After a strange week, Jason Garrett finally informed he will not return as Cowboys coach

Frank Schwab
January 5, 2020, 3:11 PM PST


NFL Network's Judy Battista details head coach Jason Garrett's 'strange' split from Dallas Cowboys

Finally, we can add the Dallas Cowboys to the list of teams looking for a new head coach.
It’s not much of a surprise that head coach Jason Garrett won’t be back. He was in the final year of his contract, and he oversaw one of the most disappointing Dallas seasons in recent memory. It was a surprise that it took a full week for the Cowboys to make it official.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones finally fired Garrett after years of patience and one more odd week thrown on at the end. Fox’s Jay Glazer reported and ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that Garrett was finally told by the Cowboys on Sunday evening he would not be returning as the team’s head coach, after a weird week of speculation. Garrett, the former Cowboys quarterback who was the team’s coach since the 2010 season, won only two playoff games and never made the NFC championship game.
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The team officially announced it on Sunday night.

Jones always thinks big, and Garrett couldn’t get the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl. He had plenty of chances.

The Dallas Cowboys officially split from head coach Jason Garrett on Monday. (Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire)Jason Garrett let go due to disappointing season
Garrett’s job security has been a constant topic of conversation in Dallas, but Jones kept bringing Garrett back. Even after the season, when everyone assumed Garrett would be fired, there was no word from the Cowboys that he would not be the team’s coach anymore. The team reportedly interviewed Mike McCarthy and Marvin Lewis for the job, and Garrett still hadn’t been let go.
That was odd because by Thanksgiving it seemed clear Garrett was done as Cowboys coach.
On Thanksgiving, the Cowboys were flat and sloppy in a one-sided 26-15 loss to the Buffalo Bills. As the Cowboys were hopelessly behind on a huge stage, about to drop to 6-6, that’s the point everyone knew Garrett’s time was up. Then the Cowboys followed that up with another flop on national TV, a terrible loss to the Chicago Bears. The final straw came in Week 16, when the Cowboys had a chance to salvage an NFC East title and lost 17-9 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Sunday’s win over Washington wasn’t going to change much, especially when the Eagles beat the Giants to clinch the NFC East.
The Cowboys came into this season with high hopes and looked good early in the season, but the season faded fast. Dallas started 3-0, then lost three in a row and were 6-7 after that bad Bears loss. A win over the Rams in Week 15 gave some false hope. The Eagles loss was a trip back to reality.
The first clear sign that Jones had run out of patience came after a 13-9 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 12. Special-teams miscues plagued the Cowboys and Garrett’s decision to kick a short field goal on fourth down late in the fourth quarter instead of going for a touchdown was second-guessed.
"With the makeup of this team, I shouldn't be this frustrated," Jones said after that loss to the Patriots.
Four days later, the Cowboys were smashed at home by the Bills with a huge Thanksgiving audience watching. Jones said Garrett would keep his job for the rest of the season, but everyone figured that barring a miracle Super Bowl run, there would be someone new in 2020. It just took a few days into 2020 to get to that place.
Next Cowboys coach will feel pressure too
Garrett wasn’t bad in the regular season. In 2010, he went 5-3 after taking over in midseason for fired Wade Phillips, who had started the year 1-7. He had only one losing season in his nine full seasons as Cowboys coach. Even with how bad 2019 was for the Cowboys, they finished it 8-8. But he made the playoffs only three times and never made a deep run.
The Cowboys had a stacked roster with plenty of stars. Jones paid big money to keep defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, then paid more to have running back Ezekiel Elliott end his holdout. Clearly Dallas was loading up for a big season. When that didn’t happen, Garrett couldn’t survive it.
The roster and Jones’ desire to spend money is why the job will be attractive. Assuming the Cowboys figure out a way to bring back quarterback Dak Prescott, there are a lot of key pieces always in place, and a new coach will know that Jones will always be aggressive in fielding the best roster possible. It’s also a good bet that Jones could at least make runs at some of the biggest names possible, like former Ohio State and Florida coach Urban Meyer and Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley.
Cowboys head coach is one of the highest profile jobs in sports. The bar is high for the job because Jones doesn’t do anything halfway. Whoever gets the job next will be under pressure immediately. As Garrett can attest, that’s always part of the Cowboys job.

Any news on how bad his injury is?

Offseason Outlook: Rams LT Andrew Whitworth set to enter free agency

Though the Rams were forced to shuffle their offensive line around due to injuries this season, the one constant was left tackle Andrew Whitworth.

In addition to protecting quarterback Jared Goff's blindside, he was a leader not only for the offensive line but in the entire locker room. He helped get a young group up to speed, one that eventually allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL in 2019 despite those changes. The former LSU was also very active in the community, as shown by his nomination as the team's Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination this year.

Whitworth has started in 47 out of 48 possible regular season games since signing with Los Angeles as a free agent prior to the 2017 season. However, that three-year deal has officially run its course, and he's slated to be a free agent when the new league year begins March 18.

The 38-year-old Whitworth wants to continue playing in 2020. He would like to do so with the Rams, but also made it clear he will be listening to other offers.

“Obviously, anytime you’re a free agent, you’ve got to listen to everything and figure out what’s best for you," Whitworth said. "But of course, for me and my family, being a Ram would be No. 1, without question."
Should Whitworth depart, the team has a couple of options already on its roster.

One is 2018 third-round pick Joe Noteboom, who began the 2019 season as the Rams' starting left guard but was being groomed as Whitworth's eventual replacement, according to general manager Les Snead. However, Noteboom underwent season-ending knee surgery in mid-October, a setback which Snead said complicates their ability to evaluate whether he is ready for that role in 2020.

Los Angeles could also turn to Bobby Evans, who started seven games at right tackle as a rookie but projects as a guard or left tackle.

While both Noteboom and Evans have gained valuable experience and were cross-trained along the offensive line during the preseason, they also have a small sample size as starters. Whitworth returning for at least another season would be beneficial move for both him and the organization, allowing its future options to continue developing while affording him the chance to continue playing for his family's top choice.

Offseason Outlook: Dante Fowler Jr. set to enter free agency for the second time in as many years

What are the options for outside linebacker Dante Fowler and the Los Angeles Rams as Fowler prepares for free agency for the second straight year?

www.therams.com

Offseason Outlook: Dante Fowler Jr. set to enter free agency for the second time in as many years

Outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr.'s arrival in Los Angeles midway through the 2018 season coincided with the final year of his rookie contract. When it expired the following offseason, the Rams re-signed him to a one-year deal.

In that contract year, Fowler was a crucial piece to L.A.'s pass rush. His career-high 11.5 sacks ranked second on the team behind defensive tackle Aaron. Perhaps most impressive, though, was that the total exceeded came in his first season as a full-time starter. Another half of a sack, and he would've matched his total from 2016-18 combined.

That one-year contract has now run its course, and Fowler is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 18.

So what are Fowler's options as he prepares for free agency for the second time in as many years? For starters, they're similar to the last offseason.

The Rams could place a tag on Fowler — either the transition tag, non-exclusive franchise tag, or exclusive franchise tag. The transition tag would allow the Rams to match any offer Fowler receives on the open market.

The non-exclusive franchise tag would allow Fowler to negotiate with other teams, but if he reached a deal with another team, that team would owe the Rams significant compensation to sign Fowler. And the exclusive franchise tag would prevent Fowler from negotiating with other teams.

If Fowler received a tag and signed it, he would be under a one-year contract with the Rams. Additionally, the team would have until July 15 to sign Fowler to a long-term deal.

The Rams could also re-sign Fowler either before or after the start of free agency to keep him in the fold on a multi-year deal.

If Fowler does not re-sign, one potential option to fill his role internally is second-year outside linebacker Obo Okoronkwo. The former Oklahoma star flashed as a possible replacement in 10 games, finishing with seven total tackles and 1.5 sacks in a reserve role in the rotation.

