In my line of work, I get quite a few offers to jump ship and move on to a competitor. Usually they have been local(within 100 miles or so).

Last year I had an offer to relocate to KC...I live about an hour SW of St.Louis now. I wasn't really feeling that.

Today I have been offered an opportunity to relocate to Chicago. The pay would be fantastic...but, with that pay comes very high expectations.

My question is for those who have taken the leap. Was it worth it? To move your wife and kids to a strange place where you don't know anyone or anything around you. Do you feel selfish? Just questioning things right now.

Jalen Ramsey voted No. 37 player on NFL Top 100

Stu Jackson
STAFF WRITER
Since arriving into the NFL as the No. 5 overall draft pick in 2016, Jalen Ramsey has earned a reputation as of one of the league's top cornerbacks and top overall players.
That still proved to be the case after switching teams midway through the 2019 season, as his NFL contemporaries voted him the 37th-best player on the NFL's "Top 100 Players of 2020" list.
For the Rams cornerback, it marks his third career appearance on the list. His first two came as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traded him to the Rams last October in exchange for L.A.'s 2020 first-round pick, 2021 first-round pick and 2021 fourth-round pick. The Florida State product was named to his third-straight Pro Bowl last season after making a combined 49 total tackles, five pass breakups and one interception in three games with the Jaguars and nine games with the Rams.
Ramsey is the second Ram named to this year's Top 100 list, joining wide receiver Cooper Kupp (89). Although Ramsey is entering the final year of his rookie contract, Rams general manager Les Snead has maintained they want him to be a part of the team's long-term plans.
"I'm going to keep those things in-house," Snead said during an appearance on "Around the NFL" in June. "But what we are confident in is his ability to help the Rams not only on the playing field, but as you get to know Jalen, he is a very impressive human being. He's very intelligent, which when you're an intelligent person and football player, that allows defensive coordinators to get maybe more creative and he's also someone who's passionate about winning and passionate about helping the team win whatever way he can. So I do think there's some intangibles and leadership qualities there, so we're confident he's going to help the Rams. The goal is to have him helping us get back to contending for that division for not just the 2020 season, but many seasons to come."

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/5K1Urjmyd1U

Movies...real life....tv show... The above was a statement and not a question by someone remarking on a clip from "Tombstone," in a scene with Kurt Russell and Billy Bob Thornton

Wyatt Earp: "Go ahead....Skin it...Skin that smoke wagon and see what happens. *slap* I'm getting tired of your gas, now jerk that pistol and go to work.*slap* I said throw down boy! *slap* You gonna do somethin', or just stand there and bleed?"

This dialogue is so bad ass, and as another poster said: "Every time I watch this clip, I grow more chest hair..." lol.

Now give me more! What is a great bad ass quote from a cowboy that you enjoyed?

Probably already the best LS in Rams history, Jake McQuaide has been perfect on long snaps in his career. Gotta give the special team guys some love.
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/5kBgnKEmlGg

Austin Blythe expects to be Rams' starting center this season

Cameron DaSilva

The offensive line was a clear weak spot on the Rams’ roster last season, turning into a revolving door with eight different players starting at least six games. The unit is hardly sorted out heading into 2020, but it seems two positions already have starters lined up.

We’ve known that Andrew Whitworth will be the left tackle after signing a three-year extension, but after hearing Austin Blythe discuss his expectations, it seems he’s already locked up the starting center job.

He appeared on the Rams Revealed podcast with J.B. Long and all but confirmed he’ll be the starting center this season over Brian Allen. Long said that his conversations with Sean McVay indicated that Blythe will be the starting center, so he asked Blythe if that’s the feeling he’s gotten from the Rams, too.

Full Article--
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

What's up, guys! Let's switch it up with a fun thread. What's the worst thing you've spent money on related to the Rams? It can be anything from bets, tickets, jerseys, etc. Personally, I don't have a good story. I've only been to two games and like my three jerseys (soon to be four after my new one arrives by donkey), but I've wasted money on fantasy football each year drafting Rams "sleepers" and I bought a terrible candle that had no smell just because someone slapped on a small sticker. But I'm sure some of you have better stories. I know some of you flew out to London to watch that Patriots ass whooping

McVay talks about if the upcoming season will start on time, Hard Knocks, his new coordinators, Pat Mahomes, & more..

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAJ1GL4r2BQ

Why the Rams defense devalued linebacker position in draft
Bret Stuter

How is it that the LA Rams watched four starting linebackers depart in the off-season and didn’t bat an eye. How is it that the LA Rams last selected a linebacker in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft when the team chose Alec Ogletree in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft? How is it that after losing both starters at interior linebacker from 2019, the LA Rams did not sign anyone to the position in free agency? Then, the team drafted one interior linebacker in round seven?

If you said that the Rams defense is moving away from the standard 3-4 base configuration, give yourself a round of applause. If you said that the Rams are moving more rapidly to a defensive back-focused defense under new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, give yourself a standing ovation. That’s where it appears we are heading folks. Now, where’s the evidence?

Football Outsiders analysis

The analysts over at Football Outsiders had recently posted how NFL teams modified their defensive personnel groupings from the 2019 NFL season versus the 2018 NFL season. Their numbers show that dime defense (meaning, six defensive back sets) increased by 2.7 percent league-wide and the LA Rams were one of the league’s leaders with the use of a dime package 42 percent of the time. Let that sink in folks. The LA Rams ran defenses with six or more defensive backs 42 percent of the time in 2019.

The Rams defense ran their 3-4 base defense 34 percent of the time, good for the third-highest usage in the NFL. The team’s use of the dime package of 42 percent usage was good for the second-highest usage in the NFL. So what about that five defensive back nickel-package? The Rams saw fit to use that formation just 23 percent of the time, which was dead last, or the 32nd ranked usage in the NFL.

Defense discussions

The LA Rams defense, like that of any other NFL team defense, is categorized as either a 4-3 defense or a 3-4 defense. There are no other base categories recognized in the NFL today. The 4-3 refers to the base defense with four down linemen and three upright linebackers. Similarly, the 3-4 refers to the base defense with three down linemen and four upright linebackers. Any other version is considered a “sub-package”.

The defense can swap out a linebacker for a defensive back, placing five defensive backs on the field. This five-defensive-back defense is often referred to as the nickel-defense. If the offense goes with an empty backfield, some defenses counter with another linebacker/defensive back substitution, commonly referred to as the dime-package. As the NFL has modified the rules, offenses that once ran heavily, now pass heavily With the exception of an occasional team, average NFL offenses now count upon 65 percent of their offense as a result of their passing plays.

2018 to 2019 changes

The LA Rams defensive personnel groupings for 2018 was a base 3-4 at 43 percent of the time, which was second-most in the league. The team ran with the nickel package 34 percent of the time, which was the 29th-most frequent usage in the NFL. The Rams’ use of the dime package in 2018 was 22 percent of the time, good enough for the eighth-ranked usage of the formation.

We can see from the 2019 tables that the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks remain in base defense more often than any other teams in the league, while the San Francisco 49ers played nickel-package 70 percent of the time. The Rams eventually learned from experience that they needed to commit more players to blocker roles to face their NFC West rivals. And while we were there, we peeked in at the Denver Broncos. Curiously, the Broncos were a base 3-4 for 27 percent of the time, dime-package for eight percent of the time, and nickel-package a whopping 65 percent of the time. Why check the Broncos? What Denver’s defense did, the LA Rams defense will likely do in 2020.

Rams drafted DB over LB

In the 2020 NFL Draft, the LA Rams had a limited number of draft picks available. That shortfall of picks compared to the team’s shopping list meant that the team found it necessary to prioritize needs. The team clearly made defensive backs a priority, as the team selected hybrid defensive back, Terrell Burgess, at pick 104, and hybrid defensive back Jordan Fuller at pick 199. Both DBs were chosen before the Rams drafted linebacker Clay Johnston at pick 234. Who did the Rams leave on the board when they chose Burgess?

Well, the Rams left LB Akeem Davis=Gaither, Mykal Walker, Troy Dye, and Shaquille Quarterman on the board when they opted for Burgess. This is not to second guess the Rams choice, nor to judge. This exercise is simply to prove that the Rams’ interest in the interior linebacker position may be waning, as is the interest of many NFL teams in the role right now. The trend for NFL teams to run with six defensive backs is increasing rapidly in the NFL. So what does that mean for the LA Rams defense in 2020?

