This game is just as bad as the Cowboys game as the Rams start to pull ahead they’re constantly giving the New York Giants calls. the NFL loves their favorites!!

Probably going to get a full strength Keystone Light 40 ouncer or two...I think I have some pancake mix and a half a bag of off-brand doritos AND I get 14.4 inch laptop view of a free stream of the game

LIVING LARGE!:rockon:

Bonsignore: Rams feeling the impact of of good decisions and good fortune



Rams coach Sean McVay, seen here in a happy exchange with punter Johnny Hekker, says his team has ‘a lot of good stuff going on right now.’ (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

By VINCENT BONSIGNORE | vbonsignore@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: November 4, 2017 at 12:31 pm | UPDATED: November 4, 2017 at 12:46 pm

EAST RUTHERFORD NJ — Assuming the weather experts got it right, a steady and comfortable 63-degree, partly cloudy afternoon will be the conditions welcoming the Rams when they play the Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

In other words, pretty darn near perfect given the location, time of year, and the far worse possibilities that could have confronted them.

It’s not a big thing in the whole scheme of things. The Rams with the sixth-best rushing attack, seventh-best run defense and sound special teams are built to succeed in all weather conditions.

But it is further proof of the charmed life they’ve inexplicably enjoyed over the last 10 months, the one that’s turned all their coaching and personnel decisions into towering home runs or screaming doubles off the wall and wrapped a protective shield around them to ward off major injuries.

Call it lady luck or good fortune of the Football Gods looking over them, but the Rams under new coach Sean McVay have suddenly transformed themselves into an efficient outfit for which sound personnel decisions, insightful coaching and effective execution is accompanied by a particularly fortuitous sort of karma.

And in the process, reached 5-2 for the first time since 2003 and, the way things are lining up, appear a good bet to soar to 7-2 before entering a teethy part of the schedule that includes showdowns against division leaders in the Vikings, Eagles, Saints and Seahawks.

“I think there’s a lot of good stuff going on right now and that’s what it is,” McVay said. “I think we want to try to keep that momentum going and how you do that is you take things one day at a time, one game at a time.”

Maybe it’s just because it’s been so long since the Rams have fielded a winning team we forget how the good ones are built to outwork, outwit or outmaneuver misfortune. If not spit in the eye of it when confronted.

But in a season in which McVay has emerged as a home run hire, Jared Goff is on track to being a franchise quarterback, Todd Gurley is securely positioned as an MVP candidate and every new addition from Andrew Whitworth to Cooper Kupp has been a worthwhile and timely asset, it’s hard not to dismiss the various other positive forces working on the Rams behalf.

Like the nearly clean bill of health they’ve enjoyed all season.

Aside from starting safety Cody Davis, who landed on the injured reserve list Friday, the Rams have sidestepped major injuries. And when they have taken the field at less than full strength — safety Lamarcus Joyner and cornerback Kayvon Webster both missed multiple games — capable replacements like Nickell Robey-Coleman and John Johnson provided the necessary relief.

Their injury report for Sunday is as pristine as its been all year. In fact, the biggest issue is finding a spot for running back Lance Dunbar, who returned to practice this week after spending all year on the Physically Unable to Perform list dealing with a knee injury. The Rams will decide over the next two weeks whether to add him to the active roster or put him on season-ending injured reserve.

Talk about new world problems. The Rams are in such good health, they’ll have to juggle just to make room for another weapon.

“Knock on wood, but usually you’re having to deal with some injuries, especially at the running back spot,” McVay said. “Where now it provides a great opportunity for Lance to come in, kind of serve as the role we envision in the first place. We’ve got a lot of playmakers who have stayed healthy and are available, so it’s a positive problem.”

In contrast the Giants have been decimated by injuries this year — wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr., Dwayne Harris, and Brandon Marshall are out for the season — and will be without six other key players on Sunday.

Including five starters.

Linebackers B.J. Goodson (ankle) and Jonathan Casillas (neck), right tackle Justin Pugh (back), center Weston Richburg (concussion) and defensive ends Olivier Vernon (ankle) and Kerry Wynn (knee) were all ruled out for Sunday’s game.

