I met him in a convenience store in Cotati once, he was doing summer school at Sonoma State. Asked him if he was Bill Walton and he said yup. End of convo. I also saw him play at the Long Beach Arena against a Tarkanian led Long Beach State team during the '72/'73 season. Another legend gone.

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/profootballtalk/status/1795153768905879979?s=61&t=lgp1gRmUcyNSF5v7CIHwMg

Sunday Ticket trial is coming very soon​

The NFL’s Sunday Ticket feature has raised antitrust issues since its inception 30 years ago. In only nine days, the NFL will defend the product at trial.

As recently noted by Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal, the landmark litigation comes to a head starting on June 5.

The basic argument is that the NFL’s broadcast antitrust exemption doesn’t allow it to bundle all rights to out-of-market games and sell them as one unit. Damages could exceed $6 billion.

Almost as problematic for the league is that multiple NFL movers and shakers will have to climb into a witness box and resist the temptation to give the judge side eye.

Fischer notes that a settlement is unlikely, because the two sides are too far apart. There’s still time for the divide to be bridged. Plenty of cases settle figuratively, if not literally, on the courthouse steps.

The NFL could be banking on finding a silver bullet in the increasingly pro-business federal court system, culminating with the Supreme Court. As Fischer explains, the case presents the question of whether the broadcast antitrust exemption applies to other formats, like satellite.

That same issue is lingering for the pivot to streaming, as recently explained here.

The entire Sunday Ticket experiment involves layers and levels of antitrust issues, from the league’s sale of the rights to the customers’ purchase of the product. Even though it’s marketed as a way for, for instance, Saints fans in Pittsburgh to see all games of their favorite team, the only option is to buy every week for every team for the entire year.

Why not let a fan buy the games for one team? Or one week at a time? Or one game at a time?

Someone, somewhere has decided that the league will make more money this way. Maybe it does.

And maybe the trial starting next week commences the process of shaking up the way Sunday Ticket is distributed and sold.

Thanks to all those who gave their lives for us and our way of life.
Lord, grant them peace.

Login to view embedded media View: https://i.imgur.com/ue9BZlW.png

I saw this idea floated by Memphis awhile back and since we have nothing much to talk about why not. Saw this on NFLtraderumors trade block page:

Treylon Burks for a 5th round pick /(which the Rams don’t have right now anyway) late round pick swap?




Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/JLgI8Gz_Re8?si=-dAqG5_yGN-erqPA

Will receiver market go the way of the running back market?​

Multiple receivers have gotten paid this offseason. Multiple others are still waiting.

Last month, 35 more were drafted — including nine in the first 34 selections.

As more and more competent receivers enter the NFL via the low-cost rookie wage scale, it’s fair to wonder if/when more and more teams will decline to pay a receiver and look for a replacement instead in the draft.

Two years ago, three teams did it. The Titans traded A.J. Brown, the Packers traded receiver Davante Adams, the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill. (Tennessee used the first-round pick it got for Brown on his replacement, Treylon Burks. The Packers opted for quantity, drafting Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samari Toure. And the Chiefs went with a low-cost committee approach that has helped deliver every Lombardi Trophy awarded since Hill was traded.)

Now, with Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson, 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk, Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, and Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb still clamoring for new contracts (all have stayed away from OTAs), the question becomes whether they’ll eventually end up with other teams, too. The Vikings already have Jordan Addison, who’s entering year two of his first-round rookie deal. The 49ers added Ricky Pearsall in the draft. The Bengals took Jermaine Burton. And the Cowboys, well, who knows what they’re doing?

There’s another side to this issue. In 2022, the Packers, Chiefs, and Titans found trade partners who were willing to give up significant trade compensation — and who were willing to pay the players a contract they wanted. Two years later, what if there’s no team(s) to make the Vikings and Jefferson or the 49ers and Aiyuk or the Bengals and Higgins or the Cowboys and Lamb happy?

If Aiyuk wants Amon-Ra St. Brown money, maybe that’s why no one traded for him during the draft. And even though the Vikings insist they aren’t considering trading Jefferson, at times it feels like they’re waiting for someone to make them an offer they won’t refuse. With Higgins, all signs point to the Bengals squatting on him for 2024 and then letting him walk. As to Lamb and the Cowboys, again, who knows what they’re doing?

The heart of the problem could be that teams are realizing that you don’t need to give receivers big money. That you can draft one who will be, dollar-for-dollar, a better deal.

