https://apple.news/AKWeLlHMITl6mrbWdOVCD2Q

Apologies if this article has been posted (if I even got it posted correctly) already.

Short article on Aaron Donald discussing, in a podcast, playing next year and how he is only getting faster at the age of 31.

Bobby Wagner shares how Aaron Donald will make his job easier

Cameron DaSilva
Thu, April 7, 2022, 12:25 PM·2 min read


Bobby Wagner has played with a lot of great players in his NFL career, from Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas to Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett. He’s never played on the same defense as someone like Aaron Donald, though.
He’ll get that chance this season after signing with the Rams as a free agent. Wagner and Donald haven’t hit the field yet, of course, but the All-Pro linebacker is looking forward to finally playing alongside his fellow future Hall of Famer.
On the Pat McAfee Show, he explained how Donald will make his job easier as a linebacker, taking pressure off of him by eating up blockers up front.


“I’m really excited to play with him,” Wagner said. “I’ve been watching him from afar and any linebacker that’s got a guy like that right in front of you, it’s going to take a lot of pressure off of you and allow you to come downhill and make plays. When I come downhill, they can’t come off on him fast to come get me because then he makes the play. I’m excited to get out there and figure everything out. It’s going to be fun, for sure.


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The Rams haven’t had a linebacker of Wagner’s caliber in a long, long time. Having someone as talented as him roaming the middle of the field behind Donald is a dangerous combination, allowing Wagner to be more aggressive knowing there will probably be big holes left from linemen double-teaming him on most snaps.
Los Angeles’ run defense was already good last season, but it should be even better this year with Wagner pairing with Ernest Jones.

Full Show

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Same idea as the Rams complete game video thread, but this for teams not named the Rams. We'll start with this:

1990 NFC Championship Game NY Giants vs San Francisco 49ers​

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Hey, let's see if we can make this thread a repository of Rams complete game videos--not just highlights, but complete games so we have something to watch whenever the Rams aren't playing. Hopefully we can find some from way back for some of us old schoolers to relive, and for newer fans to learn our history as well. I'm starting with maybe my favorite game from 2021, the NFC Championship game:

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I was shocked when I read the title. A little more shocked when I read good ol‘ Tony Banks was the first qb taken at number 42.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...arterback-went-round-1-why-never-happen-again

Here is the Rams 96 draft class…ouch but a few did make an NFL difference.

no, not that guy... sorry @-X-

THIS guy. Nicely done, Dante. With a reference to HOF'er (and former Rams teammate, from 07 - 08) Torry Holt to boot.

So glad I don't have to get jealous of who we miss out on in the 1st round now that we have Robinson, and hopefully OBJ comes back too.
Would rather OBJ get signed than TM, tbh.

2022 NFL Draft: Strongest position group? Weakest?​

Published: Apr 05, 2022 at 01:02 PM

Lance Zierlein
NFL Media Draft Analyst


Looking at the 2022 NFL Draft class, which position group is the strongest? The weakest? Before we dive into my rankings, it's important for you to understand my criteria. In assessing each position group, I identified star-caliber players, future starters and overall depth. Generally speaking, I concentrated on prospects who are most likely to be drafted in Rounds 1 through 5.

While it's true this class of prospects is devoid of superstar talent near the top, the 2022 draft is loaded with edge defenders who have a chance to become productive starters for years to come. It's also worth noting that the depth in the middle rounds creates opportunities for teams to find quality backups and eventual starters, even in position groups that are lower on the list below.
OK, enough preamble -- let's get to it!

1) Edge defender​

After a two-year run of the wide receiver position holding the No. 1 spot in this exercise, edge defender is clearly at the top of the food chain for the 2022 draft. This position group has star-caliber potential, plenty of future starters and quality depth ranging well into the fifth round. Aidan Hutchinson, Travon Walker, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Jermaine Johnson II should all become early starters with high upside, but what I love about this crop is the diversity of the depth. There are speed rushers, long defenders with traits and pure power players -- something for every team and every scheme.

