It's sad to see the year coming to a close this year.

It's been fun seeing what everyone cooks and sharing ideas.

I'm sending out the season with a chicken and sausage taco soup.

Go Rams!

First of all, Happy New Years to all my fellow Rams fans. I've really enjoyed all the insight commentary this year - I learn something new each week, plus the vent thread is always nice catharsis.

Watching the games today, and realizing how easy it is to get used to being in the playoff picture after the last two seasons, it's a bit depressing, but I've come to accept that we are currently the third best in the West. I guess ultimately you are what your record says you are. So this is going to be an absolutely critical off season, one that will determine if we return to the SB hunt or slip back into mediocrity or worse. We will be playing in the toughest division in football, barring major injuries to the Hags or Whiners, (the NFC North being maybe the second toughest), and it's just not our luck to be able to look at six easy division wins every year a la the Cheatriots.

I've been thinking though about how we compare to the other teams in the West, and I feel like our receiving core and special teams are the best, although this was a down year in ways, like almost everything else. I think our secondary could be the best of the bunch (slightly edging out SF) if JJ returns healthy and Long/Williams develops into good outside/slot options. Rapp will have some experience under his belt, and Ramsey should be excellent, especially in a scheme that more truly fits his skills.

In other areas, sadly, we don't fare as well. Our O line obviously is a work in progress, which impacts everything else. Our RB situation is in limbo as well, as either something is wrong with Gurley or with how he was used (coaching), so SF and SEA both have a much better rushing attack at the moment (they were 2nd and 3rd in rushing yards per game -we were around 24th ), and SF has a much better DL, and Seattle has the edge at QB (based on performance not potential, Goff is probably 3rd right now). We probably have the biggest challenges in terms of cap and draft capital, although SF isn't in much better shape on cap space (Seattle is in the best shape cap-wise at the moment).

So what do I want to see this offseason and what are the biggest questions in my mind? Can McVay work on his offensive schemes, especially against the 6-1 fronts? Would he be willing to take on an OC who might help with in-game adjustments and planning? We lost a lot of good assistant coaches the last two seasons, and I think that hurt. Can we fix the O line? Do we need to move to another scheme or at least mix it up more? The blocking scheme we used against the Bears seemed to work better than our preferred outside zone and the 12 personnel seemed to work , too. I hope we find a C and G in FA or the draft, maybe use Corbett in the other one of those spots, and hope Whit returns (not sure Noteboom is the LT answer) and that Evans/Edwards keep developing. Then to me the three other huge questions: what do we really have in Goff, and can he get better with reading the field and avoiding TOs? Is Gurley healthy enough to be the feature back that this offense requires to be dynamic? Can Wade get the most out of a defense that's underachieved, at least in terms of consistency, during his tenure, or is time to move on?

Lots of huge questions and a thin margin for error, especially in the toughest division in football and with little draft capital until 2022. I like our coach and FO, plus I like our schedule next year, although that can change as teams rise/fall. This off season is going to be huge. Here's hoping for a great 2020!

I clicked on this at NFL.com thinking it would be a good read but it's pretty much stating the obvious and then throwing out some really stupid lines.




Following Sunday afternoon's game against the visiting Cardinals, the Rams will close the book on their days of home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the 2019 season much easier than they hoped. They'll also begin to turn the page on an abundance of talent likely to move on.

"You'd love to see everyone get paid, you'd love to be able to keep everybody," Sean McVay said via the Los Angeles Times. "Unfortunately, that's not real and that's not realistic.

"You'd always love to be able to retain your own guys. As you're continuing to kind of navigate through what's the best way to shape out our roster, given the financials and all those types of things, those are things that you work through.

"Frustrating, but something that you have to deal with, and everybody has to deal with that."
Though nothing is certain until the final whistle blows and the offseason commences, NFL Network's Mike Silver previously reported that there's a chance star running back Todd Gurley could be moving along, as could defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

Linebacker Cory Littleton, a former undrafted free agent who's become a Pro Bowler is going to want to get paid as such. Thus, he, along with safety Eric Weddle, edge rusher Dante Fowler and defensive lineman Michael Brockers are all candidates to become cap casualties.

"I spent four years here," he said. "I love being here. If it's possible, it would be nice. If it's not I understand."

Per Spotrac, the Rams are due to have $24,239,364 million in cap space. They have big names with big contracts such as Aaron Donald and Jared Goff. Something will have to change.

A year ago at this time, the Rams were readying for what would be a Super Bowl run.

Now, it would seem, they're readying for what could be a major overhaul.

While I am happy as hell the Rams came back to LA, where they had to play the last few years until SoFi stadium was being built, was painful. The Coliseum is a horrible venue for players and fans alike. Not surprising given the place was built in 1923. I attended several games and glad I don't ever have to again. horrible playing field and locker rooms for the players, Horrible ameneties for fans. Steep steps to the nose bleed seats ( only seats I can afford), a trip to the john takes almost a whole qtr, due to steep steps and long lines to the urinal. Trying to navigate to the concessions at halftime is tramatic. Tunnel and lines are so packed you can barely move.