As a result, a game that leaned organically the Rams’ way to start the week is now decisively tilted in their direction. Provided they avoid any costly mistakes, it would be considered a massive disappointment if they leave New Jersey anything worse than 6-2 Sunday night.

“I think one thing we look at is, what’s our record when we won the turnover margin? And it’s 5-0,” Goff pointed out. “The two games we’ve lost, we’ve lost turnovers. I think if we continue to take care of the ball and the defense keeps playing the way that they are, we’ll be happy with what we’re doing.”

It’s why McVay preached a focused, careful approach this week. The Giants might be wounded, but if the Rams don’t come correct it won’t matter.

“I think what you talk about is that one of the things you realize about this league is that it’s one day at a time, one game at a time and if you don’t take that mindset and mentality, you get humbled very quickly,” McVay said. “It’s so competitive, there’s so many good players and coaches all around that anything – you hear the term, ‘Any given Sunday.’

“But, it’s true because regardless of the records, it’s why you see different outcomes occur every single week because there is such a competitive balance in this league with great players, great coaching and especially with going on the road, playing in a tough atmosphere at MetLife Stadium and then especially just with the previous experience that I have going against this team, they’ll be ready to go and we need to be ready as well if we’re going to come away with a win.”

The Rams have done everything right over the last 10 months. Either as a result of (or perhaps as a reward for) the Football Gods looking down kindly on them.


[www.ocregister.com]

Right now they are involved in a suit versus Keapernick and a couple of owners and the commissioner have been deposed, an ongoing back and forth (comical) suit versus Elliot..........suspended-not suspended-suspended-not suspended.

............and yesterday AJ McCarron filed a grievance and wants a hearing with an arbitrator to become a free agent. That was a simple issue to solve and the league totally fucked it up. They make exceptions for all sorts of shit all the time. They make up rules as they go along but then shoot down something that two teams wanted to do, and the player wanted as well.

These guys at the NFL's office are really good at doing things badly. Very, very badly.

Over and over for the last few years they have made a mess in public when things have come up.

Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, Spygate, Deflategate, Bountygate, protests during the anthem, replacement refs and a stupid cave-in to a shit union in the worst officiated sport in the country, the concussion issue, Peterson beating his son with a switch and breaking skin on one of the kids balls, the offseason moves, obvious mistakes on the field by refs that affect games, drug suspensions, PED problems, ridiculous gouging of fans, too many commercials and the list goes on.

All along the way Goodell is inconsistent, ham handed and does the opposite of what his goal is, "protect the shield". When he speaks to the public in person or via press release he comes off as arrogant and full of shit. He's not stupid, but he does stupid things. Recently McNair says something stupid about the "inmates running the asylum" (not even the correct quote) and players take offense when the remark wasn't even aimed at them and that fucking coward doesn't do anything to publicly take the hit that McNair was talking about the owners versus the league/Goodell. It's silly that this got turned into a big deal and Goodell could have tamped it down but was afraid to touch it. This was a simple thing to straighten out!

Polls show over and over that people, the paying fans of the sport, are tired of seeing players beat women, get DUI's, fail drug tests and PED tests then sit out a couple of games then continue to make millions. Paying fans are tired of seeing lousy refs make huge mistakes over and over with no real accountability. Go look at any NFL team's message boards and you will see the one thing they all have in common..........complaints about the refs.

When, or if, the owners pull off the coup Jerry Jones is attempting I wonder who will end up as commissioner and what the NFL will be like in the coming years.

The NFL has more problems/issues/complaints than all of the other major sports leagues have combined.

Some really good matchups after the Rams game!

Go Redskins!

Go Chiefs!



Get your SportsBook wagers, here;

http://www.ramsondemand.com/sportsbook/?order=upcoming

It’s Game Day!

Login to view embedded media View: http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Game-Trailer-Rams-vs-Giants/7a5f3826-e7a9-47c4-841b-6eb5f8fdeed7?campaign=tw-share


The GDT is a live thread tradition here at ROD.

