We have our first injury concerns of the regular season.

By 3k@3k_ Sep 11, 2019, 6:36pm CDT



Los Angeles Rams DL Michael Brockers prior to the Week 1 game against the Carolina Panthers, Sep. 8, 2019. Photo by Dannie Walls/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images


The Los Angeles Rams came into the regular season with a clean bill of health and took that into Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers without any injury concerns.
Not so coming out of the game.
With the New Orleans Saints coming to LA for Week 2, three Rams have been listed on the initial injury report:

2019 Los Angeles Rams Week 2 injury report
While S Eric Weddle sounds like he’ll be available, the concern is around DL Michael Brockersand LB Clay Matthews. Neither participated in practice today, so we’ll have to see how things progress tomorrow and Friday when we’ll get the final injury report with game designations for both.


As for the Saints, their side is a bit longer:
2019 New Orleans Saints Week 2 injury report
We’ll have to see how things progress for those four who were limited today especially with two interior defensive linemen listed, but I wouldn’t be surprised if all four are active on Sunday.
Let’s see what happens tomorrow...

As much as I prefer the throwback royal blue and yellow, I cant help but think that making the aints wear their black uniforms may be an advantage in the CA sunshine. The visitor sideline should have the sun beating down on them all game long and should help wear down the aints on a short week after an emotional comeback on Monday night. I want to see a classic beat down of the aints and want every advantage available.

Based on status as of today, mind you.

Cory Littleton. Virtually 100%. I can’t imagine the Rams allowing him to slip away. They will find the money for this stud playmaker who is still ascending.

Dante Fowler. Around 80%, I think. He’s off to a great start and if he continues his level of play then the percentage just goes up. He’ll be expensive but he’ll also be a big value in Wade’s D.

Michael Brockers. Maybe 10%? I see Brockers as a cap casualty ala Saffold last year. Other players will need to be paid with the cap savings.

Aquib Talib. Maybe 30%? And even then only if he plays well this season, wants to extend at a home discount rate, AND if Peters is gone. That’s quite a parlay.

Marcus Peters. Maybe 30%, also? And this depends on MP having a helluva season, showing some maturity, accepting a reasonable contract amount, and only if Talib departs. Another big parlay. The Rams will NOT keep both Talib and Peters next year. Period. Simply couldn’t afford to.

Greg Zuerlein. Virtually 100%. Rams won’t break up the band and I sense that GZ will sign for a reasonable amount.


Clearly, Demoff will be sorely tested to keep as many of these vets as possible.

And Snead will be tested to find quality replacements for those that cannot be retained. A shrewd FA and draft will be crucial next offseason.

I know that there will be other UFA’s, but these 6 were the high profile ones that I wanted to focus on.

I was in the airport in CLE on the way to Atlantic City for a few days of fun and debauchery for my 40th birthday.

I was shaken out of bed to "wake up we've got to go".

It was a surprise gift. On the way to the airport I was thinking about how fun it would be!!!

So I put myself together and we got to the airport. She had already packed stuff for the trip and finished while I was getting ready. Which means brushing my teeth and taking a dump. It was a rushed morning because it was all planned ahead of time.

So we get to the airport.........

And while sitting at the gate this guy comes down to where we where and says exactly this "get everyone off the plane now and close the gate two planes have hit the WTC". There was a plane that was being boarded and we were sitting right next to that gate. He ran from one to another.

So we left and went to an airport bar and there they were on TV's, both towers smoldering.

It was obviously not an accident. So we got out as fast as we could. People were coming in as were were getting OUT.

I called a friend of mine who was and still is a pilot, and at he time was working for Continental (since bought) and had flown out of Newark that morning very early. He was freaking out.

We were flying on Buddy Passes that he provided to my lady and I at the time and while I was talking to him as we left CLE he said "holy shit one of the buildings just collapsed".

And it got worse from there. The plane that went into the ground in PA airspace went into CLE airspace. We left before they locked down the airport.

Where were you?

By: Cameron DaSilva | 12 minutes ago


Eric Weddle’s debut with the Los Angeles Rams was cut short on Sunday after he suffered a concussion and laceration on his head in the first half. The injury occurred when Christian McCaffrey’s knee hit the side of Weddle’s helmet.
As scary as it was seeing Weddle’s face bloodied from the accidental hit, he’s expected to play in Week 2 against the Saints.

Rams coach Sean McVay said on Wednesday that he anticipates Weddle being out there in this pivotal matchup at the Coliseum.

This is great news for Los Angeles. The team can absolutely use his instincts and awareness in the secondary, not only making plays himself, but getting everyone else aligned, too.
He’s the defensive signal caller, too, relaying plays from the sideline to the rest of the defense. Cory Littleton held that responsibility last season and picked it up in Week 1 after Weddle went down.

With John Johnson, Weddle, Marqui Christian and Taylor Rapp all available against the Saints, the Rams defense should perform at a high level.

By
Tony Lopez

September 11, 2019

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 08: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams hands the ball off to Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints face off this coming weekend in what is being called an NFC Conference Championship rematch. You can also call it the rubber game, meaning the deciding game after two teams split the pair played in 2018. It is easily the Game of the Week, whatever you choose to call it, and definitely one of the most anticipated games of 2019. But will this game live up to the hype or come undone? Check out what the Los Angeles Rams Week 2 Preview reveals.


