Cool but want to win the division. 4 game sweep of the Cubs. Play in AZ next. Finish the season at home against the Cubs.

Going simple yet bold here tonight. Gonna do some grilled pizzas on my Weber BBQ and pizza stone setup. Cheated and got the pre-made dough from Trader Joe's - Regular and Garlic & Herb. Grilled up some chicken tenderloins and also have pepperoni, pancetta, salami, hot Ital. sausage. Three sauce types - marinara, BBQ and garlic-Ranch sauce. Fresh mozzarella, grated mozzarella, cheddar/jack/mozz. and Parmesan cheeses. Fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, sliced zucchini, red onion, green onion, green and sweet peppers, mushrooms for toppings.

Gonna be a build your own thing. If all goes well, it will go into my game day meals rotation.

I’ve had three Rams fans say they don’t care about a sharing a stadium with another NFL franchise, which kind of blows me away. I screeched throughout the 80’s about having to share the LA market with the damn Raiders, and now we have not only share the LA market, but also our own stadium? Anyway VOTE!

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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.

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

Go Rams!

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I rarely get to cheer for my birth team (I was born at UCLA Medical Center when my mom was a student there), but tonight is different.

This one was a HUMDINGER!!! Check it out. (and no, I don't think the Bruins are world beaters or anything... just that this game was super entertaining!!!)

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Per Fred Roggin

Havenstein was ineffective against Cameron Jordan last week. What happens this week when he is matched against an equal if not better player?

Found this on youtube last night. It's part of the 100th NFL celebration and I thought it was really neat! If it was already posted... my bad!

Lot's of tidbits to be had. For example, I was raised believing that the Rams were the first LA pro sports team. But... Technically, it isn't true. While the Rams are considered the first (see wiki), there was a NFL team in 1926 called the Los Angeles Buccaneers. They only played 2 exhibition games in LA, the rest of the time they were based in Chicago, yet called the Los Angeles Buccaneers (because of travel hardships in the day with no commercial air travel). Also, the Pro sports team Los Angeles Dons (not in video) of the All America Football Conference played a regular season game in Los Angeles before the Rams.

The video is very interesting, especially with regards to the early years. Also, I've always thought that Rams player Kenny Washington was the one to break the color barrier . When actually he was just the first black man to sign a NFL contract. The 1920 Akron Pro's, who won the first Championship had a black player/coach named Fredrick Douglas "Fritz" Pollard who get's the distinction.

Lot's of fun little factoids in the video! Well worth the watch, especially for the early years stuff. BEWARE of the Steagles!!!

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I see this as big between two players as someone who watches Slamfest wrestling as I haven't watched wrestling since Dusty Rhodes and Rick Flair (Long Time) .All true RAMS diehards know we rest Big Whit during the week and hope he can give his best on Gameday. I truly believe if we can overcome our weak depth and specific play and can escape with another almost injury free season at OL we can get our rematch with pats in Miami AND WIN. We're not going to get there to lose again.

My first concern is the big MATCHUP of a 38 year old BIG WHIT and big young stud Miles Garrett who is so strong with speed and hardly no technique. I want Whit to come out healthy and feeling good for a long season of leading this OL and team. It will be an EPIC battle as Aaron Donald is first and foremost Technique leading his power speed and brains. I'm aware that Big Whit has been playing on sore ankles. Not bad enough to warrant a listing as sprained ankles. He has had a bad play or two pop up after missing all PS and trying to gell with this years unit.He's played some top defenders early this season. I see Garrett and Big Whit really going at it as Cam Jordan Whit and Havenstein did last week Cam rushes from both sides as does Garrett. Havs had 2 holding calls on him last week and Goff was hit harder than anyone has mentioned and even hits to the head that didn't get the flag they deserved. It was BS.

Goff can take a good hit like Warner could and get up and go on to next play with no whining. One of Warners biggest traits under a Martz no qb protection offense. We need a healthy Goff getting better in his reads and having a better season this year than last and ready for the toughest test in the pats DB's. BEST in the league bar none. So Goff needs a nice steady rise from protection improving and finally making room for Henderson targets later on this season as our home run threat we build our CHAMPIONSHIP season on. Not sure Blythe is the answer for us to win it all as I'm hoping we can get Edwards a chance to have our best 5 out there.

