Does NFL Reddit Partnership Mean Streams Will Be Shut Down Like NBA's Soon?

The league has added Reddit Inc. as one of its new digital marketing platforms. This new collaboration is set to take advantage of the “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) feature that Reddit has become renowned for. Reddit will also feature video content featuring league players and personalities.

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The AMA’s will allow players to express and showcase their unique viewpoints and personalities, according to NFL vice president of digital media business development Blake Stuchin.

“Generally, the participants will be representing themselves, first and foremost, and not necessarily the views of the NFL,” Stuchin said, per Sahil Patel of The Wall Street Journal. “But the bulk of the conversations we have seen on Reddit, and the bulk of what people generally want to talk about, is core football. Anything beyond that, it’s really no different than the comments we see on any user-generated or social platform.”

While access to players and new league-branded content may be exciting news, it begs the question of what will become of the Reddit page entitled NFLStreams.

The channel provides streams, often provided by Reddit users themselves, to any televised NFL game free of charge. It’s a particularly attractive option to football fans who don’t have the Sunday Ticket package (which remains exclusive to DirectTV) or have decided to cut the cord entirely.

With the NFL directly involved with Reddit, some have worried that NFLStreams could suffer a similar fate to its NBA counterpart. NBAStreams had over 400,000 subscribers tuning into the streams, mostly of games whose only national option was the NBA League Pass package.

NBAStreams was shut down in June for violation of Reddit’s “Repeat Copyright Infringement Policy”. Such a policy reads…

Our policy is to close the accounts of users, in appropriate circumstances, who have repeatedly been charged with copyright infringement. Sometimes a repeat infringement problem is limited to one user and we close just that user’s account. Other times, the problem pervades a whole subreddit community and we close the subreddit.

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It’s great to see that the NFL is branching out a new, growing social media platform. Whether it spells the end of the channel remains to be seen. But with piracy prevention taking on a larger importance and role in today’s digital media world, it may be time for fans who relied on such a service to start worrying, especially with the NFL directly involved with Reddit.

Jared Goff was 0-7 under Jeff Fisher and considered a bust. Sean McVay comes in and in 2 years, Goff is 24-7 and 2-2 in the playoffs and in the Pro Bowl. I am of the belief that the LA Rams will win more than one super bowl under McVay. But the vast contrast in coaching shows how big a difference coaching makes. Does Jerry Rice make the HOF in Detroit or Cleveland? Maybe not. I'm still ticked off that one call in the SB (Gurley's big run called back) may have turned the game in NE's favor but I'm pleased that the Rams are a contender and not mopping the basement of the NFC west.

Opposing View: Panthers coach Ron Rivera sees Rams game as measuring stick for his team

The 2019 regular season opener feels very similar to 2015 for Panthers head coach Ron Rivera.

During the latter campaign, Carolina faced defending NFC Champion Seattle in Week 5 and won 27-23. It helped spark the Panthers to an eventual franchise-best 15-1 regular season record.

Thus, from Rivera’s perspective, Sunday’s home game against Los Angeles presents itself as an identical opportunity to see how his team measures up to the NFC’s best.

“The way I’ve always approached it, and the way we’ve talked about it with our players, going into the 2015 season, it was about being able to play with Seattle,” Rivera told reporters this week. “This is a test now to see if we can play with the Rams.”

According to Rivera, the best chance of doing that will come down to how well the Panthers adapt to the Rams’ schemes on offense, defense and special teams.

Head coach Sean McVay has helped the Rams produce top-10 offenses in each of his last two seasons, most recently finishing second in both total offense with 421.1 yards per game and scoring offense with 32.3 points per contest in 2018. Given that success, it's understandable that Rivera said he studied some Rams film from McVay’s first season in 2017 as part of his preparation for this weekend’s game.

McVay has accomplished those feats largely with the same personnel grouping, too: the NFL’s Next Gen Stats shared on Twitter earlier this summer that L.A. used 11 personnel – 1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR – on at least 90 percent of their offensive snaps last year. Furthermore, the Rams have only used five personnel packages on offense over the last two seasons, according to the same account.

“I think it’s a big chess match, more so than anything else, in all three phases, just because of who they are and who they’ve been the last couple of years,” Rivera said. “When Coach McVay got there, you really got a sense as to what they were becoming and last year you knew what they are, but he’s one of those guys that’s constantly evolving and changing and looking at different ways to do things.”

Defensively, Rivera expressed appreciation for Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and the success he’s had heading into his 50thseason coaching in the NFL.

Smart, athletic safeties, physical cornerbacks, interior and edge pressure and a smart inside linebacker are what Rivera described as the hallmarks of a Phillips-led unit.

“He’s always had really quality players at the key positions,” Rivera said. “If you can get those six elements, I think you can be successful and he’s been able to do that.”

When the Panthers defeated the Seahawks in the regular season four years ago, it contributed to a 14-game win streak and eventual trip to Super Bowl 50.