Rams Week 2 Preview: vs Saints, Chip and All
The attitude of Saints fans towards the NFL (and now its referees) is disdainful at best. Of course, this dates back to the infamous pay-per-injury scandal known as Bountygate. Even during their Week 1 Monday Night Football home game, fans mocked and taunted refs wearing striped shirts, large whistles, toting signs and more. Reports would soon follow of how they have yet to get over last season’s NFC Conference championship game.
The Rams aren’t susceptible to getting caught up in the shouldered chips of other teams. They have a mission to accomplish. The Saints, once again, are just another team in their way. But with all the hype and drama that’s sure to cloud their sunshine this week, their biggest and most powerful adversary can show up in any game, any week of the season. It’s the person opposite each player and each coach when he looks in the mirror. There’s likely to be at least a few staredowns in those mirrors this week.

Rams Week 1 Key Points at a Glance
Rams Offense
Most of the Rams starters played what was essentially their first preseason game last weekend against the Carolina Panthers. In the first quarter, especially, they looked every bit the rustiest of teams.
The offensive line didn’t look good early on. Todd Gurley might’ve had a flashback or two from 2016 as Panthers greeted him at or behind the line of scrimmage entirely too often. In the second half, the line appeared to get in flow and Gurley had success. But guess what? To the trained eye, Gurley still didn’t look 100 percent.
Rams Defense
The Panthers offense opened the game looking fairly sharp while driving from their own 25-yard line to the Rams 26 before fumbling. The Rams defense stiffened up gradually soon after. In fact, they appeared to settle in and strengthen when tragedy struck (tragic at that point in time, anyway). Eric Weddle took a violent knee to the head and left the game for good.
The Weddle-less unit was not quite the same after that, looking a bit unsure of itself at times. Do keep in mind that although it’s not a brand new or completely revamped group of guys. The youngsters are simply under new leadership and extended on-field direction until things become second nature.

Week 2 Key Points of the Game of the Week

The Saints March In Confidence
I mean, let’s face it. Drew Brees is way more established and has lots more clout behind center than Jared Goff. Receiver Michael Thomas deserves and gets top billing on that team because he’s a bonafide superstar. The Rams, to their credit, have no receiving superstars but three really good 1A, 1B and 1C pass-catchers making up one of the best three-receiver sets in the NFL.
Saints running back Alvin Kamara is as dangerous a multi-purpose back as there is in the league.
But the ultimate danger to the Rams was not present at last season’s games. This is tight end, Jared Cook. Cook, who apparently knows how to catch for every team except the 2013-2015 Rams, always seems to hurt them significantly. I wouldn’t doubt if New Orleans signed him with that in mind. He’s an upgrade over tight ends Josh Hill and Dan Arnold (a combined 1 of 3, 24 yards last January).
The talk of Brees aging is mostly talk. As long as he’s upright on the field the Saints are never really out of a game. Also, take note, the Saints targeted eleven different players in that championship game. If they bring the kitchen sink to the coliseum, chances are good it sees a pass or two.

Rams Staff Needs To Show More Moxie
You’ve heard Gurley and teammates say it more than once, the Rams need only play their game. The mindset is to control what you can control. Given their total team talent it’s usually enough to seal the deal. However, once a thing happens to knock their focus out of alignment (and it will), they can be vulnerable. The Rams will need to quickly get their focus back should any surprises arise. In other words, this week they need their back-up plans to have back-up plans.
May remembering cutdown day be suggested? After all, ‘it’s not called show friends, it’s called show business.’
Rams management surprised quite a few people, even fans, with a few keepers that disabled them to keep other well-liked players. There was a reason for those moves the casual Angeleno may not realize. In short, you never discount upside, especially when saving money is involved.
It would be wise of the Rams to exercise that same moxie and not fear playing some of that talent in Week 2. The starters will probably need a bit more rest as playing an entire game with no preseason can be taxing enough. The Monday night game versus the Houston Texans looked like a second-half workout for Asshole Face’s boys. Sean McVay and Wade Phillips can take a page out of the Bill Belichick Hall of Fame-worthy handbook and outsmart the Saints. In this case, with well-paced chess move substitutions, I don’t believe Payton can match.
These new faces showed promise in the preseason and are capable of huge plays.

Last Word on The Game of the Week
Being big on eye tests regarding NFL football, Week 1 was a victory by a Rams team that looked like a shell of what it’s capable of. Goff looked like Fisher-Priced at times – Don’t stand there letting tacklers come right at your face. Throw the ball away!
The second-half play-calling was mixed well and executed for the most part but the weapons appeared quicker in training camp. Expect them to be in Week 2.
4-receiver sets could work wonders. Remember, Josh Reynolds burned them for 74 yards in that NFC championship game.
One factor I absolutely love, utilizing Malcolm Brown early to wear down opposing defenses late when Gurley all loose and feeling it. REPEATING: This is definitely one of those weeks in which the Saints could be running on fumes late. They aren’t built for grass, they’re a carpet team much like the Greatest Show on Turf was.
The defensive side holds aces and with Weddle back in the line-up (my money says he is), there can be a constant progressive game flow which lacked late Week One.

