Rams have a penchant for attacking a position group with two and sometimes three picks in the draft every year whether it be pass rush* (last year with Verse and Fiske) or WR in '21 or Corner in '22, safety, etc...

Of all the positions of need and/or depth, which position group would you most like the Rams to take multiple swings at this draft? For me, corner seems to be the one where we really need to draft both for a starter AND depth and future players for the next year or two. I would put pass catcher right after that (allowing that they can come from both WR and TE there).

What say you?

* I say "pass rush" cause that's what they were really trying to attack and not necessarily DT/OLB spots, of which, they've gone after each in bunches in different drafts.

NFL moving to 18-game schedule seems inevitable: Breaking down logistics, player safety, playoff seeding, more​

PALM BEACH, Fla. — The NFL's annual league meetings came and went this week with the most drama circulating around a tabled rules proposal for a play that accounts for less than a half a percent of all offensive snaps.

While we all talked about the Tush Push, there was hardly a formal mention of the prospect of adding an 18th regular-season game. An ambition of the NFL's for more than a decade, that grail was "not a focus of our discussions by any stretch of the imagination" over the two-day meetings, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.

In truth, it didn't need to be spoken. As one source pointed out in the lobby of the famed Breakers hotel in Palm Beach, the idea of an 18th game was treated like "a fait accompli" even though it must be collectively bargained with the NFL Players Association. It seems so certain there's almost no consternation among NFL team owners about even when it will take place, as several sources have believed it wouldn't be instituted until the 2027 season at the earliest.

All the pieces matter here. There was no formal presentation from the league to team owners and presidents about what exactly the 18th game would look like. Dallas Cowboys owner and strong 18th-game proponent Jerry Jones even said there was no discussion of it in the privileged session, which admits just one representative from each team to discuss what other ears shouldn't hear.

But when you listen closely to what was said publicly, it becomes clear the league wants — nay, needs — the 18th game to accomplish so many of its goals in the coming years.

Want to take over the globe? You need more games across the globe. Want consistent refurbishments for your stadiums, or even a brand-new one? More money coming in would help. Want to maximize just how much money this extra game will net you? Time it up nicely with your new broadcast deals.

Oh, yeah. Then there's the whole player health-and-safety thing.

Player safety

The National Football League revolves around quarterbacks. Never before have quarterbacks had so much value to the on-field product, and never before have they been paid as much as they are today.

But the league has seen a historic number of QBs play in a season ever since expanding to 17 games. In 2021, the league's first year with 17 games, there were 62 starting quarterbacks, most in a season in more than a decade. That was followed by an all-time record of 69 starting quarterbacks in 2022, and it dipped to 66 in 2023 — the second-most all time.

This past season that number went down to 59, so perhaps something is working with consecutive years of that number decreasing.

Quarterbacks aren't the only players on the field that need to stay on the field, though, and the league knows that. NFL players suffered the fewest concussions in a season since the league began tracking data nine years ago, a positive sign that the tweaks made to the game and associated helmet technology is working.

And the league is doing its part to further curb plays that have a high injury rate. Even though the Tush Push has a 0 percent injury rate, sources say medical professionals consulting with the league caution the NFL and its teams about the potential for catastrophic injury. It's possible, if not likely, all pushing and pulling of ball-carriers will be outlawed by the time owners reconvene at the May meetings.

The 2024 season also saw second-fewest punts-per-game in the modern NFL. Punt plays have a much higher injury rate than scrimmage plays. With more teams going for it on fourth down than ever before, and with the kickoff touchback now at the 35-yard-line, there may be even fewer punts moving forward.

Logistics of 18 games

On a basic level, one of the easiest parts of the entire 18-game conversation is scheduling. The cleanest way to accomplish this would be to remove one of three preseason games, start the regular season on Labor Day weekend, add a second bye week for all teams and then have the Super Bowl align with Presidents Day weekend.

The next two Super Bowls have their dates set, but not the Super Bowl to cap off the 2027 season. Super Bowl LXII is set to be played in Atlanta in February 2028, but no firm date has been announced, causing many around the league to speculate the league could expand to 18 games beginning in the 2027 season.

Scooting the start of the season up by a week and eliminating one preseason game is just a start. The union has pushed for shorter offseason programs for years, and that push is likely to continue in any negotiations around an 18th game. Eliminating the voluntary offseason program altogether is a hope of some in the union, especially veterans.

