Man...
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10 Things with Troy Reeder

Each week, we interview a different Rams player to find out about their lives on the field as well as off of it. Team Reporter, Sarina Morales, asks the questions fans want to know, in a fun and conversational interview. This week, linebacker, Troy Reeder, spoke to Sarina about seafood pasta, not to dwell on the past and Big Brew and the Boys.

1: Virtual meetings

Sarina: What do you like about the virtual meetings?

Troy: They're pretty cool. They can be frustrating at times, but I like that we can still get all the guys together to talk some ball despite the circumstances.

2: User error

Sarina: Who is the teammate who has the hardest time with technology?

Troy: I'm not sure, but it's pretty funny when guys get dropped from our zoom meetings and have to frantically try to get back on before they miss anything.

3: Do the little things right

Sarina: As an undrafted rookie last season, what is your "word to the wise" for all the undrafted guys coming in this offseason?

Troy: Don't dwell on the past. Make the most of your opportunity and do the little things right.

4: Hacienda boys

Sarina: Which teammates are you really excited to see in person? Why?

Troy: Got to go with Jake Gervase, Brian Allen, and Jeremiah Kolone. They're my three roommates and I miss hanging with the boys at the Hacienda.

5: Seafood pasta

Sarina: Best thing you've cooked while staying home?

Troy: I made a blue crab, shrimp and scallop pasta dish that was a big hit. Those east coast blue crabs are undefeated.

6: For the love of Levi's

Sarina: When was the last time you wore jeans?!

Troy: Hahaha I can't even remember! Probably St. Patrick's Day two months ago.

7: Straight to voicemail

Sarina: You got engaged this off-season. What was the hardest part about preparing for the proposal? Share any funny nuggets about that day?

Troy: The hardest thing was just making sure everything went as planned. After I did it, I had a surprise dinner planned with our families so I told her parents not to answer their phones until we got to the restaurant because I knew she would want to call them right away. The whole way to the restaurant Mary was so mad at her parents for not answering their phones, then we walked in and they were waiting for us.

8: Do not disturb Miracles

Sarina: With everyone doing Netflix and chill, what is the one show or movie you can't watch with anyone?

Troy: The movie Miracle, about the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team. No one wants to watch it with me because I know every word and can't help but say them along the whole movie.

9: Big Brew and the Boys

Sarina: Samson Ebukam started playing the drums this offseason. If you could start a band with four other teammates, who would be in your band?

Troy: Chandler Brewer is going to be lead singer with his country boy twang. Samson can take the drums. Greg Gaines on the guitar. I'll put Nick Scott on the Piano. And I will play whatever requires no musical talent, maybe a triangle or something. Our name would be Big Brew and the Boys, I'll give Brew the name since he's lead singer.

10: Philly's best

Sarina: What matchup are you most excited about based on the schedule release?

Troy: Definitely most looking forward to playing in Philadelphia Week 2. I grew up about 45 minutes outside Philly, surrounded by die-hard Eagles fans, so it will be fun getting to go back east and play in front of a lot of friends and family.

Rams draft signals confidence in O-Line

Survey a group of Rams fans about which position group was most culpable for the 2019 team missing the postseason and the results would be nearly unanimous.

Offensive line.

After enjoying an improbable run of health and continuity in recent seasons, last year saw a regression to the mean, and with it, some mean regression.

As documented in a previous discussion, nine Rams started along the offensive front in the first 11 weeks, including six who were making their first or second NFL start.

Joe Noteboom and Brian Allen struggled to replace Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan before suffering season-ending injuries.

Right tackle Rob Havenstein was earning a career-low Pro Football Focus grade before a Week 10 injury in Pittsburgh also ended his campaign.

So understandably, even with total personnel retention, the line was considered an area of need going into the NFL Draft.

Instead, the Rams doubled-down on a group that stabilized in December, but in aggregate rated among the NFL's worst in 2019.

They didn't choose an offensive lineman until their final pick (guard Tremayne Anchrum at 250 overall) or acquire help through trade or free agency, signaling a readiness to run it back with their existing talent, banking on internal development.

"Last year was beneficial for us, in spite of having some of the injuries and shuffling things around," Sean McVay said. "You got a chance to really evaluate a lot of guys playing in real games that count and you can see that there's a lot of upside."

