up? The Lakers tried for the former and were forced into the latter in a picked-over market. Players such as Seth Curry and Patrick Beverley were gone. Reggie Bullock, Wayne Ellington and Taj Gibson were Knicks.
Anything was going to feel like a letdown if the Lakers missed on Leonard. But at the same time, the Lakers went into July with a core of James, Davis and Kyle Kuzma and the cap space to assemble a roster that would contend for a championship.
Did they do that here? Or did waiting for Kawhi cost them that opportunity? And if so, would they have been better off never clearing the cap space that allowed them to pursue a max free agent? Or, rather than chasing a third MVP-caliber star, should they have simply pursued a third All-Star in Jimmy Butler or Kemba Walker?
These are questions that will be asked. But as I wrote Friday night, the Lakers knew the game they were playing and they knew that there was a risk they wouldn’t land Leonard. They bet on themselves, on the lure of forming an all-time great Big Three, on the brand of the Lakers. They lost.
Pelinka likely salvaged the best offseason he could once Leonard finally came off the board, but it is far from a finished product.
Green, who signed for a reported $15 million a year for two years, was the most important piece. He is among the best 3-and-D wings in the league. He shot a career-best 45.5 percent from 3 and won a title in a contract year with the Raptors. Even if he regresses to his career average of 40.4 percent, that would be better than the Lakers’ best 3-point shooter from a season ago — when Lance Stephenson made 37.1 percent.
Green has been a key member of title teams in San Antonio and Toronto. The only criticism of Green is a great indictment of the Lakers’ depth. He was, generously, the fifth best player on those championship teams.
With the Lakers, he’s arguably third.
A year ago, the Warriors were lauded for attracting Cousins. Even coming off the most devastating injury a basketball player can suffer, Cousins was viewed as the fifth member in a quintent of All-Stars. The Lakers are receiving no such plaudits in the immediate aftermath, and it’s fair to wonder if that has more to do with Cousins’ injury in the playoffs or a general negativity toward the Lakers. Sometimes, it seems like it’s an organization that can’t win for losing.
Another reason this feels like a bigger risk for the Lakers than it did for the Warriors: In Golden State, Cousins was absorbed into an organization with a strong culture and clearly delineated hierarchy. There was no room for Cousins to rock the boat with Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. He served at their pleasure.
With the Lakers amid a full organizational reboot, from the front office to the coaching staff to the roster overhaul, there is no such structure. It will be up to coach Frank Vogel to make sure the pieces work on the floor, and up to James and Davis to set the tone for the culture.
The history between Cousins and Davis is encouraging. The Pelicans were +5.3 with Cousins and Davis on the floor in 2017-18.
But …
That number plummeted to -1.3 when Rondo was on the floor.
On a value contract, Cousins will have the opportunity to show he is still the player he was with Davis in New Orleans. That high ceiling could be the X-factor to a deep playoff run for the Lakers.
After the Lakers ranked 29th in 3-point percentage, it was clear the team had two key areas in which it needed to improve in the offseason — from the perimeter and defensively.
Did the Lakers get better from 3? With Green, Troy Daniels (career 40 percent), Jared Dudley (39.2 percent) the answer is unquestionably yes. The roster boasts shooting at all five positions.
And defense? Vogel is a defensive coach, for starters, and Davis and Green should anchor a much stronger unit on that side of the ball.
In general, you can talk yourself into all of the Lakers’ signings in a vacuum, especially as consolation prizes. The question remains how it will all come together on the court and whether it will be good enough to remove the sting of losing out on Leonard and everyone else who came off the board while they waited.
znModerator==
Awesome team 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/WCJahBtKdi
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 7, 2019
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They never trailed. They outscored their opponents 26-3. They led an astounding 442 out of 630 minutes (70.2 percent of the time, a number that may defy belief from future soccer historians). This USWNT dominated like no other. https://t.co/GgwI2qMmhv
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) July 7, 2019
znModerator
znModerator.@AaronDonald97’s been wreaking havoc since his @phqbclub days 😳 pic.twitter.com/LE614G4jVd
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 5, 2019
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Aaron Donald's high school highlight reel looks eerily similar to his NFL tape (via @dlinevids1) https://t.co/Z93LPt2KhK
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) July 5, 2019
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Figures https://t.co/w6Jk4ABfjX
— John Johnson III (@iamjohnthethird) July 6, 2019
znModeratorHave not seen the series, though.