I'm glad the Rams are playing their last game there, I bet the players are too.



.

2019 NFL – San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks

THE FACTS

When is San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks taking place? Monday 30th December, 2019 – 01:20 (UK)

Where is San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks taking place? CenturyLink Field, Seattle

What is the expected weather for San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks? 7c with showers expected

What television channel is San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks on? Sky Sports will be showing live NFL games during the season so it is worth checking their schedule

Where can I stream San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks? Subscribers to NFL GAMEPASS can stream matches live on their platform

Where can I get tickets for San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks? Check Ticketmaster for ticket information on selected games

What was the outcome in the last meeting? Seattle Seahawks 27-24 San Francisco 49ers

THE TEAM NEWS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

• San Francisco improved to 12-3 and put themselves in pole position to claim a first-round bye after beating Los Angeles Rams but they must win this final game of the regular season to secure home-field advantage throughout the play-offs.
• The 49ers have had injury issues in recent games but came out of the game against the Rams with no major injuries to report and they could be boosted by the return of some of their injured troops ahead of this contest.
• Safety Jaquiski Tartt could be back in the starting line-up as he edges close to a return from fractured ribs and he will give a banged-up defense a boost ahead of the play-offs although defensive tackle Jullian Taylor is questionable after suffering a knee injury during Thursday’s practice.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

• Seattle went down to a shock loss against Arizona and they will hope for better as they face San Francisco to determine the destination of the NFC West title with the Seahawks needing a win in this contest against the team that stand one game ahead of them.
• The Seahawks have made a shock move for former running back Marshawn Lynch after losing Chris Carson for the season due to a hip injury and Seattle will hope he can have a big impact on his return.
• A big injury report was released by Seattle at the start of the week and with four players unable to participate through Thursday, the Seahawks may have to deal without some starters on Sunday night with safety Quandre Diggs one of those who has sat out.

THE PREDICTION

San Francisco have not won a game at CenturyLink Field since 2011 but if they can end that record, they will secure home-field advantage throughout the play-offs. They come into this game on the back of a thrilling win last week and as they trend towards a healthier roster, the Seahawks are going in the opposite direction which should mean that the 49ers are likely to come out on top and seal the #1 seed in the NFC.

Game Day Thread

The GDT is a live thread tradition here at ROD.

While we all get fired up watching the game, please remember our core principles; we always show respect for our team and each other.

Despite the emotional highs and lows watching a game, we will moderate this thread with that in mind, however please refrain from name calling. This applies to players, the Rams organization, and others.

This is the core rule of the GDT. Moderators are tasked to issue thread bans, at a minimum, to maintain this standard.

This is our team. Win or lose. Good days and bad. We are here for FUN, not to be dragged down.

A more loosely moderated atmosphere can be found in the chat room.

Go Rams!

———

ROD Chat Room;

Game Day Room

I had no clue that he had been that active until I saw the end of the season awards given out this past week.

So the madness is already starting up a bit in the media with guys like Foolio drawing parallels between Demoff and Bruce Allen, and rumors around the league of who is going to be out of a job. All I can say at this point is there are potentially some talented coaches who might be on the move, and these are the life blood of the NFL and part of the reason (along with talent) that fortunes rise and fall every season.

Who will the Rams have their eyes on? Well here's my guess fwiw.

1. Bill Callahan. Possible Roles: OL Coach, OC and/or Run Game Coordinator. The Redskins connection is going to be real I think. McVay and Callahan were very tight on that staff in their gameplanning, and that is something I am sure he is looking for given the dropoff in offensive scheme this year. Two areas I have noticed this the most is in their run blocking assignments (a lot of bizarre assignments that look very difficult for the given run call as well as reach blocks), and their route combinations in the passing game (way too many down/distance tendencies with defenses all over the routes). Bill wouldn't fix both things, but he would give Sean a run game buddy he trusts and enjoys gameplanning with.

2. Doug Marrone. Possible Roles: OC and/or Run Game Coordinator. The situation in Jax is a bit nuts so who knows if Marrone will be fired. But I think if he is, and if the Rams bring him in, his pairing with a passing game mind like McVay would be an ideal situation. This is a coach with a strong knowledge of blocking schemes and he is a good gameplanner in all things OL from protections to the run blocking. In the event Callahan is not brought in, or if he is offered more money or responsibility elsewhere and things don't work out, Marrone is a very nice backup plan.

3. Jason Garrett. Possible Roles: OC. I don't feel like this is likely or anything but it is possible. Garrett is a smart dude who has ten years of experience and needs a break from owner micromanagement, and in return he's under an offensive mind who can help recharge him while he also helps McVay get his offense back on track. This would be the obvious "experienced OC" hire and McVay might be ready for that who knows. Like with Richards it seems like there's a chance Jerry Jones doesn't want to leave his comfort zone (he's got a head coach who will entertain his BS unlike some other more proven types) but if they don't make the playoffs I think he hits the streets. And I don't think they're going to beat Philly we'll see though.