Fowler's performance in 2019 will no doubt command a lucrative contract at his position on the open market. But as we've touched on in Offseason Outlooks for defensive lineman Michael Brockers and inside linebacker Cory Littleton, the Rams are aware that they can't afford to keep everybody.

All told, Fowler represents another one of the tough choices Los Angeles will have to make this offseason.

Ultra-rare 4-door Chevrolet Corvette surfaces for sale

Ford is expanding the Mustang lineup this year with a four-door electric utility vehicle called the Mach-E that represents a shocking departure for the brand as it looks to reach new customers. But could Chevrolet do something similar with the Corvette?




General Motors CEO Mary Barra recently told Motor Trend she’s “not going to say never,” but indications are that such a move won’t happen anytime soon.



However, it nearly did 40 years ago when Chevrolet commissioned a four-door version of the third-generation Corvette. Six of the cars were built by California Custom Coach in Pasadena to test the market, each requiring two donor cars for a build that preserved the stock front and rear ends while creating a four-seat passenger compartment under double-T-top roof.



According to Super Chevy, the plan was to sell a factory-backed model called the Corvette America at a rate of 40 each year, but a projected $35,000 price tag at a time when the Corvette started at $13,000 doomed the car and just one prototype and five customer cars were built by California Custom Coach before the project was shelved.



One of the two that are known to still exist is currently up for sale at a car dealer in Milpitas, Calif., for $102,526. BarnFinds.com reports that it was previously listed on Craigslist last October for $119,650 and for $275,000 in 2017. The seller, NBS Auto Showroom, claims the very red-on-red hatchback is a numbers-matching original with 21,000 miles on its 350 cubic-inch V8.

If Chevrolet ever decides to build a four-door Corvette again, it’ll have to find a different way to do it. The all-new 2020 model features a mid-engine design that would make a stretch like this a bit of, well, a stretch.

NFC Wild Card: Seattle Seahawks vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Seattle Seahawks can’t wait to get back on the road again, as they will travel back east to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card round on Sunday. These teams met at Lincoln Financial Field back on Nov. 24 with Seattle defeating Philadelphia 17-9. Both teams are about as beat up as they come physically, which should make this game a tossup and a battle of attrition.

The Seahawks (11-5) finished the regular season 4-4 at CenturyLink Field, which has quickly become one of the biggest home-field disadvantages in the NFL. Over the last three seasons, Seattle is just a pedestrian 14-10 at home when all winning teams had a 255-105 record. The Seahawks dropped a tough 26-21 game to San Francisco last week as they were driving for a shot to win but had an inexcusable delay of game penalty at the 49ers one-yard line.

Pete Carroll is a legend with what he has done for the Seattle franchise. However, on that final drive, he channeled his inner Clay Helton of USC lore and failed to get Marshawn Lynch the ball once again with the game in the balance from the one-yard line on first down. They also lost linebacker Mychal Kendricks to a season-ending ACL injury, as Carroll’s decision to hire Ivan Lewis as the strength coach continues to be a catastrophic mistake. The lack of Quandre Diggs at safety also was a problem too since the Seahawks didn’t have much of an answer for the San Francisco passing attack in the first half.

Philadelphia (9-7) is in a similar position to Seattle injury-wise, with guard Brandon Brooks out for the year, tight end Zach Ertz dealing with a cracked rib and lacerated kidney, and running back Miles Sanders hoping to play through a sprained ankle. Despite the injuries, the Eagles found a way to get the job done to win the NFC East with a 34-17 win over the Giants on Sunday. Carson Wentz completed 23-of-40 passes for 289 yards and a touchdown. The combination of Sanders and Boston Scott did just enough on the ground to keep the New York defense at bay, which opened things up for Wentz to throw the ball effectively. What made the performance of the offense even more impressive is the fact they were missing seven starters. Daniel Jones was able to move the ball through the air against the Philadelphia secondary, but in the end, the defense stepped up they needed to.

NFC Wild Card: Seattle at Philadelphia

Kickoff: Sunday, Jan. 5 at 4:40 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Spread: Seahawks -1.5

Three Things to Watch

1. Seahawks' sense of urgency on offense

The Seahawks will need to come out with a greater sense of purpose from the opening snap on Sunday. Last week against San Francisco, they didn’t get much of anything going offensively, and the tempo in the first half was way too slow. Things picked up in the second half when Seattle scored 21 points and played with a faster tempo, which is going to be critical in order to advance in the playoffs. Russell Wilson has thrown for 4,110 yards, 31 touchdowns, and five interceptions on the year and will have to play at an MVP level on Sunday. Travis Homer and Marshawn Lynch ran hard against the 49ers, but one of them will need to find a way to bust a couple of explosive 15-plus yard runs to keep the Eagles defense loosened up.

The offensive line is definitely not the same without Duane Brown and Justin Britt, as they had issues controlling the line of scrimmage the last couple of weeks. This week’s challenge will be dealing with a Philadelphia defense that has played well at home this season, limiting teams to just 16 points per game. The Eagles also did a nice job of containing Wilson in the first meeting to just 200 passing yards.

2. Carson Wentz vs. Seahawks' defense

Wentz has done a good job over the past couple of weeks of not making the catastrophic mistake to kill the Philadelphia offense. Since Week 15, Wentz has thrown for 874 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions with a very short-handed group of skill position players to work with. In addition, Wentz set a new single-season passing record this season with 4,039 yards to go with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The challenge for Wentz against the Seattle defense will be to take care of the football after throwing two interceptions in the first meeting against the Seahawks. Looking ahead to Sunday, Wentz won’t be facing the same Seattle defense, health-wise, as it’s not a guarantee that Diggs will be at 100 percent if he does get cleared to play. Jadeveon Clowney’s core injury is also one of those that could slow him down just enough to let Wentz have some success in the passing game.

3. Taking care of the football

The Eagles turned the ball over five times in the last meeting against the Seahawks, and ever since that game, they have done a 180-degree turn. In their last five games, Philadelphia has only turned the ball over three times after committing 20 turnovers in the first 11 games. Seattle finished the regular season with a plus-12 turnover margin and will have to be aggressive in stripping the football to give their offense a short field to work with. It will be up to Wentz, Sanders, Scott, and the rest of the skill guys to take care of the ball, make the plays that are there, and not force things. For the Seahawks, the mission is simply to trust Wilson and let him carry things over the finish line, as he does an excellent job of limiting turnovers.

Final Analysis

This should be another low scoring affair between these two teams since both teams are still very beat up injury-wise. The Seahawks have played better away from home without question, which is why the travel shouldn’t affect them too much with the late kickoff time. Philadelphia will do a better job of taking care of the football in this rematch and will keep the game close into the fourth quarter. In the end, Wilson will make about two more key plays in the passing game than Wentz to give the Seahawks a dramatic one-score win and a rematch with San Francisco in the Divisional Round.

Prediction: Seahawks 20, Eagles 17

NFC Wild Card: Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints

After finishing the regular season with two different approaches, the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints will kick off Sunday's NFC Wild Card doubleheader in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Entering Week 17, the Vikings (10-6) knew that they were already locked into the No. 6 seed as the second wild-card team. So they benched several starters at home against Chicago, including quarterback Kirk Cousins. Running back Dalvin Cook also missed the game due to a shoulder injury. Even with a makeshift lineup, Minnesota hung tough, as the Bears needed a 22-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to eke out a 21-19 victory.

The Saints (13-3) entered their regular-season finale with a first-round bye and the No. 1 seed still within reach. With plenty to play for, it was all hands on deck on the road against Carolina, and New Orleans did its part by dispatching of the overmatched Panthers easily, winning 42-10. Unfortunately, Green Bay escaped Detroit with a 23-20 win thanks to a Mason Crosby field goal as time expired. Then on Sunday night, San Francisco came up with a late goal-line stand on the road against Seattle to win 26-21.

