Which current players do you think could one day be a head coach?

I’d say that the most talented guys, like Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, are unlikely, as they would have trouble dealing with less talented players.

I’d say the three who come to mind are Cooper Kupp, Andrew Whitworth and Robert Woods.

Thoughts?

Will Darious Williams become a top-paid cornerback in 2022?​

“How good would Darious Williams be without Jalen Ramsey or in a different defense?”

It’s the question that everybody is really asking right now when it comes to LA’s number two cornerback. If we focus on the last 19 games, ever since the moment that Williams stepped in for 61 defensive snaps against the Cowboys, we see a player who has mastered his assignments.

In those 19 games, Williams has 18 passes defensed, six interceptions, and one of the lowest passer ratings allowed in the NFL. That doesn’t include the playoffs, where Williams had two passes defensed and a pick-six against the Seahawks in the wild card round.

If Williams had been a 21-year-old first round pick in 2018, rather than a former undrafted free agent out of UAB and approaching 28, we might be talking about him as the franchise’s best decision since Aaron Donald. In that scenario, it could be easy to envision Williams on the verge of a record-breaking contract for cornerbacks.

In the scenario in which we live, Williams might be just as good of a cornerback, but how much money will it cost to him to have not entered the NFL with hype and to have emerged as a late bloomer? A late bloomer whose entire run of success has come opposite of the league’s best cornerback.

How much doubt has that placed in the minds of the Rams, the spectators, and the NFL? You think there’s no difference? I would disagree because if Williams was a 24-year-old former first round pick, it’s hard to imagine how any team wouldn’t have taken a stab at him in free agency this year. Because he was undrafted, Williams was a restricted free agent this year and the Rams placed the first round tender on him.

This may have been what scared some teams off from pursuing Williams — signing him would have meant sacrificing a first round pick — but consider that the Rams sacrificed two first round picks for Jalen Ramsey.

Williams has not been put in that same realm of Ramsey, and rightfully so, but how will the other 31 teams view Williams if he has another exceptional season in 2021?

Last year, the Rams made Ramsey the highest-paid cornerback in the league, signing him to a five-year, $100 million contract. In October, the Ravens came in just under that, giving Marlon Humphrey a deal at $19.5 million per season.

But a better comp for Williams might be James Bradberry, especially since Bradberry had so much success in his first season with the Giants last year. Bradberry, a late second round pick in 2016 out of Samford, entered free agency in 2020 after four quality seasons with the Panthers. He was coveted, but not to an insane degree, and New York paid him $43.5 million over three seasons.

With a much higher cap in 2022 than when Bradberry entered the market in 2020, Williams might be able to get more than $50 million over three seasons. A $16-$17 million APY places him in the same range as Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, and Darius Slay.

It’s hard to imagine how LA would be able to pay that but another third round compensatory pick could be coming their way in 2023.

Unsurprisingly, Aaron Donald Outshines Everyone in Latest Player Rankings​

Over the last week or so, Pro Football Focus has been revealing their top 50 players in the league for 2021. It came as no surprise to me, that for the 5th straight year Aaron Donald was crowned best in the league. With an impressive PFF grade of 94.5. He’s not just the best right now, he has been for several years now. He is rightly regarded as one of the greatest defensive players of all time.

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The Pittsburgh native has been a monster since coming into the league in 2014 and has gone from strength to strength. The list of accolades for the Defensive Tackle is a lengthy one. Starting with Defensive Rookie of the Year, and PFWA All-Rookie team honors back in 2014. Followed up by 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2017, 2018, and 2020. He has been voted to the Pro Bowl all 7 seasons he has been in the league (2014-2020), and All-Pro for 6 straight seasons (2015-2020). He was also the sack leader in 2018. To finish off, he was a unanimous selection for the NFL 2010’s All-Decade Team.

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How long can the dominance last?

Donald turned 30 in May, and there have been no signs of him slowing up yet. His stats last season were as impressive as ever. Four forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 13.5 sacks, 28 QB hits, and led the league with 98 total pressures. He remains the most feared player in the league, and with good reason. In a league full of Uber-talented physical freaks, Donald stands out like a giant among men. Something that is even more amazing, considering his metrics of 6’1 and 280 lbs are considered “under-sized” for his position.

To use an old cliche, Father Time catches up with us all. Eventually, Donald will lose his position at the top. Younger players like runner-up in the list Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and young Edge Rushers like TJ Watt, Joey Bosa, and Myles Garrett are the prime candidates to take that top spot. For now, though, I’d expect another big season from Aaron Donald in 2021. Seeing him top PFF’s top 50 list next year as well, wouldn’t surprise me one bit.

Surrounded by talent on what is arguably the best defense in the NFL and with star Quarterback Matthew Stafford on the team, the Rams will be looking to go one better than they did in Super Bowl LIII, where they lost 13-3 to the New England Patriots. A Super Bowl ring is all that is missing for Aaron Donald, who is a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer. Canton is waiting for him when he retires, but there are more years of him terrorizing the league’s quarterbacks to come yet before that happens.

Chris Simms thinks 2021 will be 'the year of Matthew Stafford' | Pro Football Talk | NBC Sports​

I know, I know It's Simms, but there's not a lot to post and I caught him on a good day.
He is actually making some sense.

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Melvin Ingram Is A Perfect Fit For The Rams​

The Los Angeles Rams had the number one defense in the league a year ago and despite losing coordinator, Brandon Staley, they are likely to have a top-five caliber defense under Raheem Morris. They were a great defense despite not having a consistent pass-rusher beyond Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd. In fact, the Rams haven’t really had anyone outside of those two that could generate pressure for years. Dante Fowler, Clay Matthews, Cory Littleton, and others have failed to become that guy on the team and yet the defense persisted.

The salary cap is once again not the Rams’ friend this year (take a drink) but there are veterans out there that are worth taking a flyer on. The perfect person, and one whom Aaron Donald has openly recruited, is Melvin Ingram. Ingram could be the difference between taking a tumble out of the top-five and not missing a beat from last year.

It was telling that the Rams chose Leonard Floyd over John Johnson. At first, it was a bummer (still is but less so), then it became clear why Les Snead did that. Floyd needed to return because if he left the cupboard was MUCH more barren at linebacker than Johnson’s departure meant for the secondary. If Floyd left they’d have a ton of young guys that haven’t really proven themselves so having him as an anchor while they figure it out at linebacker for the umpteenth year was the correct choice.

Melvin Ingram would solve so many of their problems at linebacker. On top of giving the Rams an absolute deadly Ghidorah of a pass-rushing trio along with Floyd and Donald, having him in the rotation allows more flexibility with the other starting slots.

Rookie Ernest Jones, Troy Reeder, and Kenny Young can rotate on the inside while Micah Kiser or Travin Howard get all the other starting reps. Obo Okoronkwo, Justin Lawler, Justin Hollins, and (if healthy) Terrell Lewis don’t have to be asked to do too much on the outside because of the consistency Floyd and Melvin Ingram would provide.

The Rams’ linebacker rotation is a mess right now (take a drink) but adding Melvin Ingram would also solve a problem that plagued the Rams in the playoffs. By having a third pass-rusher they don’t have to sacrifice interns and small animals to the football gods to ensure Donald doesn’t get hurt. Floyd was all the Rams had in the Packers game and that allowed Aaron Rodgers to run through them with the disdain he saves for reporters or dumb Jeopardy contestants. Having Ingram would at least allow leeway for if Donald or Floyd have to miss a game here or there (knock on wood).

Melvin Ingram wouldn’t even require the Rams to break the bank. Yes, he made $16 million last season and only played seven games registering zero sacks. That doesn’t do much for his value and might scare off fans but that season is most likely an outlier. He’s had 29 sacks over the last three seasons and has 49 overall. He’s still young enough to where he can still recapture that magic and he’s also a solid tackler on run defense which the Rams sorely need.

They have a little over $6 million to work with and if they make a couple of strategic cuts they can get upward of $8 million. Melvin Ingram could do what Floyd did a year ago and take a prove-it deal in order to bolster his value for next year. He’s not likely to fetch his market price of $16 million especially at this point in the season. A lot of teams can use him and ultimately it’s going to be up to Ingram as to what situation he wants to be in. If all the offers are the same it’s hard to imagine him turn down a chance to play on a defense with this much talent. By coming to the Rams he wouldn’t have to leave LA, he could get a ring, and if he plays his cards right, he could get PAID.

Signing Melvin Ingram would be the best thing the Rams could do to bolster their defense. He fixes the majority of the problems they have at linebacker and he gives the young guys a chance to continue to grow and or get healthy. He would make offenses have to think twice if they want to dedicate three guys on Donald or stick with two. Donald being even a little bit less blocked would make a gigantic difference to the dynamic of this defense.

The world is Melvin Ingram’s oyster and while teams can offer him more money it would be absolutely foolish to turn down a request from Aaron Donald. Like Edna Krabappel, you only get one chance with Aaron Donald. Here’s hoping Melvin Ingram understands the grand opportunity in front of him.

Obo Okoronkwo Just Needs The Opportunity​

This offseason, for the Los Angeles Rams, saw Morgan Fox and Samson Ebukam leave in free agency. Fox went to the Carolina Panthers and Ebukam to the San Francisco 49ers. Those players combined for 3,379 snaps over the last four years. Meanwhile, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, or Obo, has totaled just 296 total snaps over his three-year career. The reality is, Obo Okoronkwo just needs the opportunity.

Tools To Succeed

Obo Okoronkwo was a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Though he doesn’t have the traditional edge rusher build per se, Okoronkwo does have 34-inch arms which is ideal length for the position. Okoronkwo was extremely productive as an Oklahoma Sooner and his value was tabbed as anywhere from round two to five. His twitchiness is probably what stands out most on film. He is a true speed rusher to compliment Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd.

Rough Start

Unfortunately for Okoronkwo and the Los Angeles Rams, the talented pass rusher’s first season did not go as planned. Foot surgery got him placed on the physically unable to perform, or PUP, list before the season started, and he never saw the field as a rookie. In 2019, he received limited opportunity as the Rams deployed Dante Fowler Jr. and Clay Matthews. Then again in 2020, Obo ended up on injured reserve due to an elbow injury.

Productive When He Plays

It’s an extremely limited sample size, but Okoronkwo is productive when he is on the field. In 2020 he saw 181 snaps in 10 games and tallied 7 tackles and 6 run stops in 28 snaps as a run defender. 148 of his snaps came as a pass rusher and he totaled 21 pressures. In other words, Okoronkwo had a 14% pass-rush productivity score. For reference, Aaron Donald scored a 17% while Leonard Floyd scored a 10%. Okoronkwo has the highest pass-rush productivity grade next to Donald on the Rams.