2) Safety​

Despite subpar times in the 40-yard dash, Kyle Hamilton is still the star of this group and on course to become a very talented starter. However, the talent behind Hamilton is what drives the safety position into the No. 2 spot here. I expect five to six future starters will be drafted inside the first 64 picks at the end of this month, with Lewis Cine, Nick Cross and Jaquan Brisker leading the charge after Hamilton. Daxton Hill offers legitimate cover talent against big slots, while players like Tycen Anderson and Jalen Pitre won't be far behind. If you need a starter at safety, you are finally in luck.

3) Interior offensive line​

With more and more teams looking to bump tackles inside to guard or center, this position group has become much more loaded over the last few years. Kenyon Green and Tyler Linderbaum are the headliners -- and I'm projecting Tyler Smith as a tackle-to-guard move, which adds another possible first-rounder. The number of potential future starters at the center position is very impressive, with several prospects featuring guard/center roster flexibility, which could elevate their draft slotting.

4) Cornerback​

The five-year average of cornerbacks taken over the first three rounds is 13.4. This year's class should approach -- and potentially surpass -- that number, but I wouldn't call this a standout position group. Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner is the best of the bunch, but Trent McDuffie may be the safest. The positional growth of Derek Stingley Jr. and Andrew Booth could have a big impact on how we view this crop in three years. In my estimation, there are more cornerbacks with third-round grades than second-round grades, but overall, the depth and upside look good in Rounds 3 through 5.

5) Offensive tackle​

This tackle group features potential star power in Evan Neal and Ickey Ekwonu, with both Charles Cross and Trevor Penning grabbing 6.4 marks in my grading system, projecting them as good, early starters. I also see Bernhard Raimann as a raw prospect with plenty of upside still to cultivate. But once we draft past those five, it gets shaky real quick. Day 2 and Day 3 depth is below average, with many of the prospects on the wrong side of the line dividing their ceiling from their floor.

6) Quarterback​

We are unlikely to see a quarterback go inside the top five picks, but I won't be surprised if four -- or maybe even five -- solid starters emerge from this group. Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral and Desmond Ridder would be late-first/mid-second-round picks in most drafts, but could get pushed up a bit this year. Willis has the highest upside, but Pickett and Corral are more game-ready. Ridder is loaded with intangibles (and talent) to make him a very good game manager at the NFL level. Depth won't be great here, but Jack Coan is a solid Day 3 sleeper.

7) Running back​

While this position is very light on star power, it is extremely deep, with help to be found from Round 2 all the way through the late rounds. Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker III are the best of the class and could become early starters. It falls off after those two, but the third, fourth and fifth rounds are going to be filled with prospects possessing size, toughness and talent that will land them roles in running back tandems and as pass-catching specialists. Georgia's Zamir White and James Cook are perfect examples of the types of backs that pepper the middle rounds.

8) Wide receiver​

While some are much higher on this wide receiver class, I come away a little lukewarm after the talent and depth we've seen from the 2020 and '21 drafts. While we are likely to see more first-rounders than the five-year average of 3.6, I don't believe there to be a true star in this group. North Dakota State's Christian Watson is an ascending prospect, but beyond him, the depth and ceiling and consistency for Day 2 wideouts is lacking.

9) Linebacker​

For this position, I only consider true linebackers -- not 3-4 edge defenders, since they are usually rushers. Nakobe Dean and Devin Lloyd are the top players here, but I only have borderline first-round grades on both (other evaluators are higher on them). Day 2 should offer up a handful of eventual starters at the position, but there are more questions attached to several prospects than teams might like. From a depth standpoint, this position is slightly below average.

10) Tight end​

This is actually a fairly deep position in this year's draft, but when you plug in "star potential" and "future starters" into the mix, the total grade comes down substantially. Last year's class lacked depth, but had Kyle Pitts as an absolute stud, while this year's class doesn't even feature a 6.4 prospect (my mark for a very good starter). Teams are going to find depth well into Day 3, but it's a middle/lower-middle-class crop this season.