Still, with all that said, the most important thing is putting pressure on Drew Brees. The Texans obviously missed having the disruptive Jadeveon Clowney and constant double-teams on J.J. Watt seemed to do the trick: J.J. Watt, (Wait for it…) for the first time in his career, did not record one single sack, tackle…Nothing! Whitney Mercilus, no doubt Houston’s best defensive player that night, had the team’s only sack.
The Rams need to come stronger than that. I’m thinking they will but it would be nice to see Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Greg Gaines get in on some of the action. Both are quite the load to keep blocked.

Las Vegas odds for the game opened at Rams -3. As it stands now, the Rams are a fat -5 in my book.

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Basically, seems like we're doing the same things, keeping the years right now the same with big bumps later after the new CBA is finalized. Seems like all the ownership believes the caps going up in a big way.

Yeah, Goff was rusty, but that rust is gonna be gone quickly. Not worried at all.

This “new” RB tandem of Gurley/Brown looks to be both very effective AND sustainable through the playoffs. That’s beyond huge.

You just know that McVay is itching to get some snaps for Henderson, too.

I thought that the OL exceeded expectations for a first game together. I’m particularly impressed by how they kept improving throughout the game. That Ram 2nd half run game was devastating.

Higbee played well, but Everett needs to step it up. McVay’s TE strategy is a work in progress.

Reynolds in the 4 WR sets was underwhelming. McVay will probably keep tinkering with his 10 personnel groupings because he wants to have a sharp unit available for when needed against certain opposing D schemes, I guess. Stay tuned.

Fowler is off to a great start. Will he be a Ram next year? Looking good for him in horns after this debut, huh?

Littleton is a lock for Ram extension. Bank it. So versatile and a tremendous playmaker.

I want to see more pressure from Matthews outside. If he can’t provide it then they should reduce his snaps there and give Obo/Patrick/Ebu some opportunities. C’mon...

Brockers had a quiet game. What’s up with him?

SJD had a quiet game, too. What i’m Trying to say is what the heck is going on with our run D? Give Gaines a few snaps, Wade! Geez...

Our CB’s were a sorta mixed bag, kinda. Meaning, I saw missed tackles from both Talib and Peters. Heck, MP almost looked like he wanted to avoid contact. OTOH, Newton had his problems completing many passes. Brees, however, will be a whole different thing.

Our Safeties, as a group, are looking beastly. Too bad about Weddle’s injury, but he’ll be back for the Saints. JJ looking like a Pro Bowler and Rapp had a helluva first game.

Coach Fassel’s various ST units had a forgettable game, no doubt. But does anyone doubt that coach will make the proper corrections? Me neither.

My biggest takeaways:

Our O is gonna be better than in ‘18, and maybe by a significant amount. I expect really big things from this OL, for starters. Overall RB production, too. What the Rams did to a quality front 7 in the second half was very impressive.

D is still a work in progress on our front 7, I’m afraid. Interior DL (SJD) and Edge opposite Fowler were not really good enough in this first game. And a similar effort against the Saints will not be pretty to watch.

But I do have a ton of confidence in these coaches and fully expect a much less “rusty” game by the Rams. If that happens then the Rams will be tough to beat at home.

Some teams just keep making the same mistakes over and over again. Last season the Jets struck gold with UFA Kicker Jason Myers and instead of signing him, he's now with Seattle, the Jets have been through several kickers parting ways recently with Kaare Vedvik and signing good ole Sam Ficken.....Good Luck, Ficken always gave me the sicken feeling when he walked out to kick a FG and now Gang Green will suffer a similar fate.


After holding workouts on Tuesday, the Jets are signing Sam Ficken, SNY's Ralph Vacchiano confirmed.

According to Vacchiano, the Jets also worked out Elliott Fry and Younghoe Koo. According to The Daily News' Manish Mehta, Tristan Vizcaino and Greg Joseph also tried out.

One source told Vacchiano that Ficken was the most impressive in the group.

Malcolm Brown shows why Rams kept the running back from going to the Detroit Lions



By Gary KleinStaff Writer

Sep. 10, 2019


It took four years toiling as an understudy for Todd Gurley before Rams running back Malcolm Brown got something close to equal billing and opportunity during important stretches of a game.Brown signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2015, the same year the team selected Gurley with the 10th pick in the NFL draft.As Gurley became one of the league’s most dynamic and well-compensated players, Brown quietly built a career as a special-teams standout and capable backup. He was so valuable, the Rams in March matched an offer sheet he received from the Detroit Lions and signed him to a two-year contract.
In the 30-27 season-opening victory over the Carolina Panthers, Brown showed he was worthy of the investment. He rushed for a career-best two touchdowns and, perhaps more importantly, proved he could produce in an expanded role as the Rams attempt to manage Gurley’s workload.

Brown is expected to get more chances Sunday, when the Rams play the New Orleans Saints at the Coliseum.
“Any opportunity I get,” Brown said this week, “I just seize the moment.”While Gurley rushed for 97 yards in 14 carries against the Panthers, Brown rushed for 53 yards in 11. Gurley, the NFL touchdowns leader last season, looked on from the sideline as Brown scored twice in a game for the first time as a pro.
“He went in there and did his thing,” Gurley told reporters after the game.It was an impressive season debut for Brown, who had not played since last Dec. 2, when he suffered a broken collarbone in the Rams’ road victory over the Lions.“I was just very excited to get back and get out there because I haven’t played in so long,” Brown said. “A lot of people really haven’t seen me play … in the flow of an actual game like that.”