Sooner Or Later

The Rams are admittedly thin at the edge rusher position. Aaron Donald is obviously a legitimate threat while Leonard Floyd is a nice complementary guy. Behind those two players, the Rams have Terrell Lewis, Justin Hollins, Justin Lawler, and Chris Garrett. The Rams will likely utilize a committee approach to their pass rush and how that shakes out remains to be seen. Lewis has had issues staying healthy going back to his time at Alabama. Lawler hasn’t done much since entering the NFL either. Hollins is best in a backup role and Garrett is a 7th round rookie from a Division II school.

It sounds like Okoronkwo is finally healthy and hopefully remains that way. If he is healthy for the entire season we may finally see some of what made him Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. I’m not saying to expect 15 sacks out of Obo, but I think we could definitely see Morgan Fox-like production. If healthy, and he stakes claim of a clear starting role, he could even out-perform Fox’s production with the Rams. As I said, Obo Okoronkwo just needs the opportunity.

Think 2021 season only…

Rams are queued up for a championship run… Stafford is experienced…

I was looking at the starting QB’s around the league, wondering; would anyone give us a better chance to win in 2021?

Lets take Mahomes and Rodgers off the table… who is left? Who would you rather have?

Sure, maybe guys like Herbert, Jackson, and Lawrence are better long term QB’s…. but for our 2021 run?

I don’t know… ?

I’m probably picking Stafford.

Every NFL starting QB, ranked for the 2021 season​

No. 32: Zach Wilson — Jets
Wilson is a rookie landing on a team still lacking offensive talent. I’m not the biggest Wilson fan, but putting him last is more indicative of how difficult it is to adjust to the NFL, not his talent ceiling. Hope for flashes of brilliance and some baby steps, and little more.

No. 31: Sam Darnold — Panthers
The Panthers believe in the Sam Darnold reclamation project, but that doesn’t mean it’s enough to put him higher on this list. Darnold needs to prove A LOT this season, and there’s definitely potential for him to reach his ceiling away from Adam Gase. This is the best group of receivers Darnold has ever had, so the excuses are gone. He’s going to need to start performing from the jump.

No. 30: Andy Dalton — Bears
Nothing about Andy Dalton’s game should excite anyone. It’s going to be a boring wait for Bears fans until Justin Fields gets his call to start. This is a caretaker role, and Chicago’s defense is good enough that it might be enough. Still, nothing to really write home about.

No. 29: Jameis Winston — Saints
I know there’s a lot of hope that Jameis and his new-found vision (literally) will lead the Saints to sustained success, but I’m not sold. I think the whole “I needed contacts” thing is a nice story, but doesn’t explain away his poor decision making or inconsistency. There’s a small chance he can break out, but I’m not holding my breath.

No. 28: Daniel Jones — Giants
This is it for Daniel Jones. If he doesn’t excel this season it should be over for him. The amount of talent the Giants have added to their offense during free agency and the draft is astounding, and if he remains a dink-and-dunk passer with a worrying lack of touchdowns then there’s nothing that can save him in the NFL.

No. 27: Drew Lock — Broncos
I still have no idea who will start in Denver, and I’m not sure the Broncos do either. They’ve basically been linked to every free agent quarterback, are rumored to still be trying to get a package together for Aaron Rodgers, and signed Teddy Bridgewater. Still, Lock remains. He’s been pretty unremarkable so far.

No. 26: Tua Tagovailoa — Dolphins
I think Tua was unfairly criticized for much of his rookie season. At times he looked every bit of the quarterback once pegged to be the No. 1 overall pick, and other times he played too safely and didn’t take enough shots downfield. I want to see more, and think the potential is there — especially after adding Jaylen Waddle in the draft.

No. 25: Jalen Hurts — Eagles
We have an exceptionally small sample size to go off here, but I’m leaning towards this being a breakout year for Hurts. The Eagles got an incredible partner for him in DeVonta Smith in the draft, and that reliability will pay dividends. A lot of pressure is on Hurts’ shoulders this season to prove to an unforgiving Eagles fanbase that he can be “the guy,” but I think he has the tools to rise to the occasion.

No. 24: Carson Wentz — Colts
A fresh start is exactly what Carson Wentz needs, and I think Indianapolis is a great landing spot for him. That said, he really needs to regain his confidence early to prove he can go back to being a top tier quarterback. The player we’ve seen the last two years was a shadow of his former self. There’s potential here, but I’m still on the fence too much whether I can have faith in him.

No. 23: Jimmy Garopollo — 49ers
There are a lot of questions who ends up being the starter in San Francisco, but in the end I think the team opts for familiarity while Trey Lance learns the system. Jimmy G clearly isn’t the franchise quarterback the team hoped for when they traded for him, but he’s good enough in a pinch to bridge the gap.

No. 22: Trevor Lawrence — Jaguars
The No. 1 pick from the 2021 draft lands in the early 20s in the overall rankings, and has the top for the rookie class. I think Lawrence is going to be an incredible pro, but it’s too early to have much a ton of trust him in this season while he adjusts to the NFL. The Jaguars need to put more receiving talent around him.

No. 21: Cam Newton — Patriots
Newton needs to rebound in a major way this season if he hopes to continue his NFL career. It’ll be interesting to see if he can bounce back to his pre-Covid form, which was objectively excellent — or if the NFL has just taken too much of a toll on him at this point. It’s a damn shame, but regardless of what happens I think New England moves on next year and hand the keys over to Mac Jones.

No. 20: Ryan Fitzpatrick — Washington
I’m not a big Ryan Fitzpatrick fan, but I have to admit he’s adept at doing his job. The role of caretaker is a difficult one, often moving from team-to-team waiting to usher in a new era, and Fitzpatrick does it well. I know how this year plays out. He’ll do phenomenally well for 8 weeks, fans will say he’s the new franchise QB, then he’ll struggle down the stretch and be replaced in 2022.

No. 19: Jared Goff — Lions
I don’t really know what to expect from Jared Goff anymore. A few years ago he seemed to be a lock to become of the best quarterbacks in the league, but it’s been a fairly steady decline since then. Now he’s leaving Los Angeles, and landing on a team with even less offensive talent around him. I think there’s a glimmer of potential here, but I’m not holding my breath.

No. 18: Baker Mayfield — Browns
The fact Mayfield is this low, with 3,500 yards and such a positive TD/INT ratio is simply an acknowledgement of how ridiculous the passing talent in the NFL is right now. In order to lift himself in the rankings moving forward he’ll need to improve his completion percentage a little. It’s not like 63 percent is bad, it’s just that players are completing so many passes it feels like 65 percent is a benchmark now — with 23 starters completing above that mark.

No. 17: Kirk Cousins — Vikings
You know what you get with Kirk Cousins. He’s going to put up big numbers, he’s going to make the Pro Bowl, and nothing he does will be remarkable. Cousins has found a niche, but I’m not really sure it catapults the Vikings into the playoffs this year.

No. 16: Derek Carr — Raiders
The best quarterback perpetually on a “it’s time to replace him” list, I feel like Derek Carr has never gotten a fair shake from fans. That said, there’s something to be said about his consistency. Last season his best game came against the Chiefs, and his worst against the Jets. That doesn’t do much to settle arguments about whether he can lead Las Vegas to a Super Bowl.

No. 15: Ben Roethlisberger — Steelers
I know Steelers fans are going to be angry. I get it. However, I have a hard time putting Ben too much higher here. At 39-years-old I know the wheels will fall of at some point, and I’d hate ranking him super highly and then seeing it all go down the tube. Roethlisberger still has an incredible supporting cast, and his life will get easier with Najee Harris, but I think getting back a strong running back will take away some of his passing numbers.

No. 14: Matthew Stafford — Rams
It’s going to be really interesting to see Matthew Stafford integrate himself into a new offense with new personnel and see how it plays out. I still think he’s a good quarterback, albeit not what he was at his peak — but the Rams have a lot of faith in him turning the tide. That’s possible, but it’s a big question mark at the moment.

No. 13: Kyler Murray — Cardinals
Kyler Murray didn’t take the kind of mammoth leap forward in 2020 that many expected, and that’s why he falls out of the Top 10. The Cardinals “keep passing until the wheels fall off” offense definitely improved with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, but not by the magnitudes I expected. In the end Murray didn’t have a sophomore slump, which is a credit to his skill — but we need to see some more progression this season.

No. 12: Ryan Tannehill — Titans
The best reclamation story in the last 10 years of the NFL, Tannehill flies under the radar because Derrick Henry gets all the headlines. Tannehill has turned into the perfect quarterback for the Titans. He’s smart, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, and allows the rest of the team to shine. I wanted to put him higher, but finding a slot was difficult.

No. 11: Justin Herbert — Chargers
I love, love, love Justin Herbert and his flowing locks. For the Chargers to move on from Philip Rivers and find an heir apparent this quickly is surely something very few people saw happening. I could easily see Herbert progressing further and cementing himself near the top of this list, but even if he stays put he’s one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, bar none.

No. 10: Joe Burrow — Bengals
I’m giving the slight nod to Burrow here over Justin Herbert because of just how good he was prior to injury. Yes, I’m putting some faith in him returning to form — but with Ja’Marr Chase as a new weapon, Burrow is poised to make an impact. I still wish the Bengals got him a little more protection, but this was a guy who was on pace for 4,300 passing yards prior to injury. That’s similar to Herbert, sure ... but he didn’t have the same support around him.

No. 9: Matt Ryan — Falcons
Often a scapegoat for frustrations, even the angriest of fans have to admit Ryan is a top 10 passer. Sure, he has a tremendous pool of talent around him made even better with the addition of Kyle Pitts, but this year could be really tough if Julio Jones leaves town. Expect another 4,000 yard year from Ryan, that still leaves nobody truly happy.

No. 8: Lamar Jackson — Ravens
Unquestionably one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch, 2021 will really be a big year for Lamar Jackson. He’s getting a bolstered receiving corps with the likes of Sammy Watkins and rookie Rashod Bateman, which should allow him to show off his arm a little more than he has in the past. Jackson has shown he has all the skills, but to jump into the conversation with the top 5 he’ll need to show he can throw for more than 3,500 yards in a season.

No. 7: Russell Wilson — Seahawks
Russell Wilson belongs higher on this list, he really does — but until he shows more consistency, it’s tough. A midseason lock for MVP a year ago, Wilson struggled in the back stretch finishing with three games with a QB rating under 80, and looking nothing like the player who dominated to open the season. Some struggles with Seahawks management only exasperated the issue and this is really going to be a “prove it” year, not so much for Wilson himself, but for Seattle to keep him happy.