Now one thing that is very noteworthy is that there will be some 4-3 DCs on the market this offseason. But I don't like any of them, at least not the ones I've been looking at. Richards (Dallas Passing Game DC) is too steeped in the Seattle way with the long CBs and cover 2 style of play. Wilks (Browns DC) converted a solid 3-4 defense to a 4-3 in Arizona and never did restack the personnel correctly resulting in his firing in large part. Quinn (Falcons HC) oversaw a five year window of mediocrity and a defense that cost them a championship. In the event Wade is out, and this is just my opinion, the Rams need to stay the course with the 3-4 because we don't have the DEs nor do we have the draft capital to restack things.

So I am going to keep looking at the DCs, that's an effort in progress. But I do have one guy I'd really like to bring in: Steve Belichick. Now I know some will think I'm nuts here, but he comes with a lot of advantages that warrant an interview. First, he has worked for the best DC in the history of the game for the past eight or so years (not all meaningful positions, granted, but he has intimate knowledge of how his father does his thing). Second, he took over the secondary this season with excellent results. And I'll add here that I feel like Belichick isn't the kind of guy who will give his kid a raise until he's more than earned it, and obviously he was ready. Third, I believe the most critical element in today's game, and the heart and soul of what Belichick does, is the secondary and stifling the passing game. And lastly, the dude has the greatest DC ever a phone call away to help him navigate the minefield of coordinating a defense.

Anyway, Black Monday is almost on us so interested in hearing what your options are or who you think we're going to get after.

Threw 7 TDs in the first half of the peach bowl! Jeezuz

Too early lol?

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congrats to @Tron for winning last weeks triple prize -----9000 credits for a minutes work..well done my friend

On to this weeks match up . The 5-9 Cardinals fly into LA to battle with the reeling 8-7 Rams. Which team comes out on top, and by what score? Lets see those predictions.


and GO

Come at the expense of Cooper Kupp? And does it in any way matter? Maybe it’s the threat of Kupp that allows Higbee to come so open? Not an important thread, but I’m bored, so might as well sit down with my Ram friends and have a chat. Don’t want Coop to become despondent with the lack of real targets.

Groups that I really like:

QB. Goff is good enough to win a SB if surrounded by sufficient talent. I like Wolford as his backup next year, btw.

WR. Love our top 4 guys. Might be best top 4 in the league.

TE. Love this ‘new’ Higbee. I predict Higbee/Everett could be a helluva tandem next year.

CB. Ramsey plus one of Hill, Williams, Long make this a great unit. NRC is no slouch, either. Kudos to Snead.

S. JJ and Rapp should be a top tandem. If Wade retires, new DC may want to continue using Rapp as a hybrid LB, then may go with Christian or may draft a S.

‘The above is a helluva lot of things to like on a team seeking to return to the playoffs.


Groups that I kinda like but are not yet where they need to be:

OL. I kinda think that we’ve got starters in Edwards and Evans come September. I like Boom at LOT when he’s healthy, but not 100% sure he’ll be healthy by September. I’m on the fence about Corbett as a starter and I think we need to let Blythe walk and either draft or sign a FA stud C. I’ve lost confidence in Allen. In short, C looks like our biggest ‘hole’ And deserves serious off-season attention.

ILB. I think they extend Littleton and I think we have adequate player depth next to him.


Groups that I’m worried about that will need off-season attention:

RB. Hate to say it, but we’re in need of upgrade here. Gurley is a shadow of his former self, Brown has disappointed, and where the hell has Henderson been? Not ALL of our running problems are the fault of our OL. We need more than these 3 guys at RB to be serious SB contenders again.

DL. I think Brockers is a cap casualty. I also think AD needs more help on that DL. Let’s face it, other guys should be feasting while AD is constantly being double and triple teamed. We’re kinda wasting AD’s prime years, dammit! Hope Snead can work some magic there.

Edge. I think we lose Fowler to the cap and Matthews is almost a one trick pony as a pass rusher anymore so he’s probably gone. Do we have their replacements on the roster? Not at all sure and it could be the difference between making or missing the playoffs, so they better get this decision right.

Should they extend GZ or let him walk? Tough question, but I will say this. IF they let GZ walk I would understand.

So, lots of good things, but several possible storm clouds on the horizon, too. Then again, maybe only 3-4 position groups to bolster this off-season. Very doable, IOW.

Sigh...

the story below is that of a very unselfish, giving person who paid (in advance) the adoption fees ($100 +) for dogs in perry county ohio. my concern is, that after his "gift" of paying those fees, a "record number" of adoptions occurred. so, is it just me or does something seem odd that if all these people were holding out on adopting / rescuing a dog for themselves, basically refused to do so over $100 bucks or so. if that's true, then how on earth will they afford a vet bill, or better yet, a food bill (that will always occur while the dog is alive by the way).

in contrast, my wife has 5 fancy rats as pets and the most recent aquiree was unhealthy and required a $91 vet bill to improve his health (which it did). animals require care, which requires money. which is why i'm confused about the on rush of dog adoptions after the new owners realized a savings for said animal, which makes me wonder what will happen when the first vet bill comes a calling. and it will.