The 49ers, Packers, and Saints all finished with a 13-3 record in the regular season. But San Francisco earned top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by virtue of their wins earlier this season over both Green Bay and New Orleans. The Packers grabbed the No. 2 seed thanks to a better conference record (10-2) than the Saints (9-3).

This will be the fifth time these two teams have met in the playoffs. The Vikings lead 3-1 in those matchups with the most recent taking place two seasons ago in the Divisional Round, a game that became known as "Minneapolis Miracle." Down 24-23 at home with just 10 seconds remaining, Case Keenum threw the ball downfield when Stefon Diggs made a leaping catch along the sideline and, after two Saints defenders collided, stayed in bounds and sprinted the rest of the way for the game-winning, 61-yard touchdown as time expired.

NFC Wild Card: Minnesota at New Orleans

Kickoff: Sunday, Jan. 5 at 1:05 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Spread: Saints -7.5

Three Things to Watch

1. Will the Vikings' defensive line be able to pressure Drew Brees and force turnovers?

Minnesota's front four has been the hallmark of its defense this season. Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter's team-leading 14.5 sacks are tied for fourth in the NFL, and he also has forced three fumbles. Everson Griffen is second on the Vikings with eight sacks and has been credited with a team-high 24 quarterback hits. As a team, Minnesota is tied for fifth in the league with 48 sacks.

The Vikings also have shown a knack for creating takeaways. They recorded 17 interceptions (tied for third) and recovered 14 fumbles (fifth) in the regular season. Their 31 total takeaways placed them fourth overall.

But getting New Orleans to cough up the ball may prove difficult. The Saints set an NFL single-season record with just eight turnovers this season. Even though Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, and Taysom Hill have all seen time at quarterback, this trio tossed a total of six interceptions, and the team's two lost fumbles were also a league-low. Some of the quarterbacks' success can be attributed to a solid offensive line that gave up 25 sacks, tied for third-fewest.

2. Can the Saints' cover the Vikings' wide receivers?

New Orleans has effectively defended opposing passing attacks for the most part. Only two teams, Seattle and San Francisco, exceeded 300 yards through the air. In fact, the Saints held five opponents to under 200 passing yards. They also picked off 13 passes.

But New Orleans' secondary is hurting. Safeties Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams have been limited by a knee and groin injury, respectively. Cornerback Eli Apple has been slowed by an ankle problem. All three have not been able to participate fully in practice this week. That's where the extra week courtesy of a first-round bye would have really benefitted the Saints.

Adding to the challenge on Sunday is going up against a Minnesota offense that features several dangerous pass catchers. Stefon Diggs leads the way with 1,130 receiving yards while he, fellow wide receiver Adam Thielen, and tight end Kyle Rudolph each recorded six touchdown catches in the regular season. Thielen's numbers are down this season compared to last, but he's been hampered by injuries, which caused him to miss six games. Still, he remains a dangerous threat whenever he catches the ball, as his 14 yards per catch average and six touchdowns among his 30 receptions show. Rudolph (39 receptions, 367 yards) is one of Kirk Cousins' most trusted targets, especially in the red zone.

Does New Orleans have enough healthy defensive backs to minimize the Vikings' passing game? An effective pass rush is one thing that can help a limited secondary. The Saints finished third with 51 sacks, but Minnesota's offensive line has done a good job keeping Cousins upright. He was sacked a total of 28 times in his 15 starts.

3. Is Dalvin Cook capable of breaking through the Saints' front seven?

Cook has been the engine to make the Vikings' offense hum this season. Even though he has missed the last two games because of a shoulder injury, Cook finished the regular season 10th in the NFL with 1,135 rushing yards. What's more, he was fourth with 13 rushing touchdowns, and for most of the season, Cook averaged more than 20 carries per game. Cook also was a weapon in the passing game, finishing second on the team in both receptions (53) and receiving yards (519). Even with some diminishing returns by the end, Cook was certainly deserving of his Pro Bowl invitation.

As strong a season Cook has had, he faces a stern test on Sunday against New Orleans' stingy run defense. The Saints finished fourth in the league against the run, allowing 91.3 rushing yards per game. More impressive, they haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher since the second half of the 2017 season, a span of 42 games. Just last week, Carolina's Christian McCaffrey, who finished in the third in the league in rushing (1,387 yards), managed a total of 26 on the ground (on nine carries). For the season, New Orleans is giving up 64.9 rushing yards per game to running backs.

And to add to the degree of difficulty Cook faces, he hasn't been anywhere near as effective in recent weeks compared to earlier in the season. He averaged just 36 rushing yards per game in the last four games he's played in before the shoulder injury. He also hasn't had a 100-yard performance since Week 7. While Cook has said he will be "at full strength" for Sunday's game, how effective he is, completely healthy or not, against New Orleans' defense remains to be seen.

One thing is for sure, the Vikings will need production on the ground from someone, whether it's Cook, backup Alexander Mattison (who also has been banged up recently), or Mike Boone, who ran for 148 yards in a losing effort last week against Chicago.

Final Analysis

Minnesota still had a chance to win the NFC North with two games, both at home, remaining in the regular season. The Vikings lost both of them, but it was the one to Green Bay that relegated them to the second wild-card spot.

New Orleans tied for the best record in the NFC but fell to the No. 3 seed after losing tiebreakers to both San Francisco and Green Bay. As a result, the Saints will have to play an extra game (and on the road for at least one round) if they want to make it to the Super Bowl.

Likewise, Minnesota would have to win three road games to make it to the Super Bowl. But New Orleans is the team many pundits have labeled as the favorite to represent the NFC on Super Sunday despite its seeding. On Sunday, the Saints will support that contention in the friendly confines of the Superdome.

Prediction: Saints 27, Vikings 16

Having Georgia as our owner for way too many years....or

Watching the Patriots cheat and win for way too many years

Well, the season is officially over. I almost have put a mock out a couple times, but I have changed my mind on it a few times. As always, I'm not trying to guess what the Rams will do. That would be futile. Based on my knowledge of our schemes, tendencies, and philosophy, I'm going to say what I'd do if I were in the Rams' shoes.
Coaching
Replace DC Wade Phillips (retirement) with DC Jim Leonhard

This one might be a little bit out of left field, but I think it makes sense if Leonhard is willing to leave Wisconsin. Leonhard spent a decade in the NFL as an undersized safety who played with a high football IQ and a lot of effort. Since retiring, he's learned under Dave Aranda and Justin Wilcox (two of the best defensive minds in CFB) as an assistant. He's been Wisconsin's DC for the past three years after Wilcox took the HC job at Cal. He's produced strong results. Leonhard runs an aggressive 3-4 scheme that brings a lot of pressure from all angles. Wade might even be willing to stay on as a defensive consultant to work with Leonhard (who, like McVay, is a pretty young coach).

Cut
S Eric Weddle

I wish I could cut him more than once. I'm so fed up with his performance.

Re-sign
K Greg Zuerlein
OT Andrew Whitworth
OLB Dante Fowler Jr. (Franchise Tag)
DL Michael Brockers
DL Morgan Fox
All Practice Squad Players
All ERFAs

Yes, we're letting Littleton walk. I don't take pleasure in that, but we have to make hard decisions. Littleton's price tag is too high for me. He's a good but not elite ILB. We bring back Brockers on a relatively cheap, short-term deal. He's still a solid starting DL. Whitworth has announced that he wants to return. It makes logical sense to bring him back. It'll give Noteboom additional time to recover from his injury. We franchise Fowler with the plan to extend him. (I've gone back and forth on this one. Originally, I had us franchising Fowler and trading him to the Dolphins for a late second and a future fifth, but I think he's worth keeping around. He has really impressed me over the second half of the year.)

