I just saw a YouTube video of the "Best Runs in NFL History" that didn't include any by Marshall Faulk. My God, I feel like kicking the shyte out of somebody.... (somebody said something wrong on the internet, dammit!)
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Proof of their boneheaded omission.
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Is WR Corey Davis falling to the Rams in round two the magical Hollywood story to watch out for?

https://www.downtownrams.com/single...-the-magical-Hollywood-story-to-watch-out-for

The draft rumors and insider buzz is starting to heat up as the draft nears. It seems though recently the news has been about one of the top players in this draft class and his apparent free falling draft stock. Rams fans over the past month have been sharing names such as TE Evan Engram, WR Chris Godwin, WR Zay Jones, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and even others like T.J. Watt that may not exactly fall to the Rams pick. No one however, could have foreseen that less than two weeks away we would be talking about WR Corey Davis possibly being in play for the Rams at no.37 overall.

As we just celebrated the anniversary of the Los Angeles Rams trade up for Jared Goff, we were reminded if not already that the Rams will not have a first round pick this year. With Davis possibly falling into the second round and into the Rams lap, the Rams would be seemingly getting an elite first round prospect in Davis. Terry Lambert of SBNation’s Music City Miracles shared an interesting quote via twitter.
Now, it may seem too good to be true, but if you think about it, you can understand why teams would pass up Davis’ elite ability. First of all Davis took no part in any of the pre-draft process at all. It was all due to injury, but that’s even more of a red flag. While many are believing Davis will be able to compete in rookie mini-camps, some teams are penalizing Davis because of his minor ankle surgery. From the outlook of many the common theme during the draft is “out of sight, out of mind”. That’s not always the most responsible or intelligent way of dealing with these types of prospects as history has shown time and time again.

Davis may not fall just for the sake of him but rather the fact that this draft appears to be as deep as ever. Perhaps finding a tie-breaker to decide between these heavily valued prospects is by deciding who is more likely to be on the field for you and often times due to injury minor or major, teams will pass up premier talent. With that being said the draft is a tale of “it just takes one” and by that I mean it just takes one team to not follow the narrative and create their own. Recent examples include two of my top five overall players on my board last year Myles Jack who went to the Jaguars in the second round and Jaylon Smith who went to the Cowboys in the second round as well. Expecting out of 36 picks, not one of them will be used on Corey Davis is a farce and you are setting yourself up for disappointment. However, this new storyline could make things very fun and exciting as well as heart wrenching for Rams fans alike.
As many already know, Davis has been my No.1 overall WR prospect for a while now and that didn’t waver no matter what went down this pre-draft season. I personally love the combine and pre-draft process, but it seems asinine to completely throw away entire season based off of the fact a player wanted to fully repair any damage to his body before he went to the NFL. Some players actually are projected to go ahead of him that completely bypassed playing in their team’s postseason bowl game. Davis? Not quite. He played in his team’s last game and immediately opted for ankle surgery.

While I absolutely love Chris Godwin of Penn State and Evan Engram from Ole Miss to be the picks for the Rams in the second round, if Davis is there it’s a no-brainer. Even if he falls to number 33, the Rams will be forced to mull a trade up to select him. Davis is a player I would compare to the likes of A.J. Green, he’s an elite prospect and would make up big time for the Rams lack of a first round pick if he in fact ended up falling into the Rams lap. Davis has stellar size for a number one receiver at 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds, some big time route running ability and ability to completely separate himself from any defensive back, he has the speed and quickness to beat anyone over the middle or over the top and has the big enough body to box out defenders and high point the football.

Corey Davis would be an absolute dream for the Los Angeles Rams and especially a young Head Coach that is as offensive minded as Sean McVay. Davis would relieve the pressure off of the back of Jared Goff, Robert Woods, Tavon Austin and likely even Todd Gurley. If a player like Davis falls, this isn’t just a player or a prospect. This is in fact a game-changer for a franchise that desperately needs a big-play WR after their first 1,000 yard receiver since 2008 – Kenny Britt left in free agency. Davis, Robert Woods and Tavon Austin would be the first step towards turning the Rams receiving corps into a legit threat for defenses. Doing this would then open up the offense for not only Goff, but especially last year’s disappointment Todd Gurley. Sometimes you have a situation where players fall and you can’t even fathom as to why. Could Corey Davis actually fall? That’s not for you or I to answer, because we will not know until the draft, but if he does, mark my words it will be a big mistake for the teams that passed him up. We have had players like Aaron Rodgers, Dan Marino, Tyrann Mathieu, Alshon Jeffery and many others that have fallen past their projected draft position and have made a name for themselves. Expect Davis to be no different.

Rams fans, if you want a miracle this April, Corey Davis to Los Angeles seems like just that. Let us know your thoughts below. Would you take a “chance” on an elite prospect like Davis or take a safer non-injury risk in a Chris Godwin or Evan Engram. Sound off!

Since I've wrapped up my ROD Mock Draft for the Detroit Lions, I've decided to do a write up in regards to their offseason as a whole. Starting with what they did in free agency, and my method to determining my draft strategy.

Free Agency

Key Losses: Riley Reiff(T), Larry Warford(G), DeAndre Levy(OLB)released, Anquan Boldin(WR)unsigned, Devin Taylor(DE).

Team Needs: T, G, LB, WR, CB, S, DE

Key Additions:
(T) Ricky Wagner- nice upgrade at the RT position to make up for Reiff leaving
(G) TJ Lang- a quick replacement for losing Warford, Lang will lock down the guard spot he vacated
(DT) Akeem Spence- nice rotational piece, to add depth to the defensive line
(CB) DJ Hayden- a nice signing, the Lions need help for Darius Slay in the worst way

After a very successful free agency period that solidified plenty of needs on offense, it only makes sense that the defense be repaired in the draft.