That’s what has happened over the past 20 years at the running back position. Teams generally stopped paying big money because they could roll the dice in the draft, and then develop the player. While Burks hasn’t exactly filled Brown’s shoes in Nashville, Jefferson was a Day One star after the Vikings swapped him out for Stefon Diggs in 2020. And the Packers are currently regarded as having a great group of young receivers. And, again, the Chiefs have won every Super Bowl played since they traded Hill.

The problem for the Vikings, 49ers, Bengals and Cowboys is that the 2024 draft has come and gone. Unless there’s a player-for-player(s) swap to be done, trading the receivers now won’t help their former teams this season.

The bigger question is whether a trade will ever materialize. Why give up a first-round pick (or more) that could become a low-cost receiver for three or four years and likewise make a massive investment in a player whose shelf life falls closer to tailback than quarterback?

I’m a card-carrying member, if not an unofficial captain, of the Pay The Players brigade. However, just as the supply of running backs eventually impacted demand (and price), the same thing could be happening with receivers.

The very best should still get paid. The challenge becomes distinguishing the very best from those that can be readily replaced at a much lower cost. Or, in the case of Jefferson, drawing a line as to how much the very best should get.

Last year, the Rams were one of the hottest teams in the NFL down the stretch. Their season ended with a one point loss against a team that should have made the Super Bowl.

Since then, the Rams have upgraded their roster in several areas. I think it's fair to say that the Rams will go into the 2024 season with more talent and/or depth at QB, RB, interior OL, EDGE and in the defensive backfield.

And yet, when I listen to or read the talking heads and commentators discuss teams that are expected to contend, few seem to include our Rams.

Why is that?

I have three theories:

1. 2023 naysayers find comfort in believing last year was a fluke. There were many pushing the narrative that last year's team was a rebuilding squad paying the price of having gone "all in" to win a championship. Now, rather than admitting that they were wrong, or that the Rams overcame their circumstances by building a durable playoff roster through a spectacular draft, some seem to be falling back on the notion that the Rams have a lot of holes and won't be able to compete with the top teams.

2. Over-estimating the Donald effect. Don't get me wrong... losing Donald is huge. He can't be replaced. That said, the Rams have assembled a deep and promising group of young players who could prove to be very effective. The notion that the loss of Donald will result in fewer wins, despite all the Rams' additions throughout the roster, is pessimistic overreach, in my opinion.

3. Drinking the 49er kool-aid. A lot of people seem to want to jump on the 49er bandwagon and, as a result, have pushed the Rams to a lower tier. I, for one, could see a 49er collapse, similar to other second place finishers in the past. Also... use a little imagination... its entirely possible that the two best teams in the NFC are both in the West.

So, despite last year's finish, the Rams seem to be an afterthought that is flying under the radar.

I say... good.

Maybe our opponents will underestimate us too.

No shortage of crow to serve later.

AFC East
Miami
NY Jets
Buffalo
N. England

AFC North
Baltimore
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
Cleveland

AFC South
Houston
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
Tennessee

AFC West
Kansas City
Las Vegas
LA Chargers
Denver

NFC East
Philly
Dallas
NY Giants
Washington

NFC North
Detroit
Green Bay
Chicago
Minnesota

NFC South
Atlanta
N. Orleans
Tampa
Carolina

NFC West
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Arizona
Seattle

Who ya got?

I fucking love Kupp... He calls them the SF "Whiners" like he is a member of ROD, hahaha...listen around 3:10.....

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/qU5nI9WG6Oc?si=ERA2KLcPQWhoMTfV

NFL to test optical tracking system for line-to-gain rulings in preseason with eyes toward 2024 implementation​

The chain may no longer keep us together.

The NFL is moving forward this preseason with an optical tracking system for line-to-gain rulings, sources tell CBS Sports. The system had been tried out in a few NFL stadiums this past season, and it will get a full preseason trial this summer.

If the trial goes well and everyone's on board, the tracking system will be implemented full time for the 2024 NFL regular season, sources say.

In March, the NFL's competition committee quietly approved its use across all teams in the preseason. But before the league fully implements it for the full season, it wants to make sure the system works well enough to be trusted.

The chain gang won't exactly become a thing of the past, though. Sources say the chains will still exist on the sideline, but they'll be used both as a backup for game operations and as a reference point for coaches, players and fans in the stadium.

All game footballs are microchipped and have been for years. But this technology doesn't employ the chip and instead relies entirely on optical tracking. The system, which was used at MetLife Stadium and Hard Rock Stadium last year, would need to be installed across all 30 NFL stadiums as well as any international stadium where NFL games are played.