Popular Personnel packages

The LA Rams’ most popular personnel packages, stating with a dime package, will likely take the shape of the defensive line manned by DE Aaron Donald, NT A’Shawn Robinson, and DE Michael Brockers. The Rams linebackers will likely be OLB Leonard Floyd and OLB Samsun Ebukam. And
The Rams defensive backs will include Jalen Ramsey, Troy Long, Darious Williams, Terrell Burgess, John Johnson III, and Taylor Rapp. To convert this package to a nickel-package, swap out Terrell Burgess and swap in Micah Kiser. To convert the nickel package to the base, swap out Darious Williams and slide in Troy Reeder.

Of course, with rotations and a more focused depth chart, the names of some players may be interchangeable. The fact is that the Rams did not draft a linebacker higher in the draft because the team is deemphasizing the role of the linebacker in the 2020 defensive packages. The Rams got bigger and stronger on the defensive line and added defensive backs who can play both cornerback and safety. Why didn’t the Rams draft a linebacker with the 104th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft? By choosing Terrell Burgess, they essentially did.

At least some of them, we know the team now signs them all at the same time.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1287808311950221315

A lot of potential with him. Obo Okoronkwo I think is the biggest sleeper this year. I believe he will replace Dante Fowler’s sack numbers.
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/8wII2etPWo0

Seems like the Rams are doing their due diligence.






Exclusive look at L.A. Rams' health protocols for 2020 training camp

Steve Wyche
NFL MEDIA REPORTER


Reggie Scott shares an inside look at safety procedures in Rams' team facility


THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- With NFL teams set to start training camp on time this week, the Los Angeles Rams invited NFL Media to their facility for an exclusive visit three days before players, coaches and other staffers will begin COVID-19 testing in a trailer about 50 yards away from their headquarters.
To describe what the Rams have done to meet and surpass NFL and NFLPA requirements as a massive undertaking would be selling their preparation well short. The real work, though, hasn't really begun. "It's about education," said Reggie Scott, Rams vice president of Sports Medicine and Performance. "It's not just education by coaches, the athletic trainers and the doctors here.

It's also peer-to-peer education. It's self-policing a little bit in terms of making sure we're going to hold each other accountable and make sure that this is just not about your personal health, but it's about the health of the guy next to you."
The Rams' facility is a football-only setup, which is a significant edge over most NFL teams, whose football and business operations tend to be under one roof. The Rams' business offices are in a complex several miles away in Agoura Hills. There are fewer people -- and a smaller area of space -- to address.

Even so, coaches, players and staffers entering into the compound over the next several days will be greeted in a new way, starting with a series of health screening questions that must be passed before they'll even be admitted through the sliding security door to the parking lot. All entrants will be required to wear masks.
Once inside, parking spaces have been radically reduced because of what Scott calls a "Cirque du Soleil" tent that covers at least half of the player lot. It seriously is the size of a small-college gym. The odd part of the tent: It's just the top -- with no walls. This design allows for plenty of air flow, something that's always welcome and comfortable in Southern California and safer than having more than 100 players and coaches in tight, indoor spaces amid this pandemic.

The tent is where the Rams will hold team meetings and walkthroughs. Players also will be encouraged to eat their pre-packaged meals there so they can follow social distancing guidelines.
Monday and Tuesday, masked players, coaches and staffers will walk through the tent at pre-scheduled times and into a trailer for COVID-19 testing. Scott said they expect to administer 190 tests on the first go-round. To his knowledge, no players have suggested that they plan to opt out of playing over coronavirus concerns.

"We've been fortunate right now that I haven't had that call," Scott said.
After a nasal swab halfway up each nostril for 15 seconds, they are done. The tests will be performed by Bio Reference, which was agreed upon for all teams by the NFL and NFLPA. Results are expected within 24 hours. No testing equipment, lab work or employees have been taken away from sources that serve the general public, Scott said.
After two days of testing and one day of isolation, there will be a third round of testing on Day 4. Players who test negative three times will then take their physicals, be fitted for equipment and get set for more than a week of strength-and-conditioning training before any football activity begins. Yes, football activity.

Anyone who tests positive will then need to quarantine or, if experiencing symptoms, will receive needed medical attention. A follow-up test for a person who tests positive but who doesn't require hospitalization will be performed in an isolated drive-through space inside the team compound by the same testing company.
Much of the early days when the team gets together will be spent educating players about the science of COVID-19, Scott said. The Rams also have prepared to help players, coaches and staff with the mental stresses that may arise due to the virus and it's far-reaching impact.

"You have a variance of the way people feel about this in terms of some people don't really think much of it to where some people that are really concerned if they get it, what's going to happen to them or their family," Scott said. "We have to make sure we have resources available for the mental health aspect of it, as well. We're going to really heavily beef up those resources to make sure that we're there for them, their family members."
Before entering the actual football building, players will have to pass though a check-in table daily, clear another round of questions and then put on a contact-tracing clip, which will be placed in a wristband that they must wear everywhere in the facility and on the practice field. This will allow trainers to know where players have been and, more importantly, who they have been around while on site.

Every player also must stare into a facial recognition device that reads their temperatures, as well. If they pass everything, then it's finally into the building. There are no longer handles on doors. Just a wave of the hand in front of a reader and, voila, doors open.
What used to be a media room is now an auxiliary locker room for roughly 30 rookies. The lockers are set six feet apart and none face each other to help avoid face-to-face encounters. Hand sanitizers are everywhere. Lockers will be scrubbed and sanitized every day with aerosol disinfectants and wipes. The main locker room has been changed radically, too. The team's new logos and designs had already prompted a complete remodel, but as a result of the pandemic, lockers have been shifted around to create increased space between players.

Typically, lockers are set up by position group. Not anymore. Quarterback Jared Goff's locker has moved. More than six feet away is safety John Johnson's locker. Six feet from Johnson's is wide receiver Cooper Kupp's locker. No players who play the same position have lockers close to one another -- a strategic move to help limit potential germ and virus spread among individuals in the same position group, Scott said. It's also a part of a plan to foster a new culture for a team that two seasons ago played in the Super Bowl, but now, after failing to make the playoffs in 2019, is re-discovering itself. Team leaders requested that players interact more with players they might not be as familiar with or spend as much time with so they can get to know guys better.
Like the auxiliary locker room, the main locker room will be sanitized daily if not multiple times a day.

Spacing in the weight rooms and training rooms won't allow for much cross-interaction among players -- if they follow the rules. Scott admits this will be hard, but there will be signage everywhere reminding players about the protocols.
The two hot tubs, which typically can fit up to seven players each, will be limited to just two players apiece. Saunas are closed, turned off and bear doors with a huge "X" taped across them. The number of players allowed in ice tubs will be restricted, as well.
There are so many other precautionary measures the team is taking, such as every player having his own water bottle now, that it seems like there is little that can fall through the cracks. But Scott said he knows there are things that will happen that they haven't accounted for, and that's where preparation and the ability to adjust swiftly but thoughtfully will be incredibly important.

"The biggest thing that I've been telling everybody is you have got to have adaptive capacity," Scott said. "You can see what we knew in March about this virus to what we know today in July are two different things. This is a moving target. It's going to be critical that we're constantly keeping up with the science."



Another article from The Athletic......


https://theathletic.com/1950740/

Inside one NFL team’s plans to transform its facility



By Lindsay Jones Jul 25, 2020

For as much as the NFL has tried to create standard protocols for all 32 teams to follow as they return to work amid the coronavirus pandemic, the reality is that social distancing is going to be easier in some places than others when as many as 90 players report to training camp next week.

Some teams have massive new, state-of-the-art training facilities. Others are based inside their stadiums, which provides the benefit of space.

Other teams have had to get much more creative.

One such team is the Los Angeles Rams, who remain headquartered in a temporary practice facility on the campus of Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. (Some employees also work out of a business office in Agoura Hills.) The Rams work out of two modular buildings on a limited amount of acreage, and nearly every inch of it, from the locker rooms and weight room to patios and parking lots, has been transformed.

Rams director of football operations Sophie Harlan on Thursday afternoon guided The Athletic on a virtual tour of the facility to show the transformation and explain many of the changes players will see when they are cleared to walk through the gates.

Harlan also demonstrated some of the new technology the NFL and each of its teams will use, such as thermal scanners at the entrance to the building and inside the locker room that record and track individuals’ temperatures and proximity trackers that are to be worn by all employees at all times while on team business — from inside the weight room to the cafeteria and on the practice field — to aid in contact tracing should anyone test positive for COVID-19.