An entirely revamped offseason schedule is possible. Training camp could start earlier in July and include a longer ramp-up time. That would eat into the summer breaks for players' families, which has had many question why players would want such a schedule.

When it comes to the actual season, the players union would never view a second bye week as a "concession." A second bye week would be nonnegotiable for the players. And, again, on a basic level, the bye weeks would be spaced out evenly for teams that could effectively cut their seasons into thirds.

The league would need to figure out what teams would play the extra game. Does the entire scheduling formula get re-evaluated? Or does the 18th game become a seventh division game that rotates each year within the division, as an example?

"We'll continue to analyze and discuss it with the players," Goodell said. "They're doing their work on it, and we'll all do our work on it. A lot of things effect whether you would go to 18: all the health and safety issues. I think that gives you the ability to think about that. In the context of our season structure is an important element of what we're offering to our fans and how we do that and how we're working with our players."

The extra game — and more importantly, the added bye week — gives the league a clear runway to 16 international games in the future. Goodell has talked fondly of this idea while his plans for global domination have been clear for more than a decade. But that part isn't always easy.

The league got the ability to have as many as eight international games beginning in the 2025 season, but the NFL could only muster seven for the upcoming season. The NFL is playing regular-season games in Ireland and Spain for the first time ever, and after years of being in Germany, the league is finally making its debut in Berlin this year.

And there will be more. The CBA allows for the league and union to meet and agree on increasing the total to 10 or more as early as before the start of this season.

Each year more teams get global marketing rights in various countries. Before last week, there were seven teams that did not have global marketing rights in another country. But at the annual meetings, the Ravens, Packers, Chargers and Commodes all got into the mix. That leaves just the Bengals, Bills and Titans as the only teams without a global marketing rights partnership for now.

The league is also expanding into different countries. The Spanos-owned Chargers just got awarded Greece, and the league has set its sights on the United Arab Emirates the last few years. The Commodes, 49ers and Rams all claimed the UAE at the meetings.

Value of an 18th game

Last year the NFL pulled in more than $20 billion in revenue, and that number will only increase as years go along regardless of whether another game is added.

Jerry Jones has known about the value of the 18th game for more than a decade. In the 2011 negotiations for a new CBA, Jones had the personal responsibility of talking to the players about the value of adding an 18th game.

"So you see what a great job I did," Jones quipped this week. "It was talked about there and I thought it was a great idea there. (Would have) made a billion dollars more to the players back then. One billion more to the players. So I thought it was a good idea — still do."

Today that extra inventory is valued at a far greater price. And because the added game would allow the league to get to 16 international games more expeditiously, the NFL could also package those international games and sell them to the highest bidder. Many around the league have wondered if such a package would be destined for Netflix considering its international reach. The streamer and the league have become fast friends since Netflix agreed to a three-year deal to house Christmas Day games, and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos did a panel with Goodell at the league meetings this past week.

Speaking of broadcast deals, the one the league signed with its partners in 2021 doesn't expire until after the 2033 season. But many anticipate the league will execute its opt-out clause following the 2029 season to get more money for their games. There is no larger pool of revenue for the league than its broadcasting deal.

"I'm more optimistic about how it grows from here than I was when I first came into the NFL in 1989, and any period in between," Jones said this week. "I see a lot of positive growth for the NFL."

There is logic in either getting to 18 games for a year or two and then opting out of the deals, or having the 18th game addition coincide with that opt out ahead of the 2030 season.

That's how the money would work for the owners' side. For the players, the money would increase and so would the salary cap. Last year we explored many of the potential requests the players could have when it comes to negotiating around an 18th game. There's little doubt the players will want a greater share of the revenue, and increasing their percentage from 48.8 to something closer to 50 percent would be a coup.

A new potential negotiating point has emerged since then. Sources say the union has shown interest in securing equity in NFL teams for its players, which would be a breakthrough in the most profitable sports league in North American sports.

Team owners voted last year to allow private equity groups to hold up to 10 percent in teams. A handful of teams have indulged in that already, and the benefits are obvious. Team owners whose wealth is mostly tied up in the team itself get to give away a part of the team, without losing any control, and immediately get hundreds of millions of dollars.

Former players have bought into teams, like Tom Brady and Richard Seymour getting pieces of the Raiders. A private equity firm fronted by Hall of Famer Curtis Martin is one of a dozen groups permitted to buy into NFL teams. But active players having a piece of the team? That would be a new frontier.

