Looks like I have 18:

Stag
Yuengling Black and Tan
Kraftig Light
O'Fallon STL RED
Urban Chestnut Zwickel Lager
Griesedieck Bros. Pils
Waikato Draught
Pilsner Urquell
Falls City Calliope
Falls City Hipster Repellant IPA
Boulevard Imperial Pilsner
Anchor Go West! IPA
Corona light
Falls City English Style Pale Ale
Yuengling IPL
Scrimshaw
Michelob Lager
Konig Pilsener

Los Angeles Rams QB Jared Goff has disappointing Madden 18 rating
by Dan Parzych 22 hours ago Follow @DanParzych


As bad as it sounds, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff having a 73 Madden
18 rating shouldn’t be a surprise.

https://ramblinfan.com/2017/07/31/los-angeles-rams-qb-jared-goff-disappointing-madden-18-ranking/

To say Jared Goff’s rookie year with the Los Angeles Rams was a major learning experience would be a huge understatement when looking at all of the struggles he dealt with ranging from poor protection from the offensive line to a weak receiving corps. But with a new coaching staff led by Sean McVay along with numerous key additions on the offensive side of the football, Goff’s sophomore year will hopefully be a lot smoother than his rookie season, as the former No. 1 pick is anxious to get that first win as a starter under his belt (0-7 in 2016).

With Madden 18 scheduled to come out later in August, the popular EA Sports video game recently released their ratings for players during the upcoming season. And as expected, Goff unfortunately ranked near the bottom of the quarterback list with an overall rating of 73.

The good news about this is there’s no reason for Los Angeles or their fans to be concerned over these low ratings for Goff when considering the Rams’ offense looks completely different from a year ago. From the signing of Andrew Whitworth to boost the offensive line to adding key weapons in the passing game like Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, early signs point to Goff making a major leap heading into his first year under McVay’s offense
It sounds crazy, but with all of the rumors surrounding Los Angeles possibly moving on from Goff if things don’t turn out well in 2017, the pressure is on for the Rams quarterback to succeed this season to help his team improve from last year’s 4-12 finish. And if that does happen, Goff can expect his Madden 19 rating to be a lot higher than 73 around this time next offseason.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/08/01/nfl-nflpa-marijuana-study

http://data:image/jpeg;base64,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

The NFL has written to the NFL Players Association in hopes of working with the union to study marijuana use as a pain management tool for players, reports the Washington Post.

According to the report, the union is conducting its own study and has not responded to the letter.

The NFL currently suspends players who test positive for the drug and modified the threshold for a positive test for marijuana.

A level of 35 nanograms per milliliter counts as a positive test, up from 15 nanograms before the change was instituted in 2014.

“We look forward to working with the Players Association on all issues involving the health and safety of our players,” said Joe Lockhart, the NFL’s executive vice president of communications.

Any change to the drug policy would likely have to be negotiated through the next collective bargaining agreement.

"I think it’s a debated question. Some people feel strongly we should address it now," Cowboys executive Stephen Jones said to the paper last week. "I think some people feel that we’re close enough that you should wait and take care of it in one fell swoop when you sit down and bargain with the union. There’s people who would love to have an extension. I think both sides would probably love to have it.

Boisterous defensive backs continue to shine at Rams training camp

Rams’ Tavon Austin, left, works with wide receivers coach Eric Yarber during a training camp practice at Crawford Field in UCI in Irvine on Monday, July 31, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong, Orange County Register/SCNG)

By RICH HAMMOND

IRVINE — When they’re not slapping hands, encouraging each other and trash-talking receivers, the Rams’ defensive backs are huddled in practice, laughing about a frozen water bottle.

Through three days of training camp at UC Irvine, the Rams’ secondary has made noise on the field as well. The defense clearly has been ahead of the offense, which isn’t atypical for the first week of pass, and on Tuesday, E.J. Gaines returned a Jared Goff tipped pass for a touchdown.

The secondary, not surprisingly, responded with cheers. These guys are happy, because the Rams’ new system, under coordinator Wade Phillips, encourages them to be aggressive and make plays.

“Some defenses are definitely designed for different groups,” Gaines said. “I think Wade’s is designed for the secondary. (Former coordinator) Gregg Williams’ defense was pressure, pressure, pressure, so we had a lot of sacks and our D-line was very productive. This defensive scheme is completely different, so I’m enjoying it, honestly. It’s allowing us to be more free and definitely make plays.”

The Rams added to that collection of potential playmakers during the offseason when they signed cornerbacks Kayvon Webster and Nickell Robey-Coleman to a group that already was fairly deep.

Trumaine Johnson, presumably, is locked into one starting spot, and Robey-Coleman’s main role figures to be as a nickel back. That means, entering camp, the primary competition seems to be between Gaines and Webster for the other starting cornerback job.

The Rams listed Webster, who played under Phillips in Denver, as a projected starter before camp, but Gaines shouldn’t be written off. He has dealt with injury issues, and missed all of the 2015 season, but last year he started 10 games and had 56 tackles.

“There’s not really tension in the room,” Gaines said. “It’s just competition, so everybody is enjoying it.”

That’s noticeable, in an audible sense. Perhaps it’s no surprise, considering that new cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant also brings a lot of energy to the field, and Gaines agreed that the secondary clearly is the loudest of the Rams’ position groups.

“I don’t know why, but it’s normally the defensive line,” Gaines said. “With (former Rams) Will Hayes and Eugene Sims it was just a loud group. But with the new guys that came into the secondary, it’s just the competition and the energy is just crazy in the room. Everybody is enjoying it.

The secondary also periodically gets some “help” from Coach Sean McVay, age 31, who likes to jump into drills and cover receivers and tight ends at times. Asked how he would grade McVay’s cover skills, Gaines laughed loudly and said, “ I’d give him about a 3, and you can tell him I said that.”

Gaines then added, “He’s definitely in tune with the practice. He’s a young guy, like us, and he’s full of energy. All of the coaches are, really, so it’s exciting.”

‘REAL FOOTBALL’

The Rams will practice in full pads on Tuesday for the first time in this camp, but McVay said there will not yet be any periods of “live,” full-tackling practice.

“Now it’s real football,” McVay said. “You want to try to keep guys off the ground. Some of those piles can occur and guys can get hurt, get rolled up on. So we want to try to avoid that but also get it as much like a game-type atmosphere as we can.”

To prepare for the more intense day, McVay gave five veterans the day off Monday: offensive linemen Andrew Whitworth, Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan, defensive lineman Dominique Easley and linebacker Connor Barwin. And of course, the holdout of star defensive lineman Aaron Donald reached a third day.

PHILLIPS OUT

Phillips also missed Monday’s practice. McVay said Phillips encountered “a situation that occurred where he needed to be back for his family.” McVay didn’t elaborate, but said Phillips would return to Southern California on Monday evening.