Pre-draft Team Needs: OLB, MLB, WR, CB, S, DE

2017 ROD Mock Draft

Round 1 Pick 21:
OLB Haasan Reddick-Temple

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We have an opening at one OLB spot. Giving J.Bynes the reigns to one side of the field, since he did very well in Levy's absence. Since Levy is now gone, we need a difference maker on the field. Enter this monster.

NFL Combine Player Grade: 6.34
Chad Reuter 6 Round Mock Comparison- Reddick chosen 20th overall

Round 2 Pick 47:
MLB Jarrad Davis- Florida

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We have no MLB worthy of starting, so I trade up in the second round, to make sure we get our MLB of the future, Jarrad Davis. A couple bad injuries ruined a good chunk of his college career, but he never should have played while hurt. He was the heart and soul of the Florida defense. This selection solidifies our linebacking corps.

NFL Combine Player Grade: 5.91
Chad Reuter 6 Round Mock Comparison- Davis chosen 32nd overall

Round 3 Pick 85:
DE Tarell Basham- Ohio

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One of my favorite picks. We need someone to replace the other DE spot across from Zeke Ansah. Devin Taylor walks, and we go get a huge upgrade. If Basham played for that other Ohio team, he'd be in talks for early second round. And that's the grade I have on him. He's gonna lock down RDE while Ansah continues to dominate LDE.

NFL Combine Player Grade: 5.57
Chad Reuter 6 Round Mock Comparison- Basham chosen 57th overall

Round 4 Pick 133:
WR Dede Westbrook- Oklahoma

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If it weren't for some off the field bull$hit, he would been in talks with the rest of the top draft receivers. He hasn't been charged with anything, but he's had problems with his babies momma. The lions are in talks to bring back Boldin, but that dude is getting up there in age. We need to start adding weapons now. And this guy is a weapon if I've ever seen one. Watch for yourself and decide.

NFL Combine Player Grade: 5.8
Chad Reuter 6 Round Mock Comparison- Westbrook chosen 113th overall

Round 6 Pick 205:
S Lorenzo Jerome- St.Francis(PA)

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Not someone we need to start right away. But he's a ball hawking safety from a smaller school, and we're looking to develop him for the secondary. While growing, he can step right in on special teams, specifically on return duties, where he is deadly. He's a little short, and loves to jump on passes, a little too much sometimes. But he'll lock down our FS spot once he grows into the league.

NFL Combine Player Grade: 5.51
Chad Reuter 6 Round Mock Comparison- Jerome chosen 153rd overall

Round 6 Pick 211:
CB Channing Stribling- Michigan

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That Jourdan Lewis guy wasn't the only good defensive back on the Wolverines. This guy should not be here right now, but I'm trading back into the 6th to make sure he makes it on to my team. We keep this kid in Michigan to play for the home team. I think he walks in day one and competes with the newly acquired DJ Hayden for playing time.

NFL Combine Player Grade: 5.34
Chad Reuter 6 Round Mock Comparison: Stribling chosen N/A

As you can see, I decided to compare my picks to those of Chad Reuter, as I just noticed he did a 6 round mock. Looks like I got some pretty damn good value. He didn't have Stribling in his 6 rounds, that I could see. But I'll chalk that up on a count of he's an idiot.

2017 Detroit Lions Depth Chart:

Offense:
LT: Taylor Decker
LG: TJ Lang
C: Travis Swanson
RG: Graham Glasgow
RT: Ricky Wagner

QB: Matt Stafford
RB: Theo Riddick
RB2: Ameer Abdullah
TE: Eric Ebron
WR1: Marvin Jones Jr
WR2: Golden Tate
WR3: Dede Westbrook

Defense:
DE: Zeke Ansah
DT: A'Shawn Robinson
DT: H.Ngata
DE: Tarell Basham
OLB: Haasan Reddick
MLB: Jarrad Davis
OLB: Josh Bynes

CB: D.Slay
CBJ Hayden vs Channing Stribling
FS: Glover Quinn
SS: Tavon Wilson

Special Teams:
K: Matt Prater
P: Sam Martin
KR/PR: Lorenzo Jerome


As you can see, I feel that I have addressed all of the immediate needs that the Lions had, without having to reach for them. I also feel, that where I got each player, I got tremendous value at my pick. Personally, I would have liked to have been able to grab a RB, a backup QB for Stafford and more depth players. But I did what I could, with what I had.

Please, feel free to share your thoughts, and don't be afraid to share what you would do differently.

Thanks.

Where Are They Now? With Flipper Anderson

http://yi.nzc.am/dAf0V9

Willie "Flipper" Anderson played for the Rams from 1988-1994 after playing college football at UCLA. He still holds the NFL record for most receiving yards in a game with 15 catches for 336 yards vs. the New Orleans Saints in 1989. Anderson also caught the winning touchdown in overtime vs. the New York Giants to win a 1990 NFC divisional playoff game.

Q&A Interview with Willie “Flipper” Anderson, WR 1988-1994

Q: What is your current occupation and/or what is your favorite thing to do in free/spare time?
A: Well, currently I work for myself; I am a private contractor and I referee basketball. I am a basketball official. I officiate on all levels from high school to junior college basketball and I do some division three college basketball. It’s fun—I like it. It keeps me in shape and gets me out of the house. Ultimately, it funds my favorite thing to do with all the free time that I have—golfing. I try to get out four or five times a month. Golf and spending time with my family—that’s what I like to do these days.

Q: What is your favorite memory while playing for the Rams organization?
A: Probably just the comradery that I felt with the players and the friendships you build in the locker room with your teammates. There's just no way that you can imitate that life really. The feelings that you have towards those guys by playing with them and for them, you can't just find that in any other walk of life. The comradery that you build with those guys is just something that you can't explain. I miss that a lot.

Q: If you could go back and replay one game during your career, which game would that be and why?
A: The game that I probably remember most was the game that I broke the NFL record for the most yards (336 yards) in a single game against the New Orleans Saints back in 1989. It was just one of those magical nights in New Orleans and everything went right that night. It's incredible that the record is still standing today and it's a night that I'll never forget.