It will be at least a year – likely two or three – before we can truly evaluate the merits of this approach, and the results will depend on a number of factors. Most notably, can this group of Rams realize that upside McVay referenced, both individually and collectively?

But also, do players like Ezra Cleveland (58th pick, Minnesota) or Josh Jones (72nd pick, Arizona) turn into All-Pro tackles? Or similarly, do several of the interior linemen selected in a Day Two stretch where the Rams had four selections outperform L.A.'s existing options?

In the present, you can understand how general manager Les Snead, offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, and McVay might prefer what they have in house. And it's not as if they haven't spent comparable draft capital in recent years on this position group.

2018: Joe Noteboom (3rd round), Brian Allen (4th), Jamil Demby (6th)

2019: Bobby Evans (3rd), David Edwards (5th)

They also traded in a 2021 fifth-round pick to acquire Austin Corbett from the Browns last season.

"You look at Austin," McVay says of the 33rd overall selection from two years ago. "You say, alright, what does it look like if you give him an opportunity to have a training camp and some guidance under Coach Kromer's tutelage."

After solidifying the group late last season by sliding from right guard to center, Austin Blythe agreed to a one-year offer and McVay expects him to maintain control of that position going into 2020.

"I think he did a really nice job stepping in (at center)," the head coach said on the Rams Revealed podcast. "His ability to confidently get out the calls, there was a very similar feel to things that you loved so much about John Sullivan."

David Edwards bounced from left guard to right, where he's now the incumbent in 2020 after breaking in with 10 starts to finish his rookie season.

In all likelihood, that leaves Noteboom and Corbett to battle for left guard and Evans and Havenstein to settle the starting right tackle job.

Whoever comes up empty in those battles will join Allen in providing valuable depth, which is all the more meaningful under the new CBA rules allowing for 55-man rosters and 48 dressed on game day, with a requirement for one additional active offensive lineman compared to prior years.

Rounding out the projected starters, at left tackle, 38-year old Andrew Whitworth postponed retirement with a new three-year contract. He, too, saw the Friday night selections at running back, receiver, edge rusher, and safety as affirmation that the Rams already have the right offensive linemen in the facility.

"I really think it is a vote of confidence in that we see there's a bunch of guys in our room that have an opportunity to help us," Whitworth said during the Draft. "It's going to be really the best scenario you can possibly have in this business is you have a whole bunch of guys for very few positions. And hopefully these guys will fight and compete, and we'll get the best five on the field."

There's one more nuance specific to our current global predicament that I think is relevant to the choice the Rams made: Is this the time to be teaching a rookie lineman McVay's playbook, via Zoom and tablets? With a compromised off-season program (and potentially training camp), how legitimate were the hopes of landing a plug-and-play starter?

Drafting from outside the Top 50, that would have been a risky proposition with limited potential to find an upgrade over the options previously discussed, at least in the near-term.

Anybody else watching? Hell of a left hook to Nico Price to set that match!

SPORTS IN BACK BABY!

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I hate wishing someone out of a job, so I hope he really does get a new role, just not on a primetime football telecast.

We'll no longer get gems like Booger telling us "The DB jumped that route, but Goff's got to throw it anyways."

2020 Offseason Opponent Breakdown: Dallas Cowboys

Now that the Rams' 2020 schedule is officially out, it's time to resume our offseason opponent breakdowns on theRams.com. Up first is Los Angeles' Week 1 home opener, the Dallas Cowboys.

2019

With the return of starting center Travis Frederick – who missed the entire 2018 season due to an autoimmune disorder – the Cowboys produced the No. 1 total offense in the NFL at 431.5 yards per game.

That production initially translated to a 3-0 start to the season. However, three-game losing streaks across Weeks 4-6 and Weeks 12-14 derailed the early success and made Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles and Week 17 against the Washington Redskins must-win games to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Though the Cowboys defeated the Redskins, their loss to the Eagles combined with Philadelphia's Week 17 win over the New York Giants prevented them from reaching the postseason.
Changes

Dallas let leading pass rusher Robert Quinn (11.5) walk as an unrestricted free agent and signed former Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro defensive end Aldon Smith, who last played in the NFL in 2015. Starting safety Jeff Heath also left as an unrestricted free agent and was replaced by former Packers safety Haha Clinton-Dix, who signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys.