While we all get fired up watching the game, please remember one of our core principles; we always aim to show respect for our team.

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

This is our team. Win or lose. Good days and bad.

Go Rams!

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Rams / Giants SportsBook Bets are up;

http://www.ramsondemand.com/sportsb...geles-rams-new-york-giants-special-bets.1817/

What a night!

St Preaux had a KO of the year candidate with a kick to the neck.

Joanna Jedrzeczyk got knocked the freak out by Rose Namajunas, a SUBMISSION specialist in the 3rd minute of the First Round in dominating fashion!

And George’s St Pierre sunk one of the NASTIEST rear naked chokes on Bisping I’ve ever seen.

What a night!!!

Don't want you to miss any part of the game.
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http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017...aylight-saving-time-to-fall-back-forever.html

Funniest damn show on Netflix, heavily R rated, nudity and sexual situations. Comedy deluxe though

traiin

From the moment Sammy Watkins was baited into expressing his feelings about his number of touches, a cascade of attention has been placed on his answer every press conference. every message board, and every media opportunity to talk about the Rams. As soon as Sammy’s response became public, Sean took him behind closed doors, turned on the film, and clarified in detail exactly what was happening. Sean was open about that conversation to the media back then but weeks later, those questions still persist.

Fortunately, the plethora of repetitive questions on the same subject has yet to change the team’s approach. This is a fine example of McVay’s consistency in the face of pressure. If he changes the offense even a modicum amount for us fans and his critics, he becomes less authentic. By now, we know that won’t happen. The same message is parroted now by Sammy, Jared, Matt, and anyone else in the building probed for information.

The general answer is now obvious, Sammy will get his touches, Robert will get his touchdowns, Tavon will get his opportunities, Lance will see the field....when the staff implements it’s gameplan and the defense cooperates. All decisions will be made with the team’s success foremost while trying to let every player know they are important and have the chance to contribute based on their specific and special skills.

Now let’s look behind the Wizard’s Curtain at what Sean said to Sammy that he won’t say to us. The following is my imagination, but I believe elements of it are relevant.

Sean: “Sammy, you know you’re an important part of our team and we value you significantly or we wouldn’t have sacrificed what we did to obtain you. That hasn’t changed, do you know that?”

Sammy: “Yes, sir. You know I wasn’t criticizing you or Jared when I said what I did, right?”

Sean: “Of course I do. But you know that if we don’t phrase things well...high profile players like you will attract undue scrutiny and bad assumptions. In the future, we need to only talk about team goals, criticize ourselves, compliment others, and then these problems won’t become an issue. Do you understand?”

Sammy: “Yes, sir”

Sean: I knew you would and I trust you so I won’t talk of this further. Now, let’s turn our attention to the plays we have run that should’ve been big plays for you but I didn’t do a good enough job of making sure we were successful. (Sean reviews a handful of plays). Now, let’s look at the plays where the defense took you out of consideration for Jared. Now let’s see the times Jared made a bad read and I addressed it. Here are a few clips where linemen got beat and we couldn’t get the ball to you. Do you think we should call out our fellow teammates and coaches?”

Sammy: “Of course not, yet I’m the one getting called out for not completing that deep route. We both know I’ve run dozens of those as decoys, I really thought that was the same. Can you blame me?”

Sean: “Here’s where we get the chance to learn together. I should’ve communicated more clearly that every route run matters and depending on what Jared sees in a split second, everyone needs to be prepared to get the ball. Our plan is to make every route concept relevant and sometimes, depending on how the defense reacts, anyone can get the ball. We have to work together as 11 pieces of one whole. Again, let’s put this behind us even if the press won’t. So, what’s our focus?”

Sammy: “Run every play perfectly and trust the process, not the results.”

Sean: “And if we do that?”

Sammy: “We give ourselves a chance to win our next game”

Sean: “And if we win enough games?”

Sammy: “We give ourselves a chance to compete in the playoffs”

Sean: “And if we trust the process there?”