In July 2023, NFL team owners passed a new rule that resolved "that the membership endorses and adopts the policy statement of the Finance Committee regarding transactions of club equity involving club employees who are neither Principal Owner nor a member of the Principal Owner's family," according to a document obtained by CBS Sports.

So the NFL has already anticipated such a request and passed a bylaw to prohibit it. Of course, rules can always be changed. But it seems hard to imagine the league will ever allow a player to own part of the team he's playing on, considering the complications when and if that player is traded or cut — not to mention the potential circumvention of the salary cap.

But could current players buy into private equity groups who can then buy into teams? Maybe that could be a negotiated work-around for all parties, but that is hardly a given.

Could product suffer?

The pros of adding an extra game are rather obvious when it comes to money. And the cons of more injuries are equally as obvious. But something else that worries the league when it comes to more games: a more diluted product.

Those within the league office are terrified about the potential for teams to tank if more games are added. The NFL has seen what has happened in recent years with the NBA, and the potential to bottom out only increases when more bad teams play more games.

The NBA has borrowed from soccer to introduce an in-season tournament, though no major North American sports league has gone as far as to introduce a relegation system. And an in-season tournament for the NFL would have its own set of unique challenges.

But the league has been fighting tanking for decades. The problem has only gotten worse in recent years as one of the biggest tools in team-building has been a quality quarterback on a rookie contract.

Some general managers have pushed for the trade deadline to be later in the season, but the league has balked at doing that in large part because of the tanking concerns. The deadline now takes place after Week 9 in an 18-week (and 17-game) season, and pushing the deadline later could make more teams sellers as they watch their season slip away.

Though the stats say the league had its most competitive year ever when it comes to close games, the 2024 NFL season saw many bad matchups down the stretch as playoff seeding was more or less locked in with a couple weeks left in the season. Logic holds that adding another game would just worsen the problem.

Enter the Detroit Lions' proposal to change playoff seeding. The Lions proposed to change playoff seeding to rank teams from No. 1 to 7 based off record. Winning the division would get teams into the playoffs, but it wouldn't guarantee them a home playoff game like it does now.

That proposal got tabled at the meetings, but it had support from teams like the Cowboys. While some teams believe in the "purity" of divisions, like Steelers coach Mike Tomlin alluded to this week, others like the Cowboys see that more competitive games down the stretch will bring more eyeballs to the NFL. And all of that means more money for everyone.

Already one out of four division teams has a chance to host a playoff game each season. This proposal would allow four conference teams out of 16 to host a playoff game, so the basic math doesn't change.

When I asked him this week about that proposal, Goodell didn't hide his interest in it.

"I thought it is a very healthy proposal and a very healthy point that we need to evaluate and continue to look at. It went through many different forms. There was some great data to show that we should really look at some form or version of this. But there was also a really strong point of view that winning the division was the No. 1 thing. When you come into training camp, that's the goal: win that division first. And should that reward for winning that division be you're in the playoffs and a home game?

"There was some discussion potentially about if you're .500 or less and you won that division, should you also get the home game? I think there was some interest in that also. But I think the reality is it was very healthy and I think there will be more discussion of it. As we look at the season structure, there will probably be a lot of discussion in that context also as we do that. But I do think it's that constant work to be more competitive and find new wasty to create interest in the game."

It was the second time in his press conference Goodell referred to the "season structure," and it provided a glimpse into the future. Even though an 18-game schedule wasn't on the agenda, the idea of it informs what is being discussed.

If players are going to play more, they need to stay healthy. If there are going to be more international games, there need to be more countries the NFL enters. And if more games could hurt the quality of the product, then measures need to be put in place to ensure that doesn't happen.

The 18th game is the key to all this for the NFL.

All division winners make the playoffs, but seeding is done by overall record.

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/profootballtalk/status/1908912579600142473?s=61&t=lgp1gRmUcyNSF5v7CIHwMg

USFL Conference:
Birmingham Stallions (Birmingham, Alabama)
Houston Roughnecks (Houston, Texas)
Memphis Showboats (Memphis, Tennessee)
Michigan Panthers (Detroit, Michigan)

XFL Conference:
Arlington Renegades (Arlington, Texas)
DC Defenders (Washington, D.C.)
San Antonio Brahmas (San Antonio, Texas)
St. Louis Battlehawks (St. Louis, Missouri)



Friday, April 4, 2025:

Birmingham Stallions at Michigan Panthers
Result: Birmingham Stallions 21, Michigan Panthers 12
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Broadcast: FOX

Saturday, April 5, 2025:

Memphis Showboats at DC Defenders
Result: DC Defenders 17, Memphis Showboats 12
Location: Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Broadcast: ABC

Sunday, April 6, 2025:

Houston Roughnecks at Arlington Renegades
Kickoff: 12:00 PM ET (11:00 AM CT)
Location: Choctaw Stadium, Arlington, TX
Broadcast: ESPN

San Antonio Brahmas at St. Louis Battlehawks
Kickoff: 6:30 PM ET (5:30 PM CT)
Location: The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis, MO
Broadcast: FS1

Please note that all times are in Eastern Time (ET).