No. 6: Josh Allen — Bills
We’re past the point now of pretending Josh Allen didn’t make EVERY analyst look foolish by turning into a different player than the one we saw at Wyoming. Settling into his fourth season, Allen has now shown he made it past the three year evaluation hump, and is truly one of the top 10 passers in the NFL. His early tendencies to rely on his legs too much are gone, and with a good supporting cast of receivers he’s poised to become a major problem for defenses this season.

No. 5: Dak Prescott — Cowboys
It’s so weird to think of a Dallas Cowboys quarterback flying under the radar, but it feels like Prescott is the best quarterback people don’t really talk about when it comes to the NFL’s best passers. This is probably due (in part) to a year of Cowboys fans saying Dak wasn’t that good because he didn’t sign a low-ball offer, now needing to pivot into championing him again.

No. 4: Deshaun Watson — Texans
Honestly, I don’t know what Watson’s situation will be in 2021. There’s a pending league investigation into allegations of sexual assault, and that could mean he’s suspended for a significant amount of time. However, if we look purely at on-field play he remains one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, even on the league’s most dysfunctional roster.

No. 3: Tom Brady — Bucs
Brady is past the point where he’ll be a stat-stuffing God, but until someone else proves it he’s still the best pure winner at the position in football. With the support around him in Tampa Bay, there’s nothing preventing him from having another great season, perhaps even taking the Buccaneers back to the Super Bowl.

No. 2: Patrick Mahomes — Chiefs
It’s Pat Mahomes. Nuff said, really. Seriously though, crushing Super Bowl loss aside, the Chiefs have made moves to get Mahomes more protection, which feels like the only thing holding him back from throwing for 5,000 yards a season like it’s nothing.

No. 1: Aaron Rodgers — Packers
Rodgers is the reigning MVP, sure — but this is also a product of him doing so much with such little support. For Rodgers to actually be the top quarterback again in 2021 could depend on where he plays, but I have a feeling enough will be done to keep him in Green Bay and get him some help.

Flying Coach Episode 6

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Listen: Sean McVay has candid conversation with Troy Aikman on 'Flying Coach' podcast​

Sean McVay took on a new role this offseason as the host of a podcast with Peter Schrager called “Flying Coach.” The podcast has received great reviews from fans as they’ve had NFL coaches and now a Hall of Fame quarterback on as guests.

On the latest episode, former Cowboys quarterback and current FOX Sports broadcaster Troy Aikman joined the show for a candid conversation with McVay and Schrager. Aikman discussed how teams practice nowadays compared to when he was playing, the approach to the offseason for players, his start as a broadcaster and his experience with coaches in production meetings for FOX.

McVay let Aikman do most of the talking, but one line that stood out as being pretty funny was this one: “Going into our fifth year, Troy and I have gotten to develop a good friendship and relationship and I think one of the things that immediately resonated with me is, No. 1, if we’re having games with Troy, it means we’re worth a (expletive). So that’s a good thing. I just know this: If we’re in the A slot, it means things are good for the Rams because it means we’re doing just fine with the schedule makers, people want to see us.”

Predicting MVPs for all 32 NFL teams: From Patrick Mahomes and Bradley Chubb to Jimmy Garoppolo and Aaron Rodgers​

By The Athletic NFL Staff Jun 22, 2021

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Offseason workouts are finished. Minicamps are over. Now the countdown to training camp is underway. Which players will make the biggest impact on the upcoming season?
The Athletic’s writers predict MVPs for all 32 NFL teams:

AFC East​

Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen was an MVP candidate a year ago and the runaway pick as Buffalo’s team MVP. It’s hard to see that changing unless something goes sideways with the Bills’ offense. You could make an argument that wide receiver Stefon Diggs is just as valuable as Allen, but quarterback is the premium position in this game. The connection between Allen and Diggs is what vaulted the Bills’ offense into the top tier of the league and it’s that connection that will give them a chance to repeat that effort. This team will go as far as Allen and Diggs can take them. — Matthew Fairburn
Miami Dolphins
All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard enjoyed a career season in 2020. He led the league with 10 interceptions, the most by any player since 2007, and tied Dick Westmoreland for the franchise record. It’ll be difficult for Howard to replicate his historic performance, but the 27-year-old defensive back is a big reason why Miami’s defense has made notable strides over the past several seasons and jumped near the top of the league’s rankings. His lockdown-caliber style will help open up paths for teammates to shine; nearly half of Miami’s sacks last season were credited as coverage sacks. — Josh Tolentino
New England Patriots
If the Patriots get back to the playoffs, they’re going to do it through their defense, a unit that should be viewed as a strong candidate to allow the fewest points in the league. Dont’a Hightower, who had his best season as a pass rusher in 2019 before opting out last season, should be the piece to bring it all together. Hightower won’t necessarily be their best player — that should be Stephon Gilmore, or Matt Judon or maybe even Josh Uche or Kyle Dugger if either makes the expected jump — but he will be their most valuable. As a leader and play caller, Hightower’s role will be as important as ever in the middle of an overhauled front seven. They have a ton of depth and will rotate plenty of bodies based on a variety of situations, so Hightower’s ability to keep them on the same page will be vital. — Jeff Howe
New York Jets
Going to go with a wild card here and say linebacker C.J. Mosley. He’s looked awfully good at offseason workouts; teammates and coaches insist he has no rust despite playing just three healthy quarters the last two years. It’s easy to forget just how good Mosley is when healthy. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and likely would have been a four-time, first-team All-Pro if not for some dude named Luke Kuechly. If Mosley really is back, the biggest addition to this Jets roster might be a guy they signed two years ago. — Connor Hughes

AFC North​

Baltimore Ravens
It would be hard to pick anybody but quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was the unanimous league MVP two seasons ago. The Ravens upgraded Jackson’s group of targets by signing Sammy Watkins and drafting Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace. Bradley Bozeman’s move to center and the signing of Kevin Zeitler should improve the pass blocking. The Ravens’ offensive staff has had another offseason — and a normal one at that — to make some necessary tweaks. All of those factors should help Jackson put up better numbers in the passing game and everyone knows what he can do with his legs. — Jeff Zrebiec
Cincinnati Bengals
Unless something goes terribly awry, this will be Joe Burrow. Not that the Bengals don’t have a handful of emerging players capable of making a significant impact this year (Jessie Bates III, Joe Mixon, Ja’Marr Chase) but every single move made in Paul Brown Stadium in some way revolves around Burrow. After ending the season with a torn left ACL, he returned in OTAs and claimed 85 percent health for his knee. He hopes to be 100 percent by the beginning of training camp. A breakout second year from Burrow returns the Bengals to relevancy and opens a contending window fueled by one of the most dynamic passing attacks in the game. — Paul Dehner Jr.
Cleveland Browns
Loaded question here because the offense is loaded. Of course, the Browns need more efficient play from Baker Mayfield, but they also need the offensive line to play the way it did last season. Nick Chubb is definitely one of the Browns’ most gifted players and could end up being the most valuable, but for my team MVP choice, I’ll pivot to the other side and say Myles Garrett. His monster 2020 had a disappointing ending because COVID effects lingered, but Garrett started consistently changing games and opposing game plans. The Browns should score enough to give him lots of pass-rush chances, and he should turn those chances into a bunch of impactful plays. — Zac Jackson

Myles Garrett was dominant in 2020 before COVID protocols interrupted his season. Could he be even better this season? (Charles LeClaire / USA Today)
Pittsburgh Steelers
While the MVP often is the quarterback and rarely a rookie, halfback Najee Harris easily could run away with it in his first season. The Steelers declared a new commitment to the run game soon after they finished on the bottom of the NFL in rushing last season. Then with their first draft pick, they selected Harris, the best back in college football. He’s big, he can catch, he can block, and Mike Tomlin has a history of running a “bell cow” back rather than by committee. It’s set up for Harris to be a star. — Ed Bouchette

AFC South​

Houston Texans
As the Texans begin a lengthy rebuild, they won’t be able to rely on elite play anywhere other than at left tackle. Laremy Tunsil is by no means a bargain in the first year of the three-year, $66 million extension he signed last year, but he is by far the Texans’ best player. His presence will be valuable whenever Houston hands over the starting quarterback job to rookie Davis Mills so it can evaluate the third-round pick before heading into an offseason when it could possess the No. 1 overall pick. — Aaron Reiss
Indianapolis Colts
The easy answer here would be Carson Wentz, the damaged quarterback Colts coach Frank Reich intends on revitalizing in Indianapolis. And I expect Wentz to play much, much better than his final year in Philadelphia, but my pick for the Colts’ MVP comes on the other side of the ball: linebacker Darius Leonard. I’m betting this is the year Leonard, fresh off a massive contract extension, puts himself into the Defensive Player of the Year conversation and carries the Colts to the playoffs. — Zak Keefer
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have staked their future on QB Trevor Lawrence, but expecting Lawrence to automatically elevate a team that went 1-15 last year is asking too much. He needs help, and that help should come from a middle of the offensive line that was a bright spot for the Jaguars last season. Center Brandon Linder should be able to guide Lawrence in his first year as well as open some holes for backs James Robinson, Travis Etienne and Carlos Hyde. Linder and guards Andrew Norwell and A.J. Cann also have been solid in pass protection, so Lawrence should have no fear of rushers blowing up plays from the inside out. That should give him confidence as he adjusts to the speed of the pro game. — Andy Staples
Tennessee Titans
The Titans would love for this to be a defensive player who rises up and transforms that side of the ball, such as the high-priced centerpiece of free agency, Bud Dupree. Or maybe Jeffery Simmons in his third year, benefiting from the addition of Denico Autry. Any of the three offensive skill stars could be the answer; Derrick Henry is a favorite because he’s still guaranteed a heavy workload and probably some lighter boxes. But the most likely answer is Ryan Tannehill. He has been an effective point guard since taking over the starting job in 2019, finding the open man and rarely forcing the ball to anyone. Now he has Henry to keep creating big play-action windows, two nightmares to cover in Julio Jones and A.J. Brown, plus capable support players in Josh Reynolds, Anthony Firkser and Darrynton Evans. He should put up big, and efficient, numbers. — Joe Rexrode