Sammy: “We give ourselves a chance to be World Champions and the accolades and money will flow from that.”

Sean: “Shhhhhh... let’s keep that our little secret. We can let leoram on ROD make that known ... it can’t come from us, got it?”

Sammy: “got it”.

In this debut episode, I go through my preseason predictions and do some self-scouting. We go through the latest storylines including Deshaun Watson's torn ACL in practice, Sam Darnold, and his rumored NFL/college decision, Pierre Garcon's neck injury, the Yankees third base coach joining the defending champion Houston Astros, NFC and AFC playoff picture and much more on the first Bogen 60 premiere episode!

https://www.spreaker.com/user/downtownrams/dtr-pod-11-2

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast...ich-hammond/id1233567831?i=1000394375274&mt=2

http://nypost.com/2017/11/04/ex-giants-fumble-coach-says-rams-perfect-fit-for-grandson-sean-mcvay/

Ex-Giants ‘Fumble’ coach says Rams ‘perfect fit’ for grandson Sean McVay
By George Willis


John McVay, who was the Giants coach in the late 1970s, said he believes his grandson, Sean, is in a good place as Rams coach
AP

John McVay knew his grandson, Sean, was serious about coaching when as a youngster he would fall asleep reading Bill Walsh’s book: “Building a Champion: On Football and the Making of the 49ers.” It was published in 1990.

“It’s a game plan for anybody who wants to be in this business,” the elder McVay told The Post by telephone from his home near Sacramento, Calif. “Sean would always be reading it, and then he would tell you, ‘I read this and that and the other.’ He would read a few pages at night until he fell asleep. You could tell he had a deep interest in it.”

That interest has turned into becoming the head coach of the Rams, who visit MetLife Stadium on Sunday to play the Giants. When hired in January, the then 30-year-old McVay was the youngest head coach ever in the NFL. He turned 31 a week later and has changed the culture of the Rams. They have won four their last five games and stand 5-2 on the season.

“He did make his grandfather a liar because I said it’s going to take three years to turn it around,” John McVay said. “He’s made me a liar already. Nobody’s saying we’re going to the playoffs, but he’s got them going.”

McVay, 86, will be watching on television Sunday, hoping his grandson improves to 6-2 with a victory over the 1-6 Giants, a franchise McVay coached for 2 ½ seasons in the late-1970s.

His tenure included “The Fumble” game, which the Giants lost to the Eagles on Nov. 19, 1978, at Giants Stadium. A botched handoff from quarterback Joe Pisarcik to Larry Csonka was recovered by Herman Edwards and returned for a touchdown that gave Philadelphia a 19-17 win.

McVay was fired after the season and moved on to the 49ers as an executive, helping the franchise win five Super Bowls. He said he is reminded of “The Fumble” only when someone mentions it to him.

“That’s been almost 40 years ago,” McVay said. “I had great respect for Wellington Mara and [Andy] Robustelli was the GM. They were really rambling and scrambling and trying to get on the move, which they eventually did and went on to win some Super Bowls. In the meantime I was with Eddie DeBartolo. We collected five Super Bowls and were feeling pretty good about ourselves.”

“The Fumble” is easy to forget in the midst of all those Super Bowl trophies in San Francisco.

“So much has happened in the last 35-40 years and we’ve had so much unbelievable success, it doesn’t do any good to think about the past,” McVay said. “You have a fumble or an interception or you lose your quarterback for a season, in this business you just better move on.”

He hopes Sean McVay is headed toward his own Super Bowl trophy one day. Grandpa had no doubts his grandson was ready to be a head coach despite his youth after he served under Jon Gruden at Tampa Bay in 2008 and worked his way to the Redskins, where he was the offensive coordinator under Jay Gruden.

“He’s been in football since he could walk and talk,” McVay said. “If you’re a capable coach it depends on how much control you have. Do you have control over selection of your staff? Do you have control over your roster? Things of that nature. And you have to have a willing owner, which he has there. It was a perfect fit for him.”