On offense, Frederick retired and veteran tight end Jason Witten departed after his one-year deal out of retirement expired. The Cowboys also signed former Chiefs offensive tackle Cameron Erving and former Bengals starting quarterback Andy Dalton to one-year contracts.

Head coach

Mike McCarthy is in his first season as head coach of the Cowboys, replacing Jason Garrett. McCarthy spent the 2019 season out of the NFL after a 13-year run as head coach of the Packers, where he compiled a 125-77-2 record from 2006-18.

What to watch for

Rams secondary vs. Cowboys wide receivers

The Cowboys return their top two receivers from 2019 in Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup and used their first-round pick on former Oklahoma standout CeeDee Lamb, widely regarded as one of the top five wide receivers in this year's draft. Meanwhile, the Rams bring back Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill – who held Cooper and Gallup to one catch each last December – and will have a healthy John Johnson III available.

It is perhaps the most exciting matchup for this game, followed closely by the Rams' defensive line vs. the Cowboys' offensive line.

Saturday Night Redux...

Continuing our casual offseason vibe; The Conversation Thread.

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

So, why not use the chat room? Well, this isn’t exactly in realtime... Just chime in like you‘ve dropped by a friends house.

It’s random chat. Post whatever. Ask a question. Tell us what your up to. Comment.

BYOB.

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

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Rain, cold here... maybe a little snow overnight here in the Northeast...

Got a few beers on the go.

This playing;

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So... what you up to?

Donald/Brockers duo better 2nd time around

The LA Rams averted a huge roster gaffe by nearly allowing DL Michael Brockers to sign elsewhere. Not only would that have been counterproductive to the team, but it was a huge strain upon the relationship the team has with All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald. That is until the fates smiled and freed up defensive lineman Michael Brockers from a nearly instantaneous signing on with the Baltimore Ravens the moment the 2020 NFL Free Agency market opened for business.

In short, the Ravens were unhappy with Brockers’ medical data and wished to renegotiate the terms of the contract originally agreed to. That allowed the LA Rams an opportunity to swoop in, match the terms of the Ravens now-withdrawn offer, and retain Brockers on the Rams defensive front. That meant a great deal to the Rams All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who personally lobbied for the Rams to retain Brockers. You see, not only does the duo have a strong bond of friendship, but Donald truly respects the contributions of his teammate, and is happy to share his thoughts whenever he gets a chance.

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The Rams almost let Brockers slip away, despite the focus upon improving the Rams running defense. Almost, but for the sheer random luck of miscommunication and some frugal attempts by the Baltimore Ravens to shave some dollars off a contract, did not. In the end, and completely by accident, the LA Rams reunite two of the most effective defensive linemen in the NFL. Now, the NFC West running offenses will have their hands full of two newly motivated run-stopping teammates.

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So that restores the LA Rams defensive line to the base starting point from 2019. But the Rams did have one thing missing. A strong nose tackle who would attract the attention of the offensive line. Yes, the team has two young defensive linemen in Sebastian Joseph-Day and Greg Gaines. But the Rams had a dominating player like that once before, Ndamukong Suh, and the result was career-high stats for Donald. A player whose size and strength forces offenses to double team him, opening the way for Donald to devastate that offense.

The Rams have found such a player in A’Shawn Robinson. A powerful roadblock who will likely be the fireplug in the middle of the Rams defensive front. Now the Rams base 3-4 will feature Aaron Donald, A’Shawn Robinson, and Michael Brockers, with both Sebastian Joseph-Day and Greg Gaines rotating in. Say what you will about the LA Rams, but this rotation at the defensive line will be incredible in 2020.

In a previous article, we compared the stats of Robinson and Brockers and concluded that Brockers was a good free agent substitute for Brockers on the Rams defensive front. But we had no idea that the Rams would have the benefit of both playing on the same defensive line.

As the team sorts through who will get the start at the linebacker positions, the front three has been upgraded so well that it may not matter as much as originally thought. With Brockers, Robinson, and Donald at the defensive line, the Rams middle linebackers should benefit from cleaner play than many teams. And with the projected starting outside linebackers as Leonard Floyd and Terrell Lewis, there will be very little degradation on the pass rush which was a Rams strong suit in 2019.