Q: What, if any was your “pre-game” ritual back in the day?
A: Growing up a religious person, I didn’t have any good luck stuff or any rituals like that. I really didn’t have any pregame rituals, nothing out of the ordinary that any other guys didn't do. I would make sure that I was warmed up and that I looked good; you know we had to look good to play good, so I made sure my uniform looked good! I wasn’t a superstitious person. If I dropped the ball, I never took it back to the huddle with me because I was on to the next play and moving on to what's next. I really wasn’t a superstitious or bad luck type of guy.

Q: Who, in your opinion, was the best player you ever played with?
A: My whole time with the Rams, the seven out of the ten years that I played in the NFL, my locker was right next to the great Hall of Famer, Jackie Ray Slater. Being a wide receiver, I got to see him do a lot of work when I was looking down to the line of scrimmage. I saw him take on a lot of defensive ends and he did a very good job against them most of the time. He has taught me a lot. In the locker room, he was next to me and I was next to a wall so he was my only locker roommate, so it's got to be Jackie Slater.

Q: If you could go back and give the rookie Flipper Anderson a piece of advice, what would it be?
A: One of the biggest thing I would do and tell the kids nowadays is to not to take your job for granted. I was probably given a lot of raw talent, probably a lot of those kids have the same talent if not better and I always did just enough to get by. I think I had a pretty decent career, but I think if I would have done just a little extra, like lifting weights, running more, extra film work, hanging around after practice, not trying to get out and go out to a club or something—I think I could have taken my game to the next level. I always did “just enough” and I think if I had just done the extra little bit, I probably could have been an extra little bit more remembered in the NFL.

Q: What was the name of your first pet, what kind of animal was it, and what happened to it?
A: My first pet that I bought when I bought once I was in the NFL was a Chow-Chow dog named Jesse. I did a little research on what kind of dogs they were and I really liked the way that they looked because they were unique in their look and fashion and I knew they were playful in families and protective with kids. I was in that part of my life with a new family and starting to have some kids and so we chose a Chow-Chow and we had him until he passed away of old age. He lived a good life!

Q: If you could see a concert of any performer, dead or alive, who would it be?
A: It's got to be Michael Jackson. He's the greatest performer, in my mind, that there ever was. I never got the chance to see him even though I was in Los Angeles for about 20 years and I was truly a big fan and was sad to see him go the way that he did. I was wishing for his comeback and I'm sad I didn't get to see him in person.

Q: Who do you admire most and why?
A: Anyone who knows me closely knows that my grandparents were very instrumental in the way that I was raised and who I am today. My mother was very young when she had me—she was 15. She was still at the house though. When I was two years old, my mom decided to go back to school and on to college, so my grandparents took me in and raised me from the age of two, along with seven boys of their own. So, I just became the younger child in the group. They took me in and the neighborhood did too. When I look back on it, in a three bedroom house we probably had about eight to ten of us in there, four or five to a room. The stuff they did was incredible to keep us hungry guys fed and I never knew what they did in order to make that happen, but I really admire them for that.

Q: Favorite visiting city when you were playing and why?
A: I grew up in the New Jersey/Philadelphia area and I ended up going to school at UCLA, so whenever I had a chance to go back to Philadelphia, it was a great time. We'd go back and play the Eagles; I'd get to see my family, got to eat some home cooked food. They could come see me play since most of them didn’t get the chance to come out to Los Angeles. I got to bring some of my teammates over to my house to see how I was raised, see my old high school, try some of my grandmother’s food and enjoy some of the good times I had when I was in Philly. It's got to be Philadelphia for me. Maybe not for a lot of other players, but that was probably my most fun place to visit.

Q: Looking back on your career, what would you say was your biggest success or what were you most proud of?
A: Probably that I could stay in a league that's hard to stay in—like they say in the NFL: Not For Long. So, to be able to play in a league that’s so competitive and so physical for 10 years. I wasn’t a big guy myself; I weighed about 170lbs, whereas all those big dudes were out there and I was proud of that. To see the way that they do today, I sometimes have to pat myself on the back and think, "I cannot believe that I survived in that league." It's crucial out there. I could have said my legacy is my NFL record or playoff games here or there, but just playing in that league for as long as I did, that’s a huge accomplishment.

Q: Which three former Rams teammates would you like to have dinner with tonight?
A: It would be Henry Ellard. He taught me a lot of the ropes when I came into the league and how to be an NFL wide receiver. Like I said, my locker was next to Jackie Ray Slater. We talked all day, every day about life as an NFL player and for it not to be taken for granted. One of my best friends that was there, Pat Carter, was a tight end who was there throughout my career when I was with the Rams and was just a really good friend to me on and off the field. We did a lot together, spent a lot of time at each other’s houses. Those are probably my three guys—Henry Ellard, Jackie Slater and Pat Carter.

Q: Is there a motto in which you live your life by?
A: I would say: hard work. Hard work always pays off in the long run. I live by that and I keep my kids attune to that. There are no short cuts in life. There are no short cuts in the game. If you want to succeed, you have to do the hard work. Start from the bottom and you can work your way up. Do the work. Do the work and it will pay off for you.

Q: If you could say something to the guys on the current Rams team right now what would you say to the team?
A: I would say take care of your money and work hard. Don't take your position for granted. I can’t say that enough. Don’t take this life for granted. It's a privileged life you have as a professional athlete and to get there it probably took hard work, so continue to work hard and it'll pay off in the long run.

http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/131110/the-dreadful-2007-qb-draft-class

The dreadful 2007 QB draft class

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the quarterback class of 2007, which will be remembered as one of the worst in NFL history. Eleven quarterbacks were selected. Only one finished his career with a winning record (Drew Stanton), and only one finished with at least 10 wins as a starter (Trent Edwards).