McVay spends most of his time these days caring for his wife Susan, who was paralyzed by a severe accident two years ago. He was feeding her when a reporter from The Post called on Friday.

“That’s an obligation we all have that I’m trying the best I can with,” he said. “We have a whole flock of grandkids, including Sean. We try to interact and stay in touch with them and have them come here. Other than that, we’ve got the Rams and we’ve got the 49ers.”

And another McVay working toward a Super Bowl.

Reading all this discussion on Goff's development this year, it brings up fact that were all wanting to find indisputable proof that Goff has arrived- or at least I do!

It seems a lot of the so called NFL "experts" that were all calling him a bust last year are now changing their tune! Dont get me wrong I was worried myself, I just thought he deserved a shot considering the state of the team last year.
My concern now, I'm worried that after having a year of studying and analyzing McVay and Goff, defenses are going to be better prepared to play us. Is Goff going to be able to over come this!?

I want to believe this kid that's done all the right things and can turn the corner and be our "franchise"! We deserve it right, how long has it been since we've had some watchable football!? The thing that scare me is:

Nick Foles, RGlll, and Ryan Fitzpatrick to name a few one hit wonders!

So please, someone tell me that we've seen enough from him that we dont have to worry about him being added to this list!

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-nfl-week-9-preview-rams-at-giants

NFL Week 9 Preview: Rams at Giants
BY PFF ANALYSIS TEAM


Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Rams visit the New York Giants in Week 9 of the 2017 NFL season. PFF previews the top player matchups of the game.



PFFELO Ranking: 12

Coverage by: Mike Cahill

MATCHUP: LOS ANGELES RAMS OFFENSE VS. NEW YORK GIANT DEFENSE

T Rob Havenstein vs. Edge Jason Pierre-Paul – Right tackle Rob Havenstein’s two highest graded games came in back-to-back weeks heading into the bye, as he finished Week 6 with a 77.4 and Week 7 with a 77.9, respectively.

Over Weeks 6 and 7 Havenstein held the 15th best pass-blocking efficiency among the league’s tackles with a 96.2 and had allowed only three quarterback pressures, tied for 10th fewest, after tying for the league’s most allowed pressures in Weeks 4 and 5 with 11.

His matchup on Sunday will be against a Jason Pierre-Paul that had the league’s 13th highest pass-rush productivity across Weeks 6 and 7 among edge defenders and 14 quarterback pressures, tied for second most among all edge defenders in that same span.



WR Sammy Watkins vs. CB Ross Cockrell – With the team’s suspension of cornerback Janoris Jenkins, Sammy Watkins will see cornerback Ross Cockrell in his place on Sunday.

Cockrell and Watkins faced off in 2016 when Watkins was with the Bills and Cockrell was with the Steelers. Watkins caught all three targets thrown to his coverage for 46 yards, while those three catches were the only he allowed on five targets in that game.

Watkins has played in two games after the bye since 2014 and has combined for 12 catches on 16 targets for 195 yards, one touchdown, zero drops, and a passer rating of 136.2 when targeted.

RB Todd Gurley vs. Giants Run Defense – In Todd Gurley’s last game before the bye week, he forced four missed tackles in the run game, tied for most among all halfbacks in Week 7, after not forcing more than two in any game this season. He now has 14 forced missed tackles in the run game, which is half of what he had in all of 2016, and five more in the passing game, eight less than all of 2016.

He will face a Giants defense that is averaging a missed tackle on 13.8 percent of their tackle attempts, the eighth-highest rate among all 32 teams and they have combined for a total of 56 missed tackles, seventh most in the league.



PFFELO Ranking: 26

Coverage by: Aaron Jones

MATCHUP: NEW YORK GIANTS OFFENSE VS. LOS ANGELES RAMS DEFENSE

TE Evan Engram vs. LB Mark Barron – The fifth-most targeted tight end in the league draws a tough matchup this week in linebacker Mark Barron. Engram currently ranks fifth among all tight ends with 233 total snaps in route, and was targeted ten times in Week 7, the most among all tight ends. His receiving grade of 75.4 ranks 11th among 49 qualifying tight ends.