I know many here hate that idea as the long term plan for Edwards is at OT and Evans is OG. I'm old and survived cat 5 hurricane Michael 10/10 and just had a stroke 5/10 due to all the above.(Still rebuilding) while a devoted year round RAM fanatic and explayer on the OL. I know Vernon or as we call him here Bonifay (Lives very close and also needs prayers for health and hurricane survivor). He probably disagrees with my OL wishes for this season. Years ending in 9 have been fairly good for RAMS fans and we are in another with a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2020 hat is gonna replace my all white leather WORLD CHAMPIONS hats. I loaded up on gear and have it all stored away. One hat looks awesome after 20 straight years of wear. Buy leather. with 1999 on it. All the way back to SB14 I think with years ending in 9 are good for RAMS fans. Guys I'm not on any recreational drugs as some joked after my last post talking about Rams winning it ALL this year. That's the only reason we play and pay for the ticket and study our guys and coaches all year long. Blessings to all of you long suffering RAMS fans and your families that have survived and supported you and the fans we have lost along the way. Wish Grits could see our RAMS rolling along.

My point to start is we THE RAMS need Big Whit at his VERY BEST in Miami. The REMATCH so we can raise the Lombardi and be WORLD CHAMPIONS again. this is gonna be another very long season with game with Bungles in England the Bye week at game week 9. Same bye week saints get. Patriots have typical lollipop schedule and will face KC, or Ravens in AFC CG. RAMS tough games that stand out are at seahawks Thursday Night Football after Bucs next week. Then 9ers then Falcons at Atlanta where they woke up this season and their defense beat up the Eagles. Eagles didn't practice Thursday due to 13 major injured players not able to practice.

Bears and Ravens at home on SNF and Monday Night Football back to back. then seahawks at home and AT Dallas week 15 and At 9ers week 16 and end with Cards at home. I circle the Ravens game like we had with Chiefs last year as Engram is a beast RB and Saints miss the hell out of him. May cause them to lose not having him in another NFCCG. Engram and this new Ravens explosive offense with running Lamar and he can throw it for real now with a good TE.. If we control seahawks Russell Wilson twice and up and coming 9ers with JG. We should win NFC best record by beating cowboys IN Dallas. They may have to come back to L.A. for a NFCCG if not saints or Packers as Packers D is for real this season.

I see the pats defense as their strength with Witherspoon the very big and fast LB that reminds me of the large Willie McGinnest who also was Great at a very large size with speed and the best nosetackle in the league bar none with #71 stopping the run and pushing centers back into their qb's. The pats OLT Wynn has real bad Turf Toe and they are hoping he makes it all season. Ask Deion Sanders how turf toe ended his career and his foot is deformed. The pats biggest D players are their DB's which are almost shutdown level on one and 1A. They have the best. I see Aaron Donald ending Brady's career this season in Miami. My bold prediction .

RAMS have an easier schedule this season than last year and we'll have a couple tough games with the best in the NFC that made. Pray for no more OL or any injuries. Takes a little luck to hoist that Lombardi too. Not taking any game too lightly. They will all be battles. I see McVay using all his free minutes he can make studying any weaknesses and how we will make up for last seasons dud in Atlanta. I think our Defense will end up being even better than last years team with Rapp,Weddle,Matthews and Littleton improved and a couple nosetackles in Day and Gaines . McVay Gameplaning how to score on that awesome pats D.

Big matchup to watch tomorrow night with Whit and Garrett. Worth price of admission. Hope Whit comes out a winner and unscathed to keep RAMS on a season long projection to Miami where I was born in the 50's. Sorry I don't have time to rough draft my thoughts and edit my posts so you all don't think I'm some crazy person. I am very positive with what we have but see a big battle set to see tomorrow night. We need whit to come through healthy and back on his rest schedule. GO RAMS!

I hate that Higbee is going to miss the match up. I liked him a great deal against the Browns LBs, particularly with Kirksey being out. That being said I'm going to predict that Everett steps up *big* this week. Calling it now, Everett grabs 8 passes for 146 yards and 3, that's right 3, TDs. Whatcha got ROD? Let's here those bold predictions?