JaMarcus Russell

Russell won the Raiders over with his Sugar Bowl MVP performance for LSU and size, but a holdout into the start of the NFL season foreshadowed future struggles. He lasted two seasons as a starter before being benched.

The Raiders released Russell in 2010, and although he made multiple comeback attempts, he never made it back into the league. He is considered one of the biggest busts among No. 1 picks in NFL history.

“When you went down to the pro day and you watched him work out, and you watched the players around him before he worked out, and how they responded to him, it was very obvious that this guy is a natural leader.”

-- Raiders coach Lane Kiffin on JaMarcus Russell

Brady Quinn

Quinn won awards as the nation’s top quarterback at Notre Dame, and there were great expectations for him as a pro that ultimately went unfulfilled. Quinn was so highly regarded by some that it was thought he could go No. 1 in the draft. But his stock dropped a bit. The concerns were warranted. In 24 games, he completed 54 percent of his passes, with 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He currently works as a football broadcaster.

"This is the day that is probably going to go down as the day the fortune of the Browns turn. If we are able to do it, this is going to be one of those steppingstone days."

-- Browns GM Phil Savage after selecting tackle Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn in the first round

Kevin Kolb

After the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to clear out the starting position, Kolb’s pro career looked as if it was going to take off when he threw for more than 300 yards in each of his first two starts. But a concussion suffered in the 2010 season opener was the first of three that would lead to the end of his NFL career in 2014.

“What I saw in Kevin was somebody that was in complete control of his offensive scheme. I didn't care as much about the offensive scheme he was running other than he did it very well. I liked the way he was wired, his mobility and his movement in the pocket. I think he's a good, solid person, and I think you can see he has good, solid leadership qualities.”

-- Andy Reid on Kevin Kolb

John Beck

Beck was a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award out of BYU, but he could never duplicate his collegiate success in the NFL, going 0-7 with the Dolphins, Ravens, Redskins and Titans. His career ended after a brief stint in the CFL in 2014.

Drew Stanton

Stanton is the most successful of the bunch, with an 8-5 record as a starter, including a win last year for the Cardinals over the 49ers in which he threw for two touchdowns. He was a hyped standout at Michigan State whose play didn’t quite match the hype. But he’s the last man standing. Every other quarterback in this draft was done throwing passes by the end of the 2012 season.

Trent Edwards

Drafted out of Stanford, Edwards made 33 starts over five seasons, including 14 for the Bills in 2008. He eventually lost his job to Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2010 and made one start the rest of his career (with the Jaguars). He threw his last two passes as a backup with the Eagles in 2012.

Isaiah Stanback

Stanback, a star quarterback at Washington, never played that position in the NFL. He spent time with the Cowboys, Patriots, Seahawks, Giants and Jaguars, making five catches in 12 games. His final NFL game was in 2009, but he hunted around the league until just before the 2013 season.

Jeff Rowe

Rowe was picked out of Nevada but couldn’t get on the field for the three teams he played for -- the Bengals, Seahawks and Patriots -- the last of which cut him in 2010.

Troy Smith

Smith won the Heisman Trophy at Ohio State in 2006 but was not viewed highly as a prospect due to his lack of size. He made eight starts between the Ravens and 49ers but was out of the NFL at the end of the 2010 season. He played in both the United League and the CFL (for the Montreal Alouettes). His career ended during the 2014 season.

Jordan Palmer

Palmer, the younger brother of Carson Palmer, bounced around as a backup for six NFL teams from 2007 to 2014 after a successful career at UTEP. He threw 18 total passes with two interceptions. He has since become a quarterback coach, training (among others) Clemson’s DeShaun Watson.

Tyler Thigpen

Thigpen, then the top quarterback at Coastal Carolina, was picked by the Vikings, then claimed off waivers by the Chiefs. In 2008, injuries led to his making 11 starts with the Chiefs, but things didn’t go well. He went 1-10 as a starter. He made one start in the next five seasons, losing it with the Dolphins in 2010. His last NFL appearance came in 2012, though he was briefly with the Browns in 2014.

What could have been

In the case of each of the first three quarterbacks, the player drafted immediately afterward made a significant impact. Calvin Johnson was the No. 2 pick by the Lions after Russell. His career ended with 83 touchdown receptions (22nd all-time). Dwayne Bowe was selected 23rd overall by the Chiefs, one spot behind Quinn. He currently has 44 touchdown receptions in a largely successful career. Defensive back Eric Weddle, taken 37th overall, one spot after Kolb, was a nine-year starter and four-time Pro Bowler.

The ugly numbers

The Elias Sports Bureau notes that excluding the 2012 to 2016 draft classes (for small sample size):

The 2007 draft class of quarterbacks made 139 starts, the fewest by a draft class since 1996 (115).

The class's 47 wins are the fewest since the NFL and AFL started their common draft in 1967. Next fewest: 48 in 1996.

Pro Football Reference has an approximate value stat that measures a player's overall worth. Russell finished his career with an approximate value of 6. The only QB taken No. 1 overall in the common draft era (since 1967) with a lower draft value is Jared Goff(minus-2), whose career began last season.

Russell and Quinn were each their team’s primary starter for two years. There were 71 players selected in this draft that were their team’s primary starter at a position for more than two years.

It is a very reasonable argument to say that nine-year running back Ahmad Bradshaw had a more successful career than any of the quarterbacks selected in that draft (most notably those in the top 100). Bradshaw was selected 250th by the Giants in a draft that lasted 255 picks.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/sto...draft-quarterback-2017-offseason-john-clayton

This offseason, teams in need of quarterbacks took the backup approach -- because that's all that was available.

The Bears signed Tampa Bay backup Mike Glennon. The 49ers signed Bears backup Brian Hoyer. The Jets went for Browns backup Josh McCown. The Texans are going with backup Tom Savage after trading former starter Brock Osweiler. Who knows what the Browns are doing.