From Fortnite to the football field: Jared Goff and Tyler Higbee's bromance

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff and tight end Tyler Higbee live only a few freeway exits from each other, but rather than spend time fighting L.A.-area traffic, the Rams quarterback and tight end found common ground connecting on their headsets.

As the Fortnite craze took over popular culture, Goff and Higbee bonded from their couches.

"He's on his TV and I'm on my TV," Higbee said. "We'd team up and play against other people or we'd play with other teammates."

These days, the pair mostly engage in battle on the golf course, where Goff claims he'll take Higbee to task.

"I haven't beat him in awhile," Higbee said. "I'm going to get him this offseason, though."

There will be plenty of time for that. The Rams were eliminated from playoff contention with a 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Saturday.

On Sunday, they will play their regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals (5-9-1) at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox). It will be the Rams' final game at the historic building before they open 2020 at the new SoFi Stadium. It will also be a chance for the Rams (8-7) to finish with a winning record for a third consecutive season.

Although the season has ended in disappointment, with the Rams failing to make the postseason less than a year after playing in Super Bowl LIII, at least one silver lining has emerged during a roller-coaster December.

Goff and Higbee's connection, which was established after both were selected in the 2016 draft -- Goff first overall and Higbee in the fourth round -- has appeared to get stronger on the field.

"I trust him as much as anybody," said Goff, noting that Higbee is one of his best friends. "That's why I feel comfortable throwing him the ball."

On Saturday, Higbee became just the fourth NFL tight end since the 1970 merger to have four consecutive games with more than 100 receiving yards, according to ESPN Stats & Information, joining Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, the Green Bay Packers' Jimmy Graham and the Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce. No tight end has had five consecutive 100-yard games.

It started on Dec. 1, when Higbee caught seven passes for a career-high 107 yards in a Week 13 rout of the Cardinals.

The performance initially appeared to be an outlier, given Higbee averaged 2.6 catches for 21 yards per game through the first 12 weeks. And last season he caught just 24 passes for 292 yards a year after catching 25 passes for 295 yards.

But Higbee has begun to assert himself as a consistent playmaker, surpassing his previous seasons in a month of work and setting career records for catches in a game (12) and receiving yards in a game (116).

"I've always had confidence in myself, I've always believed in myself," said Higbee, who transitioned from receiver to tight end as a third-year sophomore at Western Kentucky. "It's just -- they're throwing to me, I'm trying to catch it, trying to make a play."

"We've always thought he's a complete tight end," coach Sean McVay said. "He's going to continue to get opportunities, he's going to continue to be a big part of this offense, especially when you just look at how vital he's been."

Before the season, the Rams signed Higbee to a four-year, $29 million extension, just on the heels of giving Goff a four-year, $134-million deal.

Initially, Higbee's extension was somewhat puzzling, given his minimal role in the offense outside of protection. In his first three seasons, since he was selected with the 110th pick of the draft, Higbee was used sparingly in the passing game.

But a last-minute scratch for receiver Robert Woods in Week 11 forced McVay to improvise and the Rams moved to a 12-personnel scheme (one running back, two tight ends, two receivers) over their previously-preferred 11-personnel packages (one running back, one tight end, three receivers).

Then tight end Gerald Everett, who averaged three receptions for 34 yards in 12 games, injured his knee in a Week 12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and spent three weeks inactive, forcing the Rams to make further adjustments.

"[Higbee]'s done what we always thought he could do and it's great to be able to see him do it in these real games," McVay said. "He's shown that kind of stuff in practice."

Higbee's emergence, accompanied by his 6-foot-6, 255-pound frame, has benefited Goff, who experienced an inconsistent season, passing for 19 touchdowns with 16 interceptions.

"It helps," Goff said about having a big target in the passing game. "He does have that big frame, that big wingspan. I can kind of throw it anywhere near him he's got great hands, he's shown all that. We do like using him on stuff where I can miss a little bit at times. He can make that play."

Goff and Higbee, along with the rest of the Rams, will go into the offseason attempting to put 2019 and its disappointments behind them. But as they search for answers to what went wrong, the Goff-Higbee connection should certainly be marked down as something that went right.

Two titles, 210 straight starts, one Eli: How Manning conquered New York

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Eli Manning always drank beer on the team bus. It was a Broadway Joe kind of thing to do, and a fact that might run counter to an image Manning spent absolutely no time crafting. But win, lose or draw, Manning would find someone on the road to buy him a six-pack or 12-pack that he would carry to the back of the bus, on ice, and share with some veterans as they discussed the game on the ride to the airport.

Even then, Manning's consistency stunned his New York Giants teammates. "It was unbelievable," said Lawrence Tynes, the kicker who won two championships with the quarterback. "He had a guy in every f---ing stadium in the league to get him that beer."