Games like this have been a good indicator of future success for the Panthers. On Sunday, they’ll find out if they can recreate some of their 2015 prosperity.

“It’s definitely a challenge, and it’s a good opportunity to find out where we are as a football team,” Rivera said.

By: Cameron DaSilva | 9 hours ago


As a Super Bowl contender once again, the Los Angeles Rams enter the 2019 season with sky-high expectations. They have one of the best rosters in the NFL from quarterback to punter, boasting Pro Bowlers at several positions.
As is the case with every team, though, there are certain strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Rams have excellent depth and talent at wide receiver, but on the interior offensive line, there’s some concern.

Ahead of Week 1, we’ve graded every position group on the roster, beginning with the quarterbacks.

Quarterback – Grade: A-
The Rams should feel very comfortable about their quarterback situation in 2019. Jared Goff just signed…




Running back – Grade: A
Few backfields have as much talent as the Rams. Todd Gurley is the starter and should…




Wide receiver – Grade: A+
From top to bottom, the Rams have the best wide receiver group in the NFL. Their…




Tight end ¬– Grade: B-
Tyler Higbee just received an extension, which might complicate things for Gerald Everett and his playing…




Tackle – Grade: A
Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein are just about as good as a pair of tackles can…



Guard/Center – Grade: C
Arguably the biggest weakness on the entire roster is on the interior offensive line. Joseph Noteboom…





Defensive tackle – Grade: A+
Aaron Donald is the best defensive player in the NFL right now and has been for…




Defensive end – Grade: B-
Michael Brockers doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher but he remains a decent run defender.…




Nose tackle – Grade: C+
Based on potential, nose tackle deserves a higher grade. But given the lack of proven talent…




Outside linebacker – Grade: B
Dante Fowler Jr. and Clay Matthews is a formidable duo with a chance to be really…





Inside linebacker – Grade: C+
Bryce Hager will start next to Cory Littleton, which isn’t great news for the Rams. Fortunately,…




Cornerback – Grade: A-
Marcus Peters struggled last season when Aqib Talib wasn’t on the field, but both are healthy…

more


Safety – Grade: A
Eric Weddle comes aboard as a leader in the secondary, pairing with John Johnson III to…

more


Special teams – Grade: A+
Greg Zuerlein is one of the most reliable kickers in the league, Johnny Hekker can flip…

I'm looking at the ROD countdown and noticing that it has the Rams - Panthers game as a 2 PM PDT start. I believe this game is an early game.

Sports

Brad Tuttle,Money Thu, Sep 5 10:13 AM EDT


The 2019 NFL season kicks off this week, with a special “Thursday Night Football” game: Packers vs. Bears. A full schedule of NFL action follows, with games on Sunday, September 8, such as Rams vs. Panthers, Chiefs vs. Jaguars, Giants vs. Cowboys, and Steelers vs. Patriots.
Every week, fans may be wondering a few things: What’s the NFL game schedule this week? What channel are the NFL games on? And: How can I watch NFL games (online) for free?
Figuring out the answers to these questions can sometimes be confusing. How and where you can watch NFL games can change from week to week depending on what networks and streaming services have broadcast rights. Among the spots you’ll find NFL games are old standards NBC, CBS, and Fox, as well as ESPN, NFL Network, and even Amazon Prime Video.
It’s easy to watch NFL games if you have cable or another pay TV package. But what if you’ve cut the cord or simply want to watch NFL games online — for free, ideally?
Here’s everything you need to know — and possibly, a few products and services you’ll want to buy or try out during free trials — to watch NFL games during the 2019 season.

HDTV Antenna
You don’t need cable to watch Sunday afternoon NFL games featuring your local team, nor do you need cable or another pay TV subscription to watch NFL games broadcast nationally by NBC. That includes “Sunday Night Football” games like the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots on Sunday, September 8, as well as the 2019 NFL season opener: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears on a special “Thursday Night Football” NBC broadcast on September 5.
Sunday afternoon NFL games are broadcast in local markets on either CBS or Fox. If an NFL game is airing locally on CBS, Fox, or NBC, you don’t need cable to tune in. All you need in these situations to watch the NFL for free is a digital antenna (along with a TV, of course).
A digital antenna, or HDTV antenna, is the modern equivalent of an old-fashioned “rabbit ears” antenna, and it’s a must-have purchase if you’re hoping to watch NFL games on TV without cable. Connect a digital antenna to your TV and it will tune in local affiliates of free, over-the-air networks, including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, CW, PBS, Telemundo, and more.
Plug your address into the FCC’s website or AntennaWeb.org for an estimate of what free broadcast TV channels you’ll be able to watch with an antenna. In most of the country, you should be able to get most or all of the major broadcast networks (in hi-def), though what you can watch for free on TV also depends on the strength of your antenna and where the antenna is positioned in your home. (Because you may want to try the antenna in multiple positions to tune in the most channels, it helps to have a long coaxial cable cord.)
You can buy a good HDTV antenna for under $30, and yes it should allow you to watch plenty of NFL games this season for free. The top-selling product in the category at Amazon is an indoor TV antenna from BuKee, which has a range of 65-120 miles and comes with a 16-foot coaxial cord. It is listed for $29.99.