[www.ocregister.com]

So day 3 of training camp started off with meeting a fellow ROD member @bubbaramfan. We hit if off being that we both are Army vets. A little while later I got a text from @8- 12, another ROD member and he joined up with us. We then went into the beer garden and I don’t remember anything after that!

Just kidding. I will say I didn’t pay that close of attention to practice as I am a sociable person and like to engage in conversation with friends. There wasn’t very many fans there which was fine by me. We hung out on the railing in the beer garden, real close to the field.

One of the staff equipment guys confirmed that the 11x11 would take place on this field so we were all set. He also stated how different this coaching staff is compared to last year (yes, he was employed by the Rams last year too). He said that last year the coaches and assistant coaches would not help at all with picking up equipment used during the practice. This year, they all help out. Validation about the change in culture and the “We, not me” attitude.

During the mid-practice break, Ogletree came over to get out of the sun and kneeled down right in front of us. Of course, everyone engaged him in conversation and photo ops. Bubba told me to get a pic with him but I’m not that way. The man is working and taking his break. Let him have his time. Someone did ask him if he liked the new coaching staff better than the last one. He was silent, thinking of his response, very cautious of what he would say next. His reply, a simple “It’s different”. So, without saying much, his reaction to the question spoke volumes.

INJURY REPORT: #45 Zach Laskey went down at the start of a passing drill, no contact. It looked like a cramp but they carted him off the field. It was his left leg he was nursing. He was in pain so I don’t think it will be healing anytime soon.

As far as the action on the field, we had the defense standing right in front of us which was cool to see them engage each other but our views were blocked significantly (those are some big guys!). I will say that as crisp and sharp practice was yesterday, today was just the opposite. Lots of missed passes, sacks, short gains or no gains on the ground. Heck, E.J. Gains picked one off and returned it for a TD. He was covering Pharaoh Cooper. Some drops and some good catches also. Deep balls were a problem for the QB’s.

We tried to focus on the O line. Seemed like there was a lot of rotation on the O line. Whitworth was given the day off and Andrew Donnal took over LT for some of the reps. Quinn exposed him. Donnal didn’t look too good. When the 2’s took the field Daryl Williams manned the RT position at times. He was beat badly by #66 A.J. Jefferson on a couple of plays that would have resulted in a sack. He held up better against #56 Carlos Thompson. Pace Murphy had a shot at left tackle with the 2’s and wasn’t much better than Donnal.

Some of the biggest news happened after practice when a few players stayed afterwards for some extra work. Mark Barron was coaching up #56 Folarin Orimolade. C. Kupp was throwing and catching passes with Gurley and Sam Rogers. Kupp was doing something different, when a pass was thrown to him, he had one of the assistant coach’s hanging on him with hands to his face and across his body. You just can’t teach that kind of dedication to your craft. Gurley and Rogers took their cue from Kupp and started doing the same thing.

Sorry I don’t have much more to report. Tomorrow is supposed to full contact with pads so I’ll make a point to get out there and I promise I’ll focus more on the field than on the bottle.

Sports Rams
A fit and healthy E.J. Gaines makes big plays in Rams training camp
Gary KleinRams cornerback E.J. Gaines is finally unencumbered and free to make plays.



Gaines showed his fitness Monday when he intercepted a Jared Goff pass that tipped off the hands of receiver Pharoh Cooper during a seven-on-seven drill. Gaines grabbed the ball and sprinted toward the end zone.

It was exactly the kind of play new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips expects, Gaines said. Phillips ran the Denver Broncos’ defense the last two seasons and helped them win a Super Bowl.


Lindsey Thiry and Gary Klein
It was one of the most memorable moments from Rams training camp last year: Receivers Kenny Britt and Brian Quick, traversing UC Irvine’s campus in a go-kart, rolled the vehicle and both players fell out.

No one was injured and it appeared there was no property damage.

Camera crews filming HBO’s...

It was one of the most memorable moments from Rams training camp last year: Receivers Kenny Britt and Brian Quick, traversing UC Irvine’s campus in a go-kart, rolled the vehicle and both players fell out.

No one was injured and it appeared there was no property damage.

Camera crews filming HBO’s...

(Lindsey Thiry and Gary Klein)
Now he is competing with Kayvon Webster — who played as a backup under Phillips in Denver — and others to start opposite Trumaine Johnson.

“This is the best I’ve felt since probably my rookie year,” Gaines said. “So I’m just trying to get back into it and not do everything at one time. I think that’s been my problem the last couple years.”

Gaines said he was enjoying the competition and the energetic environment that McVay and his staff have created.

McVay, the NFL’s youngest coach, occasionally jumps into drills to cover receivers.

Asked to rate McVay’s coverage skills, Gaines laughed.

“Man, about a 3, honestly,” he said. “You can tell him I said that too.”

Backfield opportunity
Running back Lance Dunbar, signed in the offseason to be Todd Gurley’s backup, has not practiced because of a knee injury, opening the door for Malcolm Brown, Aaron Green and Justin Davis, an undrafted rookie from USC.

Brown, a third-year pro, played mainly on special teams last season. He rushed for 39 yards and caught three passes.

“He’s kind of got a quiet confidence about himself, where he just goes about his business, very reliable, knows exactly what to do and how to do it and he is a guy that we can depend on,” McVay said, adding, “Malcolm has done a nice job establishing himself as that secondary role.”

Green and Davis have “shown some flashes,” McVay said.

Famous alums

Gary Klein
It comes with the position.


Backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and all levels of football, are accustomed to garnering support from fans unhappy with the starter.

When the endorsement comes from a Hall of Fame player, well, the backup takes notice.

Sean Mannion of the Rams did.

In a television interview...

It comes with the position.

Backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and all levels of football, are accustomed to garnering support from fans unhappy with the starter.

When the endorsement comes from a Hall of Fame player, well, the backup takes notice.

Sean Mannion of the Rams did.

In a television interview...

(Gary Klein)
McVay’s phone was buzzing Sunday after the Dodgers’ Kyle Farmer hit a walk-off double in his first major league at-bat.

McVay, 31, and Farmer, 26, both played quarterback at Marist School in Atlanta. McVay said he met Farmer at the school’s football camp when the Dodgers player was an eighth-grader and McVay was working as a camp counselor.

McVay led Marist to a state title in 2003. Farmer led Marist to a state title game in 2008.

So former coaches texted McVay with news about Farmer’s game-winning exploits for the Dodgers.

“That’s a cool deal,” McVay said. “They said, ‘It’s nice to see two guys having success in L.A.’

“I said, ‘We haven’t won a game yet. He’s making plays already. So you can say that after we win some games.’ ”

Notes
The Rams on Tuesday will be in full pads for the first time…. Offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth and linebacker Connor Barwin were among several players held out of drills on Monday. “What’s important for these guys is getting them at their optimum health by Sept. 10,when we open the season,” McVay said. “So, there’s a handful of guys that we want to be careful with…. Mostly it’s just exclusive to some of the veteran players.”