Manning will miss those bus rides as much as he will miss anything else after he dresses Sunday for the final time as a Giant, and likely for the final time as an NFL player. He will not miss the constant dissection of his public personality, or lack thereof, and the fascination with what has been a near-perfect marriage between the world's loudest marketplace and a quiet child of the South who spent his career projecting that oblivious vibe he wore as clearly as his jersey No. 10.

By design, it seemed, Manning carried himself like a tourist hopelessly lost in the middle of Times Square. On his first couple of trips into Manhattan with his Long Island-born-and-bred friend, Greg Leder, "Eli looked at me like, 'I'm not sure I'll ever figure out how to get around this place,'" Leder said. "I said, 'It's pretty easy, Eli. There's an East Side and a West Side and some numbers in between. If you can count, you'll figure it out.'"

Of course, Manning figured out New York better than any championship athlete of his generation not named Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera. He was a lot smarter and tougher than he ever wanted to look, and he quickly understood that making it big in the big city meant following the Jeter/Rivera model of winning multiple titles, staying clear of controversy and showing up every day to work.

Maybe the Ole Miss star knew something before the 2004 draft that few others did. Peyton's kid brother did not want the San Diego Chargers to take him with the first overall pick even though his laid-back disposition appeared to match up with that laid-back town. Manning never adequately explained what he had against San Diego, but his agent, Tom Condon, had serious intel on the franchise (he represented Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, quarterback Drew Brees and running back LaDainian Tomlinson), and his father, Archie, grew up a Giants fan in Mississippi because his own dad loved former Ole Miss quarterback Charlie Conerly, who won a title with the Giants in 1956.

Ernie Accorsi, the Giants' general manager in 2004, fell hard for Manning as a prospect and pushed his San Diego counterpart A.J. Smith to trade the No. 1 pick for the fourth pick and some extras, not including Smith's desired pass-rushing target, Osi Umenyiora. A couple of nights before the draft, Manning went out with Leder, who had attended college with Ellen, the wife of Eli's oldest brother, Cooper. Leder had been assigned by Cooper and Ellen to shepherd Eli around town, and after eating at Smith & Wollensky, the pair ended up at a bar where some talking heads on TV were discussing Manning's desire to play in New York. A bouncer turned to Leder -- thinking he was Eli's agent -- and said, "You've got to get this done somehow, someway."

"We're working on it, buddy," Leder responded.

Smith drafted Manning, Accorsi drafted Philip Rivers, and then the Giants shipped Rivers and three picks west for their guy. Eli was blitzed by media and fans early in his career for his dazed, sleepy-eyed expressions and hangdog-ish body language, for not showing Peyton-like fire when things went awry. Tiki Barber questioned his leadership style. Even the offensive coordinator, Kevin Gilbride, ripped Manning in a practice for allegedly not caring enough that the defense was dominating his unit. (Eli shot Gilbride an intense look that most definitely said otherwise.)

For a while there Archie Manning, who had his prime wasted by the hapless New Orleans Saints, wondered whether Eli or the coach, Tom Coughlin, would get run out of town first. Accorsi would occasionally eat dinner with his son in Manning's adopted town, Hoboken, New Jersey, and stare at the building that housed Eli's 3,555-square-foot condo and think, "That poor guy, he probably can't even go out. And I'm the one that put him here."

Everybody was worried about Eli. Everybody except Eli. "I never doubted myself," he would say. "I never lost confidence. I love being in New York. ... I knew it was the right place. It just takes time."

Manning made his first real stand after he injured his throwing shoulder in the 2007 opener, and after it was reported he might miss a month while recovering. He promised friends he would play through the pain, and sure enough, he buckled up his chin strap and started the following Sunday. Ten weeks later, Manning somehow threw three pick-sixes and four interceptions in all against Minnesota in an effort that compelled the retired Accorsi to flee the building in the middle of the game. Before the man who had acquired Eli could get to his car, a fan shouted at him, "Hey, thanks for leaving us with this mess."

Eli recovered to nearly beat the 15-0 Patriots at the end of the regular season, and then to finish off the 18-0 Patriots at the end of the postseason. To celebrate his Super Bowl XLII triumph later that week, Manning joined a small handful of teammates and friends and their wives at one of the city's most iconic restaurants, Rao's, in East Harlem. Eli's chair happened to be wedged up against one occupied by Yogi Berra.

"Mr. Berra," Manning said, "when you win a championship in New York, they really know how to take care of you."

The old catcher congratulated the young quarterback on his first title, and then said, "Just so you know, you have nine more to go." Manning was floored by the fact that Berra had won 10 World Series rings with the Yankees. "Five in a row, too," Berra told him. At the end of the night Manning, Berra, Giants center Shaun O'Hara and restaurant owner Frank Pellegrino were locked arm in arm while singing "New York, New York" before a rollicking packed house.

Leder was taking it all in from his table, watching Eli and thinking about that innocent child of a Southern sheriff played by Ron Howard on "The Andy Griffith Show" in the 1960s.