With this defense, the more you look, the more there is to love about it. The LA Rams allowed 1,809 yards on the ground in 2019. I project that will fall to an estimated 1,600 yards on the ground. And yes, that is despite the Rams facing the San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Arizona Cardinals, all of whom love to run the ball.

The NFL Draft, for the most part, will impact most teams in 3-4 years down the road. The LA Rams, who have historically fast-tracked drafted players into productive roles on the team, will likely see defensive contributions from OLB Terrell Lewis and S/CB Terrell Burgess this year.

I don’t see the LA Rams collapsing in 2020. If the team had a collapse mentality, that would have occurred in 2019 amidst all the turmoil. The LA Rams will rebound this year. And it will all start up front in the trenches.

Looking around... the NFL has a lot of change in 2020.

Our Rams; new stadium. New uniforms. New look.

The great breakup of the Patriots. Brady to Tampa.

Rivers and Newton on the move, Eli Manning retired.

Brees, Roethlisberger, maybe Rodgers on the track to retirement. Certainly storylines for those teams.

Raiders new home, Vegas.

All of THAT before factoring the opening of the season and CoVID... what will that look like?

Seems like a heavy list of change! What else?

McVay excited to open Rams 2020 season in primetime

When Rams head coach Sean McVay receives the team's schedule each year, he first looks for who they will open the regular season against, then any abnormal kickoff times.

This year, Los Angeles opening SoFi Stadium on Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 was what captured his attention right away.

"The first thing that stands out is just the opportunity to open up on primetime in front of the world in the new stadium," McVay said. "That was something I think we had all hoped for. It's a great challenge against the Cowboys."

Overall, the Rams' 2020 schedule will feature five primetime games - the maximum allowed for a club in a season by the NFL. They are one of eight teams with five, joining the Cowboys, the Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers.

L.A.'s regular-season opener against Dallas also highlights what could be an exciting, yet challenging first month of the season.

In September alone, the Rams will also face the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, two teams which qualified for the playoffs last season and are among the toughest road environments in the league.



The Cowboys were on the cusp of reaching the playoffs last season until a loss to the Eagles in Week 16, and an Eagles win over the Giants in Week 17.

Sunday Night Football at the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6, Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears in Week 7, Monday Night Football at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11 and Thursday Night Football against the New England Patriots in Week 14 round out the Rams' primetime slate.

Most notably, the Buccaneers game is sandwiched within a group of divisional matchups against the Seattle Seahawks (Week 10), 49ers (Week 12) and at the Arizona Cardinals (Week 13).

"It's a tough stretch," McVay said.

At the same time, though, many of those games are 4-5 months out, and what those teams are on paper in May may not be what they look like in September or November. There are teams experiencing consistent success, but there are also teams that surprise the rest of the league.

McVay said when he was younger, he used to try to plot out when those tough stretches were or what an opposing team might look like at that point in the schedule. However, he hasn't done that since he became head coach of the Rams, given how unpredictable the league can be.

"I think the league changes, it's so competitive, there's 31 other teams that are doing a great job preparing," McVay said. "So my sole focus and concentration has been on, let's do a great job with the training camp opportunity that we'll be afforded, let's stay as healthy as we can and be ready for that first game when we play Dallas."

OFFENSE

LT Whitworth, Edwards
LG Corbett, Brewer
C Allen, Blythe
RG Edwards, Shelton
RT Havenstein, Evans
(all backups activate gameday per CBA)

TE Higbee, Everett, Hopkins

QB Goff, Wolford

RB Henderson, Ackers, Brown, Kelly (This is a make or break year for Kelly. He's an inside RB so that should help him.)

WR Woods, Kupp, Jefferson, Reynolds, Webster, Winston (Winston 2 year developmental player)

Total 24 (Noteboom PUP)

DEFENSE

DE Brockers/Lewis
NT Robinson, SJD
DT Donald, Gaines
OLB Floyd, Okoronkwo

MLB Kiser, Reeder, Johnston
MO Young, Howard
SAM Ebukam, Lewis, Rozeboom

Safeties Johnson(FS), Rapp(SS), Scott(FS), Fuller(SS), Gervase(S)

CB Ramsey(RCB), Long(LCB), Burgess(SCB/RCB), Hill(LCB), Williams(SCB), Deayon or Alexander(CB)

Total 26 (25 when Noteboom returns)

ST
K Hajrullahu
P Hekker
LS McQuaide

When Noteboom comes off PUP the #6 CB or Reeder probably gets released. I can see Winston changing positions to WR to use his height and speed. It will remain to be seen if he can catch and run routes. His advantage is he knows the route concepts so it's practicing technique. The need will be there next year or the year after.