@latimesklein



Copyright © 2017, Los Angeles Times

Login to view embedded media View: http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Sean-McVay-Day-3-Training-Camp-Press-Conference/0faf4bf9-c463-48db-bc77-a296546251d3


Link is bound to fail click the small print url below it. Will copy in a transcript when ones available.

1. The team only scrimmages on one side of the field or the other. The offense practices on the side closest to the entrance, and the defense practices on the far side.

2. The team enters and leaves TC through the corner of the defense's field that is on your left if you are standing at the entrance. Players typically sign autographs before leaving the practice field around 5:00-5:45 p.m.

3. If you're trying to figure out where the majority of the 11-on-11 scrimmages will be held, take a look at the really, really tall camera lifts. Usually, only the lifts on the side where the scrimmage takes place will be up.

4. WR Tavon Austin likes to wear #1 instead of #11 in TC.

5. LB Connor Barwin is a beast wearing #98.

6. Check out OT Andrew Whitworth at #77. He is even bigger!

7. Keep on the lookout for guys like Stedman Bailey and Aaron Donald, who can be seen roaming the perimeter.

8. Mike Thomas will now be in #88 while TE Gerald Everett wears #81 now.

For some reason my default font, which was just whatever the forum used, has changed and is smaller.

Any help?

Got this from NFL.com

Jaguars OT Branden Albert retires after nine seasons

Conor Orr
Around The NFL Writer

Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Branden Albert is hanging up the spikes.

After a bizarre offseason during which Albert was traded by the Dolphins to the Jags before skipping offseason workouts in hopes of acquiring a new deal, the former Chiefs first-round pick decided to call it a career.

Albert provided a statement through the Jaguars' official website on Monday.

"After nine seasons playing in the National Football League, I have decided to retire from the game that has given me so much. I would like to thank Mr. Khan and the Jaguars organization, Mr. Ross, Joe Philbin, Dennis Hickey and the Dolphins organization and Mr. Hunt, Carl Peterson, Herm Edwards and the Chiefsorganization for providing me with the opportunity of a lifetime. GOD has blessed me with so much through football that I thought would never be attainable. It's been truly a blessing. I cherish all of the relationships and people I have encountered while playing in the NFL! Special thanks to Al Groh and the University of Virginia for giving me the opportunity for a great education and showing faith in me when no one else wanted to take a chance on me. I am truly thankful for my UVA family.

"This is such a special league and it's been an honor and a privilege to play this sport professionally for the past nine years. I wish Coach Marrone and my Jacksonville teammates the best of luck on their journey this season. During my short stint in Jacksonville, I quickly realized that they are working incredibly hard to turn the corner and I truly believe that they will find success in the coming years. I look forward to returning to Miami, the place that I now call 'home,' and running my businesses, while giving back to the community. While this chapter of my life is coming to an end, my story is still going and I hope you'll follow along. I will be furthering and finishing my education. GOD BLESS AND GODSPEED."

The team's website noted Albert was working with the first string throughout most of training camp so far, making the decision all the more strange. Without question, the heaviest burden falls on rookie second-round pick Cam Robinson, who likely will start the season off as the team's left tackle.

The Jaguars' offensive line has been a work in progress throughout the Dave Caldwell era. After watching former first-round pick Luke Joeckel falter, the hope was that Albert could come in and provide a bridge to Robinson, one of the highest-regarded offensive linemen in this year's draft. Should Robinson live up to expectations, quarterback Blake Bortleswon't have to worry about anyone crashing down on him from the blindside.

Albert, 32, made two Pro Bowls (2013 and 2015) during his career. He started 118 games over nine seasons with the Chiefs and Dolphins.

These are excerpts. To read the whole article click the link below.
*******************************************************************
https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/07/31/nfl-training-camps-tour-cowboys-broncos-rams-chargers-peter-king

The Boss, the ’Boys and the Recommitment to the 2017 NFL Season
Peter King’s annual training camp tour kicks off in Oxnard, Calif., where Cowboys coach Jason Garrett is using a Bruce Springsteen story to help his players refocus for the new season.

Plus more camp visits to: the Broncos and their lonely leader; the Chargers and their commuting quarterback; the Rams and their energetic young coach. And notes on Colin Kaepernick, Adrian Peterson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Kobe Bryant in Costa Mesa, U2 in Dublin and much more.
By Peter King

CAN SEAN MCVAY TURN AROUND JARED GOFF?

In his second season, Jared Goff enters Rams camp as the starting quarterback.
JOSH LEFKOWITZ/GETTY IMAGE

IRVINE, Calif. — At UC-Irvine on Saturday, on the first day of camp, rookie coach Sean McVay was about as involved as a head coach can be in one position. It was the quarterback group, naturally. McVay bounded in and out of drills, directing the quarterbacks—most noticeably Jared Goff—with the kind of hands-on coaching Goff really needs.

When you start seven games as a rookie, lose them all, complete 54.6 percent of your throws, and have the league’s lowest passer rating, hard coaching is good. And necessary.

At first blush, the completions are still hard to come by for Goff. In throws to wideouts against man coverage, he overthrew a couple open receivers, looking like he was trying to be too fine. The most impressive receivers, to me, were rookies Cooper Kupp and Pharoh Cooper.

Kupp is not a great separator, but he is such a precise route-runner; his cuts are on a dime. Pharoh Cooper, meanwhile, competes for balls and looks like he’s been here three years. I’ll be fascinated to watch these two competitive players battle for balls—because Goff won’t throw all his passes exactly on target.

“There’s 32 number one quarterbacks in the league,” said GM Les Snead, whose job is likely on the line this year, and some of it due to the choice of Goff number one in the 2016 draft. “Jared’s the only one who’s 22 [years old]. That’s really young for a quarterback, obviously. He’s growing into the job.”

But Goff’s arm is strong enough to make the throws, judging by his efforts downfield Saturday. Club people say the big difference between Goff with McVay and Goff last year is the number of potential solutions on each dropback the multiple McVay offense will afford him.

Kirk Cousins, last year’s McVay pupil in Washington, says the great thing about McVay’s play calls is that he’d always be able to find someone—at least one receiver—with an open window for a completion. “Like Kirk says,” Goff said here, “this offense has a lot of answers.

On every play, the way Sean conceptualizes things, he gives us at least one chance to make a good play. And with the variables in this offense—the deep ball, the trickeration—it’s still not that complicated for the quarterback. I think it’s a great offense for a quarterback.”

McVay will have patience with Goff, who clearly isn’t going to be yanked early in the season unless the results are putrid. I believe the most important addition to this offense is left tackle Andrew Whitworth. The longtime shutdown tackle for the Bengals will spend his twilight years (year?) protecting Goff’s blind side.

That was an excellent addition, and a vital sign for a team trying to let a young quarterback have a couple more split seconds to think under pressure. Whitworth looked leaner Saturday, and he moved better than a 35-year-old tackle has a right to. Mostly, he gives off the air of, I got this. Go worry about some other position. “He’s huge for us,” said Goff. “I love having him out there.”