AFC West​

Denver Broncos
Bradley Chubb. The No. 5 pick in the 2018 draft earned his first Pro Bowl honor last season, and that came on the heels of the ACL injury he suffered four games into the 2019 campaign. Another year removed from the injury — and with Von Miller returning to command opposite-side attention after missing all of 2020 with an ankle injury — Chubb should be primed for his best season. The Broncos would love for the MVP of their team to be the quarterback, but they should settle for positive steps from Drew Lock, assuming he can wrest the job from veteran Teddy Bridgewater. — Nick Kosmider
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are designed for this answer to be Patrick Mahomes. They spent the offseason trying to provide better protection for Mahomes by acquiring several new, younger linemen such as left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., left guard Joe Thuney, rookie center Creed Humphrey and rookie right guard Trey Smith. If Mahomes is given adequate time in the pocket, he could have an upcoming season similar to what he did in 2018, when he produced more than 5,000 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes. If that occurs, Mahomes might add another league MVP trophy to his accolades — Nate Taylor
Las Vegas Raiders
Tight end Darren Waller is a team player and credits Henry Ruggs III for taking the top off of defenses with his speed. Ruggs had a somewhat disappointing rookie season, but the Raiders coaches and players maintain he was a big factor. But Jon Gruden could have played wide receiver last year and Waller still would have had 1,000 yards. He is only five years removed from being a receiver in college, and Waller already is the third-best tight end in the NFL. He can line up anywhere, is too fast for linebackers and too big and strong for defensive backs and has great hands. Plus, he works hard at blocking. He will surely top last year’s 1,196 yards as he continues to get better. — Vic Tafur

Darren Waller already is one of the league’s best tight ends and creates matchup problems wherever he lines up. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback Justin Herbert is the expected answer, but I am going in a different direction: edge rusher Joey Bosa. He was outstanding last season despite battling numerous injuries — two concussions, knee, triceps, ankle and shin. He was far and away their best defensive player and, more than once, single-handedly kept the Chargers in games with timely sacks, pressures and tackles for loss. I firmly believe he would have been in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation if he had been healthier. The Chargers hired a defensive mastermind head coach in Brandon Staley, who has proven adept at getting the most out of star players. Bosa is at that level, both as a pass rusher and a run defender. In this new, more aggressive defensive scheme, we could see a career season from Bosa, as long as he stays on the field. — Daniel Popper

NFC East​

Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott. The Cowboys aren’t going anywhere without their franchise quarterback playing at a high level. His value has never been more evident than after he was lost for the season last year in Week 5. The team certainly played in the weeks that immediately followed like a group that had just lost its leader. With Prescott appearing to be back to full strength during OTAs and minicamp, the expectation is that he will be leading one of the NFL’s top offenses this season. It’s probably going to take new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn some time to get that side of the ball fixed. While that’s going on, Prescott may have to carry even more of the load in some high-scoring shootouts. As long as he doesn’t suffer any setbacks with his surgically repaired right ankle, Prescott has the ability and the weapons around him to be in the MVP conversation. — Jon Machota
New York Giants
The Giants have a variety of candidates on offense. The ideal answer would be Daniel Jones, but I’m not convinced the quarterback will make a Josh Allen-like leap in Year 3. Running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver Kenny Golladay have the talent to be the team’s MVP, but each has durability issues. That leads me to defense, with Leonard Williams, Blake Martinez standing out as top candidates. But I’ll give the nod to James Bradberry, who was a shutdown corner in his first season with the Giants and should be even better with an improved supporting cast in the secondary this season. — Dan Duggan
Philadelphia Eagles
Best-case scenario? Jalen Hurts emerges as a dynamic dual-threat leader of the offense, rushes for 1,000 yards, improves his accuracy and leads the team to a division championship in the still lowly NFC East. More realistically, one of the Eagles’ two stalwarts on either side of the line of scrimmage will stand out again, whether that’s 33-year-old Jason Kelce holding down the fort at center or Fletcher Cox turning the clock back to his more dominant form of three seasons ago. If you really want to get spicy, don’t count out DeVonta Smith, who has made early impressions before. The Eagles have lacked dynamism on offense for much of the last two years. Maybe Smith delivers that. It’s the time of summer to be optimistic, so let’s just go with the rookie. — Bo Wulf
Washington Football Team
Chase Young. Kind of feels a bit too on the nose going with the popular and charismatic pass rusher who was selected second overall in the 2020 draft and is the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year. While QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s presence might reshape an offense in desperate need of punch, it’s the defense that will fuel any team success and — with no disrespect to the other stud defensive lineman on the roster — Young is the one to watch on that side of the ball. — Ben Standig

NFC North​

Chicago Bears
Running back David Montgomery. At some point, the Bears will take the ball from quarterback Andy Dalton and give it to rookie Justin Fields this season. But both QBs will require a consistently productive run game to be successful. Montgomery finished fifth in rushing yards (1,070) and fifth in total yards from scrimmage (1,508) last season. His 10 total touchdowns led the team. The Bears expect him to surpass all those numbers in his third season. Montgomery also worked with a speed coach this offseason. — Adam Jahns
Detroit Lions
T.J. Hockenson and D’Andre Swift are going to have big years, but I’ll go with the Lions’ most irreplaceable player: Frank Ragnow. For this team to have any chance of being competitive in Dan Campbell’s first season as head coach, the offensive line needs to dominate on a regular basis. Ragnow will be at the heart of that, both as QB Jared Goff’s extra set of eyes and as the pivot point on any number of run plays. Ragnow is tough enough to deal with the league’s best interior defenders, but he’s also quick and aggressive enough to be used quite a bit as a pulling blocker. He was second-team All-Pro last year; he might be the best center in football this year. Given what the Lions are going to be, he’ll have to live up to that billing. — Chris Burke
Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers. My guess is he arrives in Green Bay some time during training camp and goes on another tear throughout the NFL, perhaps a run impressive enough to win back-to-back MVPs. Time heals all wounds, and with another couple of months of consideration for why he should stay with the Packers and play for his coaches, teammates and fans — even if he doesn’t like general manager Brian Gutekunst — Rodgers might decide to make another run at a Super Bowl with the only NFL team he’s ever played for. — Matt Schneidman
Minnesota Vikings
If we ignore the cop-out that quarterbacks will always be the most important player on any team and choose which players have a particularly outsized impact, it would have to be Eric Kendricks. The offense should perform well again this year, but the defense needs to catch up and Kendricks has a big impact on the defense, especially for a linebacker. His dual capability in coverage and against the run will need to show up once again if there’s a defensive revival. His injury near the end of last year cut short the Vikings’ push for the playoffs and their defensive turnaround. A healthy Kendricks will help the Vikings’ defense return to form. — Arif Hasan

NFC South​

Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan has had to sit back and watch as the Falcons shifted around him this offseason. He watched as a new front office and coaching staff came in. He had to take a back seat as Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot made their draft-day decisions (which many thought could have easily landed Ryan’s own successor). Ryan saw Alex Mack head to San Francisco in free agency and Julio Jones leave for Tennessee via a trade. Perhaps this is enough to make a player falter, but I think that Ryan, 36, will have an exciting year. With Smith as the play caller, Ryan could shine. With better protection and a more balanced run game — and with Kyle Pitts and Calvin Ridley on the receiving end — Ryan could put up even better numbers. Perhaps everything that has happened this offseason is only fuel for Ryan. — Tori McElhaney
Carolina Panthers
It would be more daring to go with someone from the Panthers’ young and emerging defense, like edge rusher Brian Burns or the do-everything Jeremy Chinn. But I’ll go with Christian McCaffrey in a big, bounce-back year after his injury-riddled 2020. There’s a narrative out there that the Panthers relied too heavily on McCaffrey in Ron Rivera’s last two seasons in Charlotte. And while that may be true, none of McCaffrey’s injuries last year were from overuse. Look for McCaffrey to stay healthy and put up MVP-type numbers as Sam Darnold’s new best friend, especially when the pocket is breaking down. — Joseph Person

How will Christian McCaffrey rebound from an injury-plagued 2020 season? (Kim Klement / USA Today)
New Orleans Saints
The Saints could use every ounce of awesome from Alvin Kamara. The 2017 third-rounder bounced back from injuries in 2019 to once again become one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. Kamara led the league last season in total touchdowns with 21, three more than Green Bay’s Davante Adams. We all know New Orleans will be in a transition year at quarterback with Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill replacing Drew Brees. Keeping Kamara as a constant weapon with the Saints offense will be paramount for the team’s success. — Larry Holder
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Just playing the odds, it’s hard to go against Tom Brady here. He set a franchise record with 40 touchdown passes last year, then threw another 10 in the playoffs, and he has the same deep group of talented options to throw to, from receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown to tight end Rob Gronkowski. If anyone other than Brady is team MVP, it says a lot about what they’ve been able to do in upstaging a seven-time Super Bowl champ. If they want to be the first NFL team in 17 years to repeat as champs, they’ll need a big year at age 44 from Brady, the last starting quarterback to pull off back-to-back titles. — Greg Auman

NFC West​

Arizona Cardinals
It has to be Kyler Murray. If the Cardinals are going to be a true NFC West contender, they’ll need Murray to be playing at a near-MVP level. The Cardinals already designed their offense around Murray in his first two seasons; now it’s up to Murray to continue to elevate his own game and make a leap in passing production. Will he be the Cardinals’ best player? DeAndre Hopkins, J.J. Watt and Budda Baker deserve to be part of that conversation. But there is no doubt Murray is the most important. — Lindsay Jones
Los Angeles Rams
Aaron Donald. I know, I know — fans probably want me to put “Matthew Stafford” here, and he may well have the season of his career now that he’s paired with Sean McVay and the Rams’ offensive system and all of its weapons. But on the other side of the ball exists the greatest player in the world, and perhaps the greatest of all time at his position — a returning three-time Defensive Player of the Year against whom teams must formulate a specific game plan, and God help them as they do. Donald is a catalyst, a game-wrecker, a natural disaster, but he’s also a teacher to young players, and a magnet who draws enough attention that others find opportunity. His presence affects not just the on-field product but the Rams’ team-building model. As long as he’s on this roster, he’s the center of the solar system — and the MVP. — Jourdan Rodrigue
San Francisco 49ers
Jimmy Garoppolo. He’s going to have to be if the 49ers are to achieve their lofty goals. For all the hoopla about rookie QB Trey Lance, Garoppolo is still in the driver’s seat. It’ll take an unexpected slip or another injury for Lance to grab the keys this season, and such a scenario simply wouldn’t optimize the 49ers’ chances of winning now. Garoppolo looked sharper and physically stronger than his previous self during OTAs, and he’ll be operating behind what should be an improved offensive line. We saw how much the 49ers missed good quarterback play while Garoppolo was hurt last season. If he can stay on the field, Garoppolo can be a winning difference for the 49ers — much like he was at several key junctures of 2019. — David Lombardi
Seattle Seahawks
As long as Russell Wilson is on the roster he will forever be the team’s most valuable player. He’s the biggest reason Seattle continues to be a perennial playoff team in this post-Legion of Boom run. Middle linebacker Bobby Wagner is arguably a more talented player, earning six career first-team All-Pro nods, an honor Wilson has never earned. But when Wilson is clicking, it makes everyone across the league feel like Seattle can be a Super Bowl contender. — Michael-Shawn Dugar
(Photo of Bradley Chubb and Patrick Mahomes: Aaron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post via Getty Images)

‘I want to be known for being a light’: After tough rookie season, Rams DB Terrell Burgess hopes to shine​

By Jourdan Rodrigue Jun 24, 2021






Ingrid Burgess, mother of Rams safety Terrell Burgess, watched her son crumple to the ground after a freak hit across his lower body in late October via a television set at a sports bar in San Diego. She rushed to her car along with Burgess’ sister and they hit the phones, trying to figure out what his prognosis was after he got carted off the field.