11) Interior defensive line​

My bottom-ranked group from last year stays in the cellar. Georgia's Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt are both high-level prospects, and Travis Jones has really improved his standing this draft season, but it gets thin quickly. There are prospects like Matthew Butler and Kalia Davis whom I like as flash players with upside, but it's not a deep group.
Follow Lance Zierlein on Twitter.

Rams finalize 2022 coaching staff​

Apr 06, 2022 at 12:59 PM

Stu Jackson
Staff Writer

Rams head coach Sean McVay has finalized his 2022 coaching staff.
This year's staff includes new titles for a handful of returning members:

• Thomas Brown will serve as assistant head coach/tight ends coach after spending last season as assistant head coach/running backs coach.
• Thad Bogardus will serve as outside linebackers coach after spending last season as assistant linebackers coach.
• Jonathan Cooley will serve as defensive backs coach after spending last season as assistant secondary coach.
• Zac Robinson will serve as pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach after spending last season as assistant quarterbacks coach.
• Lance Schulters will serve as a defensive assistant after spending last season as a coaching fellow.
• Chris Shula will serve as pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach after spending last season as linebackers coach.

Los Angeles also rounded out this year's staff a slew of additions across all three phases, hiring Liam Coen as offensive coordinator, Chris Beake as inside linebackers coach, Kenneth Black as a coaching fellow, Skyler Jones as assistant defensive line coach, Greg Olson as senior offensive assistant, Jake Peetz as an offensive assistant, Ra'Shaad Samples as running backs coach, and Jeremy Springer as special teams assistant.
Here is more about each of those new hires:

Beake takes on his new role in Los Angeles after nine seasons with the Denver Broncos. Promoted to defensive pass game specialist in 2021, Beake helped guide a Denver defense that allowed the eighth-fewest passing yards per game during the regular season (214.8). The Broncos also allowed the fifth-fewest passing touchdowns in the NFL last year (22).

Beake held a variety of roles in Denver, beginning his career as a defensive quality control coach in 2013 before becoming a defensive assistant/defensive line coach from 2016-18. He returned to a defensive assistant role in 2019 and 2020. Throughout that tenure, the Broncos defense saw eight players named to a combined 20 Pro Bowl selections – including Von Miller being named to his seventh Pro Bowl in 2018 and Bradley Chubb setting a franchise rookie sack record while working with the outside linebackers. Beake also took an expanded role in 2020 while defensive coordinator Ed Donatell battled COVID-19 away from the team facility.

Black joins the Rams after spending the last two seasons as co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for Florida A&M. He was promoted to that position in 2020 after the Rattlers improved in passing offense (232.9 yards per game in 2018 to 291.1 in 2019), team passing efficiency (128.6 in 2018 to 148.5 in 2019), and passing touchdowns (17 in 2018 to 30 in 2019) during his first season with the program in 2019, when he served as passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach. He also helped FAMU quarterback Ryan Stanley earn MEAC Offensive Player of the Year that season. Black is already familiar with the Rams, having worked for them during training camp last year as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.

The Prairie View A&M University product began his coaching career at his alma mater, first as a graduate assistant (2013-15) before becoming a full-time assistant coach with the program for four seasons (2015-18). He spent the 2015-17 seasons as PVAMU's quarterbacks coach/pass game coordinator before becoming tight ends coach for the 2018 season.

Jones comes to L.A. after spending seven seasons at the college level, most recently as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for Norfolk State. Jones guided a defensive front that contributed to a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference lead-tying 27 sacks last season, led by defensive lineman De'Shaan Dixon's conference-high 9.5. Defensive lineman Chris Myers finished second in the conference with 5.5.

Prior to Norfolk State, he spent three seasons at Southern University, where he mentored defensive end Jordan Lewis, a three-time All-SWAC honoree and two-time FCS All-American. During the spring 2021 season, Lewis earned SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and the Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the top defensive player in the nation, after leading the FCS in sacks and tackles for loss. Lewis also led the SWAC in sacks in 2018.