It’s just a netflix order away (I mean ordering the discs).
Streaming only matters if you have to/need to watch things when originally broadcast….which IMO is a hot consumerist model of seeing these things. I rarely watch anything that way these days. For me, instead, it’s binging with discs…though to do it that way you can’t care if you’re a year behind. So I say, wait a year and order the discs.
znModeratorThe highest-graded left tackles from 2018 with David Bakhtiari leading the way! pic.twitter.com/7J20QnA0yi
— PFF (@PFF) July 7, 2019
znModeratorNBA Fans During Free Agency 2019 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/HhFCvKxO3C
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) July 6, 2019
July 7, 2019 at 11:04 am in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102746
znModeratorAmong the 43 NFL backs with at least 200 early-down rushes in the last two years, Todd Gurley ranks first in percentage of carries resulting in gains of 5+ yards (40.7%).
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CJ Anderson ranks second on the list at 39.94%.
— Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) July 7, 2019
July 7, 2019 at 11:03 am in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102745
znModeratorWatch: Aaron Donald was honorary falconer at LAFC game https://t.co/LiABexRayv
— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) July 7, 2019
July 7, 2019 at 12:24 am in reply to: strength & conditioning coach Rath … trial … update: back with team #102743
znModeratorAlbaNY_Ram
Just to be clear, this is what the charges claim – that he “touched an adult woman against her will on intimate parts of her body for the purpose of sexual arousal and gratification.” https://www.ocregister.com/2019/03/15/rams-get-back-coach-ted-rath-charged-with-three-counts-misdemeanor-sexual-battery/. The woman says she was asleep when the alleged assault occurred. https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/moorpark/2019/07/05/trial-begins-l-a-rams-strength-conditioning-coach/1643643001/
July 6, 2019 at 9:46 pm in reply to: Ranking all 32 NFL helmets … &, ranking the top 25 sports uniforms #102741
znModeratorfrom Ranking the 25 most iconic uniforms … note: they mean in all sports, college & pro
The clothes make the teams and the fans that follow them. Some of the uniforms are iconic and should not be messed with, yet teams still dive into the apparel market to reap financial benefits. The best of the best.
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21. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have a lot to work with in their scheme. They have used gold and dark blue, but now that the team is back in LA, the bright lights of the big city pop with their bright blue and yellow colors. All it took was a few wins for the buying public to notice this is the kind of look that can be worn proudly.1. Los Angeles Rams
znModeratorRockRam
Living in the South, and being a UCF fan, it was really something to watch Henderson tear the UCF defense apart because that defense had serious speed. But Henderson simply out-quicks and outruns everybody.
I know that the NFL values it, but I think that fans sometimes don’t appreciate, that quick twitch/suddenness is a huge factor in a player’s game. It is a huge factor in ADs game…. maybe the largest. And it will be the #1 factor in Henderson’s game. His long speed is really good; but plenty of other NFL RBs have 4.5 40 speed. The difference is that ability to hit that speed in a burst, and to make those cuts and movements instantaneously.
July 6, 2019 at 4:45 pm in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102739
znModeratorMichael Katz@MichaelLKatz
Harry Potter was a system wizard
znModeratorAt least two players seem likely to get picked in next week's supplemental draft: https://t.co/LqTACH61IV
— Pro Football Rumors (@pfrumors) July 6, 2019
July 6, 2019 at 12:12 pm in reply to: strength & conditioning coach Rath … trial … update: back with team #102735
znModeratorTrial begins for Rams strength and conditioning coach Ted Rath https://t.co/1uDUp4CGag via @theramswire
— RamsNewsNow (@RamsNewsNow) July 6, 2019
July 6, 2019 at 9:08 am in reply to: Renewables are winning the economics battle against new coal and gas #102732
znModeratorHuge renewables news. As @MLiebreich says, if the details are confirmed it is only the 'cheapest power from any technology ever, anywhere in the world, in the history of the planet' https://t.co/ABAGIAnLpb
— James Murray (@James_BG) July 2, 2019
znModeratorA @cnn commentator just said @JoeBiden is right—the majority of Americans DON'T support #MedicareForAll. New poll out shows 55% support M4A if they can keep their doctors/hospitals. Of course, @DanaBashCNN didn't correct this lie https://t.co/m2LMQCFDVc
— Jordan (@JordanChariton) July 5, 2019
July 6, 2019 at 8:53 am in reply to: the one-shot tweets thread (diff'rent stuff, funny angry interesting) #102730
znModeratorYOOOO, this cockatoo is deadass tearing down anti-bird spikes 😂😂😂
he said fuck the police pic.twitter.com/xLQHC2zLDh
— keat (@keatxngrant) July 5, 2019
July 6, 2019 at 12:32 am in reply to: so. cal gets a 7.1 quake…here's local news during the quake #102729
znModeratorWelp, that was the most unsettling earthquake I’ve ever felt.