Burgess had fractured his ankle and would not walk again until December. But it only took until his family reached him at his apartment near Los Angeles for him to decide he wouldn’t let the injury, or the inevitable pain and loneliness of the long rehab ahead, drag him under.

“It hurt a lot, but I wanted to put it away and be positive,” Burgess told The Athletic. “That was the card that I was dealt. … I did my best to not want anybody to feel sorry for me.”

His approach to recovery stood out. Isolated from teammates not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic protocols in place around injured/non-traveling players, but also because he was laid-up for several weeks, Burgess was perhaps the loudest and most supportive “Rams fan” on Twitter during games. He tweeted play-by-play and messaged his teammates during and after wins and losses with words of enthusiasm. He connected with them constantly, even from afar — and even though the mental and emotional distance between an injured player and a healthy one spans immeasurable lengths.

“If you know T-B, that’s just him,” said second-year safety Jordan Fuller, smiling. He’s a close friend of Burgess’ as the two were in the same draft class and play the same position. They hit it off all the way back at the NFL Scouting Combine last spring and were delighted to see each other’s names get called for the same team (Burgess was a third-round pick, and Fuller a sixth-round pick). Fuller started as a rookie, and Burgess was well on his way to having a similar impact before his injury. The two may even start carpooling to Thousand Oaks, Calif., together with other defensive backs (Burgess drives a Tesla, a savvy rookie purchase considering the notorious Los Angeles commutes), and Fuller and Burgess team up in The Park on NBA2K — two NFL players, talking smack anonymously to the unwitting souls who dare to take them on.

“He’s just one of the most supportive people, one of the most positive people you’ll come around,” Fuller said. “It wasn’t surprising to me, when he got hurt, that he still had a smile on his face and was still attacking every day. … That’s what I love about him, and that’s what everybody loves about him. He’s always happy, and he’s great to be around.”

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After surgery, recovery, a stint on a four-wheeled scooter and a lot of work in the trainers’ room over the course of seven months, Burgess was moving at 90-95 percent during OTAs and minicamp and expects to be at 100 percent by the time the Rams’ training camp begins in late July. Through the spring, he placed an emphasis on building confidence in his ankle’s strength and mobility.

“I feel like I’ll never take for granted walking again,” Burgess said. “That was a long process … I didn’t realize how long I was not even going to be able to bear any weight. That was the longest I’ve ever sat out. … I’m definitely going to be a little nervous in the beginning. But I’ll be ready, for sure.”

His positive energy is felt by teammates, who share on social media and in interviews what a joy Burgess is to have around.

“On a personal level, he’s the guy who should be a politician — he should be the president or something,” linebacker Kenny Young said with a laugh. “He connects with everybody. He’s everybody’s friend, at the end of the day. He works hard, he busts his butt … unfortunately he had the injury last year, but he still carried that energy — you know, on his little scooter, riding through (practice) doors.

“But his energy, honestly, it’s infectious. It matters. It means something.”

Burgess brought that energy with him into his work with special needs programs in Utah, when he was a starting safety for the Utes. A kinesiology major, Burgess worked with several children with special needs at an elementary school in the area, along with some of his teammates. In his senior year, he enrolled in a physical therapy program for adults with cerebral

palsy and autism. Burgess worked at the facility once a week through football season, balancing his sessions with finishing his degree and practices. Simple victories — like the day one of his patients took an extra step on the box-stepper — turned into some of the best days of Burgess’ memory.

“Seeing people with almost all odds against them come in there ready to work every day,” he said, “it showed me that I can always keep moving when things get down for me. … It’s an underserved community that not many people take notice to. And it just made me a better person. I’m always going to stick with it.”

Burgess worked with the Exceptional Children’s Foundation in Inglewood, Calif., this year, and will be the featured guest at the organization’s charitable gala. He ran a free camp for kids in San Diego this month and used the platform to honor

health care workers in the area — and even provided lunch to 120 workers on-site at Tri-City Medical Center. He plans to start a foundation this year, with an emphasis on helping children and adults with special needs — and one day, he said, his voice rising with excitement as he brainstormed in the moment, he believes it’s possible for him to even open a school.

Burgess’ role on the field will expand immensely in 2021. As a versatile all-around defensive back in college, he can play everything from nickel to safety, the Rams believe, or even pop outside in certain packages — snaps that are increasingly important after the loss of Troy Hill in free agency, as Hill acted as a “master key” that helped unlock the Rams’ sub packages as well as the ability to move star corner Jalen Ramsey all around the field. In a wide-ranging interview with The Athletic earlier this month, Rams COO Kevin Demoff nodded toward Burgess as the expected replacement for Hill in that regard.

But Burgess believes it’s what he will do off the field — from something as simple as how he connects with teammates on tougher days, to the large-scale impact he hopes to have in the community — that will build his reputation, and then ultimately, his legacy.

“I really do believe that I’m a humanitarian first, and a football player second,” he said. “Obviously I love football. But I don’t want to be known as just a football player. If I can impact someone else’s life in any way, that’s more important to me.

“I want to be known for being a light.”

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the full life cycle of a spectacular tornado in the middle of nowhere.

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Yogi Berra gets honored with a forever postage stamp. I'd love to hear Yogi get philosophical about a forever stamp that can only be used once.

Another position that seems to be completely up for grabs. Wording as CB3 instead if NCB because we may kick Ramsey inside if a good outside CB emerges.

The contenders:

David Long
Robert Rochelle
Terrell Burgess

The wildcard:

Donte Deayon



Burgess would certainly be the NCB almost exclusively, which would appear to limit the flexibility of Ramsey. But if he's the best slot CB on the team how much does that matter? As a safety he would almost certainly be a good tackler (for the position). We've been waiting on Long for a few years. Rochelle is where this question gets interesting - you can see how well he uses those long arms in coverage and he's a freak athlete.

Deayon is a wildcard to me here because of this group, I hold him in the highest regard for this position right now.

Assuming Ramsey and Williams play nearly every defensive snap:

Who do you want to see win the CB3 job?

If different who do you think will win it?

Is David Long on the roster bubble?

If the best CB3 we have is exclusively an outside CB, how would you feel about Ramsey moving inside every time we have 3 CBs on the field?

All CB3 discussion here!

Just over two months to go and there quite a few roles up for grabs - this one seems to have been blown wide open by Harris' progress in OTAs, which is more of an indictment if Mundt and Hopkins than anything, because he's still extremely raw.

The contenders:

Jacob Harris
Brycen Hopkins
Johnny Mundt

The wildcard:

Ben Skowronek


Given the depth of our WRs, it's possible two TEs are rarely on the field. Mundt is the clearcut best blocker, while it appears that Harris and Hopkins would play a comparable role. The question for Hopkins is can he play the FB role that Everett played? That's where Skowronek comes in as a wildcard.



Do you want to see one player get most of the snaps at TE2?

Who?

If different, how do you think it will play out?

Is Harris on the roster bubble?

All TE2 talk here!

Pros and Cons of fielding the youngest team in the NFL​

The LA Rams have four constants each season, no matter what year it is it seems. Well, since head coach Sean McVay has taken over for the team. They are: The Rams do not have a first-round pick; The Rams will struggle to get under the annual NFL salary cap; The LA Rams will have a winning season; The LA Rams are one of the youngest teams in the NFL.

The 2021 LA Rams are unique to the NFL with that set of constant criteria. In fact, young teams alone seldom have successful seasons. But the Rams have discovered that if they find, acquire, and compensate a few elite NFL players, they can win by surrounding them with very talented but inexpensive young players, and harnessing that youthful energy to rotate in and keep everyone fresh and rested.

After the Rams moved well ahead on the timeline to acquire veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, there were concerns that the Rams may not be among the younger teams in the NFL. Instead? They are the youngest team among all 32 NFL teams.

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So what does that mean for the LA Rams in 2021?

Well, the team is bursting with young talent that is a bit raw. Of course, each day they have the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the NFL. It’s no small coincidence that the Rams young players develop so quickly into NFL-caliber talent.

Pro: The LA Rams have multiple elite players

The cost of doing business in the NFL is expensive indeed. As soon as a team develops a superstar performer, 31 other teams lay in wait to outbid for that player when the contract ends. To complicate matters further, the NFL self-imposed a salary cap in 1994 to prevent the richest NFL teams from gobbling up the best talent and making the league less competitive.

The impact of that decision, coupled with the ease of free agency, has created a very dynamic roster for all 32 teams in the NFL. Teams that find success lose their key players to other teams that can afford to pay more, which dilutes the best teams and improves the competitiveness of lesser teams.

The fact that the LA Rams have an abundance of youth means that the team is overwhelmingly made up of players on their first NFL contracts, which are very inexpensive when compared to veteran contracts. That allows the Rams to afford to pay the market price of some of the best players in the NFL today. The Rams have All-Pros Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. The team has re-signed OLB Leonard Floyd. The team has traded for quarterback Matthew Stafford, who in turn will be protected by left tackle Andrew Whitworth.

Both offensive and defensive veterans, who perform at their peak, are strategically located on the football field and among this team’s roster. That is only possible thanks to the LA Rams infusing the team’s ranks with new and talented players who continue to balance the cost of numerous elite players and the dead cap created by abandoning burdening contracts.

Con: The LA Rams cannot afford injuries to key players

While much has been said about the shortcomings of the LA Rams quarterback in 2020, almost nothing is being discussed about several key injuries that truly derailed the Rams’ hopes to compete in the Super Bowl last season. Those injuries eventually proved insurmountable when the Rams entered the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.