Trades
Rams trade CB Nickell Robey-Coleman and Round 7 Pick #20
Bengals trade Round 6 Pick #1

The Bengals' slot CB, Darqueze Dennard, is a FA. NRC is still a quality slot CB who fits Cincy's scheme. With Ramsey, Hill, Long, and Darious Williams, we have enough depth and talent at CB to trade NRC and save a few bucks on his salary.

Rams trade WR Robert Woods
Raiders trade Round 3 Pick #14 and 2021 5th Round Pick

If we make Woods available, I guarantee you that Gruden will call. He's the exact sort of WR that Oakland needs and the exact sort of WR that Gruden has loved throughout his career. Oakland has three third round picks. This trade just makes perfect sense. With Higbee emerging and Reynolds and Everett flashing this year, I think Woods might be made available this off-season. I love Robert, but we have a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game and some holes that need to be filled elsewhere.

Rams trade Round 6 Pick #20
Chargers trade OL Forrest Lamp

Lamp was a favorite of mine from a few years ago who has barely seen the field due to injuries. We need to rescue him from the cursed Chargers. I thought the kid would be a star interior OL because he was a dominant college LT who lacked length. Coming out of college, he had very quick feet, elite grip strength, a strong core, and great hand usage. I think he can still be a player at OG or C if he ever stays healthy.

Rams trade Round 2 Pick #20, Round 3 Pick #14, and Round 4 Pick #20
Ravens trade Round 1 Pick #32 and Round 4 Pick #32

Snead is an aggressive man. I, too, am an aggressive man when I like a player. You'll understand why I made the deal when you see who is available here. Plus, trading up to pick #32 gets us that fifth year option.

Rams trade Round 3 Pick #41
Patriots trade Round 4 Pick #19, Round 6 Pick #16, and Round 6 Pick #33

Trader Les loves his 6th Round Picks.

Rams trade Round 4 Pick #32 and Round 6 Pick #1
Dolphins trade Round 5 Pick #7 and Round 5 Pick #16

We trade down on Day 3 because our target will still be available.

Free Agency

Jatavis Brown ILB

I think Brown is an interesting reclamation project who fits Leonhard's scheme well. As a senior in college, Brown posted 11.5 sacks (among other gaudy numbers) as an ILB in a scheme that blitzed him a lot (by comparison, Leonhard's undersized ILB, Chris Orr, also has 11.5 sacks this year due to the pressure packages Leonhard uses). His speed, quickness, and contact balance made him very difficult to handle on A-Gap pressures. Brown had a good start to his career with the Chargers, but Gus Bradley was not a fan of his when he took over as DC. Brown saw his playing time drop, and due to that, he should be a bargain. He's undersized at 5'11" 220, but he has 4.4 wheels, can cover, and can be disruptive as a blitzer. I think he's worth a flier.

NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #32 - Tyler Biadasz C/OG Wisconsin
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Analysis: I've seen recent mocks with Biadasz dropping out of the first round. He's all over the map in terms of projections (I've seen mid first down to the early third). It seems that Creed Humphrey from OU has passed him as the top C prospect and there's a ton of talent at the OT position in this draft. That all said, if Biadasz drops to pick #32, I'm going to get him. People are overthinking it on this kid. Yeah, he's not an elite athlete, but he just consistently wins. He's a country strong technician of an interior OL who wins with power, angles, footwork, instincts, etc. I can't point to a weakness in his game. His length and athleticism are both not elite, but they're also not true weaknesses. He's a plug and play starter at OG or C.

Round 3 Pick #20 - Evan Weaver ILB California
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Analysis: Weaver is a tackling machine who led the NCAA with 181 tackles in 13 games this year (he posted 155 tackles last year). He's been compared to James Laurinaitis, and I think it's a fair comparison. Weaver possesses tremendous instincts and smarts. He's rarely fooled or out of position. He's a big LB who is effective at playing through and beating blocks. He's also an adept zone coverage defender and blitzer. His weaknesses are that he's an average athlete who produces by being a step ahead of everybody else mentally and his man coverage skills. He could hold his own with most TEs, but athletic TEs and quick HBs will give him fits in man coverage. How he runs at the Combine will determine a lot with regard to his stock. I think he's very similar to James Laurinaitis.

Round 4 Pick #19 - Quintez Cephus WR Wisconsin
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Analysis: Cephus is a WR who fits perfectly into what we do on offense. He's quick with enough speed to get vertical, sure-handed, and blocks well. He can play in the slot and outside. He shows a good release against press coverage, runs routes well, and fights for yards after the catch. While he's not dominant in any one thing, he does everything well.

Round 5 Pick #7 - Ke'Shawn Vaughn HB Vanderbilt
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Analysis: Vaughn is an explosive runner who was basically Vanderbilt's entire offense this year. He is also a willing blocker who has the hands and quickness to contribute in the passing game. I did notice a tendency to bounce runs and him missing some cutback lanes this year, but I think that's at least partially due to how bad his blocking was. Vaughn is a very underrated HB.

Round 5 Pick #16 - Levonta Taylor CB Florida State
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Analysis: Taylor is an interesting CB because of how natural his man coverage skills are. He has quick feet, fluid hips, and adequate speed. The problem for Taylor is that he's small. He's listed at 5'10", and I think he's at least an inch shorter. Bigger WRs give him problems with their length and physicality. But he has the quickness to be an effective slot CB. My one concern there is that he is a pile-watcher who only tackles when he is forced.

Round 6 Pick #16 - Shyheim Carter S Alabama
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Analysis: Carter is interesting because he's kind of a hybrid CB/S. I like him to fill the Marqui Christian role. Carter's problem is that he's not big and physical enough to be a box safety, fast enough to be an outside CB, or loose enough in the hips to handle quick slot WRs. But he's a textbook tackler who covers longer WRs and athletic TEs well out of the slot. I think he'd fit well here as a nickel safety against teams who use a flex TE or big slot WRs.

Round 6 Pick #33 - Tyler Huntley QB Utah
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Analysis: Good athlete with a NFL caliber arm who played quite well in a scheme with a lot of pro style components. Has had some injury issues in college and is a bit undersized, but he makes sound decisions, takes care of the ball, and possesses good accuracy. I think he'd be a great developmental backup behind Goff. Athleticism adds a new dimension, he doesn't throw many INTs, and he thrived in college in a play-action heavy scheme.

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
WR: Brandin Cooks
WR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Tyler Higbee
TE: Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Tyler Biadasz or Competition
C: Tyler Biadasz or Competition
RG: David Edwards
RT: Rob Havenstein

SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Greg Gaines
UT: Aaron Donald
OLB: Clay Matthews
ILB: Competition
ILB: Evan Weaver
OLB: Dante Fowler Jr.
LCB: Jalen Ramsey
RCB: Troy Hill
SLCB: David Long Jr.
FS: John Johnson III
SS: Taylor Rapp

K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide

Recently I had occasion to take a friend to the ER late one evening. As we sat there an incident that happened to me when I was a corpsman working the ER as my duty rotation at Balboa Hospital, San Diego, came to mind. It was well after midnight when I walked up to the front desk to take a look at the waiting room. There were only a few people left, including a tall skinny string bean of a guy with big ears, and a 30ish mother with her boy who looked about 10 sitting next to him. They didn't seem to be together as the boy who was sitting next to the guy kept looking at him strangely.

"Why's he keep giggling Mom?" the boy asked. His mom only replied it's none of our business. "What's that noise?" the boy asked. The mother didn't answer she simply grabbed the boy's hand and move to seats as far from him as she could. The female corpsman at the desk sighed and called for string bean who walked gingerly up to the desk. She asked him why he was here.

He said he was in the park minding his own business, by the rocking horses when someone slammed one of the horses into his hand and he thought it might be broken. Back then there were small cast horses mounted on springs for kids to use as rocking horses in the kid's play area. She asked how could his hand get injured. He admitted he was astride the horse but not actually sitting on it when someone sneaked up behind him and pulled the horse down and let it go where it then slammed him in his butt. She was trying not to laugh when she asked him if he had a butt contusion as well. He simply shook his head no. We both could hear the muted humming emanating from behind him. She told me to take him back to a bed. I told her I needed to get some gloves first and reached for the box on her desk.