If the system works, it would make for a more accurate measuring system that reduces the amount of human error. If the league sees there are problems such as latency issues in the preseason, the move can be tabled until 2025 with the chain crew continuing to do the same job as always.

McVay (horse's name) is the horse breaking on the outside - blue blanket, # f'ing 9!
20 lengths behind at the far turn. Enjoy.

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/BwdZ9lIutJI?si=y21DZzOlMVHmMj0T

It’s going to be at Loyola Marymount in Westchester

Rams training camp

EDIT: It's located at 1 Loyola Marymount University Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Just north of LAX, close to the ocean so shouldn't be too hot.

@bubbaramfan , let's set up a day or two to go out there!

I recently saw that David Bakhtiari will be fully cleared for 2024. I personally believe that LT is our weakest spot along the OL, but AJ is definitely serviceable and qualified. I'm just wondering what other member's thoughts are on DB. While he has had some injury issues over the last few years, can he have a resurgence? He is still only 32 years old and had a great stretch of outstanding play up through 2020. I think most people agree that AJ is not a long term answer at LT, but can DB provide a better stop-gap? What about a rotational possibility while he works on the proper training/rehabilitation and a late career run? This could allow the organization a couple of years to find the next real answer at LT either through FA or the draft? I'm not purporting to know anything at all here, I'm genuinely interested in what others think.

I know that not a single practice in pads has happened and so this is just for fun. The Strawberry Kool Aid is tasty and I have extremely high hopes that Jared Verse is a game changer. His technique will get better and he's gonna get stronger and the dude is already a banger. I have high hopes for his guy Fiske, but I think we will wish to have seen AD and Verse playing together by Week 8.

Puka Nacua became an instant superstar. Steve Avila, Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Ethan Evans emerged as long-term, high-end starters. Davis Allen and Desjaun Johnson showed promise in their limited snaps.

The other half of the class pretty much underwhelmed. Nick Hampton, Zach Evans and Ochaun Mathis and Jason Taylor II had trouble finding a role. Warren McClendon waited for an opportunity to grasp, while Tre Hodges-Tomlinson never missed an opportunity to grab a receiver. And, of course, Stetson Bennett was nowhere to be seen.

Among the “other half,” who do you have the most hope for? Or, perhaps, are these players who won’t make it and are just the inevitable downside of having very large draft class?

The Rams can't replace Aaron Donald. But Chris Shula, grandson of Don, has a plan​

What to say?

Chris Shula had envisioned this moment for a decade, rolling through the thoughts in his mind of how he would articulate his vision to players as a first-time NFL defensive coordinator.

On the first day of offseason work, the words came naturally for the new DC of the Los Angeles Rams.

"That was something I had been thinking about — how to set the tone in front of the entire unit," Shula told FOX Sports in an exclusive interview. "You just want to set the expectations of the standards that you want to hold them accountable to, the style of play that we want to play with. But not only that, we want to build relationships with these guys, get them to feel comfortable, be able to ask questions and be vulnerable.

"I wanted to get all that out there in that first meeting. So I spent a lot of time and put a lot of thought into what I wanted to say and how to go about it. You don't just want to go right to football. … You want to show them that we really care about them, and we're going to have a plan for them to get better every day."

Shula had a practice run a decade ago as the defensive coordinator for Division III John Carroll. Then he worked his way up as a position coach with the Los Angeles Chargers and, for the past seven seasons, in various capacities with the Rams.

"No matter what's happening, up or down, he's always steady," said Rams inside linebacker Ernest Jones. "He's super intelligent; the way he's been able to transfer my game from a pre-snap position is second to none. … Players love him, and he's going to fit in perfectly."

In his first season as an NFL defensive coordinator, Shula faces the monumental task of replacing future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald, who retired this offseason after a decade of dominance. Shula knows it will take a committee approach to fill the huge void left by arguably the greatest interior defensive lineman in league history.

Shula plans to focus on what his players do best. And that goes back to what his grandfather, Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, taught him during his visits to Miami as a youngster: Schemes may change over time, but the fundamentals of killing blocks, tackling, taking the ball away and the pursuit of the football remain the same.

"I don't take it for granted, as far as what he accomplished in this league," Shula said of his grandfather, the all-time winningest NFL coach. "I don't really think about it, as far as holding up a legacy or anything like that. But it is cool to hear different stories about him.