Another solid model that’s slightly cheaper is the 1byOne amplified digital TV antenna. It’s priced at $27.99, and it’s the third-best-seller at Amazon. It has a range up to 80 miles, comes with a 10-foot coaxial cord, and boasts over 6,000 customer reviews at Amazon (and roughly 75% of them are four-star or five-star).

For a more basic dirt-cheap option, check out the Mohu Mini HDTV antenna (under $18 at Walmart), or the AmazonBasics indoor flat TV antenna, which costs $16.99 and comes with a 10-foot cord.

The range for the Mohu antenna is only 25 miles, and AmazonBasics’ range is 35 miles, so these products may only be a good idea if you live in a major metropolitan area in close proximity to lots of broadcast TV stations.

Free NFL Game Broadcasts on Locast
If you don’t have a TV, or would rather watch NFL games online for whatever reason, check out Locast.org. It’s a free service that lets you stream local broadcast network channels — including affiliates of NBC, CBS, and Fox, which are showing NFL games all season long — with no upfront cost or monthly fees.
Right now, Locast is available only in 13 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. So it’s hardly national. But it’s obviously a great deal if you’re lucky enough to live in an area with Locast. While Locast is totally free to use, the service does ask that users consider making a donation to keep it alive and help it expand.

Amazon Prime Membership
While the 2019 NFL season’s first “Thursday Night Football” is on NBC, Thursday games scheduled later in the season are airing on a combination of the NFL Network, Fox broadcast stations (free with an antenna), and Amazon Prime Video (free if you’re a Prime member).
Starting on Thursday, September 26, with the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers game, and stretching through Thursday, December 12 (Jets vs. Ravens), you can live stream “Thursday Night Football” games with Amazon Prime. All you need to do to watch these NFL games online for free is sign in to your Amazon Prime account and go to Prime Video.
If you don’t have Amazon Prime, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here, assuming you’re a new subscriber. With Prime membership, you access free NFL live streams of 11 different games being played on Thursday nights this season.

Free NFL Live Streams on Mobile Apps
Download the NFL App or the Yahoo Sports mobile app and you’ll be able to live stream many NFL games this season with your phone (or, in some cases, a tablet). Specifically, these apps let you live stream NFL games that are broadcasting locally in your area on Sunday afternoons, and NFL games airing nationally on broadcast networks, such as “Sunday Night Football” on NBC.
Basically, these mobile apps give you a free live stream of any NFL game that you’d otherwise be able to watch for free on TV with just a digital antenna. Bear in mind that you cannot use these mobile apps to stream games on a laptop or smart TV — they only work on smartphones and smaller screens.

Live Streaming TV Packages
Several live-streaming TV services come with local broadcast network TV, as well as the NFL Network and ESPN, in their channel bundles. ESPN is particularly important for NFL fans, because that’s the only place you can watch “Monday Night Football.” If you don’t have cable and want to watch “Monday Night Football” online for free, you can sign up for a free trial of a live-streaming TV service that includes ESPN in packages.
Here are live-streaming TV services to consider if you’re wondering how to watch NFL games online this season:
• AT&T Now: Includes broadcast network TV and ESPN from $50/month after free trial
• FuboTV: Includes broadcast network TV and NFL Network, from $55/month after free trial
• Hulu + Live TV: Includes broadcast network TV and ESPN, from $45/month after free trial
• PlayStation Vue: Includes broadcast network TV, ESPN, and NFL Network, from $45/month after free trial
• Sling TV: Includes ESPN and free antenna, from $25/month
• YouTube TV: Includes local broadcast network TV and ESPN, from $50/month after free trial
For these and all services that come with free trials for new subscribers, it’s up to you to remember to cancel before the trial ends if you do not want to become a paying subscriber. If you miss the deadline, you’ll be charged in full for the first month of the service.

NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL Game Pass
All of the options above work if you’re trying to watch NFL games being broadcast locally on network TV, or games broadcast nationally like NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.” If instead you want to watch an “out-of-network” NFL game on a Sunday afternoon — for example, if you want to watch the Dallas Cowboys and live nowhere near Texas — the only real option is to sign up for a special NFL viewing package.
There are two main options:
• NFL Game Pass lets you stream or watch any NFL game as soon as the main broadcast ends. In other words, you can’t use Game Pass to watch NFL games live. It costs $99.99 for the season, after a free seven-day trial. 2)
• NFL Sunday Ticket lets you watch all out-of-market NFL games live, online or on TV. If you live in an area that does not offer DirecTV, you can sign up for the NFL Sunday Ticket live-streaming service for $73.49 per month or $293.36 for the entire season. If you live in an area where DirecTV is available, you’ll have to subscribe to DirecTV to get NFL Sunday Ticket, which is included with some of the service’s packages at no extra charge.
We’ve included affiliate links into this article. Click here to learn what those are.