I led string bean back to the bed and pulled the drape partially around the bed. I looked at him doing my best not to laugh and asked him how could his hand be broken unless he had his hand on his ass. Just then I heard the doctor say very loudly, "Where is this guy with a dildo jammed up his ass?"

Maybe a shameless plug but my wife just joined Fine Art America. It's a pretty cool site where you can have your artwork made into prints, cell phone covers, blankets, mugs, towels, and a bunch of other products. Pretty amazing what they can do these days.

And if nothing else, you can see a bunch of the artwork my wife does and her pages will get some hits to move them up in the search rankings.

What’s the scoop down there, @kurtfaulk ?

Sydney suburb becomes hottest place on earth as temps reach 120 degrees; wildfire death toll reaches 23

Australia’s wildfire crisis reached new heights Saturday after it was reported that temperatures in a large suburb in the western part of Sydney reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the hottest place on earth.

"We are now in a position where we are saying to people it's not safe to move, it's not safe to leave these areas," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters. "We are in for a long night and I make no bones about that. We are still yet to hit the worst of it.”

By nightfall, some 3,600 firefighters were battling blazes that continued to burn across the state.

High temperatures, dry heat and strong winds have created the perfect storm to allow the now-more than 200 fires to continue to burn and spread at a rapid speed since the wildfires first began in early Sept.

"The ignition sources are already there," Country Fire Service chief officer Mark Jones said Friday. "There are millions of sparks out there ready to go if they break containment lines."

Smoke from the wildfires has choked air quality and turned daytime skies to near-nighttime darkness in the worst-hit areas. Its presence can be even seen in satellite images.

Video and images shared on social media showed blood red skies taking over Mallacoota, a coastal town in Victoria where as many as 4,000 residents and tourists were forced to shelter on beaches as the navy tried to evacuate as many people as possible.

Kangaroo Island, which lies just off the coast of South Australia, has seen some of the worst destruction to land and wildlife.

One man shared a video to Facebook Thursday that showed fire tornadoes that were forming due to the strong winds.

“Here’s another fire twister on Kangaroo Island this afternoon. We had a fair few of them today and it wasn’t even a hot day,” his post read.

A father and son, 78 and 43, died on the island Saturday bringing the total death count up to at least 23, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

"We are facing another extremely difficult next 24 hours,” Morrison said at a televised news conference where he announced that about 3,000 reservists have been called up to battles the wildfires.

“In recent times, particularly over the course of the balance of this week, we have seen this disaster escalate to an entirely new level."

Defense Minister Linda Reynolds said it was the first time that reservists had been called up "in this way in living memory and, in fact, I believe for the first time in our nation's history.”

An early and hot start to Australia’s summer has contributed to the wildfires which have now burned more than 12.35 million acres of land and destroyed more than 1,500 homes.

In addition to the loss of human life, Australia’s wildlife has been heavily impacted.

Sydney University ecologist Chris Dickman told the Sydney Morning Herald that it is likely that 500 million birds, reptiles and mammals in New South Wales alone have been killed in the fires. This excludes frogs, bats and insects which he said would make his estimate far greater than that.

the votes have been counted and cast and this game came out by the slimmest margin..5 votes to 4 LOL

So the rules are the same as the regular season, and so are the prizes for now. I will bump up the prizes for the Conference Championship games

get to predicting

Still plotting my plan of attack...

AFC Wild Card: Tennessee Titans vs. New England Patriots

The Tennessee Titans playing the New England Patriots on Saturday night is one of the biggest surprises of the 2019 NFL season. It’s not because the Titans weren’t postseason worthy: a 5-2 finish put them in position to breeze past the Steelers and into the final AFC Wild Card slot with a 9-7 record.

No, the surprise team is the Patriots, completing a sudden freefall from an 8-0 start that had them positioned for yet another top seed in the AFC and home-field advantage. A crumbling offense during the second half of the season led to a 4-4 finish, including an inexplicable 27-24 defeat to the Dolphins in their Week 17 finale. The Patriots had the lead, trusting in their top-ranked defense against journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick with 3:53 left in the game. What happened next — a 5-11 opponent on the road with little to play for, driving down the field at will and scoring — has observers rightly questioning whether the Patriots' dynasty is on the brink.

People might remember a shocking Patriots loss to the Dolphins last year, too, a double-lateral miracle on the final play that resulted in a 34-33 victory last December. Tom Brady and Co. recovered from that to charge to a Super Bowl LIII victory over the Rams, but this time may prove a more difficult recovery. For the first time in 10 years, the Patriots don’t have a first-round bye, a bad omen for a team that has struggled historically when playing in the Wild Card Round. Their 3-3 record includes no Super Bowl appearances and the last time they were in this position; in 2009, the sixth-seeded Ravens breezed past them 33-14 in Foxboro.

Now, the upset role falls to the Titans, trotting in one of the league’s hottest offenses and the best running back in the league (Derrick Henry). Can former Patriots linebacker-turned-Titans head coach Mike Vrabel spearhead an upset, what would be the team’s second playoff win in the past 15 years?

Or will the Patriots stun us all and start churning toward another Super Bowl run? Saturday night’s game is easily the most intriguing of the Wild Card Round.

AFC Wild Card: Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots

Kickoff: Saturday, Jan. 5 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Spread: Patriots -5

Three Things to Watch
1. Can the Patriots' defense slow down Derrick Henry?

The focus leading into this weekend’s matchup will be on Tom Brady, the Patriots' dynasty, and the surprising shift in second-half play for head coach Bill Belichick’s group. That’s a shame for Henry, easily the NFL's best running back in the second half, who should force talking heads to turn their attention toward him Saturday night with his play on the field.

Henry finished as the NFL’s leading rusher, racking up 1,540 yards, 16 rushing touchdowns (tied for the NFL lead with Aaron Jones), and 5.1 yards per carry. He ended the year with five 100-yard rushing performances in his last six games, saving a masterstroke for the finale where his season-high 211 rushing yards and three touchdowns powered the Titans past division rival Houston and into the playoffs.

How important is Henry to this team? A hamstring injury in Week 14 had him at less-than-full strength the next two weeks, struggling to put up 86 yards against the Texans in their first matchup before being held out of the game against the Saints the following week. The Titans lost both games, losing an opportunity to be the AFC South division winner and finish the year 7-0.

“He’s a lot faster than people realize," Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy said to the Boston Herald. “We’re going to have our hands full."

It’s Henry’s big-play ability that will test the Patriots’ sixth-ranked rushing defense. Three times in his last six games, he’s broken out for a touchdown run of 50 yards or more, achieving two of them against AFC playoff teams (the Chiefs and Texans). And the Pats haven’t looked intimidating against the run as of late, giving up 164 yards to two-win Cincinnati just three weeks ago. Joe Mixon suddenly looked like Barry Sanders, racking up 136 yards and keeping his team in the game for far too long.

Can the Patriots D stop Henry? The plus side is they’ve faced four runners in the top 15 in the league this season and kept all of them out of the end zone: Nick Chubb, Ezekiel Elliott, Mark Ingram, and Mixon. But they also racked up yardage (see Mixon above) to the tune of 6.5 yards per carry. That doesn’t bode well for them, considering Henry’s hot streak as of late.

2. Who will Tom Brady rely on to catch the ball?

Brady’s decline has been well documented during the second half that’s seen him throw for more than 300 yards just once: Dec. 1 in garbage time after the Texans took an early lead and never looked back. His 24 touchdown passes were the fewest since 2006; the QB rating (88.0) was his lowest since '13.