Barron is currently the eleventh-highest graded linebacker in the league, with an overall grade of 83.7. In Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals he allowed zero receptions on five targets, grabbing one interception. Despite the tough matchup, with a depleted receiving core and his high usage so far this season, expect to see Engram continue to be a focal point of this Giants offense.

G John Jerry vs. Dl Michael Brockers – The 33rd ranked guard (out of 78 qualifying guards), John Jerry draws a difficult matchup in defensive lineman Michael Brockers. Jerry has allowed two sacks through Week 7; only six guards have allowed more this season. He’s allowed 11 total pressures, 22nd most among 76 qualifying guards.

Brockers currently ranks 14th among 117 qualifying interior defenders with an overall grade of 86.6. His run-defense grade of 91.0 is the fourth highest among all interior defenders. Jerry will have to hold his own against Brockers, as fellow guard D.J. Fluker draws arguably the toughest matchup of all Giant’s players Sunday.



G D.J. Fluker vs. Dl Aaron Donald – This is the individual matchup to watch for on Sunday. D.J. Fluker is expected to see plenty of current No. 1 rated interior defender Aaron Donald. Donald’s overall grade of 95.3 currently sits as the highest grade among all players. He’s posted an impressive 94.8 pass-rush grade, the highest among all players.

His 40 total pressures are third-most of any player in the league, and four more than the next closest interior defender. He boasts a pass-rush productivity (measures pressure created on a per snap basis with weighting toward sacks) of 15.9, the highest among all interior defenders. The Giants must figure out how to limit Donald’s presence, as he can single-handedly wreak havoc on any offense.

Late at night and I'm getting peeved by "Surprising Sleepers" segment, where a Fantasy Football guru explains how bad the Rams are against the run.
1. Tells me the schmuck doesn't follow the Rams at all and just looks at stats.
2. His "sleeper" is RB Orleans Darkwa, because our run defense is so bad.
3. Ram's are giving up over 24 PTR points per game, whatever the hail that means. All I know is that whatever the average means, must be weighted towards earlier games and not as to how the Rams are playing now against the run. Isn't picking a fantasy guy more about what's a team is doing recently and not an overall stat for the year?

Anyway, nothing the guy had to say after the "the Rams run defense is bad" comment, was anything I wanted to listen to because it told me how little he actually knows.....

Rams promoted Isaiah from the practice squad to play in the secondary.

So, yet another Johnson in the back end.

Hey all, I know most of you are Dodgers fans, but I wanted to share my first professional sports championship victory parade! Downtown Houston was pure insanity. Metro train was packed, like literally strangers rubbing up on each other. So packed they had to actually turn people back home. At least a whopping 1 million people packed in a parade route. People on the edges of parking garages! I was so lucky to get on a train and a damn good spot on the parade route! Here are just a few...

==

Also video footage that I took (including a shot of a bewildered Jose Altuve!)

Login to view embedded media

Well, I figured I wanted to make a post that thanked all of ROD for all of the wonderful memories I have, and I figure, why not do it with a post in Off-Topic?

I've spent seven years of my life in this site, starting when I was nineteen. I made life-long friends here, found out that I was trans-female (and you guys were amazingly supportive), made insane mock drafts, enjoyed the victories when they happened, supported this team, and I've had so much fun doing so.

So, with my 6,500th post, I wish to thank all of you RODites for such an amazing experience. I hope for a ton more years with a ton more victories, and a few Super Bowl titles to boot!

Mods, I hope that this isn't spam. I just wanted to make a bang with that post.

Click link below to watch video.
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http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-bills-critical-thursday-night-football-games
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http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...day-games-ridiculous-unfair-article-1.3608746

Richie Incognito after Bills’ loss to Jets: NFL’s Thursday night games ‘ridiculous’ and ‘unfair’
BY JAKE BECKER


TOM SZCZERBOWSKI/GETTY IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

Richie Incognito is no fan of Thursday Night Football.