Olson, meanwhile, is back for his third stint with the Rams and second under head coach Sean McVay. Previously the offensive coordinator while the franchise was in St. Louis (2006-07) and later the quarterbacks coach in McVay's first season (2017), Olson rejoins the club after spending the past four seasons as the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator. In 2017, Olson helped former 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff to a breakout second NFL season – Goff completing 62.1 percent of his passes for 3,804 yards with 28 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.

Olson's time in St. Louis was highlighted by the 2006 campaign which featured the Rams becoming only the fourth team in league history to produce a 4,000-yard passer (Marc Bulger), a 1,500 yard rusher (Steven Jackson) and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce). Bulger, Holt and Bruce were subsequently named to the Pro Bowl that year as the Rams finished with the NFL's No. 6 total offense and No. 3 passing offense.

Peetz most recently served as LSU's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, helping guide the Tigers to the No. 5 passing offense in the SEC in 2021. Quarterback Max Johnson finished seventh in the conference with 2,815 passing yards, throwing the fifth-most passing touchdowns (27) against the fifth-fewest interceptions (6, tied with two others).
While his previous stop was at the college level, he also brings 10 years of NFL experience, including coaching the Panthers running backs in 2019 during Christian McCaffrey's record-setting season and the Panthers quarterbacks in 2020. His other NFL stops include the Jaguars as a scout (2008-11) and assistant quarterbacks coach (2012), Washington Commodes as offensive quality control and assistant wide receivers coach (2014) and Oakland Raiders as a senior offensive assistant (2015), assistant quarterbacks coach (2016) and quarterbacks coach (2017).

Samples joins the Rams after spending the last three seasons on SMU's coaching staff, where he started as an offensive assistant in 2019, then was promoted to running backs coach and recruiting coordinator in 2020, followed by assistant head coach and running backs coach in 2021. During that time, he worked with Rams running back Xavier Jones, who led the FBS in rushing touchdowns (23) and was a Doak Walker semifinalist and all-conference selection in 2020.
The 27-year-old Samples began his coaching career as a student assistant at Houston (2016-17) before joining Texas' staff as an assistant wide receivers coach in 2018.

Springer joins the Rams after spending the last four seasons as a special teams coordinator at the college level, most recently at Marshall in 2021 after overseeing Arizona's specialists from 2018-20. At Marshall, Springer oversaw a special teams unit that ranked seventh in Conference USA in total kickoff return yards with 421 and also tied with Old Dominion for the most kickoff returns for touchdowns (2), including a long of 99. The Thundering Herd's 38.1 yards per kickoff return ranked fourth in the conference in 2018.
Springer replaces Dwayne Stukes, who was hired last week as the Broncos' new special teams coordinator.

2022 Rams Coaching Staff​

*Denotes new to Rams coaching staff
^Denotes new title entering 2022 season
Table inside Article
The 2022 coaching staff can also be viewed here.

This is an exercise I do every year. While there still may be some moves in FA, I'd say that rosters (not including rookies, who are ineligible for this list) are fairly set. To account for different formations, my lineups include three WRs and four players each on the DL and at LB. Players are included primarily based upon their 2021 performance.

With that, here are my selections:

QB: Matthew Stafford, Rams
RB: Eli Mitchell, 49ers
RB: James Conner, Cardinals
WR: Cooper Kupp, Rams
WR: Deebo Samuel, 49ers
WR: D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks
TE: George Kittle, 49ers
OT: Trent Williams, 49ers
OT: Rob Havenstein, Rams
OG: David Edwards, Rams
OG: Gabe Jackson, Seahawks
C: Rodney Hudson, Cardinals

Russell Wilson was on this list for years, but his departure and Stafford's rise puts him at the QB spot. I have no qualms placing him above overrated Kyler Murray. The RB spot was somewhat of a default choice. I would not be surprised if it changes as the year progresses. Metcalf could be traded. If he is, his spot would likely go to Tyler Lockett, unless he is traded, or DeAndre Hopkins, who was shelved most of last year.