Left tackle Andrew Whitworth, inside linebacker Micah Kiser, safety Taylor Rapp, and even kicker Matt Gay were injured in the LA Rams win over the Seattle Seahawks on November 15, 2020. Whitworth would not return for the remainder of the regular season. Starting quarterback Jared Goff was injured against the rematch against the same Seahawks on December 27, 2020. By the time the Rams suited up to play the Arizona Cardinals in a must-win season finale, the team had also lost the play of wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Michael Brockers due to positive testing and proximity protocols of COVID-19.

Whitworth would return, at partial health, to take on the Seahawks for the third game in the NFL Playoffs, but the team would be decimated with injuries once more as starting quarterback John Wolford, defensive lineman Aaron Donald, left guard David Edwards, and wide receiver Cooper Kupp were all injured in the game.

Those are tremendous shoes to fill on the fly as the Rams continued to travel on the road. And it was that combination of not-playing injured, playing but not at full health, and starting but not truly comfortable in their new role that became too much for the team to overcome. Unfortunately, the LA Rams did nothing to fix that vulnerability in 2021. In fact, with the exodus of Austin Blythe, Troy Hill, Josh Reynolds, Gerald Everett, and John Johnson III, the LA Rams may be even more vulnerable to a dramatic drop of play if they suffer multiple injuries this season.

Pro: The LA Rams have become excellent at developing starters from within

The opportunity to earn a starting role as a rookie may not be easy to achieve, but ultimately the Rams uncover one or two players who do exactly that. And the team may not be the best suited for the next-man-up scenario of addressing mid-season injuries, but the coaching staff of the LA Rams has developed some incredible NFL players from some of the most modest beginnings.

We know that current starting defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph Day was drafted in the sixth round, defensive back Jordan Fuller was drafted in the sixth round, defensive back Darious Williams was undrafted and claimed by the Rams from the Baltimore Ravens waiver wire, left guard David Edwards, linebacker Micah Kiser, and outside linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo were drafted in the fifth round. It’s not a random coincidence.

Due to the fact that the Rams have not been using selecting in the first round of the NFL Drafts, the team has systemically created a sophisticated process of identifying the right type of attributes to succeed as an NFL player, chosen those players, and then reinforced that development with some of the best coaches in the league.

The rapid transition of day three rookies into NFL starters is incredibly impressive. Necessity is the mother of invention, and for all intents and purposes, the LA Rams have needed to succeed in the later rounds of each NFL Draft. Even now, the team turns to 2020 NFL Draft day three players like tight end Brycen Hopkins, defensive back Jordan Fuller, and offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum to step up this year. We know that Fuller will be a starter. But keep an eye on both Hopkins and Anchrum in the offseason.

Con: Perennial struggles with the NFL salary cap

The LA Rams paid a lot of players a tone of guaranteed money leading up to or after the team’s lone Super Bowl appearance under head coach Sean McVay. Unfortunately, their decisions of compensation have shackled the team ever since. After all, the LA Rams swallowed a huge chunk of the guaranteed dollars invested in running back Todd Gurley, WR Brandin Cooks, and now quarterback Jared Goff.

It seems once the LA Rams entered the penalty box of the NFL salary cap, the walls began to cave in. In short, just as the team decided to swallow even more dead cap space by trading away quarterback Jared Goff, the salary cap ceiling shrank significantly due to the limited revenue earned by the NFL during the 2020 season. That has forced the team to restructure all of their major contracts, which has forced 2021 salary dollars into 2022 and future years. Next year, the team will likely need to employ a similar strategy to clear salary space by pushing dollars into the next year.

Without free cap space, the Rams are very limited as to who the team can re-sign, or even consider adding to the team. That forces the Rams to develop even more talent from within the roster, and promote young players in 2022 and beyond. It’s a circular referencing set of actions now.

Of course, one way to break the vicious cycle is to write contracts that the Rams intend to see through to the end. The Rams would have experienced no dead cap space if there was no early termination of the players who were bestowed such significant guaranteed sums of money. While that quick decision-making process has sustained the Rams’ success, it was created more and more inflexibility for the front office to continue to cut or trade players to add new game-changers in the future.

Pro: Compensatory draft picks

The cycle of LA Rams deploying rookies in starting roles has ultimately led to great interest among those players when they are due their second, and more well-paying, contract. Quite frequently, that second payday is from the payroll of another NFL team. In fact, virtually all of the LA Rams free agents in 2021 have since signed on with a new team, many of whom were quickly added to other team rosters via the NFL Free Agency market.

The LA Rams are currently projected to be awarded up to five 2022compensatory draft picks from losing NFL free agents, per the latest calculations by analysts at Over the Cap.com. Added to that, the LA Rams will receive the second awarded third-round compensatory pick for the hiring of Brad Holmes as the General Manager of the Detroit Lions. As of right now, it appears that the LA Rams will add one third-round, one fourth-round, and three sixth-round draft picks to the 2022 NFL Draft.

So the cycle repeats itself, and is fueled by a lack of money to prevent the LA Rams from breaking free, but is itself restocked by the LA Rams’ ability to incubate significant NFL caliber players who are in turn signed on by other teams. In 2021 alone, LA Rams top free agents signed one with the Cleveland Browns, the San Francisco 49ers, the Carolina Panthers, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Tennessee Titans.

The LA Rams will field one of the, if not the, youngest teams in the NFL once more. But after some thought and discussion, that is exactly how the LA Rams are set up to succeed right now. The team uses their coaching staff to coach up day three players into viable free agents who sign on with other NFL teams. That, in turn, regenerates awarded compensatory draft picks to harvest a new crop of NFL rookies at very inexpensive prices. And that new group of talented players finds ways to earn new starting roles on the Rams roster.

Not all NFL teams are set up to succeed with young players. But the LA Rams have made it their trademark of doing so.

Rams Super Bowl Champ Explains Dealing with Title Expectations

Isaac Bruce addressing the media during the week of the 2002 Super Bowl. Bruce said on his most recent podcast with Doc Holliday that the 2021 Rams should be perfectly fine with dealing with Super Bowl expectations.


Isaac Bruce knows all about dealing with Super Bowl hype as a Rams legend. After all, the legendary wide receiver played for the Vince Lombardi Trophy twice, laying his fingers on the 2000 title trophy.

What the 2021 Los Angeles Rams are facing involves what Bruce and “The Greatest Show on Turf” faced 20 years ago: Hearing the Super Bowl expectations from the outside world.

But on the recent “Bleav in Rams Ramblings” podcast that he co-hosts with former Ram and Memphis Tiger Doc Holliday, Bruce addressed the pressure and scrutiny the Rams are facing. He explained pressure can work two different ways.

“It can get to you. They say pressure busts pipes, but it also creates diamonds,” Bruce said.

‘What Are the Rams’ Expectations?’ Bruce Asks
The season Bruce experienced his first, plus the franchise’s first, Super Bowl win, the Rams weren’t expected to contend for the Lombardi Trophy.

But expectations changed following the 23-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans as many media outlets and fans began to list the Rams as the gold standard and heavy favorite to claim the title.

This version of the Rams will be trying to end a two-decade title drought. Bruce asked this burning question though:

“Expectations are good. But it’s about what are the expectations of the Los Angeles Rams right now?” he asked Holliday.

Bruce, told the Rams that it is OK to have high expectations and standards.

“I sometimes understand when people don’t want to make a big fuss about stuff, but I also have a disdain for false humility. Where you ask the question and you say ‘Well, maybe we do this and maybe we do that.’ Nah.

I like the same person that’s inside the locker room, that’s standing at the podium and on the football field. Have your expectation and your standards very high, and expect to supersede them,” Bruce said.

“When you talk about the expectations of which teams can compete for the Super Bowl title and your team is right in the mix, I think that’s good for an organization.

It’s good to talk about championships, it’s good to talk about winning the NFC West, having that type of conversations.”

Are All the Pieces in Place for a Run?

Fueling the Super Bowl hype are the offseason moves the Rams made.

From trading away Jared Goff for Matthew Stafford, to signing DeSean Jackson all the way to filling positional needs through the draft, L.A. was one of the more aggressive teams in improving their system between the months of January to June.

But have they topped things off or does Bruce believe the Rams could need an additional piece or two?

“There maybe some offensive linemen that you need, another backup on the defensive line, or another safety.

We can always use extra safety help,” Bruce said. “We lost one of the better safeties in the league last year via free agency (John Jackson III to Cleveland). So just bringing back in a guy, a young safety who may fortify that defensive backfield, it’ll be good for us.”

Overall, the Rams’ all-time reception, yardage and receiving touchdowns leader believes it’s perfectly fine the Rams are carrying title winning projections.

“It gives guys expectations of when things may go bad during the season, you don’t take your eyes off the prize.

When it’s going good during the season, you just remind yourself what the true goal is. So having those conversations and having those expectations inside the locker room should be good for the Los Angeles Rams. And it starts with (head coach) Sean McVay,” Bruce said.

Link - https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-a...of-pro-bowl-ol-david-de-castro-234241728.html

The Pittsburgh Steelers released starting right guard David DeCastro, a six-time Pro Bowler and a stalwart of their offensive line, the team announced Thursday.

They subsequently agreed to a one-year deal with veteran guard Trai Turner, agent Drew Rosenhaus told NFL Network.

DeCastro, 31, has played his entire nine-season career with the Steelers. He has been named All-Pro three times and earned his sixth straight Pro Bowl nod last season. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert released a statement praising DeCastro, but the reason for his release was not immediately clear.

"David was without a doubt one of the premier offensive linemen during his time with us," Colbert said, per the statement. "He helped us win a lot of football games, but it was David's consistency, reliability and professionalism that stood out more than anything else. We wish him the best moving forward in his career."

Click to expand...

David DeCastro is the latest veteran departure from Pittsburgh's offensive line. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Why did Steelers cut DeCastro?​

Per Over the Cap, the Steelers save $8.75 million in cap space while taking on $5.5 million in dead money with the transaction. But the prime free agency window is closed. The timing of the move doesn't suggest a pure salary cap motive. And Pittsburgh will have to pay Turner. The terms of his deal weren't immediately reported.

DeCastro dealt with an ankle injury last season that continues to linger and is "evaluating his future," per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. With the season approaching, the Steelers may have made the move to ensure they have somebody to play the position this fall.

Nearly complete revamp of Steelers offensive line​

DeCastro's departure is the latest in an almost complete revamp of Pittsburgh's offensive line. Longtime left tackle starter Alejandro Villanueva left in free agency to join the rival Baltimore Ravens, while 11-year veteran Maurkice Pouncey retired. Left guard Matt Feiler also left in free agency to join the Los Angeles Chargers.