How to Watch NFL Games for Free Without Cable in 2019: Everything You Need to Know

Plus all the streaming services with NFL games.

www.yahoo.com

Seahawks let Russell Wilson call plays in final preseason game

Since Russell Wilson wasn’t playing in the Seahawks’ final preseason game against the Oakland Raiders last week, head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer gave him a different task for the night.

Wilson took over the play-calling duties from Schottenheimer for a couple of series in the second quarter and called the team to a touchdown drive and a three-and-out in his two drives in charge.

“I was ready, I was thinking, ‘let’s go.’ He told me in the second quarter at some point I could call plays,” Wilson said on Thursday.

Wilson called a deep ball to undrafted rookie Jazz Fergusonthat went for a 41-yard completion from Geno Smith. Three plays later, Smith hit tight end Jacob Hollister for an 11-yard touchdown as Wilson ran on the field to celebrate the drive. Wilson said it was a new experience hearing the back and forth of the entire coaching staff running through the headsets as he was trying to call plays.

“The cool part is listening to the coaches,” he said. “I just have my headset on, so me and Schotty are usually talking, or I’m talking to him on the sideline or whatever that may be. But to hear all the other coaches talking and communicating on the headsets and all that, and me being able to say, “hey we’re going to do this here,” or “we’re going to look for Jazz here. Just communicate what we’re looking for, it was fun, it was a cool experience. To throw a touchdown on my first OC experience was pretty cool, so it was awesome.”

The second drive didn’t go quite as well as Smith was sacked and knocked out of the game with a minor knee injury. Schottenheimer said Wilson handled the experience calling plays well but quickly joked that Wilson’s time with the play sheet may not have been all roses just because they got a touchdown out of it.

“If you ask him, he did great. I like to say, ‘yeah, you had a touchdown pass, but you also got Geno [Smith] knocked out of the game.’ So, it’s not that easy of a thing to do,” Schottenheimer said with a laugh.

“He did a good job and that shows you where he’s growing, and how much more comfortable he is now. It was fun to see him compete in that realm.”

Wilson’s play-calling will be relegated to changing plays in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage instead of with a play sheet in his hand now that the regular season is set to get underway this weekend.

Rams’ defense braces for playmaking Panthers backfield

A quarterback who can make plays with his legs is nothing new in today’s NFL. Neither is a running back capable of catching passes out of the backfield or while lined up out wide.

What is rare, however, is an NFL team that has both.

The Carolina Panthers are one of those teams, which means starting QB Cam Newton and RB Christian McCaffrey will have complete attention of the Rams' front seven on Sunday.

“Just playmakers,” Los Angeles DT Aaron Donald said of the duo.

Since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Panthers in 2011, Newton has tallied 58 rushing touchdowns – most by a quarterback since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. His total touchdowns (240) and total yards (33,277) rank third by an NFL quarterback through his first eight seasons.

As a rookie, Newton’s 4,051 passing yards set a then-NFL record previously held by Peyton Manning. He also became the first rookie in NFL history to eclipse 400 passing yards in his first career start.

“Cam (Newton) has been the MVP of the league,” Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “He says he feels like a rookie now, which is kind of scary because he had some great years – even his rookie year was a heck of a year.”

McCaffrey, meanwhile, set the set Panthers single-season records for most receptions (107) and scrimmage yards (1,965) by any player last season. He also set single-season records for most receiving yards (867), receiving touchdowns (6), and receiving first downs (41) by a running back.

This was all accomplished in just his second NFL season.

“(McCaffrey) did a lot of things outside of the backfield,” Donald said. “They’re always trying to find ways to get him the ball.”

Phillips has faced Newton once before, as the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos when they defeated the Panthers 24-10 to capture Super Bowl 50 in 2015.

The 2019 Panthers are a different team and this is a different time, so it’s tough to take anything away from that contest four years ago, according to Phillips. However, it’s fair to say their backfield looks different, and Phillips is well aware of the tests both Newton and McCaffrey will present.

“It will be a big challenge for us, but we’re looking forward to it,” Phillips said.

By: Steve Rebeiro | 5 hours ago


The Los Angeles Rams have been handing out contract extensions like candy on Halloween this week. Two surprise contract extensions were handed out over the past few days.

First, the team handed quarterback Jared Goff the most guaranteed money in NFL history. While the timing of the decision was a surprise, the move itself was not. The real shocker came the following morning when the team announced a four year extension with tight end Tyler Higbee worth up to $36 million. It was a major payday for the fourth-year tight end who has less than 700 career receiving yards.