"One thing that stuck out to me, and still does, is everybody thinks football has changed so much. [My grandfather] always said, ‘As far as I'm concerned, it's still about blocking, getting off blocks. Tackling and breaking tackles. Securing the ball and taking the ball away.' … [So] we try to emphasize here just the simplicity of football."

Shula also learned the game from other members of his family. His father, Dave, played a year in the NFL as a receiver and spent 15 years as a coach, including four-plus seasons as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. He currently serves as the receivers coach at his alma mater, Dartmouth.

Chris' uncle, Mike, was the offensive coordinator for three NFL teams and was the head coach at Alabama before Nick Saban. Mike Shula is currently an offensive analyst at South Carolina.

Shula and Rams head coach Sean McVay share a bond through their family's football legacy. McVay's grandfather, John McVay, was an NFL head coach and later served as general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, teaming with offensive guru Bill Walsh to lead that franchise to five Super Bowls. Sean's father Tim was an all-state quarterback in high school in Ohio and played defensive back at Indiana.

Sean McVay and Chris Shula also share another bond: They were college teammates at Miami University in Ohio.

"He's that guy that everybody feels like he's their best friend because he's so present when he's with you," McVay said of Shula. "He's so authentic. He's so refreshingly secure in who he is, and he's been prepared for this opportunity.

"I'm excited because I think he's surrounded by a bunch of other good coaches, and I think he's really ready to help these players be the best that they can be."

Early on Rams, Shula worked for former Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who's from another multi-generational football family. Phillips saw Shula's potential from the start.

"He's a sharp guy, a quick learner, a hard worker and an outstanding coach," Phillips said. "We turned things around there pretty quickly. We worked really well together. He can coach inside and outside linebackers really well, along with the rest of the defense. He's a Shula."

Along with Phillips, Shula worked as an assistant with the Rams for defensive coordinators Brandon Staley and Raheem Morris, now the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

Shula, 38, said he’s taken bits and pieces from all three defensive minds, learning the importance of keeping things simple from Phillips, innovation from Staley and the value of building good relationships with players from Morris.

Shula and his staff are now knee-deep into building the defense they want. The biggest question, of course, is how to fill the huge hole in the middle of the line left by Donald.

"Obviously, we're going to have to step up as a group," Shula said. "We made a big point to Kobie Turner that we don't expect him to be an Aaron Donald, because he really is one of one. We knew when he was in the game how offenses were going to protect against us. Now, it's a little bit more of a guessing game."

Shula mentioned the possibility of Turner, who had nine sacks as a rookie nose tackle and finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, expanding his role to play multiple positions along the defensive line. And he expects the pass rush to benefit from the chemistry and ability of a pair of Florida State rookies, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. They were the Rams' top two selections in this year's draft.

"We liked them each individually as players, whether they were on the same team or not," Shula said. "I think [playing together is] going to help them definitely, especially when they get into those rush-type situations if they're on the same side. There's some really good clips of them rushing together. I think that's a feel thing. We like the package deal we got with them."

However, Philips believes the Rams will have to find another player like Donald who can consistently win one-on-one pass rush opportunities. According to Next Gen Stats, Donald generated 659 pressures since 2016, 239 more than the next-closest defensive tackle (Chris Jones, 420).

Donald finished with 111 sacks in 10 NFL seasons, second among defensive tackles to Hall of Famer John Randle (137.5). Donald is No. 3 in league history in tackles for loss with 176.

"We could utilize Aaron in a lot of different ways," Phillips said. "So, that takes away your one-on-one advantages. We tried to make sure Aaron had a one-on-one as much as we could, especially in passing situations because he could beat people one-on-one.

So, it’s just the personnel you have and try to utilize what they can do. They have other good players obviously, but there aren’t any Aaron Donalds, that’s for sure."

Shula also said the Rams will continue to use a 3-4 defensive front for their base scheme. And even though Turner can't replace Donald by himself, the second-year pro will be a major factor.

"He's going to be a guy who's on the field a ton," Shula said about Turner. "We love to have the flexibility to move those guys around, depending on the personnel group that's in the game. We're lucky, because he can play multiple spots pretty easily, whether it's physically or mentally.

"We can keep people guessing where we can kind of move him around. And the nice thing about Kobie is he's so selfless, he's always going to do what's best for the team. So it will be fun to use that chess piece accordingly.

"It's going to be interesting to see how it all plays out."

Been stuck around the house for awhile now. Old ass needs to get out. Should I head North or South?

NHL Playoffs in Miami

ACC Baseball Tourney in Charlotte

600 mile Nascar race in Charlotte

Finally had a spot open up for myself in a GM dynasty keeper league of 16 teams, 4 divisions.