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) July 6, 2019
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We just play through earthquakes apparently 😂 https://t.co/0qvCtI50bD
— Carlos Mariscal (@clos_11) July 6, 2019
znModeratorWhen members of Congress asked CBP if they knew about violently racist & sexually disturbing secret Facebook group w up to 10,000 CBP officers, they told us they just learned about it.
Looks like CBP lied. Reporting shows they knew about it for *years.*
This is a big deal. ⬇️ https://t.co/cbE643Sbzv
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 4, 2019
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Border officials had known about the secret Facebook group for up to three years, according to a Homeland Security official.
The private group had come under fire days ago after reports showed members mocking dead migrants and Democratic lawmakershttps://t.co/dViyZt5adJ
— POLITICO (@politico) July 4, 2019
July 6, 2019 at 12:12 am in reply to: the one-shot tweets thread (diff'rent stuff, funny angry interesting) #102726
znModeratorAn image being used by #MAGA supporters, stating it was the crowd gathered outside of the National Mall for President Trump's July 4th celebration, is from the "March for Our Lives" rally held in March 2018.
Notice people wearing winter clothing – Not something you see in July. pic.twitter.com/sfRVjsW4YC
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) July 5, 2019
July 5, 2019 at 11:14 pm in reply to: strength & conditioning coach Rath … trial … update: back with team #102725
znModeratorJoe Curley@vcsjoecurley
The trial of Ted Rath, the Rams director of strength and performance, began this afternoon in Ventura. Rath is accused of three counts of sexual battery.==
Trial begins for L.A. Rams’ strength, conditioning coach
Megan Diskin, Ventura County Star
A Moorpark woman was asleep in her bed when an accused Los Angeles Rams coach allegedly touched her inappropriately, the prosecution said Friday as the coach’s trial began.
Theodore “Ted“ Rath, the strength and conditioning coach for the NFL team headquartered in the Conejo Valley, has been charged with three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery in the alleged June 2018 incident.
Rath, 35, of Moorpark, has pleaded not guilty to the allegations through his defense attorneys Vicki Podberesky and Bill Haney.
Rath was arrested Jan. 15, five days before the Rams beat New Orleans in the NFC championship game. He was booked into Ventura County jail and released on $5,000 bail, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Rath is on a leave of absence from the team as the case goes on.
The trial began about 4:30 p.m. Friday in Ventura County Superior Court with Senior Deputy District Attorney Erik Nasarenko laying out for jurors what the 33-year-old alleged victim claims happened that night at her home on Breeze Glen Way.
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from: https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-ted-rath-trial-begins-20190705-story.html
After nearly three days of jury selection, the trial for Ted Rath, the Rams’ director of strength training and performance who pleaded not guilty to three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery, began Friday in Ventura County Superior Court.
Rath, 35, has been on leave from his position with the Rams since mid-January, after he was charged for an alleged June 2018 incident that involved a woman he knew at her residence in Moorpark.
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If convicted on all counts, Rath could face a maximum of 18 months in jail and would be required to register as a sex offender.
July 5, 2019 at 9:51 pm in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102724
znModeratorChris Long@JOEL9ONE
Realizing u won’t go have to go to camp is like a warm blanket out of the dryer. It’s like sinking into a giant hammock. Like the best Friday 1st beer you ever had. Like rolling around in the grass w 15 puppies. It’s like when they cancel school on the forecast the night before.July 5, 2019 at 5:05 pm in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102721
znModeratorA note on this. The value of VB’s comments is that he saw the Rams practice in OTAs. Yes it’s practice in pajamas, but still it’s nice to hear from someone who saw them in action, even at this early stage.