Brown, 26, signed with the Rams after playing in college for Texas. In his first four NFL seasons, he got 10 or more carries in a game six times. But those were either during blowouts or when Gurley was held out to rest for the playoffs.Coach Sean McVay has described Brown as “a starting-caliber back” who happened to be on the same team as an All-Pro.gainst the Panthers, the 5-foot-11, 222-pound Brown nimbly changed direction while reading blocks. He showed speed and power while dragging would-be tacklers for extra yards.“Malcolm doesn’t get a lot of credit at times, but he has been a steady guy, what we have needed — really truly needed — for the last few years,” quarterback Jared Goff said Sunday. “He just goes out there and produces, doesn’t say much and just does his thing.”

Before he was injured last season, Brown rushed for 212 yards in 43 carries, and also caught a touchdown pass. The Rams had lost other players to season-ending injuries — receiver Cooper Kupp among them — but the news regarding Brown appeared to momentarily shake the usually unflappable McVay. Two weeks later, Gurley’s left knee required medical attention during a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Rams subsequently signed veteran running back C.J. Anderson and — with Gurley sidelined — Anderson starred in the final two regular-season games. He then shared carries with Gurley through the playoffs as the Rams advanced to the Super Bowl.“It was a tough mental battle throughout that, being happy for everybody, but at the same time wanting to play,” Brown said during training camp. “As a competitor, you want to get out there and play with your teammates.”

When the 2018 season ended, Brown became a restricted free agent. He did not know whether he would play again for the only NFL organization he has known. The Rams had decided not to re-sign Anderson, and then the Lions made their offer to Brown.“There was a time where I was like, ‘Man, that might be where I end up,’ ” he said.The Rams matched the offer sheet and signed Brown to a two-year, $3.3-million contract.“It’s a great feeling to be wanted by an organization,” Brown said, “and I definitely felt that.”In April, the Rams selected Memphis running back Darrell Henderson in the third round of the NFL draft. The move ostensibly was made to give McVay a versatile weapon similar to James White of the New England Patriots. But it also provided another insurance policy if Gurley is slowed or sidelined.

All three backs are expected to be deployed Sunday in a rematch of the NFC championship game. Brown was sidelined for that 26-23 overtime victory, but earlier in the season against the Saints caught a short pass and acrobatically scored a touchdown.His role will be larger this time around after generating buzz and newfound recognition.“Just a little bit more hype,” he said, chuckling. “I’m just trying to keep the same mind-set I’ve been having for going on five years now, man.
“So I’m just playing ball and sticking to that.”

By: Cameron DaSilva | 3 hours ago


The Los Angeles Rams have been looking for a complementary pass rusher to Aaron Donald for quite some time now. Robert Quinn had a couple of dominant seasons, but only one of them was next to Donald. Connor Barwin didn’t work out the way the Rams hoped, nor did the Matt Longacre-Samson Ebukam experiment last year.
Donald has led the team in sacks every year since 2015, blowing away his teammates last season with 20.5 by himself – half of the Rams’ total and 16 more than any other player.

The search for a reliable edge rusher continues, but the Rams hope Dante Fowler Jr. can be the answer to their problems at outside linebacker. He showed potential last year in only half the season, but he got off to a roaring start in 2019.
Fowler sacked Cam Newton twice on Sunday in Week 1, both of which were thanks to the help of Donald drawing two or three blockers. That’s what happens when No. 99 is on the defensive line, but Fowler has some talent of his own.

Donald believes he can be a double-digit sack guy every single season.
“He’s a guy that can definitely get double-digit sacks every season,” Donald told Rams Wire on Tuesday. “That’s just the type of pass rusher he is. Him just learning and working and continuing to learn the game and his skills and how he’s supposed to play, I feel like the sky’s the limit for Dante. He’s always been a great athlete and can be a great football player. And definitely having the first game dominating the way he did, I feel like that’s going to give him more confidence right now. Just keep finding ways to get better, don’t be satisfied, keep working and I feel like the sky’s the limit for Dante and he’s getting better each week.”

Fowler’s explosiveness and athleticism are apparent every single week. That’s never been a question with his game. It’s more about his pass-rush moves and technique; he relies heavily on a counter-spin move.
But thanks to a full offseason with the Rams and working alongside Donald, Fowler has the ability to rack up the sacks – especially with teams focusing so much attention on Donald.

The Rams could finally have the dynamic edge rusher they’ve been looking for, but if they want him long-term, they’ll need to sign him to an extension. He’s only under contract through this season.
The better he plays this season, the higher his price tag will go – potentially all the way out of the Rams’ range.

Saints @ Rams / What say you?

Still some time before Sunday's kickoff, so what's on your mind about facing off with these L.A. Rams? For me ... I know it will be a four quarter brawl because yes, the Rams have a pretty decent team. We're playing them on a short week of rest (their not), and we have to spend a day traveling...

saintsreport.com

Saints @ Rams / What say you?

Still some time before Sunday's kickoff, so what's on your mind about facing off with these L.A. Rams?