Rams tickets are in very high demand after schedule release

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

The 2020 season is a big one for the Los Angeles Rams, and not just because they’re trying to get back to the playoffs after missing it last year. They’ll be trotting out a new-look defense, an offense that no longer features Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks, and a redesigned set of uniforms next season.

Oh, and they’ll be playing in a spectacular $5 billion stadium that’s set to open this summer.

Anticipation is high for the Rams’ 2020 season, leading to a huge amount of interest among fans. According to SeatGeek, via CNBC, demand for Rams tickets was high after the regular-season schedule was released on Thursday night.

The Rams have the second-most ticket volume in the NFL, and the average resale price is $456. The No. 1 game in the NFL in ticket demand is predictable Rams vs. Cowboys on Sept. 13, the home opener of SoFi Stadium.

As a whole, ticket sales across the NFL are up 234% from last year, according to SeatGeek. That figure comes as a surprise, given the uncertainty of live sports taking place with fans in the stands due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But fans don’t seem deterred from the possibility of games being canceled. That likely has to do with the fact that teams have already put refund and exchange policies in place, protecting fans in the even that the schedule is altered.

Link - https://sports.yahoo.com/surprise-r...time-pro-bowler-on-open-market-220636405.html

One of the NFL’s best blockers hit the free-agent market on Friday when the New Orleans Saints released veteran guard Larry Warford.

The move comes as a surprise considering that Warford, 28, is coming off his third-straight Pro Bowl appearance. Teams in need of interior line help now have the opportunity to sign an impact player in his prime deep in the free-agency market.


Opportunity knocks for teams in need of interior line help. (Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
More
Salary cap casualty?
Warford was approaching the final year of a four-year, $34 million deal and would have carried a $12.9 million salary cap hit this season, indicating that cap relief was New Orleans’ primary motivation.

The Saints drafted Michigan center Cesar Ruiz in the first round (No. 24) of April’s draft, giving the team a top talent option in the middle of the line at a considerable discount over Warford’s salary.

Warford joins a free-agent market that includes other notable names like Cam Newton and Jadeveon Clowney. That the Saints apparently couldn’t find a trade partner suggests that he won’t find nearly the same payday he was due this season. But he’ll be a valuable addition where he ends up signing.

Man I gotta tell you guys the little woman has been making these fries lately that are killin me (and blowing up my waist line!). She basically slices up some potatoes, ices them, oils them, seasons them with paprika & cayenne pepper, and bakes them in the oven for oh idk about 45 or so.

Holy Jesus they're good. Or maybe I'm just stoned idk.

Been thinking, Rosen is on his rookie contract still for at least 2 years barring his year 5 option.

He has a higher ceiling and talent than anybody on this roster currently Behind Goff. If Goff goes down we are fucked.

Considering the talent at backup QB would you consider trading a pick for Rosen?

Would you trade a 4th-6th for Rosen?
I figure at the very least we could get a 5th for him down the road or a 6th cómp pick at worst case scenario.

I saw something similar on twitter, but I am narrowing it down to just the Rams in a poll. Imagine it's the Super Bowl and you had the choice of a QB and a WR in crunch time with a minute or less and the Rams are behind.....

Gurley is mentioning June 1st perhaps that's what it says in his contract. That being said these quotes from one of the articles about it from Gurley pretty much explains possibly why he was cut. Yes his knee is less than perfect but the rams still could have run him into the ground to get there money's worth. That being said wether it's anger or not this sums it up in a nutshell. The exact truth hopefully comes out but what do the exteammates and friends have to do with it?


“I still ain’t got my money, so it’s really, forget the Rams right now. I don’t even care about them,” he said on Uninterrupted. “I told my ex-teammates that they can’t even text me or call me until I get my money. As soon as I get my money, then I’ll be cool with everybody else.”
I don’t know what their reason is. And the worst thing about it is they know they have to pay me too,” he said. “Apparently probably just using the COVID thing as an excuse. Or they probably ain’t got no money to be paying anybody. They’ve got that stadium being built right now. All I know is, come June 1st, I better have my money.”