These extensions came less than a year after the team handed out massive extensions to Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, and Brandin Cooks. And it doesn’t seem like the Rams have plans to stop anytime soon. When asked about possible extensions for Cory Littleton and Marcus Peters, McVay acknowledged that talks are ongoing.
“Those are conversations that continue to go on,” McVay said regarding the two defensive players in contract years. “I’m not exactly sure where we’re at with those just because we’re so busy and getting involved in the preparation for Carolina. Those are two guys that I know there is ongoing dialogue with them.”
It’s not surprising that the Rams want to extend the defensive duo. Littleton was the most improved player on the team last season and is the leader of the Rams’ linebacking core. Peters had a rollercoaster of a season last year, but the highs outweighed the lows and there’s no denying his talent. But what would it take to extend either guy?

The team would likely have to pony up a ton of money to extend Peters. Cornerback is one of the most lucrative positions in the NFL. 17 players will make eight figures in 2019, and the position has the fourth largest franchise tag in the NFL. Peters has been a hit or miss player at a position that the Rams have been able to replace in the past. While the Rams would love to keep him and Peters seems like he would love to stay, it’s hard to imagine both sides coming to an agreement they would be happy with. Peters is almost a guarantee to make at least $10 million annually on his next contract. He might as well play it out.

Littleton is a bit more interesting. Inside linebacker is a far less lucrative position, with just seven players making eight figures. It might be a good time for both sides to make a deal. Littleton was a solid player for the Rams last season, but was far from perfect. The Rams likely need him more than anyone else does. If Littleton is willing to take an extension in the $6 million per year range, it would be wise for the Rams to jump on it. It would make sense for everyone involved and give Littleton a nice pay raise.

Then again, a tight end with 60 career receptions was just given top 10 tight end money, so who really knows how much either of these players will make.

Yes, the wizards over at our favorite network predict that the Rams will lose their first three games and that the Saints in Week 2 will smack us around: 27-3. I don't think so!

Daniel Roberts 6 hours ago


Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on NFL TV rights, Zeke Elliott, and politics



The NFL kicks off its 100th season on Thursday, and grabbing audience attention will be more crucial for the league than ever, as its current broadcast rights deals with CBS, NBC, Fox, and ESPN all expire in 2022.

Last season, NFL ratings bounced back after two years in a row of declines, finishing up 5% from 2017 with an average 15.8 million viewers per game. That’s still down from the average 18.8 million viewers of 2015, which many pundits speculate might have been the peak, with cord-cutting growing and more competition for eyeballs than ever before.
But even if NFL ratings have peaked, the league still pulls more viewership than anything else on live television—and it isn’t close. Of the top 100 live broadcasts in 2018, 64 were NFL games.

Those are the kind of stats league executives will bring to the table in the imminent negotiations with networks (and with streaming players like Amazon and Facebook) over how much NFL rights packages are worth.
“This is the best I’ve ever seen it in presenting the NFL right now,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Yahoo Finance on Wednesday. “All television has had diminished viewership; the NFL has disproportionately not had that kind of drop off. Our television is actually stronger than it has ever been. That will serve us well when we are renegotiating our agreements with all the networks.”

The league will surely end up getting more money from its new TV contracts than it did last time around—that’s how these renewals work. So, how much more?
Jones thinks the NFL could get 50% more.

Why? The tide of sports betting legalization. In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting, leaving states free to legalize sports betting in their own state. Ten states did so, joining Nevada, which already had it. There is now some form of legal sports betting in: Nevada; New Jersey; New York; Delaware; Mississippi; West Virginia; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; Indiana; Iowa; and Arkansas.




Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones welcomes fans to his team's opening practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Oxnard, Calif., Saturday, July 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)

“Betting and wagering has been an integral part of the NFL for a long time through individuals, in various forms, making their wagers, my town against your town,” says Jones. “But it’s always to the benefit of the viewership. The viewership is where our numbers will increase. People will stay longer. That value is how our sport will benefit from gaming. I dare say that gaming will increase the value of television, of presenting our games, I dare say it will go up 50% because of the gaming concentration.”
Of course, Jones is talking his book. Of course an NFL team owner is bullish on NFL broadcast rights, and thinks the NFL should get paid much more for its games than in the past.
But Jones is referencing a popular truism: that people watch more games when they bet on those games. (Fantasy sports operators like DraftKings and FanDuel make the same argument: that fantasy football is good for viewership.) Numerous surveys support that. Americans are more likely to watch a sports event if they have financial skin in the game.
That means the current momentum of sports betting legalization in America is hypothetically good for the NFL, and by extension, good for NFL viewership.
Still, a 50% spike is quite a stretch. The NFL currently brings in around $5 billion per year from its TV deals; Jones is forecasting that could rise to $7.5 billion.
The media world won’t have to wait long to find out if he’s right—last time around, the league announced its new deals in 2011, two years before they had been set to expire. That means we could see the new contracts hammered out as soon as 2020.