The Bills guard complained to reporters after Buffalo’s 34-21 loss to the Jets on Thursday, calling BS on the NFL’s decision to schedule teams to play on a short week.

"These Thursday night games — they suck," Incognito said. "They throw a wrench in our schedule. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to do this. As physical as this game is, as much work and preparation that goes into this, to force us to play games on four-day weeks, it's completely unfair and bulls--t. The league makes money off it, and that's all they care about anyway."

The Jets had the same quick turnaround after playing on Sunday, but Incognito still had plenty to be upset about.

He and the rest of Buffalo’s offensive line flopped in front of quarterback Tyrod Taylor, allowing seven sacks and 11 QB hits to a Jets team that tallied 11 sacks in the first eight games of the season.

The Bills hadn’t given up that many sacks in a game since Week 2 of the 2015 season. The team’s running game didn’t fare much better: their 63 rushing yards were the fewest since Week 4 in 2015.

Buffalo (5-3) also failed to gain ground on the Patriots (6-2), who maintain their lead atop the AFC East.

Incognito didn’t place all on the blame on the NFL’s expanded Thursday night slate, admitting that the Bills were “outplayed” at MetLife Stadium.

At least he can look forward to a lengthy break before next Sunday’s home tilt against the Saints.

I wanted to see if there any podcast available for this weeks Giants matchup.

Cheers in advance

We say we like it when the best players play, but do we?

Looking back at past wins and losses, few remember the context leading to those outcomes. If you happen to point out circumstances that led to those outcomes, excuse making is normally the charge. Including if key players were injured, which few remember or care about...Winning covers all of that.

Having said that, the incongruent beliefs about injuries of future opponents reveal themselves. We communicate our sympathy to the opposing player/team because we identify with those situations from our past experience. Yet, inwardly the idea of "just win, baby" comes to mind. I don't want anyone hurt playing a game, but I also don't want to see a transcendent player kicking our @ss on Sunday. So while we say all of the polite things.."It's a shame".."How horrible"...I am also cheering that our chances to win just improved when a guy like Watson won't be the QB for the Texans when we play them. This is related to the earlier question about liking to see Blowouts vs a Competitive game, which after the Cards game was answered pretty convincingly.:rockon:

Part of being a good team is the availability of starters throughout the regular season. Injuries happening to a team affects perceptions of what a team is years afterwards, through their win-loss record.

So the question is would you rather play a team at full strength, or would you really like the advantage of playing a weaker opponent and have an easier road (possibly) to the playoffs? (remember, it's just me an you talking..I won't tell anyone else at church...:sneak:

Btw we had our own Q&A with Jack Youngblood here at ROD. You can read it at the link below.

http://www.ramsondemand.com/forums/q-a-with-jack-youngblood.50/
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View: http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Where-Are-They-Now-Jack-Youngblood/73d7f299-c862-4813-89ab-0891cc378200

Where Are They Now?: Jack Youngblood
Shannon Elliott



Jack Youngblood played defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams from 1971-1984 after playing college football at the University of Florida. With the 19th overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft, Youngblood would go on to play his entire NFL career with the Rams. He achieved numerous accomplishments from appearing in seven Pro Bowls, competing in a Super Bowl and, ultimately, to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Q: What are you up to these days now that you’re done playing football?

Youngblood: I’m trying to stay out of trouble to be honest with you. When you have a little more time on your hands outside of the work and the routine you had while you were playing, it’s so different than the real world. I have a farm up in Jefferson County, so I try to get up there 3-5 days a month because 200 acres will keep you busy for sure and that takes up quite a bit of time and effort.

Q: Describe to me what it was like finding out you were drafted by the Los Angeles Rams?

Youngblood: What in the world just happened? In 1971 there wasn’t ESPN. I had met maybe two or three guys who had come in and interviewed me as a talent. My coach had told me, “Well, I don’t know if you got a chance to play in the NFL, I don’t know. My information is you may be drafted in the 10th or 12th or 15th round.” They had like 20 rounds back then.