Dude is bitter!!!

So me and a buddy are planning on traveling from Missouri to LA for the home opener. We know virtually nothing about the area. Where are good places to stay not too far from the stadium. We would also like to do some touristy things as we've never been to LA

Are the Rams now a ‘sleeper’ team for next season?

The LA Rams went to the Super Bowl at the end of the 2018 season and had boasted one of the NFL’s best offenses over a two-year period, but stumbled enough times in 2019 to miss the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Salary cap challenges and injuries forced the team to make some difficult cuts/deals and a trade for Jalen Ramsey last season left them without a first round pick for additional reinforcements.

With that information in hand, the Rams haven’t been seen as the powerhouse for 2020 as would have been assumed following the 2017-2018 campaigns. But that doesn’t mean that LA isn’t a contender next season either.

(If I could find one, this would be a good place for one of those tweets where a list of players under contract through a certain year, say 2022, is highlighted as a strength for a team even though most contracts never pan out as envisioned.)

In their most recent power rankings, ESPN listed the Rams at 17th in the league after the draft. They were also 17th after free agency.

Player who benefited: QB Jared Goff. The Rams moved on from two key players when they released running back Todd Gurley and traded receiver Brandin Cooks. Gurley was Goff’s every-down back, and Cooks was the speedy deep threat who stretched a defense. But with their first two picks in the draft, both in the second round, the Rams selected Florida State RB Cam Akers and Florida WR Van Jefferson. The team also picked up tight end Brycen Hopkins in the fourth round. They are expected to contribute as rookies, and their addition ensures that Goff will again have a full arsenal of playmakers. — Lindsey Thiry

LA was sandwiched between the Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons. Do those teams have as much talent as the Rams do?

In their corner, the Rams feature the game’s best defensive player in Aaron Donald, a cornerback who could be the best at his position in Ramsey, two receivers who I believe are talented enough to make an All-Pro roster one day in Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, plus a potential Hall of Fame left tackle in Andrew Whitworth. Few teams could say that their “cream” that rises to the top is as good as that. It is the pieces in between them, the coaching, and a season of positive news on the injury front that makes the difference between doing better, worse, or the same as “17th-best team.”

That will of course come down to Jared Goff’s play at QB, first and foremost.

Plus the other four members of the offensive line each week, the performance of the running backs as compared to Todd Gurley in 2019, and seeking one or two unexpected fantastic seasons from someone on defense such as Leonard Floyd, Samson Ebukam, Taylor Rapp, John Johnson, or maybe Tyler Higbee finds some George Kittle in his game.

The Rams are an interesting case to discuss as of early May, but we also know they don’t have the capability to make many more roster moves from here.

We all have things that we can do that maybe others can't...or typically can't do. Some of it is cool, some of it is stupid shit that doesn't mean anything. Lol


I can Juggle...only three objects. Not too fancy.

I can spin a basketball on all finger, flip it around, bounce it off me knee and silly shit like that....took some real practice.

Lastly...I can play guitar. Im no Steve Vai, but I play a pretty decent acoustic guitar, typically to folk/country style music.

5 NFL QUARTERBACKS UNDER THE MOST PRESSURE IN 2020

The quarterback position is the most analyzed position in all of the NFL. Quarterbacks are constantly carrying the brunt of the criticism, and they are the one to blame if their team does poorly. Every offseason, there are a handful of quarterbacks who are facing make-or-break seasons.

Here are the five NFL quarterbacks under the most pressure in 2020.

5. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns

In 2019, the Browns were considered to be pre-season Super Bowl contenders. They acquired Odell Beckham, and they had young stars in Nick Chubb and Baker Mayfield. Mayfield was coming off a solid rookie season, and his above-average play at quarterback was something Browns fans had not seen in years.

The Browns got off to a rough start, and they started the season 2-6. A lot of people looked at Baker Mayfield, and cast blame on him for the Browns’ struggles. During his rookie season, he finished with 27 touchdowns playing 13 games. In 2019, he played three more games and finished with five fewer touchdowns.