How you feel about Brady’s performance Saturday night will be directly tied to whether you think he can “turn it on" in the playoffs at age 42. Legendary players often get the benefit of the doubt even if they’re no longer on top of their game; Brady had a phenomenal postseason last year that carried his team straight to the Super Bowl, including a punch-for-punch performance against the young Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs.

Problem is, Brady had Rob Gronkowski and a healthy Julian Edelman to rely on in the passing game last postseason. Who steps up now? Edelman is the only true receiver to top 400 yards on a team that has struggled to find a variety of weapons. Struggling through injuries and likely to be double-covered by the Titans' defense, the likely stifling of Edelman means other options have to become available.

Will it be a bunch of swing passes to Patriots running back James White? Potentially, but White has underachieved in 2019, failing to hit 100 receiving yards in any contest. Can Phillip Dorsett go deep and beat the defense on a big play? He had a 50-yard catch against the Dolphins... but that was his first in four weeks after a hot start. Mohamed Sanu has racked up just 207 yards in eight games after being a key trade acquisition for an offense needing another weapon.

A player to watch is rookie N’Keal Harry, who’s gradually increased his chemistry and targets with Brady. But Harry also suffered through only three catches on seven targets against the Dolphins; his drop total has to be zero Saturday night. Fullback Rex Burkhead could also be utilized more as a throwback option.

No matter what, one of these struggling role players has to be thrust to the forefront for the Patriots to be successful Saturday night. Brady can’t do it on his own.

3. Will a surging Ryan Tannehill outplay Brady on the road in a playoff game?

The days of Marcus Mariota for the Titans seem like a decade ago. After Tannehill took over midseason, he sparked a dormant offense and became a leader the team so desperately needed to pull together and push for a playoff spot.

Tannehill’s 117.5 quarterback rating, mostly achieved during his 10 games as the starter, led the NFL this season. He’s one of just three QBs all-time (Sammy Baugh, Joe Montana) to complete 70 percent of his passes and average nine yards per pass attempt. Add him to Henry and the Titans' offense walloped the competition with a league-leading nine plays of 50 yards or more.

The question is how much Tannehill can be trusted in his first-ever NFL playoff game? The veteran is playing on the road and going up against the league’s second-best pass defense. A unit that boasts potential NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate Stephon Gilmore leads the league with 25 interceptions; Tannehill is susceptible to making those types of mistakes, even in a career year.

How will he handle the pressure?

“I think just sticking true to what has gotten me to this point: Going into the game being fully prepared for the situations that can arise, and make the adjustments within the game," he said to Titans Online. "This is a team that plays at a very high level of defense and will always throw something at you that you haven’t seen on tape or change something up on you, so you just have to be able to adjust within the game."

X-Factor: Coaching

What does Titans head coach Mike Vrabel bring to his matchup with Bill Belichick? An inner understanding of how the Patriots work after his time with them as a linebacker from 2001-08. It’s an intimate knowledge few others have of schemes, personnel and the way Belichick seeks to attack an opponent.

That unique position has worked for former Patriots personnel before: just ask last week’s winner Brian Flores, the Patriots defensive play-caller who just finished his first season as the Dolphins' head coach. Lions head coach Matt Patricia, a former Patriots defensive coordinator, defeated them last season despite a 9-22-1 overall record as a head coach. And Vrabel, during his first year with the Titans, tore apart the Patriots with a 34-10 victory in November 2018.

Final Analysis

In looking at this game, I think back to Peyton Manning and his tenure with the Denver Broncos. When the end came for Manning, we never realized it until about eight games into his precipitous decline. To be fair, there are more excuses in this Patriots world for Brady: not enough receiving talent. A running back in Sony Michel who has underachieved. A roller-coaster kicking game and some questionable coaching decisions.

But there’s also one opponent Brady can never fight: Father Time. At 42, he might have finally met his match and could be on the verge of departing New England (or retiring altogether) after this emboldened Titans team comes into town and puts together a historic upset.

Prediction: Titans 24, Patriots 20

AFC Wild Card Prediction and Preview: Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Texans
Before the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans faced off against their Week 17 foes, their playoff destinies were already aligned. The AFC South champion Texans (10-6) were locked into the No. 4 seed because of Kansas City’s win earlier in the day and the Bills (10-6) had already held the No. 5 seed heading into the weekend.

With their respective postseasons on the horizon, both teams held starters out of their regular-season finales, rendering each game somewhat pointless — except for the win-or-go-home Titans. Houston’s Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins were listed as active against Tennessee but never saw the field, while Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills, J.J. Watt, and Will Fuller were all inactive, but expected back for the playoffs. Buffalo’s Josh Allen didn’t return after a scoreless first quarter against the Jets as Frank Gore took a seat after the first half. While both teams still have lingering injury issues heading into Wild Card Weekend, its safe to say that both Houston and Buffalo have been eagerly awaiting this game for some time.

AFC Wild Card: Buffalo at Houston

Kickoff: Saturday, Jan. 4 at 4:35 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN/ABC
Spread: Texans -2.5

Three Things to Watch
1. The return of J.J. Watt

Watt has officially returned for the Houston Texans. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year was formally taken off injured reserve and placed on the active roster this week after practicing during Week 17. Watt has missed the last eight games due to a torn pectoral muscle suffered back before Halloween in Week 8.

While the return of one of this generation’s best players is a huge boon for Houston, it is still fair to wonder how effective Watt will be after such a long absence — especially since he wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire in the games he did play this season. Through the first eight weeks of this season, Watt recorded just four sacks, four tackles for a loss, and 24 total tackles.

Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel was impressed with his star defensive end’s practice performance last week but is still using caution in how he’ll use him in Saturday’s playoff game. Crennel said on Tuesday that Watt will likely only be utilized in pass-rushing situations such as third downs and in two-minute situations.

No matter Watt’s conditioning after such a long layoff, his presence can only help a Texans defense that is near the bottom in every defensive category, including sacks (23.5, tied for 26th).

2. Josh Allen

We are about to find out if Allen is ready to take the next step in his quarterback development. Simply put, teams cannot win in the postseason without above-average quarterback play and for the entirety of Allen’s second season he’s been very average. Saturday, the second-year signal-caller from Wyoming has an opportunity to flip that narrative on its head against a struggling Texans defense that ranks 28th in total defense, 26th in first downs allowed, and has already given up more than 1,900 rushing yards.

Allen will have his chances to take shots against Houston’s secondary that has been depleted all season long, but he is going to have to be more accurate than he’s shown this year. Of all the players that have thrown passes in the NFL this season, Allen is 50th in completion percentage (58.8). On throws of 20 yards or more, he’s completing just 26.5 percent of his passes for a 28th-best QBR of 36.8.

If the Texans are able to limit the Bills from taking shots downfield, Allen will still have opportunities to move the chains against Houston using his athleticism and legs. The Texans have allowed opposing quarterbacks to pick up 5.6 yards per rushing attempt this season, second worst in the league. And Allen has led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns from scrambling situations since he came into the NFL last year. Look for Allen to take off from the pocket, especially on third downs, when he has picked up 17 rushing first downs with his legs this season.

3. Texans’ offense with or without Will Fuller

The Houston offense has been as inconsistent and frustrating as trying to be friends with your ex. Some days they are super sweet and exciting, scoring points in bunches and throwing the ball all over the field. Other days, they’re frustrating, not returning your calls with too many three-and-outs and getting dominated in the first quarter.

Much of the Texans’ erratic offensive behavior has been due to the uncertainty surrounding Fuller. The big-play wide receiver has been in and out of the lineup all season long and his absences have been palpable. With him in the lineup, the Texans average 298 passing yards per game, 26.3 points, and have an 8-3 record. Without Fuller, Houston’s numbers plummet to 158 passing yards per game, 19.6 points, and a 2-3 mark. Fuller’s status for Saturday is uncertain as he missed last week’s regular-season finale with a groin injury he suffered in Week 16.