About that time we got down to like pick No. 15, 16, 17 or something and the phone rings in the room. They’re talking on the phone and they hand me the phone and they say, “It’s the coach from the Los Angeles Rams.” My first thought – honest to God, I am not exaggerating – I put my hand over the receiver and I said, “Who’s the coach?”

I thought there were only like 4 or 5 teams in the league because on television that’s all I saw! I am holding the phone and I answer, “Hello Coach” and he says, “Youngblood, Tommy Prothro here. We’re gonna draft you!”

Q: What is your favorite memory while playing for the Rams organization?

Youngblood: There were so many great moments over the 14 years, but one that I have always reflected back on is the acceptance from both Merlin and Deacon in my first 3 or 4 weeks and into the preseason games. Both Merlin and Deacon said to me that week and put their arm around me like a big brother and said, “Kid, you can play. But we gotta teach you how to play.” I looked at both of them in the eye and said, “Trust me, I’m all ears.”

Q: Is there a game you would like to go back and replay?

Youngblood: I look back on the Super Bowl. We came so close in the 70s. In 1979 when we finally got through Dallas and Minnesota and we went to Tampa for the NFC Championship and we shut them out, that put us into Super Bowl XIV.

Playing in that game, I can remember being within a step of Terry Bradshaw as he threw the ball to John Stallworth down the left sideline. I mean I literally hollered at Terry and he stepped up just a heartbeat before and then I hit him just as he released the ball.

Both of us turned and looked and John went and caught that ball and went on to beat us. We had 6 minutes left in the ball game. I could have made a difference. If I’d of had that one more step, I could have made a difference in that ball game.

Q: What was your pregame ritual back in the day?

Youngblood: I had a compulsive thing about my shoestrings – they had to be straight. It had to be stitched up just right. I would tie that knot off two or three times because it wouldn’t go right the first time. It wasn’t superstition, it was discipline. It’s what we had done for years.

Q: In your opinion, who is the best player you ever played with?

Youngblood: Well for sure, Eric Dickerson. It was privileged to sit on the sidelines and sit on the practice field watching him literally dance. I can remember watching him run ‘49 no-gap’ and ‘48 no-gap’ time and time and time again. If he’d been a girl, he’d of been a ballerina.

Q: What was your favorite city to visit when you were playing?

Youngblood: New Orleans – we played at Tulane Stadium at first and then to the Dome. I hated that Dome because I’d start out a game at a weight of 250 and at the end of the ball game I’d be 230 pounds. I’d lose 20 pounds of water, it was incredible. I think it was because of the atmosphere inside that Dome. It didn’t happen in any other place. Also, what I love about New Orleans was you could eat your way down Bourbon Street.

Q: Which former teammates do you want to have dinner with tonight?

Youngblood: I would bring Rich Saul, Phil Olsen, Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones and Bert Jones. I would bring those guys back for a fun night.

Q: Looking back on your 14-year career, what advice would you give rookie Jack Youngblood?

Youngblood: Try and be better than what you are. I never wanted to be in a situation where my opponent or the offensive lineman or tight end in front of me to be in better condition than I was or stronger than I was. I don’t think I ever got to the peak where I was satisfied with where I was.

I always felt as though there was another 50-yard sprint or another hill to run or another workout that I should have done or another film I should have watched or that I didn’t see something that I should have seen and because I didn’t see it, I didn’t make the play.

Q: If there is a piece of advice you can give the team this season, what would that be?

Youngblood: This is a long run but you have to take it one play at a time. Every play, every snap, until the end of the season. That will get you to the next level where you want to be.

Will the Rams come out firing and picking up where they left off vs the Cards? Or at least something kinda close? IOW, no complacency. If the Rams continue where they left off, it’s all over but the shouting. Including the division crown.

The other thing is that I’ll be watching Watkins while hoping to see signs that he’s truly now a big part of this O. Now would be a good time to take Watkins for a real test drive, don’t you think? Give our upcoming opponents something else to really worry about. Lol.

Make it so, Sean McVay!