—

Goff starts at 3:45 Interesting comments and good time on our guys.

What do you think?

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Football is back, baaaaaabbbbbyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!

First of all, we can’t handle another sticky... and he wouldn’t want one.

Primetime has retired.

We (ROD admins) didn’t have a “falling out” or nothing weird. We stay in touch and also miss him here.

He wanted to retire fast so he wouldn’t feel the draw to stay. He has hobbies to focus on.

We were planning an announcement but never did. I don’t know... speaking for myself, I didn’t want to make this announcement. But very happy for him. He’s a cool dude and we owe him a debt of thanks.

Cheers!

Finally. Planted two trees 6 years ago and have had flowers on both for the last few years but no fruit. This year only one flower between the two trees so I decided to hand pollinate it. Pawpaws are finicky in that the male and female parts of the flower are not in sync so best bet is another unrelated pawpaw tree that isn't in sync. My son and I kayaked to a small grove of wild ones on the river and I was able to get a flower with pollen in it to take home. Used a Q-tip and ended up getting a cluster of five pawpaws that thinned to four. When I went to check today the cluster was on the ground and only three pawpaws to be found. I think a squirrel got the other one. This tree was the Mango variety and it lived up to the name. Better than any mango I've ever tried and the usual rich custard like texture of the pawpaw. Incredible flavor. First one my wife ever tried and now wants to make pawpaw ice-cream and smoothies next year. I'll be hand pollinating from now on.

The NFL's oldest rivalry kicks off the league's 100th season on Thursday night

The National Football League kicking off the season on Thursday nights has become so commonplace that non-football fans have gotten used to it. Normally, the Super Bowl champion from the previous season headlines the Thursday night opener (in some cases it's a Super Bowl rematch). But this year the league decided to change things up. In celebration of the NFL's 100th anniversary season, the league has decided to showcase its oldest rivalry instead. The Chicago Bears will host the Green Bay Packers as the NFL's "Black and Blue" division will be on display.

The Bears are coming off a 12-4 campaign in 2018. They won their first NFC North title and made their first playoff appearance since 2010. Although they lost in the Wild Card Round to the Philadelphia Eagles, they showed the football world that Chicago is a force to be reckoned with again. The Packers posted a 6-9-1 record last season and missed the playoffs for the second straight year. The team did deal with some injuries, but ultimately it was a 1-5 stretch during November and early December that caused the front office to remove Mike McCarthy as head coach with four weeks left in the season.

Interim head coach Joe Philbin was not retained either. The Packers are looking for a fresh start under new head coach Matt LaFleur, who spent the previous two seasons as the offensive coordinator for both the Los Angeles Rams (2017) and the Tennessee Titans (2018). The matchup between LaFleur and Bears head coach Matt Nagy should be quite the chess match, especially since both teams evenly splitlast year's meetings.


Green Bay at Chicago

Kickoff: Thursday, Sept. 5 at 8:20 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Spread: Bears -3.5

Three Things to Watch

1. Defenses could take center stage

Many fans are hoping for a shootout between Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (62.3 completion percentage, 4,442 passing yards, 25 TDs in 2018) and Bears counterpart Mitchell Trubisky (66.6 percent, 3,223 yards, 24 TDs). But I don't expect that to be the case. The Bears return just about all of their talent (with some nice additions) from last year's dominant defense (league-leading 17.7 ppg allowed) which finished as the NFL's best unit. Khalil Mack (12.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for a loss last year), Akiem Hicks (14.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks), Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan (combined for 224 tackles), Eddie Jackson, and Kyle Fuller (combined for 13 interceptions and 36 pass deflections) and company are back to prove that last year was no fluke.

New additions to this defense include former Packer and Redskins safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (14 career INT's) and cornerback Buster Skrine (9 career picks), along with rookie cornerback Duke Shelley (12 tackles in the preseason), and rookie linebacker Josh Woods (23 tackles, 3 TFLs, sack in preseason). The only major change is that former Indianapolis head coach (2012-17) Chuck Pagano replaces Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator. Pagano's version of the 3-4 is similar to Fangio's so there shouldn't be too many changes.

The Packers (allowed 25.0 ppg in 2018) hope to improve on defense after heavily investing in the linebacker position and the secondary this offseason. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was retained by LaFleur so his 4-3, 3-4 hybrid scheme is still in place. Pettine has several fresh faces at linebacker this year, including first-round pick (12th overall) Rashan Gary and seventh-round selection Ty Summers, along with free-agent signings Za'Darius Smith (18.5 career sacks with the Baltimore Ravens from 2015-18) and Preston Smith – no relation – (167 career tackles, 24.5 career sacks). They join Blake Martinez, the anchor in the middle who led the team with 144 tackles in 2018. The big addition in the secondary is safety Adrian Amos, a former Bear (2015-18) who signed a four-year, $37 million contract in free agency.