From an article in the Athletic: "Our goal has always been to take the historical elements of the Rams uniforms — the colors, the horns, the symbolism — (and) keep those but progress them forward,” Demoff said. “You’re building the most modern and what we believe will be the world’s best sports and entertainment district at SoFi Stadium. You’re investing in all these technological aspects, these futuristic aspects. You can’t just walk in with uniforms that throw back to the 1970s. I just don’t think that that’s the right brand fit for the Rams or this stadium."

alm:alm:alm:

So... is he for real?

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Gardner Minshew is off to greatest start for any rookie quarterback in NFL history
Minshew has the highest completion percentage and passer rating for any rookie quarterback through three games

The legend of Gardner Minshew continues to grow in Jacksonville. Not only is Minshew setting franchise records for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he's shattering NFL marks for rookie quarterbacks in the process. Through three games, no rookie quarterback has gotten off to a better start in the 100-year history of the NFL than Minshew. Per NFL Research, Minshew has the highest completion percentage (73.8) and the highest passer rating (110.6) through three games (minimum 30 pass attempts). Minshew set the marks with his performance in the Jaguars' 20-7 win over the Tennessee Titans Thursday night, finishing 20-for-30 (66.7 completion percentage) for 204 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 108.2 passer rating. Minshew has completed 65-of-88 passes for 679 yards, five touchdowns, with just one interception -- averaging 7.9 yards per attempt.

There is a cautionary tale toward Minshew's torrid start. The players he's ahead of struggled throughout the majority of their careers. Rick Mirer previously held the record for completion percentage through three games at 70.9 percent (1993), but he finished the season completing 56.4 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, and a 67.0 passer rating. Mirer, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1993 draft, completed 53.4 percent of his passes in four years with the Seattle Seahawks with 41 touchdowns, 56 interceptions and a 65.7 rating.

Did Gardner Minshew give Jalen Ramsey a reason to stay in Jacksonville? Are the Titans hurtling towards a quarterback change? The Pick Six Podcast crew breaks it down in the player below. Subscribe here for our daily NFL pod!

Trent Edwards is third on the list, having a 70.5 completion percentage through three games. Edwards completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 25 touchdowns, 27 interceptions and a 76.8 rating in four seasons in Buffalo. Jon Kitna, fourth on the list (68.9 percent), completed 60.3 percent of his passes with 169 touchdowns, 165 interceptions and a 77.4 passer rating in 14 NFL seasons.

Minshew beat Marcus Mariota's record for highest passer rating through three games. Mariota has completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 73 touchdowns, 42 interceptions and an 89.9 passer rating in five seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Ed Rubbert was a replacement player during the 1987 strike, playing just three games for the Washington Redskins and finishing with a 110.2 passer rating in leading the Redskins to a 3-0 record. He never played in the NFL again.

Fourth on the list is Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, who has completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 74 touchdowns, 30 interceptions and a 92.3 passer rating in 42 games, instrumental toward the Eagles winning a Super Bowl two years ago.

While Minshew has a long way to go before his career is settled, getting off to an incredible start doesn't indicate future success in the NFL.

Not sure why, but grabbing AB and having to deal with his current off-field struggles, is my favorite thing these days.

Someone had asked for SJD stills in the OL thread, so figured I'd go through some of the defensive snaps and see what's what. Interestingly enough we see SJD show up on the first snap from scrimmage lol.

15:00 1st Quarter, Saints ball on their 25, 1st and 10. Payton elects to go Kamara up the middle here and our NT is ready...

Pre-snap we have SJD lined up at 1T, Rams 7 in the box and Weddle lurking:


At the handoff Saints have stepped right and the play flow is away from AD, who of course instantly beat his blocker and is single-handedly sealing off the cutback action. SJD & Brock holding the point on the 25 well. Hager has the outside hole covered. Good physical look by the Rams.


As Kamara hits the hole SJD tosses McCoy and AD closes in. Kamara wants that cutback and all that green. Note that while Hager is getting erased the outside hole isn't an option due to Matthews, who sets a hard edge while owning Hill.


SJD wraps him up for a 2 yard gain, win for the defense. Hill trying to block Matthews lmao, dude gets driven back and tossed like a gnat.

Do we not have a Rams reporter at this time?

Tom Brady tweets a complaint about the ridiculous holding calls and Joe Buck is all over his balls picking up the campaign against increased holding calls. What BS.