It’s been an all-consuming process for operations employees like Harlan, complicated by the fact that state and local regulations prevented most employees from being in the facility until six weeks ago, rapidly evolving public health recommendations and surges in positive COVID-19 cases across the country.

“It’s been hundreds, thousands — I can’t even begin to tell you how many contingency plans I’ve thought of. It’s been a lot of coming up with plans, scrapping them, reworking them,” Harlan said. “The amount of hours of late-night phone calls and early-morning emails, all of it, it’s constant. But at the end of the day, if it allows for us to go do this thing safely and keep not just our players and coaches and staff safe but our families as well, it’s more than worth it.”

At the Rams’ Thousand Oaks facility, players will notice several 40-foot trailers in their parking lot — home to the BioReference Laboratories testing site and 29 members of the NFL Films’ crew on-site to shoot “Hard Knocks” — and one massive tent that is 70 yards long and 44 yards wide.

That tent, with open sides and a peaked roof, will be the team’s new meeting space when head coach Sean McVay is ready to hold full-squad meetings or when his assistants want to gather offensive and defensive players or smaller position groups.

Harlan’s staff is having carpet installed over the asphalt and moving tables and chairs out of the facility’s indoor meeting rooms to create an open-air meeting space. The Rams’ plan is for team meetings to be held either outdoors or virtually. (The Rams did conserve enough parking space adjacent to the facility to account for all players; parking space for coaches and other staff members has been moved off-site, and they will take a short shuttle ride or walk.)

“That is a huge game changer for us because it creates a lot of square footage that is shaded but still outdoors, allowing for that airflow continuously but also allowing for our players to meet at some point together,” Harlan said.

SafeTags, produced by German technology company Kinexon, will provide visual and audio alerts when the wearer comes too close to anyone else. (Courtesy of Kinexon)
But first, players will have to get inside, and before they arrive, they will be asked to take a screening quiz from their mobile devices before they leave their homes or hotels. If a player reports he is symptom-free, he’ll enter a different, smaller tent. He’ll step in front of a thermal facial scanner that will take his temperature and read it out loud. The scanner will record and store these body temperatures to create a baseline for each individual, to more precisely notice a dramatic increase.

If his temperature is normal, the player will then receive his SafeTag — a chip about the size of the face of an Apple Watch — which he’ll be required to wear at all times while inside the facility, on Rams property or engaged in any team activities. These SafeTags, produced by German technology company Kinexon, will provide visual and audio alerts when the wearer comes too close to anyone else.

(For employees in Tier 3 — those people who aren’t allowed to have any contact with players or coaches or other people in Tiers 1 and 2 — it will flash yellow at 12-feet proximity and red at 10 feet, and it will give an audible alert if the 6-foot bubble is breached.)

Harlan slips the tag into a black sleeve that she pulls onto her forearm. Players will be able to wear their SafeTags similarly, like a bracelet or watch or on a lanyard around their necks. SafeTags will also be inserted into jerseys so that the teams and league can easily discover who was close to whom, and for how long, during on-field action.

Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s medical director, said the hope is these proximity trackers will make the contact tracing process far more rapid and efficient. Not only will the league and teams quickly be able to determine whom a player might have been exposed to, but they’ll also be able to know the length of the exposure — a critical component to deciding who else might need to be quarantined and for how long.

“This is an area where our knowledge is continuing to evolve and change, but clearly the CDC and other public health agencies have provided guidance here that, right now, it appears that time and proximity are really important determinants of risk of transmission when someone is infected,” Sills said in a phone interview on Friday.

The league has initially ordered 10,000 of these SafeTags, and league officials said this will be one of the largest-scale uses of this technology. The NBA is using similar technology within its bubble environment in Orlando, Fla., but on a much smaller scale.

“I learned very quickly that we’re going to have to figure this out on our own and have our own unique use case,” said Michelle McKenna, the NFL’s chief information officer. “And our protocols that we’re working on with Dr. Sills and his team are so unique that even if someone else had done it, I’m not sure it would have been done at this scale, tying it to on-site testing, and all of that together.”

The NFLPA signed off on the use of these trackers. It is important to note that these SafeTags measure proximity only to other individuals who are also wearing them; they do not record specific geo-locator or any biometric data. The data will be collected and stored by a third-party provider, IQVIA, the same company that will collect the results of COVID-19 tests.

The league did consider whether players and other team employees could wear these sorts of devices outside of the facility, but it raised too many privacy and logistical concerns.

In addition to the contact tracing, Sills said teams and the league plan to use the SafeTags and the entire SafeZone system proactively, even in the absence of an outbreak, to tell if social distancing measures are working and if there are places in team buildings where players or other employees are gathering at unsafe rates and distances.

“It’s all about risk mitigation. But I think that that type of positive feedback information can be really useful for clubs as they look for ongoing ways to diminish risk,” Sills said.


This tent will be the team’s new meeting space. (Courtesy of the Rams)

The Rams’ practice facility is composed of two buildings, both modular spaces installed at Cal Lutheran when the Rams relocated from St. Louis in 2016. Eventually, the team will build a permanent training center, but for now, players, coaches and football operations employees split their time between those two buildings, which are separated by a large covered patio.

Players will spend most of their time in and around Building 2, which is home to the locker room, weight room, training room and cafeteria. Each of those spaces will look markedly different from what players remember.

The locker room was revamped after last season, with the installation of new, swankier lockers, more open space and fresh new colors. But many of those new lockers will sit empty, and more than 30 players will instead use auxiliary locker space in a large room that used to be the media room and team communications office. Now that space is filled with individual locker stalls, spaced 6 feet apart. There are no tables for congregating for games of cards or communal dining.

Both locker rooms have coolers, which can be opened with a pedal on the bottom of the door, filled with individual bottles of water and Gatorade. Bathroom stalls also have these foot-level openers, to reduce germ transmission on hands. The Rams have installed hand sanitizer dispensers near all high-touch surfaces, such as the doors leading to the locker room and training room.

Players will also notice the signage. It’s everywhere, in blue and gold letters and symbols. There are arrows on the floors to designate one-way hallways. Doors are designated as entrances or exits only. Every room contains a reminder to MESH — the Rams’ acronym for “Mask, Education, Social Distance and Hygiene.”

Face coverings are mandatory — not just here at the Rams facility but at all 31 training sites — and education is a critical part of creating a healthy ecosystem, said Reggie Scott, the Rams’ vice president of sports medicine and performance.

Scott runs the Rams’ athletic training office and is the team’s designated Infection Control Officer. He’s also the newly elected president of the Pro Football Athletic Trainers Society. In that role, he’s been part of nearly every NFL and NFLPA task force virtual meeting since March and the early stages of the pandemic.

“I can’t wait to go back to just taping ankles again,” Scott said Friday, laughing.

His job now entails making sure that everyone in the building is following the league’s COVID-19 prevention protocols, no matter how individuals might feel about the virus and their risk. Masks are mandatory; there will be no exemptions or debates about the politics of face coverings. If they want to play football, these protocols are not optional — and they should be followed once players and staff leave the building and go home.

“Education is going to be a big component of this. We’re doing it for ourselves and our families, but we’re also doing the right thing for other people. We’ve got to respect the person next to us,” Scott said. “That’s not just a Rams thing. That’s a United States thing; that’s a world thing. We’re going to educate our staff and players that this is bigger than ourselves.”

In Scott’s space, the training room, tables have been spread far apart, and the sheets on each training table will be replaced after each use. The laundry load will increase exponentially across the league, as all items are now single-use.

Scott and his staff will have to break that 6-foot barrier at times — they have to be hands-on with injured or rehabbing athletes. Team doctors and trainers have access to a supply of medical-grade personal protective equipment, such as N95 masks and gowns, if they need it.

The team’s weight room, which is connected to the training room, is one of a few spaces that has been largely unchanged because of protocols that prohibit large groups from working out at the same time. The weight room also has garage doors that open to an outdoor gym space that the team plans to use as much as possible.

Weight and conditioning times will be carefully scheduled, just like mealtime.

Players will order their food via a mobile app and will have a designated time to pick up their individually packaged meals. The round, banquet-style tables on the patio have been removed, replaced by long, rectangular tables, making social distancing easier, and players will be encouraged to eat at their locker stalls.

This will be as big of a change as anything for players who are used to bonding with one another during training camp. After months of virtual meetings in the offseason, players will reconvene only to be told they can’t spend much actual time together.

But Rams officials are trying to remind one another, and will remind the players when they arrive next week, that there’s a purpose here: to keep them and their families safe and find a way to make it through a full season.