I had to put my dog Molly down today. She had just turned 17 but she had gone down hill the past week or so. This is always harder than you think it will be. Darn little thing tearing my heart out.

Just a bit of fun...

And no tush push

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/SharpFootball/status/1907468475141922910?t=diT3RzW79XkOjGDXDfABLA&s=19

No upcoming Phoenix date so we're going to Englewood, CO at the Gothic Theatre June 13. Dude is absofuckinlutey exceptional on the guitar. Check out his tour and see if it's near you. I highly recommend!

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/Fwn_91o3qU8?si=_GB0r70AYvoa6R3e


Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/AZJOEp4AZwk?si=Q0dJg6Kf9YVVpfya

Hell yeah. This should be fun....

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/OZtjO9m8bOA?si=GeA45bprWiBXDg3F

I got my Dad hooked into Tool back in 2001, he always resisted until he actually heard them. His whole world opened up after that. Ask him about it some day. I simply discovered them by our local radio station in 1995 or so. What about YOU?

Dopest track (almost) EVER! God damn they have A LOT!!

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/Y7JG63IuaWs?si=Jacmls3RZech4Tr0

In a surprising turn of events, the NFL has unveiled a radical new strategy to revamp the way fans experience the game. League officials have reportedly been analyzing fan feedback for years, searching for innovative ways to make football not just a sport, but a spectacle. The latest initiative, which insiders are calling a "game-changer," promises to bring a fresh, exciting dynamic to the field. According to a league spokesperson, the decision was made after an extensive study revealed that audiences crave a blend of precision officiating and entertainment value.

And so, to address this growing demand, the NFL has announced that, starting next season, officiating crews will consist predominantly of European runway models, with a strong emphasis on recruits from the country of Bulgaria. These striking new additions aim to elevate not just the accuracy of officiating, but also the visual appeal of the game.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell elaborated, “We’re excited to add a touch of European elegance to the field. It’s not just about accurate calls—it’s about delivering a complete visual experience.”

The models will undergo an intensive off-season training program, immersing themselves in NFL rulebooks, practicing flag-throwing techniques, and perfecting their touchdown signals. The league assures fans that while their beauty will captivate, their officiating skills will be second to none.

In partnership with top fashion houses, the new referee uniforms will be unveiled during a live event this summer. Think cutting-edge stripes, performance-ready designer cleats, and elegant whistles crafted from Swarovski crystal. Officials will also incorporate fashionable flair into their calls, turning penalties into choreographed displays complete with runway poses.

Rams coach Sean McVay quipped, “Well, if they can correctly spot the ball after a Devante Adams catch, I’m all for it.”

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford joked, “Forget playbooks—next season, I’m studying the latest runway trends. You never know when knowing the difference between haute couture and offside might come in handy!”

Though some traditionalists are skeptical, insiders claim this is just the beginning of the NFL’s “Game Night Glam” initiative. Rumors are swirling about halftime mini fashion shows and stylish, model-led instant replay reviews.

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/g9U5tjEQOlE?si=ielsuZNQf3jWzJbV


Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/4YFRQ709pVQ?si=wFshIcyXJvlN8KTC

WOW!!! A bombshell, out of the blue!! Link below:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Donald has announced he will return to the Los Angeles Rams for the upcoming season, ending his brief retirement. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year cited his enduring passion for the game and the persistent encouragement of Rams head coach Sean McVay as pivotal factors in his decision.

"After stepping away, I realized how much I missed the game,” Donald said on Monday. “And man, Sean was relentless. He kept calling and calling, talking about how we could win again together. So I finally decided to come back.”

Donald, 33, retired in March 2024 after a storied 10-year career with the Rams. Drafted 13th overall in 2014, he quickly established himself as a dominant force on the defensive line. His accolades include three Defensive Player of the Year awards (2017, 2018, 2020), eight first-team All-Pro selections, and a pivotal role in the Rams' Super Bowl LVI victory. In that championship game, Donald's game-clinching pressure on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow secured the win for Los Angeles.