Brady is clearly trying to use his influence as a star to stop all of the holding calls. He’s a QB who just lost his OLT. Of course he hates that refs are calling holding more often. Even Perrerra was criticizing them last night. Aikman Was questioning if the players have gotten worse about holding and that is why all of the calls. What a moron. The Olinemen in the league have been getting away with holding calls for years. They’ve gotten lazy about it. Last year the refs were told to call more holding. The league saw a need to curb all of the holding. I’m very thankful they did. I bet AD is too. In the first two weeks there have been 179 holding calls to 109 last year.

Olinemen will adjust and stop holding. It’s a learning curve. Shut up Joe Buck.

I'm tired of reading from other fan bases that AD isn't himself this year. Just play this back to those clowns that you see talking like that.

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Antonio Brown has now been shown to be harassing the woman who has come out and accused him of sexual misconduct. IMO this is a clear violation of NFL rules and they will have no choice but to suspend Brown immediately. The evidence is clear in the form of text messages that he actually included a copy sent to his attorney. The NFL forbids any type of harassment or intimidation. Time to ban this mad man from football.


Report: Antonio Brown harasses latest accuser via text message
Posted by Mike Florio on September 20, 2019, 12:33 AM EDT

Antonio Brown may have crossed the line, as far as the NFL and the Patriots are concerned.

Robert Klemko of SI.com reports that Brown has sent harassing text messages to the unnamed accuser who shared allegations with Klemko regarding Brown’s behavior after Brown hired her to paint a mural at his house.

“I’m on my knees painting the [mural], and he walks up to me butt-ass naked, with a hand cloth covering his [penis] and starts having a conversation with me,” the woman told Klemko. “Unfortunately, I’ve been tried [by men] a lot of times, so I just kept my cool and kept painting. After that, it all ended abruptly.”
Brown reportedly has sent a group text message to the woman, accusing her of fabricating a “bull sh-t” story in an effort to “make up some stuff for money.” He also called her a “super broke girl with a lot of kids,” and he encouraged someone to whom Brown refers as “Eric B” to investigate her in order to “see how broke this girl is.”

Brown also sent a screen shot of an Instagram photo of the woman’s children, adding that the woman is “awfully broke clearly.”
On Thursday night, the woman’s lawyer sent a letter to the NFL explaining that Brown is “intimidating and threatening . . . our client, in violation of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy.”

“Our client . . . is understandably frightened by these text messages, which are clearly intended to threaten and intimidate her,” attorney Lisa J. Banks wrote. “While she certainly qualifies as a ‘starving artist,’ she has never approached Mr. Brown, nor will she, about seeking money to compensate her for his sexual misconduct, contrary to his allegations in the text messages.”

Amazingly, Brown’s lawyer was included in the group texts. Darren Heitner tells Klemko that Heitner did not advise Brown to communicate with the woman.
The league responded to the letter within an hour. Investigators will speak to the woman’s lawyers about the situation.

“This sort of intimidation and harassment is the reason victims are often so reluctant to step forward in these cases,” Banks told Klemko. “We have confidence the NFL and the Patriots will step in and end this behavior.”

The Personal Conduct Policy expressly prohibits “talking, harassment, or similar forms of intimidation.” The fact that the behavior has been directed at a woman who has made allegations regarding misconduct makes the situation even worse for Brown. Employers routinely take swift and decisive action against employees who are accused of misconduct and who harass or intimidate those who have made the accusations.

The Patriots, who like any NFL team wouldn’t have signed Brown if they’d known about the sexual assault and rape lawsuit that was filed last week, likewise have not been inclined to terminate the relationship based solely on uncorroborated allegations in a civil action. If Brown sent these messages to a woman who chimed in with her own allegations of misconduct by Brown, that gives the Patriots a much more tangible basis for severing ties with Brown.

Regardless of what the Patriots do, the league can take action against Brown. The aggressive and angry response directed to an accuser could be enough, for example, to cause the Commissioner to believe that Brown “may have violated” the Personal Conduct Policy as to Britney Taylor, justifying immediate placement of Brown on the Commissioner-Exempt list.

However it plays out, Brown apparently has committed yet another serious error of judgment, one that has placed his current employment in real jeopardy.