"That's when I knew Opie from Mayberry was going to do just fine in NYC," Leder said.

Manning became a two-time Super Bowl MVP four years later, again at New England's expense, yet it was the grit he showed in his two overtime conference championship games that some close to him remember most. In sub-Arctic conditions in Green Bay, Giants trainer Ronnie Barnes told Manning he was risking the use of his right hand, beyond that January 2008 game, if he didn't wear a glove; Eli still refused to wear one and handled the same conditions that freezer-burned Coughlin's face better than Brett Favre did. In January 2012, Manning threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns at San Francisco while absorbing a vicious pounding that inspired the wife of offensive line coach Pat Flaherty to call her spouse and ask why he tried to get his quarterback killed.

Eli made 210 consecutive regular-season starts for a reason. His trainer at Ole Miss, Tim Mullins, said that Manning was one of the toughest players the Rebels ever suited up, and that he had played through a knee injury the school kept quiet. When it appeared in 2009 that Manning might go to the Giants' bench with plantar fasciitis, Mullins told him to wear cowboy boots to stabilize his foot and reduce pain whenever he could. "If something isn't broken," the trainer said, "Eli's mentality is that he's going to be out there."

His durability was matched by his relentlessly consistent approach. Eli cried when Coughlin was forced out in 2015, and again when Ben McAdoo benched him in 2017, and he had stunned himself, his teammates and about 20,000 fans at a Giants Stadium pep rally after Super Bowl XLII when he dramatically waved his arms to the sky in demand of more crowd noise. "I don't know what came over me," Manning said as he left the ceremony. But over 16 seasons on the job, he rarely showed emotion in good times or in bad.

His father knew Eli truly didn't read daily stories about his team, unlike the hyperaware Peyton, and so he would call his youngest son when a crisis was brewing. "There were a couple of things that Odell [Beckham Jr.] had to say, and I had to say, 'Eli, Odell said this,' and he didn't know," Archie said. "I just didn't want him to be embarrassed when he was asked about it. Once I had to call him and say, 'Eli, you need to know that Tiki [Barber] just blew up Coach Coughlin.' He just said, 'OK.'"

Archie said he never heard Eli utter a bad word -- even in their most private conversations -- about a teammate, a coach or a media member, a claim supported by a wide circle of Eli loyalists. Manning was all but forced to publicly fire back on Barber in 2007, but outside of that, O'Hara said, "Eli might need a bottle a wine to vent a bit about a receiver running the wrong route. It was very rare."

Giants coaches and officials universally admired the franchise quarterback's ability to build trust with his teammates. Behind closed locker-room doors, Eli was a master prankster, changing teammates' phone settings to Mandarin, dipping his offensive linemen's dress shoes in purple paint and applying Icy Hot to Brandon Jacobs' deodorant stick. One of his regular victims, Zak DeOssie, the last fellow member of the 2007 title team before his career likely ended last month on injured reserve, said Manning used his grace and humility more than his sense of humor to bond with younger Giants.

"There is an age gap in the locker room," DeOssie said, "and it's not easy for a 38-year-old to connect with a 22-year-old. Eli always took the time to talk with players at any position, no matter their age. It was amazing to see how friendly he was with everyone."

Like Jeter, who called Manning to offer support during his rookie struggles in 2004, Eli remained available and professional with the media while saying nothing of substance. He wouldn't even confirm for his own father whether he named his fourth child and only son, Charlie, after Conerly. "Typical Eli," Archie said. Also typical of Eli was his policy of talking to reporters on Mondays after losses, so he could shoulder the blame, but not on Mondays after victories, so his teammates could enjoy their fair share of credit.

Around his home in Summit, New Jersey, or around his mansion in the Hamptons, or around his favorite Manhattan haunts, Manning was almost always willing to sign autographs for fans, even the most intrusive ones who interrupted his dinner. He sometimes declined requests for pictures when he was out, according to one friend, because he tired of his photos contributing to the social media wave of goofy Eli faces.

Manning burned to be a champion, not a celebrity. Cooper Manning recalled meeting Eli in Midtown in 2008 -- maybe it was at the corner of 54th and Madison -- and finding him dressed in jeans and a collared shirt, standing alone and unbothered, and thinking about how much his brother loved just blending in.

One night Cooper was eating dinner at Campagnola on the East Side when James Caan pushed through the door. "He walked right to the middle of the dining room, made sure everyone saw him, and then just walked out," Cooper said. "I thought, 'Eli would never do that in his wildest dreams.'"

Manning's regular-guy act played well in the market. Family and friends sometimes teased Eli, from New Orleans, and his wife, Abby, from Nashville, about how perfectly they have fit into the city's culture and New Jersey suburbia, about how they never return to Oxford, Mississippi, anymore. Archie called his son a "Jersey boy," and others called him a "city slicker." Cooper joked with his brother that he'll soon have a Jersey accent and that his children will all end up at Rutgers.