Now that the Rams facility is set up for training camp, Harlan is shifting some of her focus to the complications of the regular season, things she never thought she’d have to consider when she was promoted to her job of running football operations in February.

She recently toured the team’s charter plane — a tape measure in hand, to figure out seating arrangements for when the Rams take their first road trip, in Week 2, to Philadelphia — and is also working to figure out hotel arrangements and what road-trip meeting spaces will look like in 2020.

And she’s ready for everything she’s planning to completely change. After all, it was only in the past few weeks that the team received clearance from Ventura County to hold training camp at its facility in Thousand Oaks. The organization is also working with officials in Los Angeles County, home to the team’s new $5 billion stadium.

“We are prepared to take this in stride and make the changes necessary to continue, whether that’s with new technology or new recommendations from the CDC. We’ll adapt and adjust,” Harlan said.

Was he just “tossed-in” the Marcus Peters trade?

Or is there something here? The Ravens liked him... it’s not like he was hanging on their roster like a draft pick they couldn’t get to play up to his draft position. He was playing.

Ravens Rookie Linebacker Kenny Young Is Chasing Perfection

No matter where he lives, Kenny Young keeps every room spotless. Everything is in its place, every day.

Even when he is not chasing running backs, Young chases perfection.
"I definitely don't need a maid," Young said, laughing in the Ravens locker room. "It irks me when I see something out of place."

That drive for perfection has taken the rookie inside linebacker a long way, from his hometown in Boutte, La., to college at UCLA, to the Ravens, where Young's NFL career is off to a promising start.

The knee injury to inside linebacker C.J. Mosley early in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals thrust Young into the starting lineup. He responded with seven tackles and several highlight plays, a fast-moving torpedo constantly flashing around the ball.

From the moment he arrived at rookie camp as a fourth-round pick, Young has impressed coaches with his nonstop motor, his ability to process information quickly, and his confidence. That is no surprise to Young's high school coach, J.T. Curtis, who is a Louisiana legend.

Curtis is coaching his 50th season at John Curtis Christian School in suburban New Orleans, and he has coached a dozen players who have reached the NFL, including Reggie Dupard and the late Joe McKnight.

Young's determination is what Curtis recalls most.

"Kenny always wanted to improve himself, no matter how well he played," Curtis said during a telephone interview. "I'm sure he had his kid moments like everybody else, but he was always focused, where he needed to be. He's got a great personality, a fun-loving guy. He doesn't walk around with a scowl on his face, like 'I'm the tough football player.' He enjoys life, but he always stays centered.

"If anybody had a reason not to be successful, it was Kenny. Kenny's background and family situation were difficult sometimes. He could've made excuses about it. He didn't."

Young lived in high school with the parents of his best friend, who took in Young several years earlier. According to a Los Angeles Times story in 2016, Young moved in with the parents of his friend, Amonte Brown, to lessen the financial burden on Young's biological mother.

Young chose not to talk in detail about his family background when asked it about it recently. When asked if he had a challenging childhood, Young gave a thoughtful answer.

"Were we rich?" Young said. "Depends on what you define as rich. There were a bunch of riches that were instilled inside of me that come from my grandparents, passed down to my parents, passed down to my extended family, as far as principles and your mindset, and how you should live. That right there is something money can't buy.

"As kids, when times were hard, I really can't remember me stressing about it. My parents did such a great job of not putting that type of stress on us."

By the time he was a high school senior, Young was clearly headed for a college football career. It had long been his dream to play for LSU, but when he visited UCLA, Young's plans changed.

"My horizons expanded," Young said. "I saw there was more out there for me. I made an overall choice, not to put my eggs in one basket. Football was going to be there, but it's going to end one day. The connections you make, the relationships you build, they all matter."

Young was a member of the debate team at UCLA, an extracurricular activity you won't find on the resume of most NFL inside linebackers. He said the experience has helped him communicate with teammates and feel at ease in a variety of settings.

"I come from the woods in Louisiana," Young said. "I was naïve coming out of high school, didn't really know what I was getting into. The greatest thing for me coming out of high school was to go 2,000 miles away from Louisiana. To see California for the first time, I was like, 'Whoa! Man, this is insane.' Hollywood is not who I am, but to go to the beach, nice restaurants, meet dope people who want to see you succeed? It felt good to be around good energy. I think it was all meant for me to go there."

Young started four seasons at UCLA and thought he would be drafted no later than the second round. But watching the draft with family and friends in Louisiana, Young waited through two days and three rounds without hearing his name called. That is another reason he arrived in Baltimore so driven to succeed.

"When the first day went by and I wasn't drafted, I was like, 'OK, that's fair,'' Young said. "But when Day 2 went by? I was like, `Holy (crap).' They don't see it? They can't tell?

''I'm a huge competitor. Put competition and me in the same room? I love to be in that room. But it's OK. I'm in no greater place than where I am right now. I just think the stars aligned for me to be here in Baltimore, fourth-round, 122nd pick. I could've gone somewhere else, been drafted higher. But would I be happy? I'm happy here."

The Ravens are happy, too. Young has earned his playing time, and the coaching staff hopes he has just scratched the surface.

"He's a smart guy, so he doesn't get overwhelmed by a mistake," Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "He's not scared to make a mistake. He's willing to play fast even if he does make a mistake. And sometimes, some of the plays you see him making? He might not be perfectly where he's supposed to be, but that willingness to play fast overcomes it, and you go make a good football play."

Asked if Young has the ability to be a three-down linebacker, Harbaugh did not hesitate.

"Absolutely," Harbaugh said. "He could be on the field all three downs now. The more he learns, obviously, the more he can do that. But, I would say he has that potential, yes."

Early in the third quarter against Cincinnati, Young exploded into the Bengals' backfield and dropped running back Joe Mixon for a two-yard loss. It was the kind of play that has earned Young the respect of his peers. Ravens veteran linebacker Terrell Suggs said he knew Young would respond to the challenge of filling in for Mosley. Why was Suggs, a 16-year veteran, so sure about Young?

"I just like that he's a young dog," Suggs said. "When you have a young dog that can run like he can run and just go, everything else can be corrected. We like you if you can just go and run and go make plays and go wreak havoc. Everything else can be coached. We like that kind of dog in him."

Young enjoys debate, but there is no arguing his NFL intentions. He wants to be a great player, not just a good one.

"People say all the time, 'The sky's the limit,'" Young said. "The sky's not the limit. There's another galaxy out there. If your mind can perceive that, you can push yourself even higher. That way, no matter where you land, you'll land somewhere great."

To Curtis, watching Young making an immediate impact with the Ravens is no surprise. It reminds him of when Young started high school. The coach figured Young's best was yet to come. Curtis still feels that way.

"I thought he'd be a second-round pick this year, athletically, intellectually, and when you looked at the intangibles," Curtis said. "I know there are probably a lot of scouts scratching their heads now saying, 'How did we miss?' And they need to be."




Kenny Young Expects to Be a Playmaker in Middle of Ravens' Defense

The biggest defensive plays of the Ravens' 2018 season came from inside linebackers.

When C.J. Mosley leaped to tip and intercept Baker Mayfield's pass in Week 17, it gave the Ravens the AFC North title. When Patrick Onwuasor punched the ball out of Antonio Gates' grasp the week before, it sealed an epic win in Los Angeles.

Now Mosley is gone and the Ravens are looking for another playmaker next to Onwuasor in the middle of their defense. Second-year linebacker Kenny Young believes he's just the man for the job.

"I'm not going to make expectations for myself so soon, but what I expect to do right from the get-go is compete hard and make plays," Young said. "My expectation is to make plays. That's it. Make plays."

A fourth-round pick out of UCLA, Young had a strong rookie season, playing in all 16 games with four starts. He registered 51 tackles, 2.5 sacks and once forced fumble.

Young was an immediate contributor. He had a sack in his first NFL game and started for the first time in just his third game, in which he logged 10 tackles. But, eventually, Onwuasor claimed the starting job and the majority of the snaps.

Head Coach John Harbaugh made it clear that Onwuasor will be a starter in 2019, taking over Mosley's role and likely his high snap count as well. Young and fellow second-year linebacker Chris Board, an undrafted rookie last year, will compete for the other spot and will likely share the role.

"I think Chris Board is playing like a starter. I also think Kenny Young is playing like a starter," Harbaugh said. "Those guys are playing really, really fast.

"I would be anticipating us to play with a three-man rotation in there, with 'Peanut' [Onwuasor] taking all the reps and those other two guys playing packages with Anthony Levine."