Next year's quarterback class will almost certainly be better. Sam Bradford, Kirk Cousins, Drew Breesand Jimmy Garoppolo are among the unrestricted free agents. USC's Sam Darnold and UCLA's Josh Rosen are among the top college QBs who will be draft-eligible.

Still, some teams need quarterbacks right now and are expected to draft QBs later this month. Cleveland, the New York Jets, Arizona and Houston are among the teams that could pick one in the first round from a group of four QBs: Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes and DeShone Kizer. Of course, teams will be trying to find the next Dak Prescott in the middle to late rounds of the draft.

Here's how I rank the 12 teams that should draft a QB, starting with Cleveland, which needs one the most:


1. Cleveland Browns
Round in which they should draft a QB: 1

With the Browns unable to pry Garoppolo from the Patriots, they have no choice. But they can't draft a quarterback with the first overall pick. Myles Garrett is too talented to pass up. He's one of the most freakishly talented defensive ends to come into the league.

The Browns have another pick in the first round, however, thanks to the Eagles' trade up to get Carson Wentz last year. That's where Cleveland should start thinking about its next savior. The depth chart is currently comprised of second-year players Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan, along with Osweiler, who has $16 million guaranteed to him this season but could be cut soon. There's a chance no QBs will be off the board by the No. 12 pick, which would mean the Browns will have their pick from the group. Do it, Cleveland.



2. Houston Texans
Round in which they should draft a QB: 2

Tony Romo's retirement put the Texans in a tough spot. Savage is their starter for now, backed up by veteran Brandon Weeden. Signing Jay Cutler could be an option down the road, but there is no sign that is the option they will follow. They don't appear to be interested in Colin Kaepernick, either.

That leaves the draft as the best option to bring in some competition for Savage. The problem is, coach Bill O'Brien might not get a QB who could help much in the first year because the Texans don't pick until No. 25 overall. They could take a developmental option such as Nathan Peterman, Brad Kaaya or Davis Webbin the second round.


3. Arizona Cardinals
Round in which they should draft a QB: 2

With 37-year-old Carson Palmer entering the last leg of his career, the Cardinals need to start looking for his replacement. They might shy away from taking a quarterback in the first round, with the 13th overall pick, because they have bigger needs elsewhere (though both Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay have them taking a QB in their latest mock). The Cardinals need a first-round pick who can play this season to help them stay with the Seahawks in the NFC West.

This could be the last season for Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald together, and Arizona needs to find replacements for both. The second round makes sense for the Cardinals to pick a QB to compete with Drew Stanton as Palmer's backup.


4. Chicago Bears
Round in which they should draft a QB: 2-3

Glennon signed a three-year, $45 million deal, but the Bears could get out of the contract after one year. Chicago can look at taking a QB to develop behind him. The Bears let Hoyer and Matt Barkley go to San Francisco in free agency and cut Jay Cutler while bringing in Mark Sanchez as the backup.

Coach John Fox knows he needs to rebuild the quarterback position, and the draft can give him one option. The Bears have the No. 3 overall pick and high picks in each round. Don't expect a QB in the first round, but they could take one in the second, especially if the top-tier signal-callers fall out of the first round.


5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Round in which they should draft a QB: 2-3

The Jaguars are in an interesting position because this is a make-or-break season for Blake Bortles. If he struggles like he did last season, they will be scrambling for his replacement. If Tom Coughlin, Jacksonville's new vice president of football operations, sees in the draft a young quarterback with the potential to be a replacement for Bortles in 2018, this might be the year to draft one.

Jacksonville has veteran Chad Henne and 2016 sixth-round pick Brandon Allenon its roster, but it shouldn't shy away from going after a QB in the second or third rounds.


6. New York Jets
Round in which they should draft a QB: 2-3

With McCown and two struggling young quarterbacks, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, the Jets have to think about taking another quarterback in the first three rounds. Last season, the word around the team was that the 2017 starter wasn't on the roster. So they brought in McCown, who's 37 and basically a one-year fix.

The only reason the Jets are this low is because they spent a second-round pick on Hackenberg last year and might want to give him a closer look. Still, if I were running the franchise, I'd spend another pick on a QB.


7. San Francisco 49ers
Round in which they should draft a QB: 2-3

Remember, the 49ers are taking the patient approach to finding a franchise quarterback. They know they can wait until next year and have a chance to sign Cousins to a megadeal. They can get through the season with Hoyer and Barkley, but it isn't out of the question for them to draft a quarterback to give Kyle Shanahan someone to develop.


8. Washington Redskins
Round in which they should draft a QB: 2-3

Figuring the difficulty of getting Cousins to sign a long-term deal, the Redskins have to start planning for a future without him. It might cost more than $25 million a year to sign him now, and the Redskins aren't expected to offer that much. Drafting a quarterback for Jay Gruden to groom makes sense. Washington has Colt McCoy and 2016 sixth-round pick Nate Sudfeld on the roster.


9. New Orleans Saints
Round in which they should draft a QB: 2-4

Brees can't be franchised and isn't signing an extension before free agency, so Asshole Face needs to start the search for the 38-year-old's replacement. I don't know if Chase Daniel is that guy.

Even if the Saints draft a quarterback, they could re-sign Brees to a short-term deal after the season. New Orleans used a third-round pick on Garrett Graysonin 2015, but he doesn't appear to be the answer.


10. Los Angeles Chargers
Round in which they should draft a QB: 2-4

Philip Rivers said he wouldn't mind if the Chargers drafted a quarterback to begin the process of replacing him. Rivers, 35, still has years left on the field, but the Chargers don't have a replacement option for when he retires. Veteran Kellen Clemens and former undrafted free agent Mike Bercovici are on the roster, but neither inspires confidence.


11. Pittsburgh Steelers
Round in which they should draft a QB: 3-5

Ben Roethlisberger says he is now in the year-to-year part of his career, so it wouldn't hurt for the Steelers to draft someone. Former fourth-round pick Landry Jones is OK as Roethlisberger's backup, but he isn't a starting-caliber player. If Big Ben had retired this offseason, the Steelers would have been in big trouble. Pittsburgh has two picks in the third round.