For me ... I know it will be a four quarter brawl because yes, the Rams have a pretty decent team. We're playing them on a short week of rest (their not), and we have to spend a day traveling to L.A. I don't like that we will again be without Sheldon Rankins. If you remember he missed the last game and were not nearly as stout across the D line without him. So, these things plus whatever other factors have us sitting at 2.5 point dogs last time I checked. But, in the end, we Saints fans all know were the better team and we can and should definitely beat these guys if we play our game and defend every blade of grass like I know we will.

I'm looking forward to watching "especially these Saints" focused in on beating down the "chosen ones" that Roger Goodell and his incompetent Refs were so adamant (that they would do whatever was necessary) to send to the Super Bowl just 8 short months ago.

Payton, Brees, Kamari, Thomas, T. Hill, Cook, Lutz, Armstead, Ramczyk, Murray, Ginn, D. Harris, Morestead, Jordan, Davis, Davenport, Onyemata, Hendrickson, Lattimore, Apple, Bell, Anzalone, and all the rest to of course!

Roll Saints! Who Dat!
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Just like the year following the Minneapolis Miracle, the Saints got revenge on the Vikings on SNF. This year following the No Call, the Saints will once again have their vengeance.
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I am worried about our secondary when 26 is in there. he gets targeted every time.
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I think the short week, traveling to LA and the drain of last night's game will be a lot to overcome. If the Saints lose, I'll understand why. If they win, it will be very impressive.
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I say we better improve on D. We all know this will be a backyard brawl. Buckle up!

We also know the tailgate with the WhoDats in LA will be going off! WhoDat!
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Just hope we start off by running the ball a little more
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Cooper Kupp being available this time around is an issue for us, I think. How we manage that, along with how well we limit Gurley/Brown's ability to dictate the run/pass, will be telling.

Offensively for us, always interested to see what Wade comes up with.
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I know they say they're over the no call but you know that's not 100% true. We will be playing with high emotions and coupled with the fact that A LOT of Who Dats are traveling to this game, I think they will feed off that and I think we will win. It will be a close one but the team doesn't have quit in them and they will find a way to win.
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I'm actually a little surprised this morning to see that the line is at 2.5 -3 points as a Rams favorite. So neutral field this would be an even matchup or even Saints favored slightly. I was expecting 3.5 favorite for Rams after our defensive performance.

I think the schedule (short week) and the emotional roller coaster that was Monday night played into the hands of the Rams. I still think we have a really good chance to win but this game is going to be as close to a playoff atmosphere as you can get in a week 2 game. If we survive it and get a W then you can say that this team is already battle tested only halfway through the first quarter of the season.
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Jared Goff aint Deshaun for one thing although the Rams will still pass on us. they arent as explosive.
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Goff is a pretty good QB when you can't apply pressure. With a solid pass rush though he becomes pedestrian at best. That is the key to the game IMO.
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It would surprise me if SP hasn't looked at last year's SB film to see what the Pats did to them to get some insight to slow them down.
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(Quoting the short week take)
This.

Emotional victories are a thing. They're draining to a team for some reason, and usually results in coming out flat in the next game.

We can't sleep walk in the first half against the high powered Rams, or we will be playing catch up the whole game. That turns into one of those "too little, too late" games. Falling short on the score board.

Hopefully since its the beginning of the season and they're fresh, it's not too draining on the Saints. Probably need two turnovers in this game to grab a victory.
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My guess is that Sean has saved a few wrinkles for this game. I think the Saints will be fired up for revenge. Hopefully that is enough to overcome the short week and travel.
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(Quoting getting pressure on Goff)
I think a well-rested David Onyemata might having something to say on the matter.
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We have to go into this one with low expectations. The league office really really wants us to lose. It was hard enough to survive another ref mistake playing at home. We know there will be mistakes this week too.

I hope I can get it on the DVR. In case I can't will people who watched the @Panthers game on the internet please chime in on how the streaming sites fared? Thanks!

Rob Gronkowski Posts Cryptic Tweet After Patriots Clear Roster Spot

Immediately following the New England Patriots trade of Demaryius Thomas, retired tight end Rob Gronkowski added to the drama.

With an available roster spot following the trade, Gronkowski sent out the ‘eye emojis’ in a quick tweet.

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There is no context behind the tweet and it was not sent in reaction to anything else. The message was not immediately followed up by anything and for now, it is only speculation. But it certainly is an interesting message that soon after the Patriots traded away Thomas.

New England’s roster sits at 52 for the time being, with only two of those roster spots occupied by a tight end. With a need at the position and Gronkowski feeling as good physically as he has in years, this could be the perfect time for Gronkowski to make his return to the field.

Whether he would immediately be available is unlikely and he has previously noted it would take at least a month for Gronk to get himself back in playing shape. But if he were to begin those preparations now he could be ready by the start of October.

Patriots Tight End Situation

The Patriots have just two tight ends on the active roster at the moment — Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo.

Both were active for the season opener against the Steelers, though LaCosse never played a snap as he was limited during the week of practice still recovering from an ankle injury. It has been over a month now since he suffered an ankle injury in the Patriots’ preseason opener but LaCosse has still been dealing with the effects of his ailment.