DL: Aaron Donald, Rams
DL: Nick Bosa, 49ers
DL: Arik Armstead, 49ers
DL: A’Shaun Robinson, Rams
EDGE: Leonard Floyd, Rams
EDGE: Marcus Golden, Cardinals
ILB: Bobby Wagner, Rams
ILB: Fred Warner, 49ers
CB: Jalen Ramsey, Rams
CB: Charvarious Ward, 49ers
S: Budda Baker, Cardinals
S: Jamal Adams, Seahawks

The Rams and 49ers definitely dominate the defensive lineup. Not a ton of depth at the CB spot in this division, and Adams was more of a career body of work choice than a nod to his 2021 season.

Total
Rams 9
49ers 8
Cardinals 4
Seahawks 3

Pretty fitting results, given how the teams' finished the year in 2021. The battle between the Rams and 49ers could turn, to a large degree, on two players not listed who will have big roles in 2022: Cam Akers for the Rams and, of course, Trey Lance for the 49ers. If Lance, in particular, falters, the 49ers could struggle despite a generally strong roster.

Agree with my choices?

@jrry32 , @den-the-coach , @OldSchool​

I know you guys and others are far more in touch with the college talent
from year to year, than I will ever be. I don't watch college football often.
Just wanted to get a overall opinion of this years draft in terms of strength,
depth, maybe stronger position groups.

Just any kind of information or opinion you or others with knowledge of
college football want to share, would be gratefully appreciated.
Thx in advance.

If you've bit the bullet and bought a $100 rib eye at a fancy steak house to go with your Busch Light, or maybe ordered a package of steaks from Omaha Steaks, you know how how tender and flavorful dry aged beef is. My wife is a farmers daughter in Kansas and she just blinked at me when I mentioned a dry aged steak, not knowing what the heck I was talking about, and she grew up with a half a butchered beef in her deep freezer all of her life on the farm.
I told her the price above and she couldn't get over it. Maybe Stu can weigh in here about the dry aging process and why it takes steak to another level, even though I gotta smack away his hand from the Heinz-57 steak sauce, occasionally. @RamFan503 . Have you all had this type of experience? I know you fancy Bud Light drinkers had to have gulped down one of these beauties!

Do any of you have a dry aging refrigeration rig in which to do the process?

With McVay, Snead always seems to grab a late round pick that's a player.

In 2018, it was SJD at #195 (6th). Later he grabbed Travin Howard at #231 (7th) and though the jury is still out on him, he did come on late last year. In 2019, Nick Scott at #243 (7th) came on as well. He had two highlight hits in the postseason and played 100% of the postseason snaps on defense, as well as 20% of the ST snaps. In 2020 Snead took Jordan Fuller at #199 (6th) and he wore the green dot for our D. I gotta believe in Scott and Fuller, we have two good safties. Last year none of the late ones really shined. Skowronek #249 (7th) was a special teams demon and forced to be a receiver but that near touchdown when he was twisting around and that handoff interception didn't look good. I don't know if Snead will get another late round diamond in the rough this year but I'm anxious to see if Chris Garrett #252 (7th) will shine in his second season. Gotta love and pull for those late rounders.

Since 1990 and before that group above, the Rams best late rounder was Ryan Fitzpatrick (#250) but he didn't shine for the Rams, except for that game in Houston his rookie year. We could count Fred Miller #141 (5th) and Brian Young #139 (5th) but in today's NFL they'd be 4th round picks. Not exactly "late".

Nice to meet everyone. Thanks for having me.

Buffalo.

2 reasons.

1. Buffalo was already a strong candidate along with Denver, Vegas and Dallas.

2. So Von Miller can be there for Championship Ceremony i.e. Banner Unfurling, Ring Presentation.

Its Perfect

" The popcorn: Get it ready.

At 48 years old, Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens is returning to professional football. He is joining the Fan Controlled Football league, where he is expected to be paired with quarterback Johnny Manziel on the Zappers for the season's April 16 start.