2. Coaches and quarterbacks

This storyline will get the most attention albeit for different reasons. Trubisky and Nagy are entering their second season together. Trubisky flourished under Nagy's guidance last year, and now Bears fans are hoping that the No. 2 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft can take it to the next level. Rodgers had been paired with Mike McCarthy for his entire career. But entering his 15th season, all eyes will be watching to see how the veteran and rookie head coach work together.

LaFleur has 10 years of NFL coaching experience but this is his first shot at being a head coach on any level. LaFleur's arrival also means a new offense for Rodgers and the Packers as a whole. Under McCarthy, the Packers essentially ran the NFL's version of the no-huddle/shotgun/spread offense that we see dominating college football. This offense gave Rodgers plenty of control at the line of scrimmage, especially when it came to audibles and calling his own plays. LeFleur's playbook has elements of the West Coast offense that's seen success at both the pro and college levels, and he's promised that the Packers will run the ball more often in 2019 after finishing 22nd in that department (104.2 ypg) last season.

We all know that Rodgers loves to throw the ball early and often, but it's also been documented that the previous offense left Rodgers open to unnecessary hits at times. LaFleur's system should help prevent some of the injuries that Rodgers has endured in recent seasons, but the more important aspect moving forward will be the relationship between quarterback and head coach.

3. The nationally televised spotlight

This will be the first of several national billings for these teams this year. After the opener the Bears will be on "Monday Night Football" in Week 3 (Sept. 23 at Washington), "Sunday Night Football" in Week 11 (Nov. 17 at Los Angeles Rams), they open up the Thanksgiving Day schedule in Week 13 (Nov. 28 at Detroit), return to Thursday night the following week (Dec. 5 vs. Dallas), and have one more Sunday night matchup in Week 16 (Dec. 22 vs. Kansas City).

The Packers will be back under the Thursday night lights in Week 4 (Sept. 26 vs. Philadelphia), they'll be on MNF two weeks later (Oct. 14 vs. Detroit), they hit the road for an intriguing Week 8 Sunday night matchup with Kansas City (Oct. 27), and return to the Monday night spotlight in Week 16 right before Christmas (Dec. 23 at Minnesota). The NFL is doing things right by featuring these teams prominently during its 100th season.

Final Analysis

These teams split their two meetings last season with both winning on their home fields. Green Bay has a commanding 15-4 edge in this rivalry since 2010. But Chicago is 9-5 in its last 14 games at Soldier Field, outscoring opponents 331-227 in those contests. With a sellout crowd expected as the NFL kicks off its 100th season and with franchise legends Walter Payton and George Halas being honored with statues before the game, the Bears will have plenty of motivation. This will be a defensive battle, but the defending NFC North champions find a way to pull out a slim victory on their home field.

Prediction: Bears 17, Packers 14

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Sorry I can’t figure out how to post them. But I figured since the absence of Prime I would do it this week. Seems like they’re confident. Just like every other fan base lol

In terms of being a steady annual SB contender, anyway.

Here’s why.

Kroenke. A wealthy hands-off owner that let’s his people each do their thing.
Demoff. Masterful cap management always positioning the Rams to make bold moves when opportunities arise. Young, should be around for years.
Snead. Terrific talent evaluator even with middle to late picks, plus UDFA’s. Is seemingly in a mind-meld with McVay. Should be around for years.
McVay. What’s left to say about McVays leadership and coaching ability? Wouldn’t trade him for ANYONE. Should be around for years.
Marvelous asst coaching staff. These guys are teachers and developers par none.
Loaded roster. And it will likely remain loaded, given the above.

I could see the above improving with experience together.

Sooooo...

I've been watching th weather channel and NOAA Satelitte. Looks like there will be lots of rain. will that affect how McVay game plans? Login to view embedded media

How bold is too bold? Never bold enough when we’re talkin bold predictions!

By Sean Wilkinson@Papa_Lurch Sep 5, 2019, 10:00am CDT



Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
Football is back, baby. We all get hyped and some of us (myself included) go overboard with predictions. Usually my friends and family try to rein me in, but where’s the fun in that?

Here are three unabashed bold predictions that my loved ones would proudly roll their eyes at as the Los Angeles Rams get ready to open the 2019 regular season by traveling to face the Carolina Panthers in Week 1:

DL Aaron Donald gets at least three sacks
Given how amazing AD is, this almost doesn’t feel bold enough. Donald has four games in his career where he has achieved three or more sacks, and he could be primed for another on Sunday.
On top of attending training camp for the first time in three years, Donald looks as explosive as ever and is still in his prime. Panthers QB Cam Newton having a foot injury only makes me drool more over this matchup.