Coach McVay expressed his enthusiasm about Donald's return. "Aaron is a unique player and an incredible leader," McVay said. "His presence elevates everyone around him. We're thrilled to have him back as we pursue another championship."

Donald's return is expected to significantly bolster the Rams' defensive line, which has undergone a transformation by integrating several young rising stars, including Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Byron Young, and Cobie Turner.

“Im just excited to be back, now I gotta get to work,“ Donald said. “I just want to thank all my fans for supporting me, especially the folks on Rams on Demand. I want to thank Mackeyser, who will need a few gummies after getting over the initial shock. And Loyal, who will be mad that an AI tool like ChatGPT helped prepare this fake article. I’d like to thank the moderators, like CGI, who will post a “Son of a bitch!” GIF; and Mojo Ram, who will post a Jake Gyllenhaal “I see what you did there!” GIF; and RamFan 503, who will note that “April Fool’s pranks are a long tradition at ROD.” I’ll ask that Den the Coach and Allen2McVay give me a pass for this one. Lastly, I’d like to thank all posters who have a sense of humor, and hope that people see that it’s just a prank and not to take this too damn seriously. Heck, the Rams can win the Super Bowl this year without needing me to come back from retirement!!”

Link: View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb6dZ1IFlKc

Since he's coaches guy and one of the few with inside info i think this warrants a post. Some like him some don't, i do and honestly him and Jamie Erdahl were the only two reasons I watched the show when I actually did. I'll follow his next endeavor.

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/gmfb/status/1906709734721540503?s=19

Let's say the Browns want to come up, possibly for a QB at 26. The offer includes the 33rd pick (1st pick in the 2nd round), what is the LEAST amount you would trade down for?

What I mean is, with the conventional wisdom that the draft class is relatively flat between 15 and 50, a team will probably be offering less than the trade chart, what would you be willing to take to drop down to 33?

Remember, 33 itself, comes as a premium as it's the first pick on day 2 with teams knowing who's left on the board and you may be able to recoup some draft value with teams willing to pay a premium for that spot.

The Rich Hill draft chart puts the value of the 26th pick at 223 and the 33rd pick at 180. The difference: the value of the 92nd pick in the 3rd round.

Browns have the 104 pick, 2nd pick in the 4th round, that they could offer; but what if they wanted something back from us like a 6th or more?

was always a big fan of his


I've never seen Dr. Kildare , but know people have always spoken highly of it

loved all his swashbuckling movies of the 70's , with The Three / Four Musketeers still probably being my favorite movie / s of all time

one movie they didn't mention was The Slipper and then Rose , which is actually a really good , if you take away the singing bits , it's a musical about Cinderella , not that I have anything about musicals , just didn't care for most of the songs in this musical .....................lol

his Allan Quartermain movies aren't the best , but their a fun watch

and then there was his must see TV mini series of 1980 , Shogun

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwNwvXAQ5l4


R.I.P.

why not

Welcome back to Yankee Stadium Nestor

USFL Conference:
Birmingham Stallions (Birmingham, Alabama)
Houston Roughnecks (Houston, Texas)
Memphis Showboats (Memphis, Tennessee)
Michigan Panthers (Detroit, Michigan)

XFL Conference:
Arlington Renegades (Arlington, Texas)
DC Defenders (Washington, D.C.)
San Antonio Brahmas (San Antonio, Texas)
St. Louis Battlehawks (St. Louis, Missouri)

———

Friday, March 28, 2025:
St. Louis Battlehawks at Houston Roughnecks
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Channel: FOX

Result:
(1-0) Battlehawks 31
(0-1) Roughnecks 6

———

Saturday, March 29, 2025:
San Antonio Brahmas at Arlington Renegades
Time: 4:00 PM ET
Channel: FOX

———

Sunday, March 30, 2025:
Michigan Panthers at Memphis Showboats
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Channel: ESPN

Birmingham Stallions at DC Defenders
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Channel: ESPN

Please note that all times are in Eastern Time (ET)

Thought I'd start a UFL thread for this season, with a blistering performance by none other than your St. Louis Battlehaaaaaawwwkkkss:

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ5FYJF9gRU&t=226s


Sir Wilkins looks like a competent RPO QB. Howard & Saylors form a really nice 1-2 punch at RB... makes you see what a pairing of Kyren and Omarion or Gordon II would look like.