Eli responded to it all with his trademark aw-shucks shrug. His no-trade clausemeant the world to him. He cherished the only job he has ever wanted until he lost it to the rookie, Daniel Jones, an Eli clone with upgraded athleticism. Manning thought he would get eight games this season to prove he could still win, but his third and final Giants coach, Pat Shurmur, made the switch at 0-2. As much as he hated his role with the second string, Manning still mentored Jones, still did all the things that made him one of the league's most respected figures.

Eli still remained heavily invested in his Tackle Kids Cancer program, and still handed out $2,000 checks to Giants staffers for the holidays, and still honored the power of his reach as a decorated athlete. Leder, a 50-year-old executive in the financial industry described as Eli's third big brother and first consigliere, has an 11-year-old relative with cerebral palsy who recently faced surgery, a Manning fan named Owen with an affection for people who assure him they have his back. Eli didn't just make Owen a video of support last month, during his time on the bench. He made sure to close his message by saying, "I just want you to know one thing: I've got your back."

These are the reasons everyone desperately wanted Eli to have that one last winning moment he got in MetLife Stadium two Sundays ago, courtesy of Jones' ankle injury. Manning earned his standing ovations and his final victory with his parents, family and friends in attendance. Shurmur pulled him in the closing minutes, and soon enough Eli was near tears as he waved and nodded and thumbs-upped the cheering, chanting crowd. Accorsi said the look of relief and joy on the quarterback's face matched Manning's expression when he stopped by the GM's Giants Stadium office in the immediate wake of his first career victory, over Dallas, to close the 2004 season.

On his way off the MetLife field, Manning stopped in the tunnel to greet his wife and children and to pose for pictures that will serve as future proof to 10-month-old Charlie of what his old man meant to the game. "Hall of Fame, baby," one fan yelled as Eli held Charlie in his arms, the cameras flashing around them. "First ballot, baby."

In the locker room, Manning executed his last prank as a starter, taking Shurmur's game ball and punctuating his team-centric speech by saying, "I'll see you all Wednesday," forcing his coach to give his players an unplanned day off. The NFL might have had the last laugh, however, as a note posted at Manning's locker informed Eli that he'd been randomly selected to report to the bathroom to provide a urine sample for a doping test. Seriously.

After Manning left his postgame news conference and headed for the exit, his daughters ran up to him for hugs, and onlookers clapped for him and patted him on the back. It was a sharp departure from the Monday night scene after the loss to Dallas in November, when Manning was completely ignored in the hallways while making the purposeful walk from the locker room (no news conference for him) to his car with his head down, all but trying to fade to black.

Someone sent Manning's father a highlight video of his final first-string day as a Giant, and Archie grew emotional when he watched it in his office. He said Eli is perfectly healthy, and capable of playing for another team next year. This isn't quite like Peyton's farewell at Super Bowl 50, where the boys' mother, Olivia, told two reporters on the field that she absolutely wanted Peyton to retire.

Could Eli land with another franchise, such as, say, Peyton's old Indianapolis Colts? Will he choose to retire after failing to win a postseason game over the past eight seasons? Will he end up in Canton either way?

Time will answer all of the above. Meanwhile, Manning has clearly decided to enjoy his possible endgame, and to worry less about concealing the playful side of his personality from public view. He celebrated Jones' five-touchdown performance against Washington on Sunday by going out to dance, throw napkins in the air (yep, napkins) and play drinking games with his replacement at a bar in Hoboken, the very town where the GM who had drafted him feared a struggling young Eli would hide in his condo.

Now Eli will dress as a Giant for the last time Sunday against Philadelphia, and then leave all of New York's burdens for Jones, Sam Darnold and Gerrit Cole to carry forward. They would all be wise to follow the Manning model.

"He's the most consistent human being I've ever played with," Lawrence Tynes said. "If you can build a player to handle playing quarterback in New York, you would build an Eli."

Said another former teammate, Shaun O'Hara: "I never heard him say, 'Man, I was slinging it today.' Or, 'Did you see that throw to [David] Tyree or to [Mario] Manningham?' He never once bragged about any throw, any play or any game."

The night after his victory over the Dolphins, Eli dined with friends at Campagnola -- the same place where his brother Cooper saw James Caan act the part of a big movie star. An elderly customer spotted Manning, and then turned to a nearby stranger, Leder, who was about to dine with the quarterback.

"That right there is the classiest, most dependable sports figure to ever play in the tri-state area," the elderly man said.

In the end, Elisha Nelson Manning might ask, who needs a third Super Bowl title when you can put that trophy in your case?

NFL reveals full schedule for Week 17: Cowboys, Steelers, Titans all flexed to add drama to playoff race

The final week of the NFL season is almost always one of the wildest weeks of the year, and that usually happens for two reasons: For one, it's the only week of the regular season where every team plays on the same day; and two, it's the week where the race for the final few playoff spots (and final seeding) will finally come to an end.