Time will tell on this coach, and this quarterback. McVay knows he needs to find Goff some completions, and that’s going to be his aim coming out of the chute.

* * *


Dak Prescott and Jason Garrett are ready to return to action after a disappointing end to an otherwise electric 2016 season.
MICHAEL OWEN BAKER/AP

OXNARD, Calif. — This is going to be a great column. Springsteen and U2 are in it.

Can’t a guy hit his musical go-tos with his first column of training camp?

We’ll head to Arizona, Colorado and California to cover the first five stops on my camp tour here, including an interesting weekend in Orange County, with two transplanted teams practicing 6.5 miles apart in traffic-mad southern California. (Trust me.) First stop: an hour north of Los Angeles, on the Pacific coast, where Jason Garrett returned to his Jersey roots to jolt the Cowboys out of any potential post-Green Bay-playoff-loss funk.

The Cowboys have been here. On the verge of great expectations, I mean. Two years ago Dallas was coming off a 12-4 season and divisional playoff loss to the Packers. Tony Romo got hurt, and a 4-12 debacle followed. Now, they’re coming off a 13-3 season and another divisional playoff loss to the Packers.

And Garrett decided to confront the we’ve-arrived, Dak Prescott/Zeke Elliott-fueled runaway optimism in an oddly negative way when he addressed the full squad this offseason.

We’re not good enough.

“Have you read the Springsteen book?” Garrett said the other day in a lengthy conversation before practice. (“Born To Run,” an autobiography, 2016, Simon & Schuster.) “He’s 20 years old, everybody at the Jersey Shore loves him, but he’s unknown nationally, and a good friend and adviser tells him, ‘If you really want to be great, you’ve got to get off the Jersey Shore.’ And so they pile everything in a couple vehicles and head west to this sort of open mike night in San Francisco.

As Springsteen wrote, the band was part of a four-band showcase; one band would get the chance to move on and perhaps get a recording contract. The Jersey guys went third and thought they killed it. The fourth band, though not as energetic, was very good. Via “Born To Run:”

“They got the gig. We lost out. After the word came down, all the other guys were complaining we’d gotten ripped off. The guy running the joint didn’t know what he was doing, blah, blah, blah.”

That night, Springsteen reflected, sleeping on a couch in his transplanted parents’ home in the Bay Area. “My confidence was mildly shaken, and I had to make room for a rather unpleasant thought. We were not going to be the big dogs we were back in our little hometown. We were going to be one of the many very competent, very creative musical groups fighting over a very small bone. Reality check.

I was good, very good, but maybe not quite as good or exceptional as I’d gotten used to people telling me, or as I thought … I was fast, but like the old gunslingers knew, there’s always somebody faster, and if you can do it better than me, you earn my respect and admiration, and you inspire me to work harder. I was not a natural genius.

I would have to use every ounce of what was in me—my cunning, my musical skills, my showmanship, my intellect, my heart, my willingness—night after night, to push myself harder, to work with more intensity than the next guy just to survive untended in the world I lived in.”

This was music to Garrett. Because after last season, even after the crushing 34-31 playoff loss to Green Bay, he thought the team was just a little too happy with itself. Not without reason. Prescott went toe-to-toe with Aaron Rodgers and acquitted himself well (Prescott 103.2 rating, Rodgers 96.6), Elliott outgained the Packers team 125-87 on the ground, and it took the miracle catch from Jared Cook and two late 50-yard-plus Mason Crosby field goals for the Packers to survive.

There was some gratification in the maturation of the Prescott-led offense, to be sure. But Garrett searched for a message that would tell his team they shouldn’t be fat and happy and satisfied with being the best band on the Jersey Shore. So Garrett had T-shirts made up saying “Recommit … Every Day” and the Cowboys got his message.

“People talk about taking the next step like it’s some big, obvious thing,” said Garrett. “It’s not. The next step happened just by working hard every day. I just told them, ‘This is our story. This is us. The goal is not to be local heroes. Everything we did last year, we gotta do it again this year, and we gotta do it better.’”

“It hit home,” Prescott said. “I felt him on that story. Here’s [Springsteen] and his band, local heroes, and they go west and it doesn’t work for them. That’s like us, winning the division and being local heroes in our city, in our division. That’s not what we want. We want to be worldwide heroes. That’s what we’re playing for this year—something more than the division—and that story reminded us you’ve got to work for it every day.”

There will be obstacles. Who’s going to rush the passer? Can so many young secondary pieces (free safety Byron Jones and corners Anthony Brown, Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis) rise to big roles? Can the early impressive work of potential starting middle linebacker Jaylon Smith (the Notre Damer is trying to return from left-leg nerve damage to be the pivot of the Dallas defense) continue fast enough for him to start?

And can Elliott be the kind of mature long-term star the Cowboys need him to be? We should know part of that soon enough; the league is expected to rule in the coming days on Elliott’s status in the wake of a year-long domestic-violence investigation. Garrett has been working on him.

“I’ve had a number of talks with him,” Garrett said. “I’ve asked him, ‘What do you want to be?’ I’ve had him try to understand the potential paths he could go down, the opportunities he has, on and off the field. They’re off the charts. He’s an infectious, very likable, hard-working kid.

My point to him is, ‘If you maximize your abilities, you might be able to make $200 million off the field, like LeBron. Or you could make a million.’ I mean, say you’re AT&T, or you’re Pepsi. You’re looking for a spokesman for your product. What would you do right now? You’d probably say if you’re one of those companies, ‘Oh, we’ll go with Dak. Or we’ll go with Jordan Spieth.’ But that’s in his control.”

The Cowboys, as always, are an interesting chemistry experiment. They have it in their power to build on the strong base they created last year, to be sure. If they do, Garrett will be able to thank two bosses: Jerry Jones, for the players, and Springsteen, for the message.

* * *

RIVERS THE COMMUTER. SPANOS THE PRAGMATIST

JAE C. HONG/AP

COSTA MESA, Calif. — Five points about the first day of the rest of the lives of the Los Angeles Chargers:

• Very weird to see two teams training 6.5 miles apart in Orange County after the greater L.A. area went from 1995 to 2015 with zero teams. With the Rams a 10K jog away at the home of the UC-Irvine Anteaters, the Chargers have taken over the Jack Hammett Sports Complex, installing two gorgeous NFL-caliber fields where soccer fields and flag-football fields once grew.

Two miles away, abutting an IKEA, will be the Chargers’ office and practice complex, opening in about a month. Distance from Qualcomm Stadium: 86 miles. Fans who made the trek from somewhere Sunday on the opening day of training camp: about 5,100, according to the team, for the 10 a.m. practice. Fairly impressive, considering no one knew what to expect for crowds. But no one expects that to continue in camp as the Chargers try to build a market here.

• Philip Rivers told me he’s going to commute to the training complex from his northeast San Diego home, about 71 miles each way. He’ll have a driver so he can do work in the car to and from the complex. I asked coach Anthony Lynn how he felt about it, and he admitted, “I’m a little concerned. But Philip has such a unique situation with eight children.” Rivers said his family, obviously, played into the decision, and he said he’s going to be sure not to be rushing out of the facility at the end of the day to get home.