Turner, 28, arrives in Pittsburgh after a single season with the Chargers. He previously made five Pro Bowls as a member of the Carolina Panthers.

With an aging Ben Roethlisberger, tumult on the offensive line and stiff competition, oddsmakers don't like Pittsburgh's chances of repeating as AFC North champions. The Steelers are listed a +400 to win the division behind the favored Ravens and Cleveland Browns.

Los Angeles Rams CB Duo Listed as Top 3 Tandem: B/R


Darious Williams, left, and Jalen Ramsey celebrate a huge defensive stop during the Janurary 2021 wildcard victory over the Seattle Seahawks.


The month of June is often reserved for polls and rankings that help with the buildup of the upcoming NFL season, and the Los Angeles Rams have had players like Jalen Ramsey listed as the best for his position or the offensive line unit placed in the top 10 by various national outlets.

Now, Bleacher Report is the latest to give an integral part of the Rams’ defense a high ranking: The cornerback duo of Ramsey and Darious Williams.

Maurice Moton of B/R released his top five CB tandems for the forthcoming season on Thursday and the Ram teammates came in at No. 3.

Moton placed the Baltimore Ravens pairing of Marlon Humphrey and former L.A. Ram Marcus Peters as his top CB tandem.

Interestingly, Moton listed the New England Patriots duo of J.C. Jackson and Stephon Gilmore ahead of the Ramsey/Williams, despite Gilmore’s displeasure with the Pats’ organization and Ramsey trying to recruit the disgruntled lockdown corner to the Rams.



MIAMI Xavien Howard and Byron Jones


DENVER Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby

RAMS Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams

PATRIOTS Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson

RAVENS Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters (via B/R’s @MoeMoton) https://bit.ly/CBduos

What B/R Says about Ramsey/Williams​

Moton pinpointed to Ramsey’s coverage ability and Williams’ ball-hawking skills as the reasons behind the high ranking.

Regarding the new No. 5 for the Rams, Moton wrote “Ramsey’s interception numbers (11) may not jump off the screen, but according to Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed fewer than 30 yards in coverage in half of his starts, which illustrates the star cornerback’s ability to shut down half the field.”

Moton then called the fourth-year CB from the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) “a budding talent paired with him (Ramsey) on the boundary.”

While Ramsey is lauded for his coverage ability and is considered the more heralded CB, the 5-foot-9, 187-pound Williams was one of the surprise breakout performers of the league’s best defense one year ago.

Williams snatched four interceptions to lead the Rams in 2020. He also swatted away 14 passes from the sky, another team-high. Those numbers were a jump from his 2019 production, when he picked off two passes and broke up four in 12 games.

Moton, who has written for Bleacher Report for four years, is a believer Williams’ production won’t take a dive with new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris on board. Plus reminded that Williams will be playing for his third defensive coordinator in his Rams career.

“The Rams lost defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who accepted the Los Angeles Chargers’ head coaching job, but his departure shouldn’t hinder Williams’ development. In 2019, he flashed his ball-tracking skills with two interceptions and four pass breakups in a reserve role under Wade Phillips,” Moton wrote.

“At 5-foot-9, 187-pounds, Williams doesn’t have the prototypical size of an outside cornerback, though we cannot overlook his production opposite Ramsey, who may not see many targets because of his stellar coverage.”

Williams was a high-level performer inside the red zone. Three of his four picks arrived near on inside the end zone.

He also gave Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson his worst moments in the 2020-21 season by picking him off three times during the season, twice in the week 10 victory, and snatching this memorable pick six in the NFC Wildcard game that helped advance the Rams.

Pro Football Focus Likes One CB More​

While Ramsey has been hailed as the league’s best cornerback by CBS Sports and USA Today’s Touchdown Wire, PFF went with a different player grade for Ramsey: A 79.8 rating.

Williams, though, is the higher rated CB on the Rams by PFF, coming in with a player grade of 80.0. According to the analytics website, Williams surrendered 34 catches on 68 targets, meaning he allowed an average of two receptions his way.

Ramsey was slightly targeted less, with 64 lobs his way and allowing 32 receptions, also an average of just two catches surrendered a game.

While Moton plugs the Rams pair at No. 3 overall, Ramsey and Williams have this added label courtesy of him and B/R: The highest-ranked CB tandem in the NFC for 2021.

One of my customers in Florida owns Playbook which is a bettors guide publication that has been around for 40 years so obviously a successful publication. Today we were discussing his internet acct and he ended the email conversation with the following:
P.S. New Playbook football magazine scheduled to arrive next week. FYI: I have the Rams making the Super Bowl.


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Bring in the blue and whites as the alternate!


Fans who have been begging for the NFL to bring back alternate helmets need only wait one more year.
The NFL sent a memo to clubs Thursday announcing that it will allow teams to wear two different helmets beginning in the 2022 season, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Pro Football Talk first reported the news.
The NFL previously permitted teams only one set of helmets for safety reasons. The thought processes followed that it was safer for a player to be fitted with one helmet properly than to be shifting in-and-out of different headgear that it couldn't be certain was as safe.
In 2018, the NFL expanded the uniform policy to allow for more jersey options per club but kept the one helmet rule in place, which restricted some clubs' options.
The new rule loosens those restrictions, providing teams more freedoms.
The revised policy allows teams to utilize a second (alternate color) approved helmet to pair with their Alternate, Classic and/or Color Rush uniforms. All uses of alternate helmets must follow the set forth parameters:

• Clubs must obtain an entire new set of alternate color helmets for all players
• Alternate color helmets must be the same make, model and size as the applicable player's primary helmet
• Alternate color helmets must be made available to all players at the start of training camp and should be fit at the same time as the primary helmet
• Alternate color helmets must be worn in practice at a minimum during the week leading up to the game in which they will be used

Teams must inform the league office of their intent to use an alternate helmet in 2022 by no later than July 31, 2021. So, we'll know this year which teams plan to utilize throwback/alternate helmets in 2022.
Teams like the Buccaneers have eschewed their old creamsicle throwbacks because the helmets clash. Similar with the Eagles and their old kelly greens. The Patriots could bring back Pat Patriot on their helmets. And so on. Expect most teams to take advantage of the new rule on some level. That merchandise isn't going to sell itself, after all.
Fans have been clamoring for the NFL to allow teams to wear at least one alternate helmet. The new rule will do so. We just have to wait one more year.

State of the 2021 Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford should be eyeing Lombardi Trophy​

Members of the Rams organization, Rams fans around the world and those who feel the need to text me that "Let's Ram It" is the best football video of all time:

This really is an exciting time for the Los Angeles Rams. Even though they have been back in L.A. for a few years now, this is the first season where it will actually feel like the Rams are home where they belong, with fans poised to join the players in SoFi Stadium this fall. There is a real excitement in Southern California for this football team. And there should be. The Rams are going for it. Which actually isn't anything new in the Sean McVay era of this franchise. They trade first-round picks for superstars. They make bold trades when they need to. I mean, it would have been easy for the Rams to just sit back with the quarterback they had and been all, "Welp, he got us to a Super Bowl before. Let's hope he can do it again." Nope! They are going for it, bringing in a true upgrade at the game's most important position. Man, you have to love it when your team is willing to go all in.

Let's take a quick look back at the highs and lows of the 2020 season.

The highs:

Returning to the playoffs. After suffering a Super Bowl hangover in 2019 and missing the postseason, Los Angeles earned an NFC wild-card spot. And the Rams officially punched their ticket in Week 17 by beating the Cardinals, 18-7, simultaneously extinguishing Arizona's playoff hopes. NFC West rivalry juice! Oh, and did I mention the Rams prevailed with QB John Wolford making his first NFL start?
Knocking off the Seahawks in the first round of the playoffs. The Rams earned a 30-20 road win, with backup quarterback Jared Goff coming off the bench in relief of the injured Wolford. It was a weird few weeks at the position for L.A.

Cam Akers. I'll have more on him in a minute.

The lows:

Losing to the Jets in Week 15. Which was rather inexcusable. I mean, it's the Jets. But the funny thing is, you kept the Cardinals out of the playoffs and you kept Trevor Lawrence out of New York. This might have a significant impact -- one way or another -- in coming years.

Aaron Donald getting injured during the wild-card win over the Seahawks. He was clearly limited in the Divisional Round loss at Green Bay. Even showing his frustration by drawing a 15-yard personal foul that kept a Packers drive alive. Most (biased) Bears fans agree: The Rams win that game if Donald's healthy.
Head coach: Sean McVay. The energetic coach burst onto the scene in Los Angeles a few years ago, kind of like one of those child stars in Hollywood. And for the most part, McVay has been more Leo DiCaprio than Jonathan Taylor Thomas. He's made the playoffs in three of his first four seasons as Rams coach. His three playoff wins trail only John Robinson (four) for the most by a head coach in club history. Which seems pretty amazing to me, because the Los Angeles Rams have made the Super Bowl twice, though they've yet to win one. They did have some legendary teams in the 1970s. (And before anybody asks, the St. Louis years are not cannon to me. Kind of like the way the Star Wars Holiday Special isn't really part of the expanded universe. Most people in L.A. feel this way. Maybe not you, but most people.)

I will say that despite McVay consistently making the playoffs, the shine is off Sean's star just a bit. The Rams' offensive ranks last year were the worst in any season under the coach. Not that they were atrocious. The Rams averaged 23.3 points per game last year, ranking 22nd in the league. Not ghastly. But they did average 24.6 points per game (11th) in 2019, 32.9 (second) in 2018 and 29.9 (first) in 2017. So last year wasn't The Man in the Iron Mask bad. But it wasn't Catch Me If You Can, either.

Some of that could be on former quarterback Jared Goff. But he's gone now. And there is a new quarterback in town. One who will hopefully lead to an ending that you only see (wait for it) … Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Quarterback: Matthew Stafford. Nobody in the Rams organization is openly saying Jared Goff was the problem. But you don't send him, two first-round picks and a third-rounder without telling on yourself a bit. And McVay can barely contain his exuberance over Stafford, gushing about how he's in a better mood, saying he is a better coach with Matt. Like he's some teenager on Instagram flaunting his new relationship, hoping his ex sees it. We get it.

In fairness, Stafford is one of my favorite QBs, too. I've always been a huge fan of his, believing he's been one of the league's best quarterbacks over the past decade. He's tough as nails. And he has the most (or tied for most) quarterback wins (74), passing yards (45,019), passing TDs (282) and game-winning drives (38) of any active quarterback to have never played in a Super Bowl. And that's the rub. While the guy he is replacing led the Rams to the big game (though saying "led" seems very generous, like the 4-foot putt I gave myself the other day), Stafford has never played on the game's grandest stage. Hell, I don't even think he's won a playoff game. Wait, I just checked. He hasn't. 0 for 3. And with the Lions undergoing another regime change/rebuild, let's be honest: That wasn't going to change for him any time soon in Detroit.