The Associated Press 4 hours ago

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2019, file photo, New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) passes under pressure from Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald (99) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game in Atlanta. The Rams, the defending NFC champions, with an offense teeming with talent and defense led by incomparable star tackle Donald, will visit Cleveland in the Browns first nationally televised Sunday night game in 11 years. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Browns passed their first prime-time test. The second one won't be nearly as easy.
Here come Aaron Donald and those big, bad Los Angeles Rams.
The defending NFC champions, with an offense teeming with talent and defense led by incomparable star tackle Donald, will visit Cleveland in the Browns' first nationally televised Sunday night game in 11 years.
On Monday night, the Browns (1-1) bounced back from a dreadful 30-point loss in their season opener to Tennessee by bullying the New York Jets, who were already missing quarterback Sam Darnold when his replacement, Trevor Simiean, went down with a season-ending injury.
The uber-hyped Browns, who have gone from winless two years ago to somewhat overexposed in 2019, get a chance to see how they stack up to a legitimate Super Bowl contender, one fixated on winning an NFL title this season.
''It'll be a challenge and we'll be able to really measure where we're at as a team,'' said Browns guard Joel Bitonio. ''Now it's a true team, a true playoff team, a team that was in the Super Bowl, a team that we can see, 'Hey, how are the Cleveland Browns this year?'''
It's hard to gauge them to this point. The Browns were undisciplined in Week 1, committing 18 penalties and allowing the Titans to score 28 unanswered points in the second half. Cleveland cleaned things up considerably against the Jets, but quarterback Baker Mayfield had his second straight shaky performance and the Browns suffered a couple major injuries that may force first-year coach Freddie Kitchens to play rookies in key spots.

That could help the Rams (2-0), not that they really need any.
Quarterback Jared Goff and the Los Angeles offense have had some issues, but Donald and the rest of the defense are playing at a high level already. They shut down New Orleans last week, helped by Donald inadvertently sidelining Saints quarterback Drew Brees with a thumb injury.
Browns star Odell Beckham Jr. said Donald will have everyone's attention.

''There's no way to even go around him,'' said Beckham. ''He's probably the best player in the league. If not the best player in the league, one of the most disruptive players I've ever seen. So, yeah, No. 99 has to be accounted for. The game plan starts right there. They have a lot of other stars, a lot of very, very talented, great players, but it starts with 99.
''So we have to get that handled, and we're going to be tested in every position.''


DONALD, DUCK
The two-time AP Defensive Player of the Year, Donald has no sacks and just two tackles through two games. The numbers are deceiving as teams are scheming to stay clear of Donald. The Browns will probably do the same.
''Everybody is sliding to him,'' defensive end Michael Brockers said. ''He's going to get a lot of attention, and that's what's happening now. It's leaving a lot of opportunities for other guys to make plays. As the season goes on, they're going to have to pick their poison on which guys to block, and that's when it's going to get really fun.''
It didn't get fun for Donald until Week 4 last year. He have record a sack in his first three games and still finished with 20 1/2.

THROW IT
Mayfield has been guilty of holding onto the ball too long, and not taking advantage of receivers being open while trying to complete long passes.
He's still getting into a rhythm with Beckham, who sat out the preseason but showed why he's elite on Monday by scoring on an 89-yard play.
''It's a learning curve,'' said Mayfield, who while not as accurate as usual has still completed 60 percent of his throws. ''Needing to know when I can take my shots and check the ball down to get completions. It's a little difficult at times but, like I keep harping on, I just need to get completions.''

LINE WORRIES
The Browns could exploit inexperience up front for the Rams, who are likely to have three untested starters on their offensive line.
Right guard Austin Blythe is unlikely to play due to a left ankle sprain. If he becomes the first starting offensive lineman to miss a game due to injury in McVay's tenure, sixth-round pick Jamil Demby is expected to make his first start alongside fellow 2018 draft choices Brian Allen at center and Joe Noteboom at left guard.
Allen and Noteboom will be making their third career starts. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth and right tackle Rob Havenstein haven't been spectacular so far this season, either.

GURLEY GOES
Rams running back Todd Gurley has fond memories of the team's last meeting with the Browns: Gurley scored his first two NFL touchdowns against Cleveland during a 128-yard performance as a rookie in St. Louis in 2015.
Gurley is a quiet ninth in the league this season with 160 yards rushing on 30 attempts. Backup Malcolm Brown has 17 carries as the Rams attempt to lessen the load on Gurley, who leads the NFL in yards rushing since the start of the 2017 season. Gurley has insisted his knee is fine and he's ready for any workload.