Young is a super speedy linebacker who is adept moving in any direction. He can drop in coverage, charge the line of scrimmage and track down ball carriers from sideline to sideline.

His biggest adjustment, he said, was the mental part of the game.
"I think the game is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. If you can get the game worked out in your mind, you're going to be a great player in this league," Young said.

"As far as awareness wise, I feel like I'm lightyears ahead of where I need to be. And the credit for that goes to the coaches. I'm way more prepared than I've ever been in my entire football career. Things are slower for me."

Young said his focus will continue to be on understanding schemes and how the offense is trying to attack the defense. "It's about ironing out the details to take it to another level," he said.

When Mosley signed with the New York Jets, Young sent him a congratulatory text message. Young said Mosley responded with something like, "You and Peanut take over."

"I was shocked," Young said. "I thought he was going to be the Tom Brady of our defense, sign the next contract and stay with us and be the face of this defense. It's a business, that's one thing I learned from it. I'm trying to be the next man up."

https://www.therams.com/news/cooper-kupp-89-nfl-top-100


Cooper Kupp's bounce-back 2019 season earned the attention and respect of his peers, who voted him No. 89 on the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2020.

For the fourth-year Rams wide receiver, it's his first career appearance on the list. After suffering a season-ending ACL injury in November 2018, he responded in 2019 with 94 receptions for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns, all team-highs and career-bests for a single season. That performance was highlighted by a season-high 220 receiving yards against the Cincinnati Bengals in London, a total which trailed only Amari Cooper's 226 against the Packers in Week 5 for most by an NFL wide receiver in a single game last season.

"I think early on, you could kind of see his progress from his ACL injury early on in training camp and then through the year – all the strides that he's made, then some of those big games he's had throughout the year," Rams head coach Sean McVay said last December. "He's a hard worker, he does everything the right way, works really hard in practice. He's a very detailed player and I think it's showing up and he deserves everything."
The NFL Top 100 List is determined exclusively by league players. Overall, 970 ballots were collected and 132 players were interviewed by NFL Films for this year's list.

Scarlett in "Gone with the Wind," is the last cast member to pass away for a movie released before WW2. Just, wow.

I know y’all ain’t ready for some COREY HARKEY HIGHLIGHTS.

I swear this was the best option lol

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/WhBhwROKSNA

7 underdog UDFAs who have real shot to earn roster spot
Bret Stuter

The LA Rams roster restocking is meeting a bit of a hitch this season. With no OTAs, a brief training camp, and shorter preseason schedule, the rookies who signed contracts with the team after the 2020 NFL Draft have their work cut out for them. While the path to the 55-man roster was always an uphill climb, the slope has become far steeper. After all, the road to the NFL happens in three ways.

Either a player is heavily scouted, analyzed, assessed, and drafted by the team. The second avenue is for a player’s college coaching staff to contact the coaches of NFL teams prior to the draft and lobby for that player’s selection. Finally, players who have profile characteristics or a niche role are signed by the team after the draft to round out the team’s 90 man roster. They are signed without much coaching debate, staff review, organization meetings, or buy-in from coaches. They commit to NFL teams that have a list of player characteristics of players to sign up.

Just add time + opportunity and shake well

Undrafted players simply need the time and opportunities to compete for roster spots, The reason is that returning players and even drafted players hold a distinct advantage over undrafted players. Those signing after the NFL Draft are made by the personnel department to round the roster up to 90. Coaches are not as familiar with their backgrounds and become familiar with them on the practice field and in preseason games.

Those avenues are shorter and more narrow now. Slip up on any opportunity can be a significant blow to the hopes of a long and prosperous NFL career. But that will only forge a stronger resolve for these players. But the winds of fortune have changed direction once more. In the latest reports about the 2020 NFL Season, teams may be forced to shave an additional $40 million from their salary in 2020 to prepare for the steep drop projected for 2021. Instantly, the inexpensive cost of players signed up after the 2020 NFL Draft has an added financial incentive to make the team. Who might benefit? We have seven players on our radar:

Defensive back Levonta Taylor

Levonta Taylor may not be on your radar, but he soon will be. The moment defensive back Levonta Taylor’s name appeared in the LA Rams list of players signed after the draft, the buzz began. I admit that while I liked the pick, the feedback I began to receive indicated that many expected his name to be called as early as day two of the 2020 NFL Draft. After all, he has the skills of both a safety and a cornerback. That’s the combination that is the top of the shopping list for so many NFL teams now, as the offense has gone from speed to size in the receiving game.

His draft profile does not highlight an elite playmaker. Nor does it discount the player. it describes a player who arrived as an elite talent, suffered back and hamstrings in his junior season, and was not the same when he returned to the field. Can the Rams coaching staff be the right folks to crack the code and unleash all of Taylor’s talent in a defense? If he is willing to put in the work, yes.

Versatile enough to win a spot

Athletically, he is gifted. Like 99th percentile gifted. And he’s versatile. He’s a strong background at both cornerback and safety in college. If you want a video treat, we have one for you HERE IN THIS WORKOUT VIDEO. His back and hamstring issues were enough to create a medical flag, and NFL teams were skittish enough to steer clear of any unknowns on prospects with so many unknowns to manage in terms of the season.

While he won’t have many opportunities to flash brilliance for the Rams defensive coaching staff, his pedigree and versatility may afford him an opportunity to show the team what he can do for them this season. If he is healthy, he can shine. Oh, how he can shine! In fact, the short training camp and no preseason games may actually work in his favor. He is an athletic superstar, and as such will no doubt generate plenty of buzz in training camp. Keep him on your radar.

Running back Xavier Jones

How can the NCAA scoring leader from 2019 fall out of the NFL Draft? I truly do not have an answer, merely thanks that it happened. There are some players in the NFL who do not test as fast as track stars, do not have the agility of a figure skater, do not possess the strength of Hercules, nor the height of Andre the Giant, and yet seem to do quite well when the football pads go on.

Xavier Jones is that type of football player. Most draft profiles describe an average athlete with a tough-as-nails mindset. Sorry, folks, but I’m perfectly fine with that considering this young man’s ability to score. At will, from anywhere on the field. After all, isn’t that what the goal is for every running back each time they get the ball? It most certainly is, and therefore Jones was the most successful running back in college last year.

Oversized underdog?

Xavier Jones stands 5-foot-11 and weighs in at 208-pounds. That places him as tall as veteran running back Malcolm Brown, and yet as light as speedy running back Darrell Henderson. Despite his overwhelming success on the ground in 2019, he brings a dangerous skillset in the passing game as well. In fact, he will very much give the Rams offense many options to use him effectively.

Of course, the consensus seems to be that the Rams will simply slap the roster spots to any player returning from 2019. But the Rams truly made almost little to no use of either running back Malcolm Brown or Darrell Henderson last year, and practice squad running back John Kelly never got his foot in the door. The Rams drafted Cam Akers to fill the vacated role of Todd Gurley. But will he fill that role completely? If not, will the Rams consider another running back? If so, Jones is incredibly intriguing as a surprise roster addition.

Center Cohl Cabral

This could be about the player, or it could be about the position. The LA Rams urgently need to find the player in 2020 who can solidify the center role for years to come. The only new interior offensive lineman signed by the Rams this offseason, Cohl Cabral
was an addition to the team at a position where the Rams passed drafting because they felt the available options were no better than players on the current roster. But then, in a move that seemed to go against that logic, the team committed to a new center.

Per NFL.com’s 2020 NFL Draft ranking, Cabral was the eighth-ranked center available in the 2020 NFL Draft, and the Rams signed him without the use of a draft pick. One of the most intriguing qualities about Cabral is that he has both left tackle and center experience, and those are certainly two hotspots on the LA Rams offensive line this year and into the future. Which prompts the question: do the Rams see Cabral as a pure center, or as a player who can develop as Andrew Whitworths eventual replacement?

Center of focus

For now, we’ll go with the center position. While the Rams are already on the threshold of anointing returning veteran Austin Blythe as the starter, I’m skeptical that he will retain that designation all season. He was thrust into the role simply because Brian Allen was out for the season and the Rams struggled at protecting the interior. Even with his play, the Rams struggled to run the ball between the offensive tackles, and the pass protection still needed to improve blocking A-gap blitzes.

That’s hardly a strong endorsement of “keep things as they were”. In fact, if any center shows a spark of competency at the position, I have to believe that the Rams will roll the dice in the hopes that he will improve as the season goes on. I believe that Cabral is truly the most talented center on the roster. Whether that will translate into a surprise starting role remains to be determined. But Cabral has a shot. For a season with the deck stacked so significantly against an undrafted rookie making an NFL roster, that’s significant.