Fuller’s impact starts with speed and his ability to take the top off opposing defensive backfields with big gains and opening up the middle of the field for DeAndre Hopkins. If Fuller is out against Buffalo, look for the Bills to switch from their typical zone defense to man-to-man to cover Hopkins, primarily using lockdown corner Tre’Davious White on the Texans’ top target.

Final Analysis

So much of this game will come down to how cohesive the Texans are with so many players set to return after sitting out last week or coming back from injury, especially on the offensive side of the ball against the Bills’ second-ranked scoring defense. If Watson and his receivers can find their rhythm early, unlike they’ve done all season, I like their chances to move on to next week.

Prediction: Texans 22, Bills 18

Winter Storm Henry is heading to Foxborough on Saturday night.

No, that's not a twisted pun hyping Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry bowling over the New England Patriots in the Wild Card Round on Saturday night.

Literally, a winter storm named Henry is sweeping across the U.S. and is set to hit New England on Saturday. According to the Weather Channel, Henry, which has spilled mostly rain across the Midwest as it moves eastward, could develop into snowfall in the New England area by Saturday night.

Whoever pinned the name Henry to that storm deserves a medal of some sort.Henry has wreaked havoc all over the NFL down the stretch of the 2019 campaign as he bulldozed defenses for the final month and a half of the season to swipe the NFL rushing title.

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Now the storm and running back will converge on Foxborough potentially at the same time as the Patriots stare at a possible end to their season far earlier than they're used to in New England.

While Winter Storm Henry is more likely to bring rain than snow Saturday night, Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager eloquently noted that there is something possibly poetic about this playoff game being played in a storm.

Of the 1-15 season.

And the founding of ROD soon after.

Anyone know when McVay and Snead will meet with Stan? I ask because it's obvious that changes are needed to this team to achieve our potential.

I'm hinting at potentially replacing Wade and Pastoors. If the Rams wait much longer, the candidate pool will shrink.

Maybe I am taking a leap, but I suspect this could be a storyline that carries on a bit...

Does he stay in New England?

Does he retire?

Does he land elsewhere?

I expect a few “who cares?” replies, but it is an interesting storyline if he leaves or retires.

Snead believes Gurley can return to 2017 and 2018 form

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – By the standards of 2017 and 2018, the 2019 season in some ways did not feature the same production Rams fans are used to seeing out of running back Todd Gurley.

However, that doesn't mean Gurley can't bounce back.

During an hour-long conversation with Rams beat writers Tuesday morning, General Manager Les Snead expressed confidence that Gurley, who just completed his fifth NFL season, can return to the levels showcased in his third and fourth seasons.

"I do know this," Snead said. "Personally, I think we've seen players have years that were less than the past, come back and actually get back to where they were. He's still a young football player."

After surpassing 1,200 yards rushing in each of the last two seasons, the 25-year-old Gurley rushed for just 857 yards this season. He also carried the ball only 223 times in 2019 after surpassing 250 in each of the prior two years.

Snead attributed the decline partly to the changes along the offensive line due to injury along with opposing defenses placing a greater emphasis of stopping the Rams' rushing attack.

"What we all know in sports, if we were so successful at those explosive runs in 17 and 18, and we saw people start trying to calm it down in 18, you're not just going to sit back and do the same thing," Snead said. "It's a combination of what we have going on (and) what we need to fix. And give the enemy credit for trying to take Gurley away. That's obviously a compliment to him."

Even in the wake teams scheming to limit Gurley, the former Georgia star still reached double-digit rushing touchdowns for the third straight season with 12, moving him into a tie with Marshall Faulk for first on the franchise's career rushing touchdowns list (60).

"There were some runs when he scored touchdowns where I think we all felt the physics that Todd brings to the game," Snead said.

When it comes to examples of running backs rebounding statistically, Snead indeed has personal experience to draw upon.

During his time as a pro scout in the Falcons' personnel department, the team signed Warrick Dunn to a lucrative six-year deal in March 2002. An injury-shortened second season with Atlanta limited Dunn to 125 carries for 672 yards and three touchdowns after posting 230 for 927 and seven the year prior. However, he responded by rushing 265 times for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns in his third. He would surpass 1,100 rushing yards in each of the next two seasons as well.

Coincidentally, Dunn pulled off a similar feat with his first team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The eventual three-time Pro Bowler posted 248 carries for 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns in 2000 after 195 for 616 and zero touchdowns in 1999.

It's enough evidence for Snead to feel good about Gurley's ability to replicate his past production in 2020.

"You take his 17 and 18, there's an element of, 'Wow, how are you going to keep that up?' Not many players are going to be able to do that," Snead said. "But majority of the time, if you go back and look at the data, players do come back and and can get to a higher level than they were in their down years."

Offseason Outlook: What are the options for Rams LB Cory Littleton as he enters free agency?

When inside linebacker Cory Littleton signed with the Rams in 2016, general manager Les Snead said he believed they guaranteed him the most money of any undrafted free agent that year.

Since then, Littleton has evolved from a special teams standout to a key piece in the middle of Los Angeles' defense. Now, he is scheduled to become a free agent for a second time and likely to command a much more lucrative deal when the new league year begins.

Littleton led the Rams with 134 total tackles in 2019, a figure which also tied with the Broncos' Todd Davis for eighth-most this season. Scouting service Pro Football Focus (PFF), which evaluated 179 linebackers in the regular season, gave him the highest tackle grade at his position with a 91.6. A 90.0 or higher is considered an elite grade, and Littleton was the only one to accomplish the feat among those who played at least 80 percent of their team's defensive snaps.

The former University of Washington standout also played a pivotal role in coverage with nine pass breakups and two interceptions. PFF's evaluation of him in that category also reinforced this, as his 82.2 coverage grade ranked ninth-highest at his position.

Asked about the final game of the season in Week 17, Littleton said it was the last opportunity for him to be a Ram and play alongside his teammates of the last four years. A reporter followed up on that remark by asking if that was set it stone, but Littleton said he hoped it wasn't and expressed a desire to return to the team.
"I've spent four years here, I've loved being here," Littleton said. "If it's possible, it would be nice, but if not, I understand."

Littleton's options for rejoining in the Rams include re-signing with the them before or after the start of free agency on March 18. Alternatively, the club could also place a tag on Littleton – either the transition tag, non-exclusive franchise tag, or exclusive franchise tag.

The transition tag would allow the Rams to match any offer Littleton receives on the open market. The non-exclusive franchise tag would allow Littleton to negotiate with other teams, but if he reached a deal with another team, that team would owe the Rams significant compensation to sign him. The exclusive franchise tag would prevent Littleton from negotiating with other teams. If Littleton received a tag and signed it, he would be under a one-year contract with L.A. Plus, the team would have until July 15 to sign Littleton to a long-term deal.

Snead said Tuesday he is open to using both a franchise and a transition tag this offseason if it creates a "healthy win-win," but he doesn't want it to lead to any "bad karma" between them and the player that could potentially make its way back to the locker room.

If Littleton does not re-sign, Los Angeles has a few internal options it could go to for his replacement.

Second-year pro Micah Kiser was slated to start alongside Littleton at the other inside linebacker spot before a suffering a season-ending pectoral injury in August. L.A. could also turn to another former undrafted free agent in Troy Reeder, who collected 54 total tackles and two forced fumbles while appearing in all 16 games with eight starts as a rookie this season. Travin Howard, a 2018 seventh-round pick who played in all 16 games in a reserve role, is another possibility.

A fourth option is Bryce Hager, who replaced Kiser but later landed on injured reserve in November with a season-ending shoulder injury. He is the most experienced of the bunch, but the Rams would have to re-sign him as he is also scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent like Littleton.

Rams head coach Sean McVay has previously said the responsibilities at each of two inside linebacker positions are interchangeable, so all four would seem to be feasible candidates to take Littleton's place.