12. Seattle Seahawks
Round in which they should draft a QB: 3-6

The Seahawks thought they found Russell Wilson's backup when they signed undrafted Trevone Boykin last year. Boykin's recent arrest put the team in position to bring in someone to compete with him. The Seahawks are expected to sign a veteran, but if a quarterback they like falls to them, they could draft one. Seattle has three third-round pick but none in Rounds 4 or 5.

I could not imagine the guilt in his mind and heart right now. Hopefully he is able to find some peace knowing that she went home and will be there waiting on him. Prayers with him and his family...I simply could not imagine.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/e...kills-3-year-old-daughter-while-moving-truck/

Ex-NFL player Todd Heap accidentally kills 3-year-old daughter while moving truck

PHOENIX -- Authorities say former NFL player Todd Heap was moving a truck that ran over and killed his 3-year-old daughter in the driveway of their suburban Phoenix home.

The Arizona Republic reported that police say Heap was behind the wheel of the truck when he accidentally struck the girl while moving the vehicle forward outside their home in Mesa on Friday afternoon.

Officials said the girl was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Mesa police said impairment was not a factor.

Heap played in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals. He played at Arizona State University, where he was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection.

Heap and his wife Ashley have four other children. In 2010, Heap had a pediatric center in Baltimore named after him, according to the Washington Post.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/04/1...-acquitted-in-2012-double-murder-by-jury.html

A jury on Friday acquitted former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez in the 2012 shooting deaths of two men he encountered at a Boston nightclub.

They reached a verdict nearly two years to the day after the former NFL star was convicted in another killing.

Jurors deliberated first-degree murder charges against Hernandez for more than 40 hours over six days.

The former New England Patriots tight end was accused of fatally shooting Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in 2012. Prosecutors said Hernandez opened fire on their car because he felt disrespected when one of the men bumped into him and spilled his drink at a Boston nightclub.

The defense team pointed the finger at Alexander Bradley, a close friend of Hernandez who was with him the night of the shootings.

Hernandez, 27, is already serving a life sentence for the 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee.

Bradley claimed Hernandez became enraged after de Abreu bumped into him while dancing, spilling his drink. He said Hernandez later opened fire on the men's car as they waited at a stoplight.

Bradley also said Hernandez shot him in the face months later after he made a remark about the earlier shootings. Bradley lost his right eye in the shooting. Hernandez was also charged with witness intimidation in connection with Bradley's shooting.

Hernandez's lawyers said it was Bradley — an admitted drug dealer — who shot the men over a drug deal. The defense hammered at Bradley's credibility, citing his immunity deal with prosecutors to testify against Hernandez, his role as the driver of the car the night of the shootings and his criminal record. Bradley is serving a five-year prison term in Connecticut for firing shots at a Hartford nightclub in 2014.

Hernandez grew up in Bristol, Connecticut, and played for the Patriots from 2010 to 2012. About six weeks after Furtado and de Abreu were killed, Hernandez signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Patriots and went on to play another season before Lloyd was killed. He was cut from the team shortly after he was arrested in Lloyd's killed in June 2013. He was not charged in the 2012 killings until 2014.

In his first trial, jurors deliberated for 36 hours over seven days before convicting him of murder.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/04/14/roddy-white-retires-from-football-after-11-seasons/

Roddy White retires from football after 11 seasons
Posted by Darin Gantt on April 14, 2017


Getty Images

Former Falcons wide receiver Roddy White spent a whole year on the sidelines, and realized today he was finished with football.

White just put out word on Twitter that he was retiring as a player, thanking the Falcons and owner Arthur Blank for his 11 years there.

White didn’t play last year, but that didn’t keep him from continuing to gripe about the Falcons offense. He had problems with his own role two years ago, not handling the inevitable effects of age particularly well, but mostly targeting former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

While he wasn’t always the biggest fan of ours here at PFT, White had an excellent career, going to four Pro Bowls and finishing with 808 catches for 10,863 yards (both in the top 40 all-time) and 63 touchdowns.

By: Tanya Ray Fox

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Peyton Manning’s first full season away from the NFL is in the books, and while the future Hall of Famer has been very quiet since retiring after his Super Bowl 50 win, there’s a chance he’s considering a return to football.

Rumors have begun to circulate that the Los Angeles Rams are targeting the legendary quarterback for a front office role.


Chad Forbes @NFLDraftBites
Give it Time. I'm told Rams Owner Stan Kroenke very interested in Peyton Manning taking on John Elway type role in LA.

No credible sources have reported this yet, but it doesn’t seem entirely outrageous. Manning was spotted back in March spending time at the Rams facilities, as well as dining with head coach Sean McVay and a few of the team’s high profile free agent signings – including offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth and former Bronco, Kayvon Webster.

On the surface, the Rams seem like an odd choice for Manning – who never even played in the NFC, and has had no public connection to Stan Kroenke or the Rams organization outside of the rumors that he considered come out retirement to play for the team last season.

However if he is considering an Elway-type job in the NFL, which he’s certainly suited for, the Rams are a low key perfect choice. Clearly the Broncos don’t need him, which leaves the Colts as the only other obvious option. And let’s be honest, a position in that front office under Jim Irsay isn’t exactly a dream job.

And while the breakup between the Colts and Manning was a cordial one, no one would blame him if he has since soured a bit on the team that embarked on their “suck for Luck” campaign before Manning had even laid down on the operating table.

If Manning wants to help build a young team with a high ceiling in a strong market, the Rams are actually a great choice. The Jeff Fisher era is over, the coaching staff has been overhauled and a behemoth new stadium is just two years away.

They still have major kinks to work out but the Rams boast more potential now than they have in years – and one way they can continue that upward trend is by landing the very best people to work in their front office.