“I think it was worth it, all the things I weighed, both sides, for this first season,” Rivers told me after his first practice not as a San Diego Charger. “It was worth a try to commute and keep ourselves in the same home and be in the same schools and have the same support system and go to the same church and do all those things. Early in the morning it will be a piece of cake, just about an hour and then on the way back it could be a little longer.

I can’t be the one behind the wheel. I can’t sacrifice preparation, or if I am tired. I wasn’t going to sacrifice being a good teammate either. I didn’t want to be the guy that says, ‘Gotta run!’ That's my favorite part of football, being around the guys and being a good teammate. So we’ll give it a shot.”

• President and CEO Dean Spanos watched from behind the end zone of one of the fields as camp got underway at the facility, which sprouted from nothing in the span of three months. He said he wanted to focus on the future, but he did say a couple of things about leaving San Diego. He said he understood the fans’ ire. But he also said: “I can look myself in the mirror after what’s happened.” On whether he thinks Los Angeles will be a good two-team market, he said, “Obviously, time will tell if this is the right decision.

But where were the two teams that moved going in their [previous] markets? The potential for growth is so great here. We know we have to win. That’s obviously a big key in this market.” He also said the 46 suites and the nearly 30,000 seats in the StubHub Center have been sold.

When I expressed some trepidation about a minor-league-type stadium for his team for the next three years, Spanos got his back up a bit. “Is that bad?” he said. “Is it bad that every seat is sold, and the fan experience is positive? How is that bad? You may start to see the downsizing of stadiums in sports anyway.”

• Regarding distractions … I thought it was a good idea that the Chargers chose to do their offseason program back in San Diego as lame ducks there. Last year the Rams cavorted from St. Louis to Oxnard, Calif., for the offseason program, to Irvine, Calif., for training camp, and to Thousand Oaks, Calif., for the regular season, while playing near downtown L.A.

The number of moves took a toll, to be sure. “Our goal was to be as least disruptive to the football operation as we could,” said Spanos. So the team stayed at its old complex until late June, and those who moved (like GM Tom Telesco) did so in early July; Telesco moved to Orange County, 10 minutes from where the football complex will be built.

“It’s been remarkably orderly,” said Telesco. What toll will the move take on the team’s record? No one knows. But it seems pretty obvious the Chargers of 2017 will be less affected by the move than the Rams of 2016, and not just because one team moved 85 miles and the other team moved halfway across the country.

• Regarding San Diego … LaDainian Tomlinson was on hand Sunday as a Charger ambassador, six days before being enshrined in Canton, and early in practice he took a sideline mike to address the fans. Here’s how it sounded:

Tomlinson: “I look forward to representing the Chargers—”

Fan in crowd: “SAN DIEGO!!!!”

Tomlinson: “—in the Pro Football Hall of Fame!”

In other words, the San Diegans are not going to be calling this team “Los Angeles” anytime soon. Said San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Kevin Acee: “San Diego is split between those who think: ‘That’s our team; how can you be disloyal?’ And, ‘They betrayed us!’ But the Chargers stories we write are still getting much more traffic, by far, than Padres stories.”

Signs at camp urged fans to “Fight for LA” and “Fight for Orange County.” The Chargers have turned the page, and day one, though bittersweet for those an hour south, looked pretty sweet to the Angelenos. “We have finality, we have direction,” Spanos said. “This is a great day. Was it worth it? Hell yeah, it was worth it.”

* * *

JOHN ELWAY ON COMPETITION, LEADERSHIP


John Elway messes around with former teammate and current NFL Network analyst Terrell Davis during Broncos camp on Sunday.
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/AP

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The windows of John Elway’s second-floor office in the Broncos’ offices and training complex show a pristine view of the practice fields as players filter out to cheers from the crowd on the hill across the field. It’s a beautiful day, and all seems right with the Denver world.

That’s because all, or almost all, is right. Elway, 57, signed a five-year contract to remain the team’s football czar last week. Interestingly, as one of the best quarterbacks every to play, Elway’s highest average player salary with the Broncos a generation ago was about $5.6 million a year—in his last NFL deal.

This front-office deal is for a reported $6 million a year, with incentives. In so doing, it shatters the glass ceiling of NFL GM contracts; Baltimore’s Ozzie Newsome and Seattle’s John Schneider reportedly make in the neighborhood of $4 million annually.

In six seasons as GM, Elway’s Denver teams are 40 games over .500 (including playoffs). Only New England has won more games in the last six years than Denver. And I wondered: When most superstars don’t want to get up early and stay late on the front-office side of things, why does Elway do it?

“I could never get away from the competitive side of the game, or being competitive,” said Elway, tanned and looking relaxed on the verge of his seventh season running the team. “When I did get away, I had car dealerships and all those type of things, but the competitive side of me wanted to be back involved in some way to where you can have an impact on, or help have an impact on, some games and be involved with it.

My gut has been right a lot of the time. I can look at tape and you can evaluate and all those things. I know what I like in coaches, I know what I like in players, I know what I like in the locker room.

“But I will say this, and I say it all the time. This job is lonely at times, because you do have to be the bad guy at times. That’s the thing about leadership. I look at leadership as a quarterback and I look at leadership as a general manager, and that's two different types of leadership.

When you are a quarterback, you're working with whoever is in that locker room, so you learn how to get along with everybody and understand the personalities and also work at getting the most out of everybody who is around you as a quarterback. And then as a GM, you're not in that locker room, but you’re having to make the decisions determining who is going into that locker room.

So therefore, you are going to have to make unpopular decisions because of the relationships that are created in that locker room no matter what. As hard as the decisions are, every one that I make is made with the idea that the most important thing is the Denver Broncos and our mission of trying to compete for world championships.

“Think you’ll be a football lifer?” I asked. “Or could this contract be your last?”

“If you want to get in this business, it’s the same way as a player as it is in my position: You’re either in or you’re out. There is no halfway in doing this. You can’t sit there and try to take the summer off and come in after training camp and then oversee everything and try to dictate different moves on the team if you’re not totally engaged.

If I feel I can’t do it every single day and be 100 percent engaged, then I will step away. We’ve got this five-year deal, and you can say, well that looks like it might be the last one, but who knows how I am going to feel at 62? We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

• Five notes about the Broncos: Three inspirations for preseason reading for coach Vance Joseph: Tony Dungy, Malcolm Gladwell, Winston Churchill. “I love leadership books,” Joseph said, “and Churchill was an incredible leader at a very difficult time.” …

I heard the words “more explosive plays” about 15 times in my day here. Denver drafted 5'8" wideout Isaiah McKenzie in the fifth round because his skill set reminded some in the organization of Tyreek Hill of the Chiefs …

Von Miller has a personal videographer following him around camp. Just for fun, and for the social-media impact of lots of video postings … Miller’s thighs got ridiculously massive in his offseason workouts. He pooh-poohed that, but see if you notice when you watch Denver on TV …

So far so good on Jamaal Charles. “Every time I see him,” said offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, “he says, ‘I feel great.’” Charles has missed 24 of 32 games over the past two regular seasons, and he told me—at least as of now—he has zero knee pain. Denver’s looking to get him eight or 10 touches a game if he can survive.