Defensive end Sam Renner

Minnesota defensive lineman Sam Renner is a player competing in a crowded field of the Rams defensive lineman. But he’s a bit special. How so? Well, at 6-foot-4 and 275-pounds, he has plenty of height and weight to bulk up for an interior role on the defensive line or remain sleek for a defensive end role. In his senior year, he racked up 43 tackles, five sacks, and four defended passes. In a defense looking to confuse the quarterback, imagine the defensive ending bouncing up to take a role in defending the pass?

Renner has an uphill battle steeper than any other player on this list. Not only are the LA Rams set with six quality defensive linemen, but the team truly signed on some quality competition after the 2020 NFL Draft as well. Still, Renner should be up for the challenge. He’s good, very good. And if the Rams had a preseason, he would be filling Rams’ highlight reels with solid play up front. In fact, he was interviewed after signing with the Rams, and he is excited at the chance.

Work ethic counts most this year

Renner is a blue-collar type who puts in the work and lets his play do his talking for him. He’s already gotten a bit of buzz from Pro Football Focus, who had ranked him in terms of interior defensive lineman in the draft. They graded him second on tackling, eleventh on the pass rush, and 22nd on sacks. That’s pretty special for an interior defensive lineman, particularly one who falls out of the draft.

Renner is one of the undervalued players who helped buoy the Minnesota Golden Gophers’ success in recent years. One of the characteristics about him is that he arrives polished. While all players benefit from the weight room, coaching, and training camp, Renner has a good understanding of tackling and leveraging. Even if he lands on special teams as a tackler specialist, that is enough to get his foot in the door. After that, opportunities will come. When they do, he will make the most of them.

Return Specialist Brandon Polk

Many asked why the LA Rams were willing to trade veteran speedy wide receiver Brandin Cooks in the off-season. Can you believe that they got faster at the position? Well, it seems that the team did exactly that as soon as they signed up wide receiver Brandon Polk. For now, I’ve limited his contribution to special teams as a return specialist, but he could prove to be much more once the team has an opportunity to see him run routes and catch passes.

While he is just 5-foot-9 and 180-pounds, he simply outruns coverages with his blinding 4.28-second 40-yard dash. That’s fast, faster than even the 4.33-second 40-yard dash time of former Rams wide receiver Branon Cooks. And that speed can be used effectively in so many ways by head coach Sean McVay and special teams coordinator John Bonamego.

Recruited to the Rams?

The interesting fact about Polk is that in the weeks leading up to the draft, the Rams were in frequent communication with him. That’s hardly the type of action a team takes for a player the team intended to draft. Instead, it’s the type of action a team takes to attract the interest of a priority free agent signed after the 2020 NFL Draft, which is exactly what the Rams did. Of course, during those frequent conversations, the team sold Polk on the likelihood of using him in the return game as well as an option as a receiver.

As a receiver, he is dangerous. In his senior year, he caught 79 passes for 1,179 yards and 11 touchdowns. While that’s impressive enough, he could be even more dangerous as a return specialist. He averaged nearly 26 yards on kickoff returns and the Rams certainly will be interested in improving in both the punt and kickoff return areas. Since he is a multi-dimensional threat in so many ways, he could sneak onto the Rams roster. If he does, he’ll be a lot of fun to watch!

Wide Receiver Easop Winston

Some things feel like destiny. Washington State University’s Easop Winston feels like that type of player. He’s an explosive, resourceful, and very talented wide receiver ascends from former head coach Mike Leach’s offensive aerial assault to Rams’ head coach Sean McVay‘s offensive aerial assault. He is an energetic, entertaining, and extremely talented receiver who deserves to make the team’s roster if nothing else, simply for the reaction of the entire family when he got the call from the LA Rams that they wanted to sign him up.

He is pretty wise for his age to be honest. And he is pretty talented. Throw out everything you think you know about drafted versus undrafted rookies. Winston is deadly dangerous, a highly-skilled route runner who timed his emergence from college football to coincide in one of the deepest wide receiver classes in modern times. For example, Pro Football Focus released the ranking of the 2020 NFL Draft prospects in work against man coverage, and Easop Winston Jr. ranked third, just behind Laviska Shenault Jr. (42nd player selected) and Tee Higgins (33rd player selected).

Did he make pro-caliber quarterbacks?

Easop Winston Jr. caught passes from two quarterbacks in his college career. Gardner Minshew, who is now the starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also caught passes from Anthony Gordon, who signed a contract to play for the Seattle Seahawks. So along the same lines of the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg? Did he make his quarterbacks good enough to attract NFL team interest, or did his quarterbacks make him good enough to attract the LA Rams attention?

While you ponder the answer to that question, keep in mind that the San Francisco 49ers were hot on Winston’s heels, comparing him to outgoing free agent WR Emmanuel Sanders. Winston is 5-foot-11, 190-pounds, runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, and rarely drops the ball. He was the primary target of both Minshew and Gordon because he had great hands. He was a draft target for the 49ers because he had great hands. He was signed by the LA Rams because he has great hands.

Wide Receiver Trishton Jackson

Some players fall in the NFL Draft for unexplained reasons. So it is that Syracuse wide receiver Trishton Jackson was the highest-rated wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft to go unselected. That means that players were drafted in rounds three and later who were scouted as inferior players. That information alone gives Jackson an incredible amount of intrigue.

In reading his draft profiles, his only flaw was a highly talented young man who needed additional coaching work to truly realize his full potential. His draft profile was scored at 6.00. That score is better than backup/reserve, special teams player, and just under good backup who could become a starter someday. Projected as a prospect who would be selected at round five draft, the depth of this wide receiver class simply dropped him out of the draft. His 9 3/4″ hands are some of the larger hands measured at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. He was also the fourth-ranked wide receiver prospect by Rotoworld in the draft based on their dominator rating.

Very good talent + WR/QB = chance for Rams roster role

Jackson is another player who was talented enough to be a drafted prospect. He is a great size at 6-foot-1 and 197 pounds. He possesses decent speed with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. And we’ve covered the decent-sized hands at 9-3/4-inches plus a nice reach at 32-3/8-inch arms. He was a former dual-threat quarterback who switched to a receiver role. Due to transfer rules, he only truly broke out in his senior season when he caught 66 passes for 1,023 yards and 11 touchdowns.

He is new to the world of catching the football, but that quarterback/wide receiver combination sounds like something head coach Sean McVay could work with, doesn’t it? We know that McVay is no stranger to using receivers to help break the running game out of a low performing funk. Imagine what he could do in terms of a run-pass-option from a wide receiver who fakes a run and passes to the endzone? I can too, and it brings a smile to my face every time I do.

WASHINGTON - According to a recent report from the New York Times, a top-secret Pentagon program has been conducting classified briefings for over a decade, analyzing various encounters between military craft and unidentified aerial vehicles.

According to the Times, the Pentagon stated that the program was disbanded, but a Senate committee report last month revealed spending on a program called the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force.

It was reported in late June that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio had requested a detailed analysis of the task force’s findings.

The report stated that the committee supports the efforts of the task force to collect and standardize data regarding “unidentified aerial phenomenon, as well as their links to foreign governments and potential threats.”

Now, the New York Times is reporting that the secretive task force is expected to release new and alarming findings that may involve vehicles made of materials not of this planet.

Astrophysicist and former consultant for the UFO program since 2007, Eric W. Davis, told the Times that he gave a classified briefing to the Defense Department agency as early as March regarding “off-world vehicles not made on this earth.”

Over the years, the federal government has released footage of military encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena. In April, the Pentagon declassified videos from 2004 and 2015 that showed saucer-looking objects.

RELATED: US Navy ‘UFO task force’ exists, and Sen. Marco Rubio wants its data on ‘aerial phenomena’ threats

“DOD is releasing the videos in order to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real, or whether or not there is more to the videos,” the agency said in a statement released along with the clips. “The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as ‘unidentified.’”

In September, the U.S. Navy acknowledged that three UFO videos that were released by former Blink-182 singer Tom DeLonge and published by The New York Times were of real "unidentified" objects.

“The Navy considers the phenomena contained/depicted in those three videos as unidentified," Navy spokesman Joseph Gradisher told The Black Vault, a website dedicated to declassified government documents.