"I'm looking forward to throwing with Johnny or whomever the quarterback may be," Owens told ESPN. "If it's Johnny Football, it doesn't matter if it's Pee Wee Herman, as long as they throw the ball where it needs to be and ... put it in my catch radius, I'm going to do my best to make some stuff happen with it."

Owens has not played professionally since 2010, when he caught 72 passes for 983 yards and nine touchdowns with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he has never considered himself retired from the game and maintains he can still play at a high level.

"I wasn't given the opportunity to play. That doesn't mean I retired," Owens said of his NFL career. "Has Colin Kaepernick retired? [He's not in the NFL] because he hasn't been given an opportunity.

"I can do a lot of things that people feel I can't do. It's not a matter of me going out there and trying to prove anybody wrong. I just don't like the notion that people see it, even in the National Football League, it's almost like, OK, you've reached a certain age at whatever point in time in your life and they feel like you can't play anymore or your skills decline to a degree. Of course everybody's skills at some point may decline, but I think there are certain people that kind of defy those odds, and I think I'm one of those people."

Owens opened some eyes in 2020 by keeping pace with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill in a race. More recently, he said he ran the 40-yard dash in the 4.4-second range and remains in great shape.

"If Tom Brady can do it, if they can marvel at some of the things he's done, I'm no different than Tom," Owens said of the 44-year-old Brady. "Yeah, I play the receiver position. Obviously, the risk is much higher, but with anything, with any sport, injuries are part of the game. I don't go into a situation with the notion that I am going to get hurt or I can't take a hit; that makes no sense to me. For me, I know that I'm a special individual.

"So if [an opportunity to play in the NFL] arises or comes about because of playing in Fan Controlled Football league because they see me take hits ... then so be it. But that's not what I'm actively pursuing. It's a partnership with Fan Controlled Football league. It's to help grow what they're trying to do, even attract some guys who may be at home, not doing anything."

The FCF is a 7-on-7 league that empowers fans to make key decisions for their favorite team, including calling plays in real time. Games will be streamed on the Fubo Sports Network. Owens will be miked up for the games, the league announced Wednesday, and an alternate game-day broadcast will include Owens' behind-the-scenes access and sideline interviews with celebrity guests, FCF owners and players."

----SOSATO

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ntion-loss-phoenix-suns-win-san-antonio-spurs


I wonder if the Nuggets lost on purpose to end the Lakers season?

'It's going to be weird without Whit': Rams adjusting to life without Andrew Whitworth​

Andrew Whitworth was the left tackle for the Los Angeles Rams for five seasons, but somehow it felt like more.

Whitworth joined the Rams in 2017, when they were coming off a 4-12 season, playing in the aging Los Angeles Coliseum and quarterbacked by Jared Goff. By time he retired earlier this month, the Rams were Super Bowl champions, playing in the most modern of NFL stadiums at SoFi Stadium and quarterbacked by Matthew Stafford.

It's going to take the Rams a little while to get used to a world without him.

"It's a new era of Rams offensive line," center Brian Allen said. "It's going to be weird without Whit there."

The Rams have been grooming his replacement, Joe Noteboom -- a third-round draft pick in 2018 -- the past four seasons. Noteboom has played various offensive line positions, started a total of 17 regular-season games and was recently re-signed by the Rams to a three-year, $40 million contract with $25 million guaranteed.

"The best part is knowing the coaches have the confidence in you to sign you back to a contract here and put you in that spot," Noteboom said. "But it's also a challenge. Being the guy now comes with a little more responsibility. It's motivating more than ever."

Noteboom said his four seasons as Whitworth's teammate weren't wasted. He said he learned things such as work habits, preparing his body for a long season and diet from the veteran tackle.

"It was a perfect situation [to learn]," Noteboom said. "There was no other guy in the league I'd rather have been behind for those four years. That gives me confidence going into it."

Noteboom played some at both tackle spots and left guard last season, his first with Stafford as his teammate.

"He's a plug-and-play player for us," Stafford said. "Wherever we needed him, he stepped in and played at a high level against some really quality opponents. I'm looking forward to seeing his development on the left side and seeing him do his thing for a bunch of years."