* * *

POD PEOPLE

Veteran NFL writer Rick Gosselin from Dallas, and Arizona GM Steve Keim.

• Gosselin on the impact of Terrell Davis entering the Hall of Fame this year after three great years and one very good one, and what it could mean for future classes: “I think it has lowered the bar. And I think a lot of people now are going to think they are Hall of Fame candidates because Terrell Davis is in. Terrell Davis had three Hall of Fame-caliber seasons.

A guy like Sterling Sharpe played seven years. He's going to say, ‘Hey, I had a longer stretch of greatness than Terrell Davis. I should be considered.’ It's to a point where he is going to become the Lynn Swann of running backs. Every receiver not in wants to point to Lynn Swann's 300-plus catches. Hey, look, I had better stats than Lynn Swann! And that's the low bar.

Every receiver that wants in, that is not in, points to Lynn Swann, and every running back that is not in is going to point to Terrell Davis. And I think a lot of players from other positions as well are going to point to Terrell Davis. I think he got in for the 2,000 yards and the playoff performances. But bottom line is, he is in the Hall of Fame for three seasons in his career.”

• Gosselin on the Hall of Fame candidate this helps the most: “Tony Boselli. Boselli took a huge step forward in last year's class. He jumped over [Washington tackle Joe] Jacoby. I think he [Boselli] is a deserving player. His window of greatness was open wider than Terrell Davis, and I think inside the next two years, I would expect Boselli to be a Hall of Fame player because of what happened in the last few years.”

* * *

THINGS I THINK I THINK


Adrian Peterson is in his first season as a Saint after 10 years in Minnesota.
STEPHEN LEW/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES

1. I think this is an interesting quote I heard from one training camp observer in New Orleans: “Adrian Peterson looks like he’s 20.” Fantasy footballers are either going to get rich or go bankrupt based on betting on the 32-year-old back having yet another resurgent year. This is going to be an intriguing year for the Saints, in many ways.

I’m convinced Asshole Face’s not going to play the same kind of bombs-away football he’s played in the past three years, which have ended 7-9, 7-9 and 7-9. I think he wants to play ball-control football, and the Mark Ingram/Peterson/Alvin Kamara (rookie from Tennessee who should be a good receiving threat out of the backfield) trio at running back should make that possible and productive.

2. I think Jimmy Garoppolo could not be handling his situation with the Patriots any better than he is. Our Albert Breer spent time with him the other day in Foxboro, and if you know Albert, you know he tried 67 different ways to get Garoppolo to say, I’m not really pleased to still be a backup in my fourth year, even though I’ve proven I should be starting right now. No dice with Garoppolo.

“I wouldn’t say frustrated is the word,” Garoppolo told Breer for a story we’ll have on The MMQB this week. “I’m happy. I think everything that happens, happens for a reason. I’m happy being here. I’ve gotten two Super Bowl rings. So I wouldn’t say I’m frustrated. Eager to play is probably a better way to put it.”

3. I think my opinion hasn’t wavered regarding Garoppolo. If you were him, would you rather have been shipped, say, to Cleveland this year and start for a franchise where the future is at best uncertain?

Or would you rather stay in New England for at least one more year, and either get tagged at huge money next year, be a free agent and get to choose your landing spot, or somehow land with a coach you’ve grown to like a lot—New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels—should he get a head-coaching job in 2018. It’s not that complicated to me as to why Garoppolo knows that, for him, patience is the right play right now.

4. I think one thing really ticked me off this week: the Kansas City Star’s editorial page criticizing the Chiefs for adding Michael Vick as a training camp coach this summer. The reason for the newspaper’s editorial was Vick’s conviction in 2007 for running a dogfighting enterprise near his Virginia home. The Starwrote: “We don’t understand how thinking it was highly entertaining to watch trained pit bulls fatally attack family pets at his appropriately named Virginia dogfighting operation, the Bad Newz Kennels, might make the former star pro quarterback just the right guy to mentor and mold other football players.”

So Vick does this heinous crime, spends 21 months in federal prison, serves his time, essentially ruins his career, and in the eight years since exiting prison lives a fairly quiet life off the field. He admits his grievous error, works with the Humane Society as penance. Eight years. And he doesn’t deserve to be able to rehabilitate himself and move on with his life, taking an opportunity that was offered to him by a coach, Andy Reid, with an empathetic streak, working with young players on football and on life?

My message to the editorial board of the Star: Do you not believe in people changing? In people rehabbing their lives? Should those guilty of awful crimes be condemned for life to be shut away and not be able to practice some aspect of what they were best at? What a reprehensible, blind editorial.

5. I think none of us had quite the 2017 vacation that Von Miller did. He spent 40 days in Europe following Drake on tour. He saw Drake 22 times.

6. I think when I saw that tight end Eric Ebron went down with an injury for Detroit at Sunday’s practice, I thought this is a player who never will fulfill the expectations of his 10th overall pick in 2014. He’s missed eight games with injuries already. A shame for that franchise—even if this is just something minor.

7. I think the Jags can say whatever they want and minimize the fact that Blake Bortles threw five interceptions in one July practice, which he did over the weekend in Jacksonville. But that doesn’t change the fact that this franchise is highly concerned about whether he can be the quarterback of the future. As it should be.

8. I think we’re seeing a very interesting journalism experiment right now, and it’s by a friend of the show: Former MMQBer Greg Bedard started a subscription site, Boston Sports Journal, covering all the pro teams in Boston, and by this morning had exceeded early expectations, with 2,040 subscribers in the first week. The site was free in the first week and will go behind a pay wall today. Bedard and I talked Saturday about his expectations, and why he did it.

“I think our business is in trouble,” Bedard said. “I’m 43, and I should be in my prime covering the NFL, and I didn’t have a job. And not just me. There are a lot of writers like me, probably 100 of us, capable and wanting to work, but without jobs. And I think this is the future—building a community of loyal subscribers and serving them and interacting with them so they preach the gospel of our site and keep us growing.”

Bedard feels like I do: Aggregation sites—Pro Football Talk, The Big Lead, Deadspin—whittle away at the traffic for other sites by posting the most pertinent information from stories and linking to the stories … but how many people, after seeing pertinent info, then click the link to read the whole thing on the original site?

Aggregation sites have good original content too, obviously, and do some good journalism, and they’re quick to credit other sites. But Bedard is right to try something different. I’ll be interested to see where it leads.