We have another spot that just opened up after the GM got voted out.

Wanted to see if anybody would be interested? $60 entry fee for the year.

You manage everything with your team from salary of starters, bench, injured, draft etc.

It's year round and you aren't necessarily needing to be on there all the time but want someone who will be active.

My stupid friend has our Rams and he's a Raiders fan! lol

You can change to any franchise that isn't taken, right now the open franchise is the Broncos, I'm the Lions. Anyways this league generally fills up fast ( I waited 2 years) thought I'd see if any of you guys would be interested since the more Ram fans the merrier! lol Wait... Might be tough getting breakout Rams players since you'll know about them to...

Anyways if interested respond.

Checked out the roster links and there are quite a few names I recognized, including:

Ethan Westbrooks
Bobby Evans (ouch)
Adonis Alexander
Luis Perez
Travin Howard
Bryce Perkins
Raymond Calais

Any Rams I missed?

I’m very excited about the start of this season because last year the Rams started with a much worse cast of starters on offense, and whooped the Seahawks and only lost to the Niners by 7 points.

To put it into perspective, the offense had Tutu, Skowronek, Jefferson, and Noteboom all as starters. Throw in rookie level Nacua and Avila. They still went into Seattle and won then played the Niners tough to a seven point loss they were tied 17-17 at the half!

This season they start with the best greatest rookie receiver of all time in his second year of the offense - Puka, healthy Kupp, Demarcus Robinson, Experienced Kyren Williams, and a top five Oline. Plus better depth at RB and QB. This offense will look like 2017 Rams right out of the gate, and it will be better equipt to absorb an occasional injury.

The defense started a weak assemblage for the DB room and now the best DB on the team Witherspoon last year, could be the worst DB amongst starters this year. They started two third round rookies- Turner and Young, that now have a full season under their belts. Also, a huge weakness (maybe the biggest weakness) at Edge - Michael Hoecht
can go back to his best role inside, plus his time on the outside makes him much more versatile. Edge should be upgraded with Verse.


I haven’t been this pumped about the start of a Rams season since 2018, when I predicted they would go 13-3. This is a team that can win the Super Bowl.

“Everyone” was a little surprised by Goff’s deal… what does Tua, Dak, and Trevor Lawrence get on their extensions?

I’d say Goff is a little better than all three, or at least it’s debatable… I wouldn’t want to pay Tua or Dak. Even Trevor Lawrence hasn’t exactly looked elite.

QB contracts need their own cap. $50M/yr is crazy.

Views & takes on The Rams players
In 2024!

I’ll start with The QB & a quick view,until something more interesting there comes up.

Matthew Stafford is KEY,no doubt.Keeping upright,healthy & happy should be The Goal!! After Goff’s payday I’d say guarantee His contract.His mindset should be on just BALL.

—Jimmy G a GREAT addition.History says he can take a team to the Super Bowl as a starting QB.

Bennett is just a good story & part of that 2023 Rookie Class.IMO what happened to him helped show how quickly you can be out of Football. Shows what dedication & showing up to work everyday not letting distractions of the outside world effect your performance.
—Add how Ramily(franchise) protects there own & address a problem keeping it in HOUSE(whose)!!

Dresser Winn adds a nice addition to a throwing arm in camp.He’ll get a chance to get coached up.All a young player can ask for in The NFL.

Anyone watching this, or are you all sulking because the biggest heavyweight clash this millennium has no American involvement?

I’m going to start by saying I actually pull for the Lions and like and respect a number of their players (Goff, StBrown, Hutchinson, LaPorta).
With that said I am very disappointed with how their fans treated Stafford and his family in the playoff game. And some of their “bite the kneecap” bullshit needs to be put on notice:
NFL needs to make sure they communicate any dirty or sloppy play (e.g. hurting opposing players) won’t be tolerated.

In particular Kerby Joseph’s dirty/sloppy play needs to be cleaned up. He injured 2 premium TEs within 4 weeks last year because he deliberately went for the knees AFTER having a reputation for going for receivers heads. I only played football through high school as a LB and CB but I was never taught to hit the head or go low for the knee. It was face mask or shoulder to the chest. In high school if anyone hit someone in practice at the knee they were taken to task and dismissed from the practice. Play smarter Kerby or play scared because another deliberate knee hit should cost you serious $$ and game time. BTW a real ‘ dog’ goes for the jugular not biting ankles or kneecaps.

Go Rams!!