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...ms-defensive-players-are-due-for-an-extension

Several Rams defensive players are due for an extension
Alden Gonzalez/ESPN Staff Writer

The Rams have almost an entire starting defense eligible for free agency in less than a year.

The list is daunting. It includes their primary cornerback (Trumaine Johnson), their potential No. 2 cornerback (E.J. Gaines), last year's leading tackler (inside linebacker Alec Ogletree), the starting strong safety (Maurice Alexander), the starting strongside linebacker (Connor Barwin), the starting free safety and slot corner (Lamarcus Joyner), a key backup safety (Cody Davis), and three defensive linemen critical to their depth at the position (Dominique Easley, Ethan Westbrooks and Tyrunn Walker).

The Rams have roughly $112 million in salary-cap space committed for 2018 and roughly $79 million committed for 2019, which is reasonable. But the team must give significant raises to several of its key defensive players, because (a) they're good and (b) there's not much depth beyond them.

Over the last two offseasons, the Rams have lost two starting safeties, Rodney McLeod and T.J. McDonald, and their best cornerback, Janoris Jenkins. They also haven't drafted a defensive player higher than the sixth round over the last two years, though that may change later this month.

Aaron Donald's situation looms over everybody else's simply because the Rams must allocate a significant amount of cap space for him several years down the road. But timing makes the other cases a bit more urgent.

Below is a list of five key looming free agents who could warrant an extension before the start of the coming season.


The Rams reckon linebacker Alec Ogletree's combination of athleticism and strength are ideal under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Harry How/Getty Images

Ogletree: He seems like the most obvious, and likely, extension candidate. Ogletree was a captain while transitioning to middle linebacker under Jeff Fisher last year, and is still considered a leader on the defense. There are several players the Rams want to take a longer look at to see if they'll be a fit under a new defensive system.

With Ogletree, there isn't much doubt. They think his combination of athleticism and strength are ideal under Phillips, who gets creative with his linebackers. Asked about getting some long-term security on Monday, Ogletree said: "It’ll happen when it happens. Right now, my focus is being here for OTAs and going through the install. I’ll be here; not really worried about the contract thing."

Johnson: The Rams had been shopping Johnson, but his price (nearly $17 million on a second consecutive franchise tag) and the presence of Richard Sherman on the trading block greatly limited his market. The Rams failed to lock Johnson up last offseason, and general manager Les Snead said they waited on extension talks this offseason in order to first see if he would be a fit under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

The two sides still have until July 15 and could restart negotiations at the end of the offseason program. Along with the obvious motivation of solidifying the position long-term, the Rams would also like to lower Johnson's 2017 cap hit. It would provide more wiggle room for the Rams to give their other looming free agents more money in 2017, which some may require as part of a contract extension.

Alexander: Pro Football Focus identified Alexander as the NFL's most improved safety last year, his grade jumping from 44.6 to 83.4 in his first full year as a starter. Alexander played free safety in 2016 but will replace McDonald as the starting strong safety in 2017.

At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, he's a nice fit at that spot. And the Rams would like to see that take place beyond just this coming season. Their depth has eroded very quickly at safety.

Joyner: In 2015, Joyner emerged as a dynamite slot corner. In 2016, he was named a starter. In 2017, the plan is to keep him on the field for every defensive snap. Joyner will split time in the slot and at free safety, which he also played at Florida State.

The Rams may want to wait and see how he takes to the position before seriously considering an extension, but they love his instincts and tenacity. His 5-foot-8, 184-pound frame is not much of an issue.

Gaines: Gaines wasn't selected until the sixth round in 2014, but he impressed as a rookie, stepping in for an injured Johnson and starting 15 games. But he missed all of 2015 with a foot injury and was limited to 10 starts in 2016.

Since then, the Rams have signed Kayvon Webster, who spent the last two years playing under Phillips with the Broncos and will compete for a starting job. Gaines may need to prove he can stay healthy before being signed long-term.

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http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19156388/nfl-officiating-chief-dean-blandino-resigns

Sources: Dean Blandino to get TV job after leaving NFL officiating post

NEW YORK -- Officiating director Dean Blandino is leaving the NFL to spend more time with his family and explore other opportunities.

Blandino has been the league's vice president of officiating since 2013 and has overseen several changes in the way the game has been officiated, with an emphasis on player safety.

"Dean has done an outstanding job leading our officiating staff," NFL vice president Troy Vincent said in a memo to NFL executives, presidents, general managers and head coaches that was obtained by ESPN. "He's been a trusted colleague and a friend to so many of us around the league.

Dean's knowledge of the playing rules, his tireless commitment to improving the quality of NFL officiating, and his unquestioned dedication to his job has earned him the respect of the entire football community."

The memo said Blandino will remain with the NFL until at least the end of May, and a search for a successor has already begun.

The 45-year-old Blandino has young children and the demands of his job have limited the time he has spent with them and his wife. Sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that Blandino is expected to go into broadcasting as a rules analyst and has had discussions with multiple networks.

Blandino joined the NFL in 1994 as an intern and moved through the ranks. He was an instant replay official from 1999-2003 and worked two Super Bowls and two conference championship games.

He managed the NFL's instant replay program from 2003-2009, and from 2007-2009 he was director of officiating, supervising day-to-day operations and the game officials' schedule under Mike Pereira.

He left the NFL in 2009 to form his own company, returned in 2012 and succeeded Carl Johnson as chief of officiating the next year.

During his three years away from the NFL, Blandino launched "Under the Hood," which provided training and evaluation for replay officials. His clients included the NFL and college conferences such as the Big Ten, Mid-American, Pac-12, Big 12, and Mountain West. He directed instant replay clinics for the NFL and NCAA and served as a liaison to the NFL's competition committee.

Blandino has been a strong voice on the powerful competition committee that suggests rules changes. Those changes have included eliminating chop blocks; decreasing the number of kickoff returns -- football's most dangerous play statistically -- by moving up the kickoff; and expansion of defenseless player parameters to include snappers and other players.