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Rams Q&A: Vinny Bonsignore
https://theathletic.com/1060038/2019/07/05/live-qa-with-rams-writer-vinny-bonsignore-on-friday-from-noon-to-1-p-m-pt-3/I still think they’ll be primarily 11 personnel, but not as much as in the past. I think there will be some diversity and different packaging. And yes, I think there will be an earnest effort to get Henderson and Everett more involved
[Woods, Kupp, Cooks] I think if they stay healthy they all reach 1000. And absolutely when that group is intact, Jared’s stats reflect their importance. He is simpy a better QB, statistically, when that group is together
[Kupp] Everything is on target. I think he’ll be on a definite program in camp. Not necessarily because he isn’t healthy, but just as a protective measure to ward off any setbacks. They want him full go to open the season, and feel they have a plan in place that achieves that objective
He was on the field, and a partial participant even in some reduced-speed 11 on 11 periods during OTA’s, so that’s an excellent sign. And everyone I’ve talked to anticipates he’ll be ready to roll for the season opener.really liked what I saw when the ball was in Henderson’s hands, just in terms of a burst/speed perspective. He’s a different kind of athlete, man. And it shows
[Gurley] I think the talk of him being dramatically damaged goods is exaggerated. But the Rams will absolutely slow down his workload during the course of the season to put him in a better position to be effective late in the season.
We will see. My instincts say yes, he will be healthy, but be used a bit differently in terms of load management. The goal is to make sure he’s good to go late in the season and in the playoffs. From what I hear, the combination of heavy usage and a couple of nasty hits in the Philly game led to a situation where the knee was slower to respond. They hope to minimize that risk by keeping him, and the knee, more fresh with a modified useage rate.it sure looked to me like the Rams were operating against a lot more zone coverage looks during 11 on 11 in this years OTA’s compared to in the past, which would lead me to believe they will have a better answer for that kind of coverage when they face it.
[Ranking Goff?] Top seven with his arrow pointing up.
[who looks like they bulked up this off-season?] For me: Austin Blythe, Micah Kiser and Sebastian Joseph-Day. Gerald Everett looks in ridiculous shape, too.
Barring a surprise in camp, I believe Kiser wins the ILB spot opposite Littleton in base defense. I think he will initially be utilized in more run situations, but the Rams will be aggressive in utilizing more nickel and dime packages where he comes off the field in favor of an extra safety or cornerback. I think you’ll also see some Clay Matthews lined up at ILB
[Brockers] . Definitely worth watching. Did his play slip, or was he playing responsibility football that sometimes isn’t reflected in raw stats? Hard to say. But I will say this, based on everyone I spoke to there was zero, and I mean zero thought about him being a salary cap cut or being asked to re-do his contract. That tells me there is respect for him and his level of play from his coaches and the front office.
znModeratorBut I need to start because (not sure I’ve told this story) my dad’s plane was discovered about two years ago off the coast of Oahu near the marine airbase. It went down during WW 2 in January 1945 as they were attempting to get as many planes as possible to Guam. Many were simply put together with band aids. He was in a PBY which is a pontoon aircraft. They lost the right engine just a mile off the Marine air base and when the pilot attempted to turn back to the base the plane dove into the ocean. 7 occupants, including my dad, were killed. Long story short: the plane was discovered a couple of years ago. Its broken up but parts of the fuselage rests in about 110 ft of water and parts of the props are in about 150 ft. I want to dive on it and spread my mother’s ashes . It is not a particular difficult dive and may not even involve decompression as long as the stay on the bottom is short. But I need to get in better shape than I am right now. Sooo…
That’s quite a story W and my best wishes on that.
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July 5, 2019 at 3:49 pm in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102715
znModeratorI’m not a member of PFF Elite & you have to be a member to find out which 4 Rams are named. I will hazard a wild guess and say Donald is one of them.
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#Ramily, @PFF_Linsey breaks down players on each team that should be in the HOF if they retired today, who's on pace, & players considered but aren't HOF-worthy as of right now
Find out the 4 #Rams that were named & where they landed over on the #PFF sitehttps://t.co/ivtRcVOcM7
— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) July 5, 2019
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