RB Todd Gurley gets 20+ touches
There’s been a lot of commotion regarding Gurley - specifically his knee - this offseason. The Rams matched an offer sheet for RB Malcolm Brown then brought in RB Darrell Henderson Jr.via the 2019 NFL Draft. They followed that up with generous rest during training camp. So as much as the Rams say they aren’t worried about it...they clearly are.
Despite all that, I still believe Gurley will touch the ball 20+ times. I believe he’ll also be used as a distraction while sharing the backfield with Henderson, but there isn’t a way to quantify that.

Rams win by two touchdowns
The Rams have been tabbed by pundits to regress in 2019, and I think Rams Head Coach Sean McVay will have his team thirsty to prove itself again. I think that combined with Cam being <100% leads to a big win on opening weekend for the Rams.

The Rams estimated value of $3.8b represents a 19% increase since last season.

By Skye Sverdlin@Skyeattolah Sep 5, 2019, 11:00am CDT


Photo by Scott Varley/MediaNews Group/Daily Breeze via Getty Images

In the annual Forbes NFL team valuation rankings, the Los Angeles Rams once again were ranked fourth with an estimated value of $3.8b which represents a 19% increase since last season. They currently trail the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and New York Giantsin value. The Giants were estimated to be worth $3.9b, so it seems conceivable that Rams could leapfrog them and maybe even the Patriots at $4.1b next season when they open their new stadium in Inglewood, California.

It’s a jump up from late July in Forbes’ international sports franchise rankings where the Rams were valued at $3.2b.
This ranking represents continuous league-wide growth, as well as a massive bump following the teams return to Los Angeles in 2016. In 2015, the Rams final season in St Louis, the team was ranked 28th in the league with an estimated value of $1.45b.
The increase has not been without cost for owner Stan Kroenke who is funding his new canopied stadium/amphitheater/megalopolis in Inglewood. The stadium is estimated to cost roughly $4b with help coming from funding mechanisms such as Personal Seat Licenses and naming rights. Of course, Kroenke will be generating far more than just football money the venue which is expected to host everything from Final Fours to international soccer matches and will be surrounded by an entertainment district. Also, by next year the Rams should be valued at more than the $4b dollar price tag of the stadium and surrounding property.

Here’s what Forbes had to say:

The Rams had a great year on the gridiron, winning 13 regular season games in 2018, the most in the NFL. The Rams made it to the Super Bowl where they lost to the Patriots 13-3. Off the field, the move to Los Angeles has gotten more expensive for team owner Stan Kroenke. The cost of the new stadium, set to open in 2020, could hit $4 billion, versus an initial expectation of less than $3 billion three years ago. In August, American Airlines agreed to pay $90 million to sponsor a plaza in front of the new stadium near. The 10-year deal has American Airlines branding the space formerly known as Champions Plaza. Naming rights for the stadium itself could fetch $20 million a year.

Click to expand...

The Los Angeles Rams fourthmost valuable franchise per Forbes

The Rams estimated value of $3.8b represents a 19% increase since last season.

www.turfshowtimes.com

Click to expand...

The money train is flowing in LA right now hahaha

The NFL's highest-paid players by position heading into the 2019 season

NFL players are getting paid, and many are breaking league records with their offseason deals.

One player taking home the money is Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, who is no longer holding out after signing a 6-year, $90 million contract with $50 million guaranteed. This new deal not only means Zeke will be with his team for the first week of the NFL regular season, but it also makes him the highest paid RB in the game.

In April, Russell Wilson dethroned Aaron Rodgers as the highest-paid quarterback, and player, in the league with a new contract from the Seattle Seahawks. The four-year, $140 million deal includes a no-trade clause and a $65 million signing bonus.

Another player seeing dollar signs is Todd Gurley, who signed an extension through 2023 with the defending NFC champion Los Angeles Rams worth $60 million that includes a $20 million signing bonus.

Here is a complete breakdown of the highest-paid players by position in the NFL:

Quarterback

• Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
• Average annual salary: $35 million
• Guaranteed: $107 million

Running back

• Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
• Average annual salary: $15 million
• Guaranteed: $50 million

Wide receiver

• Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
• Average annual salary: $20 million
• Guaranteed: $61 million

Tight end

• Jimmy Graham, Green Bay Packers
• Average annual salary: $10 million
• Guaranteed: $11 million

Offensive lineman

• Trent Brown, right tackle Oakland Raiders
• Average annual salary: $16,500,000
• Guaranteed: $36,250,000

Linebacker

• Khalil Mack, outside linebacker, Chicago Bears
• Average annual salary: $23.5 million
• Guaranteed: $90 million

Defensive lineman

• Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
• Average annual salary: $22.5 million
• Guaranteed: $87 million

Safety

• Kevin Byard, free safety, Tennessee Titans
• Average annual salary: $14.1 million
• Guaranteed: $31 million

Cornerback

• Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins
• Average annual salary: $15,050,000
• Guaranteed: $39,260,641

Kicker

• Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
• Average annual salary: $5 million
• Guaranteed: $12.5 million