So I'm happy for Stafford to finally have a legitimate chance at a playoff run. And for both McVay and Stafford, this is the opportunity they have been waiting for. The excuses are no longer valid. They need to win.

Projected 2021 MVP: Aaron Donald, defensive tackle. Donald just won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Again. Donald is one of four players in NFL history to win either DPOY or OPOY at least three times in a four-year span, joining J.J. Watt, Marshall Faulk and Earl Campbell. Donald has become to the DPOY what Bryan Cranston was to the Emmys while he was on Breaking Bad. Donald had 13.5 sacks in 2020 (tied for second in the NFL). He had his second career game with at least four sacks in Week 5 at Washington. Donald's 85.5 career sacks are the most in the NFL since he entered the league in 2014.

2021 breakout star: Van Jefferson, wide receiver. I love DeSean Jackson, and I'll get to him in a minute. It might seem strange to pick another wide receiver to break out. Especially when you consider the Rams' impressive receiving room also includes Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and D-Jax. But Jackson last played all 16 games in 2013 (also his last Pro Bowl season). Jackson has played in just eight games and missed 24 since 2019. I'm not hating or anything like that -- I'm just being practical. The bigger hindrance for Jefferson could end up being second-round pick Tutu Atwell.

New face to know: DeSean Jackson, wide receiver. D-Jax was a huge name in Southern California when he played at Long Beach Poly High School. The famed Long Beach Poly. Now he's back in his hometown to jump-start the Rams' offense. Fun fact: Jackson led the NFL in yards per reception in two of three seasons with McVay as his offensive coordinator in Washington.

The competitive urgency index is: EXTREMELY HIGH. You mortgaged the future for a veteran quarterback. Your top O-lineman turns 40 in December. You have the best defensive player on the planet. The Rams might not be the front-runner to win the NFC -- considering the defending Super Bowl champs also reside in that conference -- but they are in the neighborhood. And honestly, the fans should expect a trip to the Super Bowl. Or at least be bullish on the possibility.

Week 3 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Rams open up with three playoff teams from last season. But there's nothing like facing the defending Super Bowl champions early in the year to get a gauge of where you're at. And since I expect the Rams to be one of the top teams in the NFC, this is a highly anticipated game.

Week 12 at Green Bay Packers. Going against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. And while Matt Stafford gets to face his former team in Week 7, facing the Packers with an actually legitimate team around him is probably more special.

Week 18 vs. San Francisco 49ers. I'm not telling tales out of school when I say this should be for the NFC West title. No disrespect to Arizona or Seattle. But these are the two top teams in the division.
Will the Rams be able to …

Field the No. 1 defense again without Brandon Staley? First off, I have to say: It's not unusual for coaches to get hired because of their association to Sean McVay. I mean, it's still a thing, and it's kind of crazy. But I believe Staley is the first prominent defensive coach who got hired after working for McVay. I mean, sure, it was the same M.O. of a young coach working for McVay for like a year and then getting hired elsewhere, but at least Staley had something to put on his résumé other that just knowing McVay. Because under Staley last year, the Rams led the NFL in scoring defense (18.5 PPG allowed), total defense (281.9 total YPG allowed) and pass defense (190.7 YPG). The Rams were much worse against the run, however. They allowed 91.3 rushing yards per game, the THIRD-fewest in the league. The good news is L.A. still has Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. So this unit is going to be kind of good. And I wouldn't worry about the new coordinator, as Raheem Morris takes the reins. Congratulations on getting the Bengals' gig next season, Raheem.

Get a great second year out of Cam Akers? Anybody who drafted Cam to their fantasy team last year and held onto him after a slow start -- like me! -- was rewarded with an epic finish. Akers averaged 113 scrimmage yards in his last seven games of the season (including the playoffs) and scored four total touchdowns. He ran over both the Seahawks and the Packers in the postseason, rushing for 221 yards and a pair of scores, while also racking up three grabs for 51 yards. And dude was doing it with Goff and Johnny Dubs as his quarterback, too. (No disrespect to John Wolford.) The Rams have averaged 120-plus rushing yards in three seasons under McVay -- all three seasons resulted in trips to the playoffs. (L.A. averaged just 93.7 yards in 2019.) Akers might be more important to this offense than Stafford. Might be.

Really count on Andrew Whitworth? But for Stafford and Akers to thrive, they are going to need solid play from the offensive line. A line that is counting on Whitworth to remain a stalwart in Year 16. Even though he played just nine regular-season games last year, Whitworth was the Rams' highest graded offensive player, per Pro Football Focus. And L.A. finished third in PFF's final offensive line rankings. They are now PFF's eighth-ranked O-line heading into this season. But you have to remember this division can be nasty. Nick Bosa returns for the 49ers. The Cardinals brought in J.J. Watt to go with Chandler Jones (who skipped minicamp, BTW). So it's going to be important for the Rams to remain healthy this year in order to be successful. Which I know is kind of obvious, but sometimes I'm an obvious kind of guy.

… people are overlooking: Jalen Ramsey's strange obsession with Bears fans. I'm as guilty as anybody. It started with a Checkdown post about the great receivers Ramsey was going to face this season. And I happened to mention that it was a shame they didn't cite Darnell Mooney, considering the move he put on Ramsey last year. And the next thing you know, Ramsey was in the mentions of all of these Bears fans, taking time out of his busy day to let them know that he wasn't thinking about that play at all. Even though his actions said something else. I know it doesn't mean he's not a great corner. But it's odd, right? For a dude with more than a million IG followers?

… people are also overlooking: Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods were one of five teammate duos with more than 2,000 receiving yards in each of the past two years. The others: Kansas City's Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, Seattle's DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, Tampa Bay's Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, plus Atlanta's Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley.

… people are overthinking: Jared Goff wasn't that bad. You know what's funny? Over the last two years, Goff had a higher completion percentage and more passing yards per game than Stafford. But the latter easily beats Goff in a number of critical categories, including having a passer rating that was 11 points higher over the last two years. And Stafford dominates in passer rating on deep passes (119.1 to 81.1), play-action passes (108.7 to 92.1), tight-window throws (73.8 to 21.8) and under pressure (67.6 to 54.3), according to Next Gen Stats. So even if you concede Goff wasn't that bad, you have to admit he wasn't that great. Like if you spent your whole life eating at Sbarro, and then you were told you didn't have to eat at Sbarro. Your life would change forever.

For 2021 to be a success, the Rams MUST:

I'm saying win the Super Bowl. Rams fans should believe this is a championship team. The pieces are in place. And if McVay and Stafford are as good as we all think -- or Rams fans hope -- then they need to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

I always like to take a positive outlook for a team. The Rams' ceiling is the Super Bowl. It really is. And if you look at the trends, well, think about this: The Buccaneers had a former No. 1 overall pick at quarterback who wasn't a disaster. He wasn't Trubisky. But they made a bold move to bring in a more established veteran. And it resulted in a Super Bowl win that took place in their own stadium. And I should point out that this coming season's Super Bowl will be in Los Angeles. Again, I'm just pointing out the trend. The NFL (like Hollywood) is a copycat business.

Has this already been posted?

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Regardless of position Colin Cowherd ranks the top 10 overall best players heading into the 2021 NFL season.


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It's the NFC Championship game and you get to choose your opponent for the purpose of this fantabulous poll. Historically, our main rival has been Frisco (yeah, I know they hate it when I call it that!). They swept our asses last year which allowed the sucky Seachickens to win the NFC West. I would LOOOOOVE to crush their souls in the NFC Championship game, causing their whole organization to implode! The danger is, they have had our number during the Goff years, even when they weren't that good. If they beat us in our own house in the NFC Championship game, it would be even worse, ASFAIC.

Enough framing....Would you rather beat Frisco in NFC Championship game with it chance for eternal glory, or ignominious shame, or beat some palooka contender that we blow out 9 times out of 10?

Risk vs. sure thing.

Talk about a worst nightmare. Sleeping and suddenly your building collapses around you. Terrifying. Wonder if it was structural issues or a sinkhole possibly? Saying up to 90 people may have been or still are trapped as it was full.

Florida building collapse updates: At least 1 dead, several injured

Florida building collapse updates: At least 1 dead, several injured
MORGAN WINSOR and JON HAWORTH
Thu, June 24, 2021, 7:45 AM
At least one person is dead and several others are injured after a multi-story building partially collapsed in southern Florida's Miami-Dade County early Thursday morning, authorities said.

The residential building is located in the small, beachside town of Surfside, about 6 miles north of Miami Beach. A massive search and rescue operation was underway before dawn, as crews carefully checked the wreckage and remaining structure for survivors. Footage from the scene showed firefighters pulling a boy from the rubble alive and rescuing other people from still-standing balconies.

Witnesses told Miami ABC affiliate WPLG that more people are still trapped inside the building.

Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett told reporters that at least 10 people were treated for injuries on site. Two of them were then transported to a local hospital, where one died, according to Burkett. Both the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Miami-Dade Police Department also confirmed there was at least one fatality as a result of the building collapse.

Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, about 8 miles northwest of Surfside, has received three patients from the scene so far. Two have critical injuries while the third is in fair condition, a hospital spokesperson told ABC News.

The condominium, which was built in the 1980s, has over 100 apartment units and was believed to be substantially full when a third of it collapsed in the early morning hours, according to Burkett. The building was undergoing roof work, the mayor said.

Some 15 families walked out of the building alive on their own and were put up in a local hotel, according to Burkett. Search dogs did an initial pass around the wreckage when it was still dark but there were no signs of survivors at that time, the mayor said.

The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said it has sent more than 80 units to the scene. Meanwhile, multiple police and fire departments from across Miami-Dade County have been deployed to assist, according to the Miami Beach Police Department.

One witness told ABC News that his wife cares for an elderly woman who lives in the condominium and frantically called him around 1:15 a.m. local time, after the units next door came crashing down. He said his wife and the elderly woman were both rescued.

People in neighboring buildings have been evacuated to a nearby recreational center, another witness told ABC News.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava took to Twitter to express her gratitude for the first responders on scene of "this horrific tragedy."

"May they stay safe while working to save lives," Levine Cava said.

The cause of the partial collapse was unknown. The Miami-Dade Police Department said it is investigating the incident.

ABC News' Kendall Coughlin, Victor Oquendo and Rachel Katz contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Florida building collapse updates: At least 1 dead, several injured originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

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