Allen and Noteboom arrived the same season as Rams draft picks. Allen said Noteboom was "the left tackle in waiting" over the past four years even as he moved around the offensive line.

"I think that left tackle spot really is where he'll shine the most," Allen said. "I'm pumped for him to have this opportunity to really be the guy. ... He absorbed so much wisdom and so much stuff that Whit taught him over those four years."

Allen also re-signed with the Rams this year, on a three-year contract for $18 million, with $10 million guaranteed.

"It was definitely a little more stressful than I thought it was going to be ... being my first time having gone through free agency so I really wasn't sure what to expect or really what I was getting myself into," he said. "But I wanted to be back in L.A. and I'm excited about how things unfolded.

"I really didn't want to leave not knowing how much better I could be in our offense. That was definitely something that was in the back of my mind that I didn’t want to go somewhere and be in a situation where I didn't have someone like Matt to work with ... he'd be a hard person to let know you were leaving."

Losing Whitworth isn't the only change coming to the Rams on offense. They also traded wide receiver Robert Woods to the Tennessee Titans for a sixth-round pick in 2023. But they added another receiver, Allen Robinson II, in free agency with a three-year, $46.5 million contact and re-signed Stafford to a four-year contract extension worth $160 million.

The Rams could still re-sign wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., though he won't be available early next season after tearing his ACL in the Rams' Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

of non-covid pneumonia, A singing sensation as a teen, best known now as the person the hs in Grease was named after, and for this dance number.

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Formerly of the NYG.

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Big movie recommendation for music lovers. John Carney's music making "trilogy" (in theme, though the movies are otherwise unrelated):
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Once is a low-budget masterpiece about an Irish busker who meets a Czech girl who becomes his collaborator and muse as they try to work out their complicated lives through music. Begin Again is set in New York, and features Mark Ruffalo as a down on his luck record producer who is inspired by young singer/songwriter Keira Knightley (yes, she really can sing). Sing Street is a period piece set in the 1980s and tells the story of a group of High School kids in Dublin forming a band to escape their dreary lives and, of course, impress a girl.

All three really show the process of writing and arranging songs in a way that really provides insight into the craft, as well as showing how life experiences and emotions impact the process. Plus, the music in all three films is outstanding.

Check them out!

Mother F'n Busch Light cares about the environment and makes it easier for the trucking industry to fill pee bottles:

After weighing retirement in the offseason, Rams star Aaron Donald and his wife, Erica, are shopping around their custom Calabasas estate for $6.25 million.

The listing arrives two months after Donald helped the Rams win the Super Bowl in a dominant performance that left some wondering whether he would return the following season. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year recently confirmed that he’s been in talks with the team but hasn’t yet publicly announced a return.

Set on nearly an acre, the 7,036-square-foot mansion is found in the Oaks of Calabasas, a guard-gated, star-studded neighborhood with other celebrity residents over the years including Katie Holmes and Bret Michaels. Six bedrooms and seven bathrooms are spread across the two-story floor plan, which also includes a step-down lounge, open-concept kitchen and self-contained guest quarters.


1/11
The exterior. (Jeff Elson)

The star defender has an eye for decorating as well. Listing photos show that Donald made a few aesthetic changes during his stay, bringing sleek shades of gray to the living spaces and adding a barbershop.


The amenities continue outside, where a 1,500-square-foot glass-covered patio overlooks a zero-edge swimming pool. A fireplace and basketball court complete the scene.
Considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, Donald was drafted by the Rams in 2014 and has racked up 441 tackles and 98 sacks in eight seasons. The Pittsburgh native has been named to eight Pro Bowls and thrice won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, joining Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt as the only players to win the award three times.
Jordan Cohen of RE/MAX One holds the listing.

———

Anyone else been messing with this thing this year? I like to use it to get a look at rough name groups but it's been a lot of fun seeing some good damn players on the board when we're up. Just had a draft that I think is pretty good too, though the PFF shitbird grading system fails to realize the quality of the haul.