Mayfield had more weapons at his disposal but still could not find consistency. He played behind a porous offensive line, and turnovers were an issue for the second-year quarterback.

Going into the 2020 season, Mayfield has the same weapons, and then some. The Browns also beefed up the offensive line with the additions of free-agent offensive tackle, Jack Conklin, and first-round pick offensive tackle, Jedrick Wills. The Browns recognized their young quarterback needs more time in the pocket, and this addressed those needs. They also added tight end Austin Hooper to give Mayfield even more weapons.

The Browns are making sure that their young quarterback has no more excuses, and they can see what his true potential is. The 2020 season will determine if Baker Mayfield is the Brown’s future under center.

4. Drew Lock, Denver Broncos

The Broncos made it obvious they were going to stack up their offensive weapons. In free agency, they built up their offensive line and added two-time Pro-Bowl running back, Melvin Gordon. In the draft, they added one of the best receivers in Jerry Jeudy, and they drafted second-round pick K.J. Hamler.

They already had weapons on the offense such as Philip Lindsay and Noah Fant. The Broncos are making it very hard for Lock to have any excuses and is truly trying to see if he can be their franchise play-caller.

Many people in the NFL community recognize the offseason the Broncos had. The pressure will be on Lock to bring them back to being a playoff contender. Lock does not have to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league to have a successful season. But he needs to be good enough to help them win games.

3. Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars

In 2019, Gardner Minshew was thrown into the starting quarterback position when Nick Foles went down with a collarbone injury. The rookie out of Washington State finished with over 3,000 yards passing with 21 touchdowns and only six interceptions.

He seemed to prove his worth as a starting quarterback, but the Jaguars do not seem to think the same. Throughout the entire offseason, they have been linked to almost every free-agent quarterback. As Cam Newton remains on the market, they are one of the favorites to sign him.

If Minshew keeps his job as the starting quarterback for the Jaguars, he will face the constant speculation about whether the Jaguars will tank for star Clemson quarterback, Trevor Lawrence. Minshew will have to prove he is the future for the Jaguars or play well enough that he will be a hot commodity on the trade market.

The Jaguars are not helping him to succeed either. Rumors have been constantly flying about them looking to trade their star running back, Leonard Fournette. They also traded away key defensive pieces, as their full tank mode seems underway. If Minshew overcomes all these obstacles, he should prove his worth as a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL.

2. Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears

History will forever remember the Bears trading up to select Trubisky. They passed up future MVP and Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes, and one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Deshaun Watson.

The trade will forever haunt Bears fans because Trubisky has not met expectations. In 2019, the Bears finished 29th in total offense, only averaging around 205 passing years a game. Trubisky’s poor play and head coach Matt Nagy’s calling has been at the core of all criticism.

The Bears traded for Nick Foles to either put pressure on Trubisky or to take his starting job. The Bears declined Trubisky’s fifth-year option, and this may be the sign of the beginning of the end.

Chicago has one of the best defenses in all of football, and it is looking to win now. If Trubisky can’t help the team do that, then the end may be sooner rather than later.

1. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It seems almost insane to say the greatest quarterback of all time has the most pressure in 2020. It is like saying winning six Super Bowls is not enough to prove your worth. However, Brady put himself in a very interesting situation.

He left the only team he has ever known in his NFL career to join a team that has struggled to find any sort of consistent success. Brady left the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Bruce Arians. Arians is a quarterback whisperer, but he does not need to do much whispering here.

Brady took the gigantic risk of showing the world that he does not need Belichick to be successful. It is a calculated gamble, but it is still a gamble. He joins Pro-Bowl receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. One of his favorite targets in New England, Rob Gronkowski, came out of retirement and just adds to a plethora of weapons.

The Bucs also secured the pocket for Brady through the draft, and the stars seem to be aligning for Brady to prove his gamble was well worth it.

Well, this could get interesting...

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“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues with no obvious end in sight, the NFL could be dealing with financial issues in the coming year. On the My Sports Update Football Podcast, NFL insider Adam Schefter said one possibility could spell trouble for top players like Mahomes.

Schefter said that teams are concerned that if the pandemic continues long enough, games will need to be played without a crowd. That means substantially less revenue for teams, and the current collective bargaining agreement outlines how salary caps are set based on revenue. Schefter says that means the salary cap could take a $30 million to $80 million dip in 2021, which could affect contract negotiations in a significant way for the league's top players.”