9. I think the Vikings, after completing extensions to vital defensive pieces Everson Griffen and Xavier Rhodes, now must be sure not to let pass rusher Danielle Hunter walk after the 2018 season, when his contract expires. Hunter has the kind of double-digit-sack potential that could make him invaluable in Mike Zimmer’s defense—or, for that matter, anyone’s defense.

10. I think the non-football section will return next week … in fact, I know it will … but let me end this week with something serious: We’re going to continue to get more stories as the months and years go on about the spate of former players being found with CTE after death. It’s inevitable. Fans, and media covering the NFL, are going to have to determine if they want to keep following and covering a sport that will have players who have mental issues later in life.

For now, what I think is vital is what researchers are asking for: a wider swath of current and former players (and not just those who report having major personality changes, or who find themselves debilitated mentally later in life) pledging their brains to be examined upon death. Also, if football is going to continue to exist, more communities should do what players like Drew Brees suggest—no tackle football until at least high school.

Brees coaches flag football in his offseason and is bullish on the concept of teaching the game through flag, and then, when kids are physically mature enough, having them put the pads and helmets on in high school. It’s an excellent idea, and it could lead to the game’s long-term survival.

So I posted my first set of pics from Training Camp on postimg.com from a recommendation of one of our board members.

Site works ok but what I noticed is you can't see a full screen view unless you download the pic and you can't see a slideshow, having to click back to the folder then selecting your next pic to view.

Does anyone have a site they use that will allow full screen view and slide show viewing?

Unless you view some of these in full screen, you are missing some great detail that makes you go "WOW"!

Hey guys. My friend and I just started our own podcast. We talk all things NFL and will eventually be doing our own specific teams. It's only on Facebook for now but if you like what you hear give us a like and follow us on Twitter @Overtime1158
https://m.facebook.com/Overtime1158
Thanks for listening!

Also, feel free to critique or give us any advice. We would appreciate it.

I think Todd Gurley will have a nice bounce back year this year but i am uncomfortable with our rb depth with Dunbar hurt again and relative other unknowns. This is an area i will be looking at in our preseason games.

But one option i was thinking about was Alfred Morris. He is currently like 4th on Dallas depth chart and he has experience in Washingthon offense. They are saying he probably will be cut because he doesnt play special teams..Anybody else think this might be an good option to give Gurley a spell from time to time?

Think it was also part of an ESPN article but it's too fun not to post here.

She's happier too. Bonus!
http://www.wisn.com/article/ex-body...-inspire-others-to-love-their-bodies/10317567
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155274413195049&set=a.10150221168120049.344462.630740048&type=3

First time user of this site. Hope it works!

https://postimg.org/gallery/jmr9clgg/

therams.com
Five Observations from Day 2 of Rams Camp
By Myles Simmons
6-7 minutes
Login to view embedded media View: http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Five-Observations-from-Day-2-of-Rams-Camp/c209da92-38eb-46dd-a570-595ef32f880a

The Rams completed their second training camp practice on Sunday afternoon. While the players are still acclimating and therefore not yet in pads, there were nevertheless a bevy of quality plays made throughout the day. Here are five observations from Day 2.

1) Goff looked sharp

After going through what the quarterback himself called an “up and down” Day 1, quarterback Jared Goff was on point throughout Day 2. Early in the club’s 11-on-11 drills, Goff rolled to his right off play action and hit wideout Cooper Kupp with a deep downfield pass. It was a sign of things to come for the young quarterback, as he remained sharp all practice.

“Yeah, I felt good,” Goff said during Rams Camp Live after the session. “There are some things you want back, and some things you feel good about. I think, always, you’re trying to get better. But practice is a time to make some mistakes sometimes. But, yeah, today I felt pretty good.”

Goff and wide receiver Robert Woods have also exhibited strong chemistry over the first couple of days, with Woods making a solid sideline reception during 11-on-11 drills on Sunday.

Yes it’s early, but there was a clear progression from Day 1 to Day 2 for the second-year quarterback.

2) Whitworth vs. Quinn will be fun to watch in pads

Whenever you have two elite players who line up against one another on a daily basis in training camp, it’s fun to watch. We haven’t seen left tackle Andrew Whitworth and outside linebacker Robert Quinn line up against one another in pads yet. But just from their footwork over these last two days, it’s clear there’s going to be some solid competition between them.

As the saying goes, “iron sharpens iron.” And in these first two days, sometimes Quinn wins a rep, and sometimes Whitworth wins a rep. But both players look like they’re at the top of their game.

For Whitworth, that’s despite entering camp at 35 years old.

“If you want to talk about Whit’s age, all you’ve got to do is watch him on the field and you know the productions there. The guy is a leader. The guy’s a beast,” right guard Rob Havenstein said. “Anything I can take from him and apply to my game I am going to do — clearly it works. You don’t stay in the league for that many years without being some of the best. I think it’s better for everyone that we can kind of pull off of him and take what he does.”

3) Barwin still has it

Speaking of Rams free agent acquisitions, outside linebacker Connor Barwin made a few nice moves during the 11-on-11 periods during Sunday’s practice. At one point, he broke out a spin reminiscent of one of the plays we broke down in All 22 once he signed with the club in March. (Head to the 1:00 mark in the video below.)

The outside linebacker clearly has a lot of comfort in coordinator Wade Phillips’ defensive scheme, which should only become more apparent once the players put on pads.

4) Draft picks making plays

It’s always intriguing to see the progress draft picks make from the end of the offseason program to training camp. On Sunday, tight end Gerald Everett displayed how he’s come along, making a few tough catches — including a sliding grab toward the sideline on a pass from Goff in 7-on-7 drills.

“I think when you just look at the first couple of days, the comfort level that you see in Gerald Everett and just moving around and getting lined up and just executing his role responsibility on the given play, he’s much more comfortable,” head coach Sean McVay said. “When you can do that, you can play fast and that’s when I think you’ll see his athleticism.

Elsewhere, Kupp has continued to catch just about everything in sight — including that nice rollout pass from Goff. Fellow wideout Josh Reynolds has displayed some soft hands and his lengthy catch radius — including on a nice comeback route from Goff. Fullback Sam Rogers shook off a defender during one-on-ones to make a reception out of the backfield, eliciting some “Ooos” from the assembled crowd.

And there was one play in 11-on-11 drills where outside linebacker Samson Ebukam flew through the offensive line to get a play stopped as a sack during 11-on-11. It wasn’t quite clear where he rushed from, but he arrived in the backfield quickly to induce the coaches to blow their whistles and end the play.

5) Keep an eye on…

Three under-the-radar players who have caught my attention so far in camp are defensive end Morgan Fox, wide receiver Shakeir Ryan, and defensive back Aaron Penton.

You may remember Fox from last year’s fourth preseason matchup against Minnesota when he dominated the first half with 2.0 sacks and a number of run stuffs and quarterback hits. He has speed and looks like he could be effective as a potential rotational piece along the front seven.

Ryan is an undrafted free agent out of Northwestern State, and is one of the youngest Rams at just 21 years old. But he made a nice deep reception from third-string quarterback Dan Orlovsky during Sunday’s practice. He also has been working as a returner, so it will be telling to see if he receives any game reps there during the preseason.