The videos in question, known as "FLIR1,” “Gimbal” and “GoFast,” were originally released to the New York Times and to The Stars Academy of Arts & Science (TTSA). In December 2017, FOX News reported that the Pentagon had secretly set up a program to investigate UFOs at the request of former Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada.

The first video of the unidentified object was taken on Nov. 14, 2004, and shot by the F-18's gun camera. The second video was taken on Jan. 21, 2015, and shows another aerial vehicle with pilots commenting on how strange it is. The third video was also taken on Jan. 21, 2015, but it is unclear whether the third video was of the same object or a different one.

In May 2019, the Pentagon also admitted that it still investigates reports of UFOs, or "unidentified aerial phenomena," in a statement that a former U.K. defense official called "a bombshell revelation," according to a New York Post report.

A Department of Defense spokesman told the Post in a statement that a secret government initiative called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program "did pursue research and investigation into unidentified aerial phenomena."

Even though the DOD said it shut down the AATIP in 2012, spokesman Christopher Sherwood acknowledged that the department still investigates claimed sightings of alien spacecraft, the Post reported.

"The department will continue to investigate, through normal procedures, reports of unidentified aircraft encountered by U.S. military aviators in order to ensure defense of the homeland and protection against strategic surprise by our nation's adversaries."

With the new deal the owners and the NFLPA agreed to each team needs to get down to 80 players. A little surprised to see who we let go first.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1287141776734728197

The Conversation Thread - It’s Hot Out! - Edition



Continuing the casual offseason vibe... The Conversation Thread.

Think a thread, that goes like a “Chat Room”.

Talk about WHATEVER. Post Pics. Gifs.

What are you drinking?

Eating?



Tomorrow we’ll move this thread to off topic. But for now... It’s Saturday Night!

NFC rookies picked after Day 1 who could earn key roles

A season ago, Deebo Samuel, Miles Sanders, Elgton Jenkins, DK Metcalf and Terry McLaurin were NFC rookies picked after the first round but played like first-round picks during their rookie seasons. And you, NFL fan starved for football, know all about your favorite team's first-round pick in the 2020 draft. It's time to really get acclimated with the non-Round 1 selection who has the talent -- and situation -- to flourish in his debut season in the NFL.

While the COVID-19 shortened offseason will negatively impact many rookies across the league, we'll still get some mid-to-late round picks who'll easily acclimate to the pro game and become key pieces on their respective team. On Tuesday, I identified my favorite rookie sleepers in the AFC. Below is the NFC version.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

DT Neville Gallimore

Impressive stat to know: 32 quarterback pressures on 320 pass-rush snaps in 2019 at Oklahoma

Gallimore dropped significant weight before his final season at Oklahoma, and he morphed from a space-eating run defender into a lightning quick, one-gap penetrator. Finally freed from the nose tackle role, Gallimore was a menacing disruptor with a fun blend of first-step explosion and an array of pass-rushing moves. Dallas' defense was ravaged in free agency, and the 6-foot-2, 304-pound Gallimore has the perfect size and skill set to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Maliek Collins on the Cowboys' defensive front.

Philadelphia Eagles

LB Davion Taylor

Impressive stat to know: 18 tackles for loss and six pass breakups in 2018 and 2019 combined at Colorado

Taylor is relatively new to the game of football and played just two seasons at Colorado but produced in a big way.

Everything about Taylor's game translates ideally to the NFL as we know it today. At 6-0 and 228 pounds with blistering 4.49 speed, he as range for days and plays with zero hesitation. Taylor's coaches trusted him as a slot cornerback often. In fact, per PFF, 294 of his snaps in 2019 came at that position, more than his 251 snaps in the box as a traditional linebacker. For being a raw second-level defender, Taylor took on and dispatched blocks decently well and his electric burst keeps him close to the football frequently. Taylor's in a perfect situation in Philadelphia, because the Eagles desperately needed more athleticism in their linebacker group.

Washington

WR Antonio Gandy-Golden

Impressive stat to know: Over 70 receptions and 1,000-plus yards with 10 touchdowns in each of his two seasons at Liberty

Gandy-Golden went the junior college route then dominated at Liberty for two seasons with an intimidating combination of size, rebounding prowess, and deceptive yards-after-the-catch capabilities. Though most of his games were against lesser competition, he was remarkably steady in 2019 regardless of opponent. At a legitimate 6-4 and 223 pounds with nearly 10-inch hands, Gandy-Golden towers over most cornerbacks and he plays to every inch of his frame with an assertive "my ball" mentality. While not overly fluid to create separation on routes with multiple cuts, he's explosive enough to generate just enough to create a bubble with his box-out skills and catch radius and is a load to bring to the turf.

Washington is in dire need of secondary options behind Terry McLaurin in its receiver group, and Gandy-Golden will be a nice complement to him because the rookie is completely different stylistically than McLaurin.

New York Giants

CB Darnay Holmes

Impressive stat to know: Eight interceptions and 17 pass breakups in three seasons at UCLA

Holmes is the rookie featured in this article in which I'm least confident. His play is wildly up and down, so it's nearly impossible to pinpoint which version of the defensive back you're going to see each game. Son of former NFL running back Darick Holmes, Darnay has bloodlines teams love and he ran 4.48 at the combine.

There's nothing from an athletic standpoint that's too challenging for him on the field. Holmes can just be much too aggressive biting on breaks in a receiver's route or simply allow too much separation. The latter is a strange occurrence because he's so athletic. Anyway, Holmes enters a Giants secondary in dire need of springy, playmaking ability, and he undoubtedly has that.

NFC North

Green Bay Packers

RB A.J. Dillon

Impressive stat to know: Two seasons of 1,500-plus rushing yards at 5.3 yards per attempt (2017 and 2019) at Boston College

Dillon is a train with some bounce in his step, and he laughs off weak arm-tackle attempts in the open field. At 6-0 and 247 pounds, Dillon has tree trunks for legs, and they're loaded with explosiveness, as evidenced by his 4.53 in the 40, a 41-inch vertical, and 131-inch broad jump. There's just enough lateral burst in his running style to make one defender miss per run, and that's usuallly all he needs to do to break a long run. While not as nationally regarded, Dillon's 1,589-yard, 14-touchdown season in 2017 as a 19-year-old freshman was Adrian Peterson-esque.

Aaron Jones is, of course, the No. 1 back in Green Bay, and is quite the flexible athlete in his own right. But Dillon's modern-day power back vibe will add a punishing element to the Packers' ground game in 2020.

Minnesota Vikings

LB Troy Dye

Impressive stat to know: Averaged just under 98 tackles per season in his four-year stint at Oregon

Dye has the awesome linebacker pairing of Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr in front of him in Minnesota, but Dye has the experience, length, and particularly the coverage savvy to get on the field early in his career with the Vikings.

A rare four-year starter and high-level producer, Dye isn't flashy, he just glides to the football on outside runs and flies down the seam with tight ends then finds the football. He dealt with injuries in his final season at Oregon but played through them. He has the well-rounded game Mike Zimmer will absolutely adore.

Detroit Lions

EDGE Julian Okwara

Impressive stat to know: 19.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks across his final 22 games at Notre Dame

Okwara is a dude at 6-4, 252 pounds with nearly 35-inch tentacles. His power is effortless, and it looks like he could add more weight to his frame, which should be a scary thought for offensive linemen who struggle to anchor against bull rushes. While never totally dominated in college, Okwara did have some long stretches without much pass-rushing production. His high-level play is of first-round caliber because his hands are so powerful, and he's an effortless athlete around the corner.

After Trey Flowers, Detroit has to get more pass-rushing help, and Okwara has the game and NFL veteran caliber strength to make an impact as a rookie.

Chicago Bears

WR Darnell Mooney

Impressive stat to know: Accounted for a whopping 41.7% of Tulane's receiving yards in his Age 20/21 season at Tulane in 2018

Mooney was easy to overlook during the pre-draft process. He never caught more than 48 passes in a single season in his collegiate career and stands 5-10 and 176 pounds. But his quarterback play was average at its absolute best at Tulane, which hindered his production a great deal.

If you're going to be that small in the NFL, you better be fast, and Mooney is. He ran 4.38 at the combine and had 37-inch vertical. On film, he demonstrated awesome concentration when tracking the football down the field and played bigger than his size because of his leaping talents. Allen Robinson is an underrated star in Chicago, and Anthony Miller flashed in his second season, but if Ted Ginn has lot a few steps, Mooney can be the deep-ball specialist for the Bears as a rookie. He's very polished in that role.