By Chris Mueller and Mike Tunison | Last updated 1/2/20

Yardbarker NFL writers Michael Tunison and Chris Mueller address some of the hottest issues in the league. This week's topic: Which teams that missed the playoffs in 2019 have reason for optimism in 2020?
Mueller: The 12 playoff teams are locked in, which means 20 other fan bases are experiencing a range of emotions, from anger and frustration to optimism and excitement. Some have more reason for optimism than others. What’s all but certain is that next year’s playoff field will look dramatically different than this year’s. Since 1990, at least four teams have made the playoffs that did not qualify the previous season. That held true again this season, with the Bills, Titans, Packers, Vikings and 49ers all bound for the postseason after finishing 2018 on the outside looking in.
So which team that didn’t make it this year is best positioned to make major noise next season? If the answer seems obvious, it’s because it is: the Pittsburgh Steelers. That Pittsburgh managed an 8-8 record despite losing Ben Roethlisberger for the season to an elbow injury by halftime of Week 2 is nothing short of miraculous. Backup QB Mason Rudolph struggled (82 passer rating; league average 90.4) despite posting a winning record, Devlin Hodges’ magic ran out swiftly, and just when it appeared Rudolph would come in and save the day against the Jets in Week 16, he was lost for the season to a shoulder injury.
The Steelers managed to weather massive quarterback issues thanks to an opportunistic, disruptive defense. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt (14.5 sacks) is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (five picks) transformed the secondary after coming over from Miami, and OLB Bud Dupree (11.5 sacks) finally broke out opposite Watt. The rest of the defense acquitted itself well, from stalwart DT Cam Heyward to rookie LB Devin Bush to free-agent cornerback Steven Nelson.
If Pittsburgh can trim excess salary from other areas of its roster, the Steelers might have a shot at signing Dupree to a long-term deal. Even if he’s gone, the majority of Pittsburgh’s playmakers will be back on defense, including defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt, who missed most of the season due to injury. Couple that defense with the return of a healthy Roethlisberger, and suddenly you have a formidable challenger to the Ravens in the AFC North, and the kind of balanced team that could rise to the top of the AFC.
Roethlisberger’s health is obviously the major question, as is his willingness to play complementary football. Ben the Gunslinger doesn’t work out well, and he has stated in the past that he admired how his idol, John Elway, was willing to lean on his running game and defense to finally win a Super Bowl.
The Steelers have the pieces on defense, and Roethlisberger should be a force multiplier for their offense, which returns wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had a dismal season (552 yards), and promising, young receivers Diontae Johnson and James Washington. Pittsburgh has missed the playoffs two years in a row for just the second time in Mike Tomlin’s tenure. Don’t count on the Steelers making it three.



The Kyler Murray-Kliff Kingsbury QB-coach pairing led the Cardinals to a 5-10-1 record in 2019. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports


Tunison: I might feel more confident in this choice were they in any other division. Nevertheless, I'm throwing caution to the wind and going with the Cardinals (5-10-1). They made encouraging strides on offense, and with a supposed wunderkind coach Kliff Kingsbury, they absolutely had to. Kyler Murray (3,717 yards passing, 20 TDs) looks like a star-in-the-making, and was decidedly more steady than any other of the quarterbacks in his draft class. Kenyan Drake was an outstanding midseason addition, posting 643 rushing yards in his eight games in Arizona after he was acquired from the Dolphins (817 overall).
Arizona's wins were a modest improvement over 2019 (3-13), though there were promising signs the closer you look. The Cardinals beat Seattle, 27-13, on the road and frustrated the 49ers twice (both losses, 36-26 and 28-25). They were seldom embarrassed. Arizona needs more from its receivers, but it's clear the offense is nor far off from being an imposing force.
Of course, what needs drastic and immediate change is the defense. It finished last in yardage allowed, was second worst against the pass, and allowed the second-most passing touchdowns. Even adjusting for the fact that Arizona lost star cornerback Patrick Peterson to suspension for the first six weeks of the season, it was horrid in the secondary. Arizona went hard at receiver in the draft this past off-season and got little return on the three wideouts they picked. The Cardinals must focus just as hard on the defense in 2020 and hope their luck is considerably better. If it is, they could be flirting with a wild-card spot, NFC West or no, next season.



Jared Goff threw for 11 TDs in his final four games of 2019, including two in a 34-31 loss to the 49ers in Week 16. Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports


Mueller: I gave the Cardinals strong consideration before settling on the Steelers, believe it or not. Murray was about as impressive as a rookie quarterback could be, considering all of the limitations around him, and with anything resembling an NFL-caliber pass defense, Arizona probably manages to wring two more wins out of its season.
One good method of evaluating which teams might be poised for a rebound is to look at point differential. Only three teams in the league had a positive point differential but missed the playoffs, all of them in the NFC. Dallas was a startling plus-113, yet only managed an 8-8 record and came up small against quality opposition. Tampa Bay went 7-9 with a plus-nine differential, but there’s no way I’m going to preach optimism for a team that might view Jameis “30 for 30” Winston as their best quarterbacking option.
That leaves me with Arizona’s division-mates, the Los Angeles Rams. Had L.A. defeated Seattle in Week 5, it would be in the postseason. As it is, the Rams were the victims of questionable officiating, and a late-season charge fell short. Still, the key pieces are very clearly in place. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald was as dominant as ever, finishing as Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded defender. Los Angeles still has a stable of talented receivers, and while RB Todd Gurley’s knee will continue to degenerate, it’s reasonable to assume that the Rams will learn from the mess that his situation became and be better prepared for it next season.
The Rams must deal with usual departures in free agency, and it seems they are poised to make major changes to their coaching staff and front office. That said, assuming head coach Sean McVay figures how to get a bounce-back season out of Jared Goff, whose 86.5 passer rating put him below league average, there’s no reason Los Angeles can’t be a force to be reckoned with again in 2020. Goff, by the way, threw 11 touchdowns against four interceptions in his final four games.



With his former coach Chan Gailey on board as offensive coordinator, Ryan Fitzpatrick will probably get significant playing time for the Dolphins in 2020. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports


Tunison: With the coaching carousel still turning, whom I like to turn around their fortunes within the span of a year depends somewhat on who their coach is in 2020. I could see Cleveland or Dallas being factors next season if they wind up with the right guy. Until I see who that is, I'm withholding judgment.
Even though Miami made the curious decision to lure Chan Gailey out of retirement to be its offensive coordinator, I like their chances to be a consequential team in 2020. Head coach Brian Flores got admirable effort out of a stripped-down roster this season, turning a team that became synonymous with tanking in the first two months into one that had to be taken seriously by season's end. The Dolphins (5-11) won three out of their last five games, with two of those victories coming against playoff teams (Eagles and Patriots).
Miami has three first-round and two second-round picks in the 2020 draft. Even if the Dolphins only hit on three of those five, that's a significant injection of talent on an otherwise barren roster. With that much youth, there are bound to be growing pains. There should be extra veteran support as well. The Dolphins have a staggering $100 million in cap space to play with this spring, so it would be a surprise if they weren't major players in the free-agent market. Miami fans likely have bad memories of spending lavishly on free agents in the not-too-distant past with little results, but it's possible to use those ample resources strategically and soundly.
The hiring of Gailey suggests they're going to keep around QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, whom he worked with in Buffalo as head coach and with the Jets as offensive coordinator. Fitz most likely will be a placeholder until whichever quarterback they draft is ready. It's also entirely possible they'll do a Patrick Mahomes situation and sit that quarterback for the majority of his rookie season, which makes sense because otherwise the young QB would be paired with a mostly inexperienced roster.
Gailey has a history of getting Fitzpatrick to perform well. With the Patriots potentially on the decline, Miami is in good shape to position itself as the next AFC East powerhouse. A division title in 2020 might be a little too much too soon, but I don't think it's out of the question for the Dolphins to win nine games.