To make things fair during the final week of the season, the NFL waits as long as possible before announcing the kickoff times in Week 17. The league finally announced the start times for each game on Sunday night, and many teams that were previously scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET -- like the Steelers, Cowboys and Titans -- will now be kicking off at 4:25 p.m. ET.

Based on the new kickoff times for Sunday, it's looking like we're going to get a wild finish to the NFL season.

The 1 p.m. ET slot is being given to teams that have either clinched a spot in the playoffs or teams that have already been eliminated. For instance, the Chiefs and Patriots are battling it out for the second seed in the AFC, which is important because it comes with a bye. To prevent one team from possibly resting its starters, the teams will kick off at the same time on Sunday (1 p.m. ET).

In past years, you could have had a scenario where the Chiefs kicked off at 1 p.m. ET and the Patriots kicked off at 4:25 p.m. ET. In that instance, if the Chiefs kicked off first and lost, the Patriots could simply rest their starters in the later game. The NFL wants to prevent situations like that, which is why the league waits so long to announce the kickoff times.

After the early games, things should get kind of crazy in the 4:25 p.m. ET window and that's because there will be two playoff spots up for grabs. With five spots already clinched in the AFC, the Titans, Steelers and Raiders will be battling it out for the final spot, and they'll all be kicking off at 4:25 p.m. ET.

Out of that group, the Titans have the easiest path to the playoffs -- all they have to do is win and they're in. For a look at all the playoff scenarios that will be on the table for Sunday, be sure to click here.

In the NFC, the only playoff spot still up for grabs is the NFC East title. Due to that fact, the Cowboys and Eagles have both been flexed to 4:25 p.m. ET so that they're kicking off at the same time. If the Eagles beat the Giants, they'll be headed to the playoffs, but if they lose and the Cowboys win, then Dallas will be headed to the postseason.

Here's a look at the entire kickoff schedule for Week 17. The NFL previously announced that the 49ers and Seahawks would be closing out the season with the final Sunday night game of the year, and that game is also listed below.

1 p.m. ET
Dolphins at Patriots (CBS)
Chargers at Chiefs (CBS)
Jets at Bills (CBS)
Packers at Lions (Fox)
Bears at Vikings (Fox)
Saints at Panthers (Fox)
Falcons at Buccaneers (Fox)
Browns at Bengals (Fox)

4:25 p.m ET
Titans at Texans (CBS)
Steelers at Ravens (CBS)
Raiders at Broncos (CBS)
Colts at Jaguars (CBS)
Redskins at Cowboys (Fox)
Eagles at Giants (Fox)
Cardinals at Rams (Fox)

8:20 p.m. ET
49ers at Seahawks (NBC)

No luck again for me. AK and HI out of luck too.
FOX LATE

As my New Year's Resolution, I am going to tweak my football perspective as I prep for, and watch, our first season in our new stadium.

• I am convinced the difference between good teams and bad in the NFL is razor thin. We can crush the Hawks, and get smoked by the Cowboys and looking at scores from other games, it ain't just the Rams that are inconsistent
• I will no longer expect to win double-digit games each season. No matter the expectations from the pundits going into a season, I'm counting on 8-8, and will be only slightly disappointed if we go 3-13, and thrilled beyond belief if we go 13-3
• I will not get too attached to a given player, thinking them "untouchable". In today's NFL, it may actually be better to get a few B to B+ players for the price of one A+ player that can be gameplanned out
• I will thoroughly appreciate our new stadium, even if we have another Fisher-like year of BS

I think this new frame of mind will allow me to enjoy this inaugural season in Kronke Palace far more than my current attitude which only breeds discontent.

Happy Holidays Rams Bros.

Well my daughter Alyssa and son-in-law Eric welcomed a new future Ram fan into our family on 12/19/19. Introducing my 2nd granddaughter, Adeline.

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams gestures while he is on the bench in the second half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)


The Los Angeles Rams were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16. With nothing to play for in Week 17, it’s very possible that some of the team’s top stars may start their offseason prep a little early.

According to Cameron DaSilva of RamsWire, the Rams could be resting their players in Week 17 against the Arizona Cardinals. Per the report, players who are currently dealing with injuries such as Todd Gurley, Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill, Gerald Everett and Bobby Evans are all candidates to rest this weekend.
DaSilva called it “a safe bet” that Ramsey and others won’t play. But there’s also the possibility that star quarterback Jared Goff might give up reps to backups Blake Bortles and John Wolford.

Via RamsWire:
It’s a safe bet that Ramsey, Hill, Rob Havenstein and Evans won’t play against the 49ers. The Rams could also give either Blake Bortles or John Wolford some playing time in an attempt to protect Jared Goff from unnecessary hits. The same goes for Gurley, who may play less to limit the wear and tear on his knee.

The Los Angeles Rams won the NFC West title and the NFC Championship last season. But despite making huge additions in the offseason and adding Jalen Ramsey before the trade deadline, they couldn’t even reach double-digit wins.
The 2020 offseason will likely make or break this team’s ability to find sustained success with the pieces they have.