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers

WR Jauan Jennings

Impressive stat to know: Forced 30 missed tackles in 2019 at Tennessee, the most among any draft-eligible receiver, per PFF

Jennings was a dual-threat quarterback recruit when he joined the Tennessee program in 2015 but was flipped to receiver almost instantly and never looked back. Jennings is magical with the ball in his hands, and each time he starts carrying the football after the catch, you're reminded he was a dual-threat quarterback out of high school.

At 6-3 and 215 pounds, Jennings has quality size but is a lower-level athlete and won't run by many NFL cornerbacks. He shields with his body well and is a raging bull after the catch. No play caller schemes receiver production better than Kyle Shanahan, and his offense is predicated on skill-position players' ability to run after the catch.

Seattle Seahawks

TE Colby Parkinson

Impressive stat to know: Led all draft-eligible tight ends with 14 contested-catches in 2019 at Stanford, according to PFF

Parkinson is the latest in basically the same type of tight end to enter the league from Stanford during the David Shaw era -- except he wasn't utilized in line as a blocker really at all. That doesn't really matter though. But like Zach Ertz, Levine Toilolo, Austin Hooper, and Kaden Smith before him, Parkinson is towering and unreal bringing in the football with defenders draped on him.

Russell Wilson has loved targeting big-bodied tight ends during his fun tenure in Seattle, and Parkinson's 6-7 frame and rebounding mastery will be a welcomed additions to the Seahawks' pass-catching contingent.

Arizona Cardinals

RB Eno Benjamin

Impressive stat to know: Caught 77 passes over the past two seasons at Arizona State

Benjamin had no business lasting until the seventh round. None. But explaining the immense value he represented is not the point of this article. A super-bouncy feature back in college -- who averaged 5.5 yards-per carry on 300 attempts (!) in 2018 -- with above-average contact balance, a fine athletic profile and soft hands, Benjamin is ready to produce in the NFL right away.

However, he'll begin his pro career behind Kenyan Drake and second-year runner Chase Edmonds. But we all know how quickly a team can move through a running back committee. Keep an eye on Benjamin. He's good.

Los Angeles Rams

CB Terrell Burgess

Impressive stat to know: 81 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and five pass breakups in 2019 at Utah

Burgess is well-equipped to be a slot defender in the NFL. He's part nickel corner, part safety, part linebacker, and we're starting to see more of these types not just pop up but excel on Sundays.

While somewhat pushed out of the spotlight by other secondary stars at Utah, he repeatedly flashed on film while I watched his teammates. Then, at the combine, Burgess rocked his workout with a 4.46 time in the 40 at 5-11 and 202 pounds. The Rams lost elite coverage linebacker Cory Littleton in free agency, and Burgess, essentially comfortable in any situation defensively, will help fill the void from the veteran's departure.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

S Jaylinn Hawkins

Impressive stat to know: Nine interceptions in his last 26 games at California

Ashtyn Davis was the Cal safety who received the most hype this past draft cycle, and while watching his film, Hawkins consistently made plays. I love his combination of quality range and quickness in his feet to close on the football in front of him at the intermediate level. He's unafraid to throw his weight around against the run, and is decently effective in the box too.

Hawkins actually has an uphill climb to get on the field with Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen in front of him, but he's one of those players who, thanks to instincts more than anything else, is involved in the action often.

Carolina Panthers

S/LB Jeremy Chinn

Impressive stat to know: 13 interceptions and 31 pass breakups in four years at Southern Illinois

I was flabbergasted watching Chinn's film. He just didn't look like he belonged in the FCS level, and, frankly, I'm not sure I've ever watched a safety that big (6-3, 221) move as fast with as much acceleration (regardless of level).

Chinn ran 4.45 with a 41-inch vertical and a 138-inch broad jump, meaning his radius to breakup passes is larger than your garage door. His click-and-close is incredible, and his range is outstanding. While not a deft block-defeater, he's typically ahead of pulling guards at the second level. And I thought Chinn's change-of-direction skills were more impressive than that of Isaiah Simmons. For real. I can't wait to watch him in Carolina's young defense.

New Orleans Saints

TE Adam Trautman

Impressive stat to know: 23 touchdowns in his last 22 games at Dayton

Every year, a small-school prospect (or two or three) pop out of nowhere at the Senior Bowl and prove they can play "up" in competition. Trautman was one of those players this year. After dominating the Pioneer League, Trautman freed himself in one-on-ones against linebackers and safeties with good regularity.

He snaps out of his breaks at each level of the field but is probably best underneath and after the catch because Trautman isn't a tremendous athlete. But working the short levels of the pass game is fine in New Orleans with Drew Brees, and with Jared Cook now 33 years old, Trautman could get run early.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

WR Tyler Johnson

Impressive stat to know: Back-to-back 70-plus catch, 1,100-plus yard, 10-plus touchdown seasons at Minnesota

There were some mysterious character concerns with Johnson that floated around during the pre-draft process, which have to be the reason he fell to the fourth round. Because his film was ultra-clean for the past three years at Minnesota.

Slippery and fully aware of how to shake press at the line -- mostly from the slot -- Johnson is a short-area separation creator and is a running back after the catch. He plucks wayward passes in his vicinity with ease too. Yes, he's on a team absolutely loaded with pass-catchers, but if there are any injuries, or if Tampa Bay wants to cater to Tom Brady's love for reliable slot receivers, Johnson will get on the field and produce.

With Littleton gone, who will step up at ILB for Rams in 2020?

It was a mundane diss, and I don't mean to call attention to this specific one – because plenty of others have made similar observations about the 2020 Rams inside linebackers.

There's no sense denying the short resumés in that room. And once again this offseason, L.A. chose not to devote many resources to that position group (at least not via draft, trade, or free agency).

However, this isn't a new approach for the Rams. And to date, the allocation of capital has worked out in the team's favor.

Granted, that was an unforeseen luxury afforded by Cory Littleton blossoming from a college free agent to a Pro Bowl special teamer and earning elite marks at his position, particularly in coverage. But the spot next to him was often a revolving door.

Since L.A. traded Alec Ogletree to the Giants before the 2018 season, here are the players who've started games at inside linebacker, along with a note on how they became aligned with Littleton:

Mark Barron – Converted from safety in 2015

Bryce Hager – 224th overall in 2017

Troy Reeder – Undrafted free agent

Ramik Wilson – Unrestricted free agent (after Kansas City declined to tender in 2018)

No one on that list earned a position grade worth touting the past two seasons, and yet the Rams won an NFC Championship and 22 regular season games. So while it would be hubris to think they can simply promote another Littleton through the ranks, there's not an appreciable difference between the above collection of talent and the returning and drafted options the Rams have to choose from now.

Travin Howard –231st overall in 2018

Micah Kiser –147th overall in 2018

Clay Johnston –234th overall in 2020

Troy Reeder – Undrafted free agent

Kenny Young – 122nd overall in 2018 (acquired from Baltimore in 2019)

Undrafted rookies: Daniel Bituli, Bryan London II, Christian Rozeboom

Head coach Sean McVay was encouraged by the reps Howard gave the team in December.

Before the draft, general manager Les Snead said of Kiser's rehab from a pectoral injury, "I don't know that there's been a day he's missed here. Buy stock in Micah Kiser."

And the scout who was responsible for Clay Johnson was quick to remind us of the torn ACL he suffered after six games for Baylor last season. "We really projected that he was going to be a higher pick," said Rams senior personnel advisor Taylor Morton. "I think he's going to be a steal of a deal in the seventh round."

During the Rams virtual program, new coordinator Brandon Staley called it an "open competition" for those jobs in the middle of his defense, and named just about every linebacker on the roster when weighing his options.

Now, returning to Bloom's point, we agree the dynamics in the NFC West have changed considerably. Though the NFL has devalued inside linebackers, and though the Rams are inclined to play sub-packages with only one middle linebacker on the field more often than not, he's not wrong that the San Francisco and Seattle ground games are daunting.

(As a quick aside, I find it interesting that the pieces Staley did add in anticipation of his first season as an NFL coordinator – namely tackle A'Shawn Robinson and edge Leonard Floyd – have run-stuffing pedigrees.)

Likewise, the task of replacing Littleton is formidable and especially consequential given that someone has to wear the green dot and relay play calls on defense.

But these aren't foreign challenges for McVay and the Rams, who believe they have capable options in-house, even if they aren't household names.

Two time pro bowler, one time all pro, Leroy Irvin. He still holds the record for most punt return yards in a single game set against the Falcons in 1981.
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/34yTZR8MlUk