As for Izzo, he looked good in a blocking posture but didn’t get a ton of looks in the receiving game. After missing all of 2018 to injury, Izzo made a late push for a roster spot and impressed over the latter half of preseason working with Tom Brady.

The Patriots still have Ben Watson to lean on when he returns from suspension. Watson also came out of retirement over the offseason and rejoined the Patriots, a team he started his NFL career with back in 2004.

Watson will be the team’s top tight end upon his return in Week 5, but until then the Patriots are patching things together at the position utilizing full back James Develin in an extended capacity as well.

The Jason Witten Effect?

Gronk would join Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten and his teammate Watson in players who recently came back out of retirement to rejoin the NFL.

Gronkowski needed some time to recover from a host of nagging injuries he sustained over the course of his career. Constantly taking heavy hits, Gronkowski’s hiatus from football and the offseason routine that goes with it was the best thing for him. Now, we wait to see if his comeback is actually closer than anyone ever expected.

Time to get ready for the Saints!

BAM!

First Look: Saints bringing one of NFL's most explosive offenses to Los Angeles for home opener

The Rams will look to move to 2-0 on the season with a win over the Saints in Sunday's home opener. The two teams split both matchups last season – New Orleans won 45-35 at home in the regular season, then Los Angeles came away with a 26-23 overtime victory in the NFC Championship to reach the Super Bowl.

In advance of the contest, here’s an early look at the Saints, including notable additions, their top statistical performers so far, where they rank in certain statistical categories and key storylines.

Notable additions

• Signed unrestricted free agent RB Latavius Murray to a four-year deal in March. Now in his sixth NFL season, Murray spent his first three years with the Oakland Raiders. After rushing for 788 yards and a career-best 12 touchdowns in his final year in Oakland, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent the last two seasons. He was effectively signed to replace Mark Ingram, who signed with the Ravens in the offseason after playing a complimentary role to starter Alvin Kamara over the last two years. Murray finished with 140 carries for 578 yards and six touchdowns in his final season in Minnesota, playing in all 16 games while starting in six.
• Signed unrestricted free agent DT Malcom Brown to a three-year deal in March. A 2015 first round pick out of Texas, Brown spent his first four NFL seasons with the Patriots, starting in 51 of the 60 games he appeared in and winning two Super Bowl rings. When starter Sheldon Rankins tore his ACL in the Saints' Divisional Round matchup against the Eagles last season, defensive tackle became a key need to address. Brown is listed as New Orleans' starting nose tackle.

Top performers in Week 1

QB Drew Brees completed 32 of 43 pass attempts for 370 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. His nine-yard completion to WR Ted Ginn with six seconds remaining set up kicker Wil Lutz's game-winning 58-yard field goal as time expired for a 30-28 win over the Texans on Monday Night Football.

Kamara led the Saints' backfield with 13 carries for 97 yards, adding seven receptions for 72 yards. However, Murray it was – six carries, 43 yards, one touchdown - who accounted for the first score by a New Orleans running back.

WR Michael Thomas posted 10 receptions for 123 yards, both game-highs. His 10 catches were second-most among all wide receivers in Week 1.

Defensively, CB Von Bell recorded a team-high seven tackles while CB Marshon Lattimore accounted for the Saints' lone interception.

On special teams, Lutz was 3 for 4 on field goal attempts, the lone miss coming on a 56-yard after an officiating gaffe. He converted on all three of his extra point attempts.

Rankings

Offense

• Points Per Game: Tied for 8th (30.0)
• Yards Per Game: 1st (510.0)
• Passing Yards Per Game: 7th (362.0)
• Rushing Yards Per Game: 7th (148.0)

Defense

• Points Allowed Per Game: Tied for 21st (27.0)
• Yards Allowed Per Game: 21st (414.0)
• Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 13th (234.0)
• Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 30th (180.0)

Early storylines to watch, and what they mean for the Rams

The Saints will have a shorter than usual week when it comes to game prep.

While it's not quite the same as the turnaround for a Thursday night game after playing on a Sunday, New Orleans will probably have a slightly condensed amount of time to prep thanks to playing on Monday Night Football in Week 1 and traveling to Los Angeles later this week.

Meanwhile, New Orleans' defensive line is the position to keep an eye on this week. Malcom Brown, Taylor Stallworth and Shy Tuttle were its only healthy, active interior defensive linemen, but the group is slated to get a boost this week with DT David Onyemata returning from a one-game suspension.

Whether the compacted schedule has an impact on Sunday's game remains to be seen, but the thin depth on the interior of the Saints' defensive line could create an advantage for the Rams' run game.

Jared Goff came a long way in his first three NFL seasons, evolving from a struggling rookie in 2016 to an MVP candidate last year.

But the quarterback who helped guide the Los Angeles Rams to a 24-8 record over the past two regular seasons has been replaced by an imposter of late. Goff has struggled royally under pressure going back to last postseason (including Super Bowl LIII) and hasn't had nearly the success on intermediate or deep passes that we've become accustomed to seeing.

Over his last four starts, dating back to the 2018 NFC Divisional Round, Goff has a 29.8 passer rating when under pressure, completing just 33.3 percent of his passes for zero touchdowns and two picks, per Next Gen Stats. While not necessarily known for his production under duress, Goff's track record while playing for head coach Sean McVay the previous two seasons (12:6 TD-to-INT ratio, 42.4 completion percentage, 67.6 passer rating) clearly suggests the QB is currently in a funk.