And Penton has flashed plenty over the first two days. On Saturday, he recorded the day’s only interception, bringing it back for an ostensible pick six. And on Sunday, he stood out in one-on-one drills when he ripped a ball out of an offensive player’s hands to force an incompletion.

Again, it’s early, and there’s much still to learn about all three players once the club puts on pads. But they’re players who have stood out to me over the first two day

Let me start with my usual disclaimer; I am not a pro-scout, I am not a football whisperer, I am not a football guru. I am just a longtime fan of the Rams and I have played, coached and watched football for a very long time so some things I know, but by no means am I all knowing. These are just my observations for those that can’t attend.

There, now that we got the legalize out of the way, let’s begin…

Weather at camp was perfect! Cool breeze blowing at UCI. Shade canopies provided by the Rams were a welcome relief from the sun. I only stayed under them a little while. Couldn’t get the right angles for my photo shoot otherwise.

Tru Johnson got a lot of the boo birds going when he came out of the locker room. He knows this is going to happen and puts it behind him. I wonder how long he’ll be able to ignore those type of fans?

The tempo of camp practice is very much upbeat as compared to last year. No waisted time or motions. The assistant coaches are hustling their butts off out there. Camp only ran for two hours and there was one break in between those two hours. Coach McVey was very much involved with the offense today. At one point stopping a play before the snap during the 11x11 to chew some butt. Too far away to make out what was said or even who it was directed to but his body language spoke loud enough. I didn’t see Son of a Bum out there. Bones was doing his thing early on. You can just see the passion in his work.

Now for my big announcement. I tweeted that we had a good combination in QB/WR/TE and @Dogersrf was kind enough to post my tweets. What I really wanted to say was that THIS group is going to light the NFL on fire! Guys, they are already clicking. I would add Kupp to the mix also but Woods and Goff are definitely on the same page and Higbee and Everett will be solid! Dare I say this combo will be better than anything Brady and company has ever had? I feel very strongly about this group even after one practice witnessed. I just can’t say enough about them.

Malcom Brown had a remarkable one-handed catch down the left sideline during passing drills. I got a great shot of it that will be posted with a link. Kupp missed a sure one right in his hands on a crossing route. Very rare. He redeemed himself during 11x11, getting behind the DB’s (Tru and Joyner) on a great route and took it to the house. Josh Reynolds has some soft hands and is aware of his surroundings on an out route that Myles Simmons tweeted about. Got pics of that too!

As much as the WR’s were catching, the DB’s were defending. Webster played Wood’s perfectly along the left sideline and go into position to break of the pass. Again, got some great pics of that too! Both were fighting for the ball. Tavon on a crossing route caught one from Goff and them got sandwiched by the unknown defenders. Remember, no pads, no contact. Someone didn’t get the memo. All the DB’s looked very good in warm ups. Fluid hip movement and eyes and hands in sync for sudden balls thrown their way. John Johnson is someone to keep an eye. Big kid and very agile.

Our QB’s are doing well. Heck even Dan O. launched a deep one on post route that the receiver had to wait on then used his body to shield the ball and brought it down between two closing defenders. Of course, I didn’t get that one on film. Guy standing next to me says “That’s a good quarterback! Who is that?”. I set him straight.

You have all heard Goff feels more comfortable out there. It shows. He knows what he is doing and is doing it well. Great progress from last year. He calls the plays, reads the D, makes his audible and it all comes together in an instant. Mannion is doing just fine. Threw a couple of ducks but is a serviceable backup but not a long term or starting caliber QB. Dan O. is Dan O.

Todd Gurley is hungry. He broke a couple of runs up the middle with some nice cutbacks. Found the hole/lane and took it. One run he had was blown dead but he was already in the secondary and took off for the end zone with Tru chasing him. Whistles start blaring to stop the play but Todd would have no part of it. Into the end zone he ran. The crowd gives him a big cheer for that. He was also catching passes on screens out of the back field. Brown was doing the same and even Aaron Green got in the mix if only with the second or third string.

Speaking of strings, first team WR/TE groups consisted of Woods, Kupp, Austin, Higbee/Everett.

Defense was a little tough to watch as was the offensive line. I will say this. Whitworth is a mountain of a man! Biggest guy out there by far! Second is Havenstien. I can’t really comment any further on their play as I was standing 50 yards away in the end zone.

I think I covered most of it. Let me get my photo’s uploaded and I start a new thread with the link to them.

Ask my any questions and I’ll try and jog my memory to answer them.

NO, this is not my camp report!

I just want you all to see what our team is doing for us fans here at camp.

Nice setup. Beer gardens are popular. Food and games for all plus all the fan memorabilia your credit card can buy!

Rams rookie tight end Gerald Everett isn't shy about his expectations
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-rams-training-camp-gerald-everett-tight-ends-20170727-story.html



Rams coach Sean McVay appreciated his rookie’s confidence but thought it would be best if Gerald Everett saved his predictions until after he played in at least one NFL game.

On Thursday, a day after Everett said that he and Tyler Higbee “could be better than the Redskins’ tight ends,” McVay, the Washington Redskins’ offensive coordinator the last three seasons, touted Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis.

“When you talk about those types of players, those guys are the standard for the position,” McVay said at UC Irvine, where the Rams host training camp. “And you haven’t even played a preseason snap yet, my man.”

Reed caught 203 passes, 17 for touchdowns, the last three seasons. Davis caught 44 passes last season, two for touchdowns.

“We’re very confident in Gerald and I can appreciate his confidence,” McVay said of Everett. “But let me tell you this, if they are better than those guys, we’ll be in good shape this year.”

The Rams, 4-12 last season, selected Everett in the second round of the NFL draft.

He joins a tight end corps that includes veteran Cory Harkey, who has played mostly fullback, and second-year pros Tyler Higbee and Temarrick Hemingway.

Higbee was listed as the projected starter on the initial depth chart. Everett, 6 feet 3 and 245 pounds, was mentioned as a key contributor.


“Tyler and I are going to compliment each other,” Everett said. “We are going to be dynamic.”

Higbee caught caught 11 passes last season, one for a touchdown.

“Tyler definitely had a great offseason,” McVay said. “We’ll continue to see if Gerald can progress.”

Everett caught 90 passes in two seasons at South Alabama, 12 for touchdowns.

Veteran players are due to report to camp Friday. Practices begin Saturday.

Ok, yesterday was phenomenal for this normally cr@ppy station for Rams coverage. Ex-49er Eric Davis was fair and not a total hater when talking about the team and especially Jared Goff. Now, about two hours away from the beginning of Day 2 coverage, we are hearing (if you are tuned in) to stupid basketball stories about NBA stars not even in the LA market (the freakin Warriors).....They will most likely bracket Rams Training Camp with NBA cr@p, but what can you do.

Do us fair again today, Eric Davis and I am good.