Five things to know about new Rams TE Brycen Hopkins

The Rams used their fifth draft pick this year on tight end Brycen Hopkins, selecting him 136th overall in the fourth round. Here are five things you should know about the former Purdue standout.

1) Former multi-sport star

A two-year letterwinner in football at Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth, Hopkins also lettered in basketball (four years) and baseball (two years) while in high school, according to his Purdue bio.

Initially, though, basketball was his first love, based on what he told reporters at this year's NFL Scouting Combine. Hopkins did not play football until his junior year at Ensworth but still collected Division II-AA all-state honors as a senior.

It's a somewhat similar path new Rams teammate Gerald Everett followed, except that Everett was a three-year letter-winner in basketball who did not pick up football until his senior season.

2) Another Rams rookie with NFL pedigree

Pro football bloodlines run in the family for two members of this year's rookie class: Wide receiver Van Jefferson, and Hopkins.

Hopkins' father, Brad, was a Pro Bowl offensive lineman for the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans who played 13 years in the league. At the college level, both played at Big Ten programs, his father at Illinois.

3) Potential big receiving target in the slot?

According to scouting service Pro Football Focus, Hopkins had 543 receiving yards from that spot – second-most in this year's tight end class behind Florida Atlantic's Harrison Bryant.

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4) Elite production

According to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, Hopkins had the highest production score of any tight end in this year's class.

The score is determined by a player's on-field performance during their college career.

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5) Future salesman

Per Hopkins' Purdue bio, he studied selling and sales management while in school.

Earl Thomas' wife arrested for allegedly threatening him at gunpoint after catching him with another woman

An incident allegedly involving Earl Thomas, his brother, his wife, two other women and a loaded gun resulted in his wife’s arrest in Austin last month, according to an Austin police report first acquired by TMZ.

Nina Thomas reportedly faces a charge of burglary of a residence with intent to commit aggravated assault with a deadly weapon — family violence.

The Baltimore Ravens safety seemed to confirm an incident occurred in a preemptive Instagram post on Wednesday.

The alleged Earl Thomas incident

According to police, Nina Thomas allegedly tracked down her husband via Snapchat after an argument over his drinking and found him at a nearby Airbnb house with his brother and two women.

She reportedly enlisted two friends to confront him and took Earl’s gun, a 9mm Berreta, to “scare” the All-Pro at the Airbnb, removing the magazine of the gun. However, she was reportedly not aware of the bullet remaining in the chamber.

Nina allegedly held Earl at gunpoint at the house after finding him naked in bed one of the other women. According to TMZ’s Evan Rosenblum, one of the women accompanying Nina was the wife or ex-wife of Seth Thomas, who confronted him while Nina did the same with her husband.

Police say one of the women captured the incident on her cell phone, with the video showing Nina holding the loaded gun at Earl’s head less than a foot away, her finger on the trigger and the safety off. One of the women also alleged that Nina and one of her companions threatened them with a knife.

At that point, Earl allegedly wrestled the gun from Nina.

Police said they arrived at 3:41 a.m. after getting a call about the disturbance, and found her chasing Earl with a knife while he held the pistol.

Nina was eventually arrested with her companions and later bonded out.

Earl Thomas addresses the incident

Minutes before TMZ’s story went live, Thomas posted to Instagram that his agent had told him the story was coming. He asked for prayers and privacy, alluding to an “altercation” between him and Nina.

“So my agent just hit me and said that I’m going to be on TMZ tomorrow from an altercation that happened with me and Nina,” Thomas said. “So just wanted to get ahead of it and it’s really not anybody’s business. It’s pissing me off that it got out, but it’s the world we live in today. But instead of talking about us, just keep us in y’all prayers.

“Stuff like this happens. We try to live the best life we possibly can, but sometimes it don’t go as planned. Just pray for us as we go through this stuff. We’re back talking, I’m seeing my kids, so just keep us in your prayers.”

Earl and Nina Thomas have been married since 2016 and have three children together. He’s coming off a Pro Bowl season in his first year with the Ravens, with whom he signed a four-year, $55 million contract with $32 million guaranteed last offseason after nine seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.