One of the reasons that appears to be holding back the former No. 1 overall pick more recently is the team's reduced use of play action. Goff has performed far better under pressure when throwing out of play action over his last four games, but against the Panthers on Sunday, the Rams ran play action on just 26.8 percent of their dropbacks -- down about 18 percent from the two-year average in 2017 and '18, per Next Gen Stats. Calling more play action won't alleviate all of Goff's struggles under pressure, but the data and tape show he's more comfortable, composed and effective throwing out of action concepts during those situations than taking traditional three- and five-step drops.

His recent regression on intermediate and deep throws has been more head-scratching and concerning, as the Rams often relied on these chunk plays as a catalyst for their offense. Next Gen Stats reveal that in his two full seasons under McVay, Goff completed 50.9 percent of his passes of 10-plus air yards (ranks 10th among qualifying QBs during that span), for 4,249 yards (4th), 11.4 yards per attempt (T-5th) and a 97.4 passer rating (15th).

Where has that quarterback been? In his last four games (2018 playoffs and Week 1 of 2019), the Ramspasser has mustered a disappointing 59.3 passer rating on those throws while managing just 8.7 yards per attempt and zero touchdowns against two picks, per NGS. In fact, Goff had the worst passer rating (18.8) of any quarterback in Week 1 on passes of 10-plus air yards, going 4 of 13 for 72 yards, including 0 for 4 on deep passes (20-plus air yards).

A lot of his miscues downfield are a direct result of poor mechanics. When taking a closer look at Sunday's performance, Goff's hips weren't open to the throw on a lot of his incompletions. His hips are naturally open to the right as a right-handed thrower, so he must be mechanically sound on throws to the left. On incompletions to the left -- there were several against Carolina -- Goff airmailed throws over open receivers because he didn't get his hips completely open to his target. When your hips are the issue, the throw feels good coming out of your hand and feels like it's right on the money -- until it's not.


Another area that gave Goff fits Sunday was the timing of his throws, most notably on his fourth-quarter interception. The fourth-year pro threw the ball afterRobert Woods broke his route, so the ball was delivered behind the receiver, making it easier for Panthers cornerback James Bradberry to make a play. Goff must throw with more anticipation, and the way to do that is to make a conscious effort to do it in practice. Peyton Manning used to talk about how he'd push the anticipation on throws to uncomfortable levels during practice because then the ball wouldn't be late in games.

In fairness to Goff, it was like Bradberry knew Woods was running a dig route. There's more than enough film on McVay at this point that he has to keep advancing his route concepts so they don't become stale. If defenders have an idea of what the Rams will run -- despite the smoke and mirrors -- McVay's unit won't produce numbers even close to last year's. The coach has the talent to innovate and push the envelope -- he just needs to continue to do what got him the job in the first place.

I'm confident that if McVay can continue to be the creative offensive mind that he is and Goff can work through his mechanical issues, the quarterback can get back to the level we saw during the 2018 regular season. Sunday's rematch of last year's wildly competitive (and controversial) NFC title game with the Saints should be quite telling about the direction Goff's season could go.

Packers @ #2???

I'll tell you what.... since the info came out on the "100" year festivities I've been fucking steaming. The Rams aren't highlighted at all this season in the celebratory season. The Rams are one of the oldest, most influential, and innovative teams in the history of the NFL. Yet... during this tribute season the Rams are not a focal point in one single game. Add to that their relevance in current NFL history. What a slap in the face to the franchise.

Anyone else notice this??? But hey!!! There are 2 LA Charger games featured!!!!



Here are the Featured 100 year Games of the Week.......



Week 1 (Sept. 5): Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, Thursday Night Football on NBC
The 2019 regular season kickoff features the NFL's oldest rivalry, which began in 1921. The Packershold the all-time edge in the series with a 96-94-6 record.
Week 2 (Sept. 16): Cleveland Browns at New York Jets, Monday Night Football, ESPN
A throwback to the first-ever game to air on MNF, which saw the Browns defeat the Jets 31-21 on Sept. 21, 1970.



Week 3 (Sept. 22): Dallas Cowboysat Miami Dolphins, FOX
The two teams met in Super Bowl VI, which was played at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. The Cowboys emerged with a 24-3 win over the Dolphins.
Week 4 (Sept. 29): Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins, CBS
The two teams squared off in the 1981 AFC Divisional Round and produced one of the most thrilling games in league history. Led by current CBS Sports analyst Dan Fouts, the Chargers pulled off a 41-38 win in overtime. Fouts completed 33 of 53 passes for 433 yards and three touchdowns with an interception in the win.
Week 5 (Oct. 6): Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans, CBS
Buffalo and Tennessee captivated audiences with the Music City Miracle in the 1999 playoffs. With 16 seconds remaining in the game and the Titans facing a 16-15 deficit, fullback Lorenzo Neal fielded a short kickoff, made a move to his right, and then handed the ball off to tight end Frank Wychek. The tight end took a few steps to his right before stopping, and then turned his body to the left and threw a lateral across the field to an uncovered wide receiver Kevin Dyson, who raced 75 yards down the left sideline untouched for the game-winning touchdown.
Week 6 (Oct. 10): New York Giants at New England Patriots, Thursday Night Football, FOX/NFL Network/Amazon
These two teams squared in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI, with Eli Manning and the Giants winning both games over Tom Brady and Co. The first of the two wins prevented the Patriots from becoming second undefeated team in NFL history.



Week 7 (Oct. 20): Oakland Raiders at Green Bay Packers, CBS
Two of the league's storied franchises met in Super Bowl II, which saw the Packers win a second straight championship by soundly defeating the Raiders, 33-14.
Week 8 (Oct. 27): Green Bay Packersat Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday Night Football, NBC
The Packers' first-ever Super Bowlchampionship came against the Chiefs in Super Bowl I. As for the present, this game also features a thrilling matchup between quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.
Week 9 (Nov. 3): Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs, FOX
The two clubs met in Super Bowl IV, with the Chiefs securing their first and only Super Bowl win behind Hank Stram's famous "65 Toss Power Trap" play.
Week 10 (Nov. 10): Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints, FOX
The two teams are bitter rivals, but the Saints' win on Sept. 25, 2006, brought out a lot of emotions with the reopening of the Superdome following the city-wide devastation from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Week 11 (Nov. 17): New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles, CBS
The two teams met in Super Bowls XXXIX and LII, with a split in the matchups. The last meeting produced the "Philly Special" and an Eagles' win behind backup QB Nick Foles.
Week 12 (Nov. 24): Oakland Raiders at New York Jets, CBS



Perhaps a sign of the times, but what happened on Nov. 17, 1968, when the game was cut off on the East Coast to show the film "Heidi" isn't likely to ever happen again.
Week 13 (Dec. 1): San Francisco 49ers at Baltimore Ravens, FOX
These two teams met in Super BowlXLVII, and the matchup at the Superdome featured brother versus brother (Jim and John Harbaugh) on opposing sidelines along with an infamous power blackout.
Week 14 (Dec. 8): Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns, CBS
The annual Battle of Ohio, which has the Bengals holding a 50-41 edge in the all-time series.
Week 15 (Dec. 16): Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints, Monday Night Football, ESPN
These two teams met in Super Bowl XLIV. From the head coach Asshole Face successfully calling an onside kick to open the second half to cornerback Tracy Porter's game-clinching 74-yard pick-six, this game produced memorable moments as the Saints marched on to secure their first championship.
Week 16 (Dec. 21 or 22): Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, airing TBD
The Raiders and Chargers produced the "Holy Roller" game in 1978 and the result forever changed the NFL's rule on an offense's ability to advance recovered fumbles. In the contest, Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler avoided a sack by throwing the football forward towards the goal line. Running back Pete Banasnak touched the ball, then used both hands to shove the football forward. Tight end Dave Casper then recovered the football in the end zone to give the Raiders a 21-20 win.

By: Steve Rebeiro | 2 hours ago


Sean McVay was known to use the same personnel on nearly all of the Rams’ offensive snaps during his first two years as head coach of the team. They would typically trot out three wide receivers, one running back, and one tight end, commonly known as “11” personnel.
Last season, the three receivers rarely subbed out, and other receivers rarely saw the field. Reynolds saw this first hand. He played on just 3.3% of snaps against the Saints in Week 9 when Cooper Kupp was healthy. After Kupp went down with an injury, Reynolds stepped up and played 97% of the snaps against Kansas City in Week 11.

It seems like McVay is finally switching things up in 2019. The big three dominated the snaps as usual: Kupp, Robert Woods, and Brandin Cooks all played between 90-95% of the team’s offensive snaps on Sunday. This time, Reynolds didn’t watch the game from the pine. He was on the field for 32% of the snaps.
The Rams began to sprinkle in “10” personnel, which replaces the tight end with a fourth receiver. They used that personnel grouping 15 times Sunday, or 27 percent, per Sharp Football. Two major reasons can be cited for the change: The notion that teams may have began to figure out McVay’s classic 11 personnel offense, and that Josh Reynolds simply earned some playing time while Kupp was out.
Unfortunately for Reynolds, the team was far less successful running 10 personnel. The offense averaged just 1.8 yards out of the formation, compared to 5.4 out of their usual 11 personnel, according to Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic. Reynolds may shoulder some of that blame. He failed to haul in either of his two targets on the day, and one of the missed targets was a drop on a wide-open short pass.
Don’t expect the Rams to completely phase out 10 personnel after one game. Reynolds is too talented to simply not play. It will take some time to find a groove in the personnel, but the Rams do need to switch things up occasionally with their sets on the field.

Keep a close eye on when Reynolds trots onto the field for the Rams on Sunday against the Saints. The pressure will be on for him to produce if he wants to keep a spot in the rotation.

Saw these two at the Superbowl in Atlanta.

Ran across this stat today.
He was amazing.

Orlando Pace had ELEVEN holding penalties 169 regular-season games.

Flying in on Saturday from Connecticut to watch the game this Sunday. Any ROD members going to be there tailgating ? Would like to join in, as always great talking Rams football. Can't wait to see the game, going to be a great one......

If Fowler keeps on playing the rest of the season as well as he did this past Sunday (And, Hopefully, He will!) is there anyway the Rams will be able to afford to re-sign him?