This season, the use of Surface tablets by referees for video replay will be instituted. Under Blandino, the NFL's central office in New York has conferred with referees on replay decisions since 2014. Now, that office, albeit without Blandino, will make the final call.

Blandino also been open with the teams, media and public when officiating errors have been made, while also staunchly defending his officials when their calls have been correct.

Among the other noteworthy moves by his officiating department was the hiring of line judge Sarah Thomas as the first full-time female NFL official in 2015.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For more views and comparison, click the link;

http://www.detroitlionsuniforms.com/

By Myles Simmons

When it comes to the Rams’ new staff and schemes, most of the attention has gone to the offense head coach Sean McVay will implement. But there are changes coming to the defense as well, with coordinator Wade Phillips transitioning the unit to a 3-4 base set.

While having three down linemen and four linebackers in the club’s front seven will be an adjustment, McVay has said the club will remain a one-gap, aggressive, penetrating defense — which is largely what it was under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. But in a 4-3, the offense knows the four down linemen will pass rush. As Phillips has explained, the difference with his 3-4 is that from play-to-play, offenses don’t know where the fourth pass rusher is coming from.

“It’s a 3-4, but it’s still a nose tackle, it’s still a three technique, and things like that,” defensive tackle Aaron Donald said Monday. “It’s called a 3-4 because, I guess the guys on the side” — outside linebackers — “are standing. But like I said, it’s the same for us. We’re still doing what we’re doing, penetrating, getting up field, and trying to make plays in the backfield.”

When it comes to implementing the scheme, Donald and middle linebacker Alec Ogletree will likely be at the forefront, as last year’s defensive captains. That goes especially for Ogletree as the unit’s signal-caller at middle linebacker.

“I feel a great deal of responsibility,” Ogletree said. “In my first year starting at middle linebacker, that’s what I did — I took pride in getting ahead of the curve and trying to learn as much as I can before the meetings actually took place. I tried to do that this offseason as well, to learn a couple of things here and there before the first day we get here.”

Ogletree also noted how excited he is to get familiar with the scheme, which should give him and fellow linebacker Mark Barron plenty of opportunities to make plays.

“I don’t know a ton about this defense, but I’ve actually played a little bit in college. I guess with Gregg Williams last year, we kind of would interchange as far as 3-4 and 4-3,” Ogletree said. “With this defense, it’s definitely going to open up a lot of guys on the front end to have one-on-one pass rush [and have] me and the other linebacker, Mark, to be in coverage and help rush also.”

Donald also played a bit of 3-4 in college his sophomore year, describing the schemes from then and now as comparable.

“It was a 3-4, but really a 4-3,” Donald said. “I played a little bit of end. I moved around a lot, so I’m used to it.”

The defensive tackle will still be a three-technique in the base set — a position where he’s become arguably the best in the game.

“Same thing, [I’m] still going to be a three technique, and still penetrate, get up field type of guy,” Donald said. “I got to come here during the offseason and go to sit down and talk with [Phillips]. I like his game plan and how he’s going to use us, and the position he’s going to put us in to have success, and try to make plays, and try to win games.”

Could Donald move around on the line like he did in college?

“We’re going to see. I’m comfortable wherever he puts me,” Donald said. “Like I always say, rushing the passer – it doesn’t matter if it’s outside, inside, nose tackle, I can do it. I did it before, so I’m just comfortable wherever he puts me.”

Either way, having the chance to play under a legendary coach like Phillips is exciting for the defense as a whole.

“He’s coached a lot of big time players, and he’s one of the best to do it,” Donald said. “Anytime you go from one great defensive coordinator in Gregg, and then go to another one, it just makes me a better football player.”


[www.therams.com]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...eli-manning-defrauded-memorabilia-collectors/

Lawyer says email shows Eli Manning defrauded memorabilia collectors
Posted by Michael David Smith on April 13, 2017


Funny Or Die

A significant piece of evidence has emerged in the longstanding lawsuit pitting sports memorabilia collectors against the Giants and Eli Manning.

An email sent from Manning to the Giants’ equipment manager in 2010 requested “2 helmets that can pass as game used,” according to court documents obtained by the New York Post. That email, according to plaintiffs’ lawyer Brian Brook, shows that Manning was knowingly passing off any old Giants helmets as helmets he actually wore in games.

Manning is accused of working with memorabilia dealer Steiner Sports to sell helmets to fans who thought they were buying authentic game-used gear.

Brook told the Post that the email represents “direct evidence that Manning knowingly gave fraudulent helmets to Steiner for sale to fans.”

The email had not previously been disclosed. Brook accused the Giants of deleting emails that could have reflected badly on the team in this case, but this email came from Manning’s personal account. Brook did credit Manning and his attorneys for disclosing the email.

In a statement, lawyers for the Giants said the email was taken out of context.

The defendants in the case include not only Manning and Steiner Sports but also the Giants, the team’s equipment manager and others.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...m-new-eli-manning-email-taken-out-of-context/

Giants claim new Eli Manning email “taken out of context”
Posted by Mike Florio on April 13, 2017

The Giants recently opted not to comment on the pending litigation regarding allegations of fraudulent memorabilia sales. After Thursday’s release of an email that has been characterized as a smoking gun regarding quarterback Eli Manning’s knowledge of and involvement in such a scheme, the Giants are commenting.

“The email, taken out of context, was shared with the media by an unscrupulous memorabilia dealer and his counsel who for years has been seeking to leverage a big payday,” said Karren Kessler, spokesperson for the law firm of McCarter & English, which represents the Giants.

“The email predates any litigation, and there was no legal obligation to store it on the Giants server. Eli Manning is well known for his integrity and this is just the latest misguided attempt to defame his character.”

The reference to the email predating the litigation relates to the contention that the email authored by Manning was deleted, with the implication being that the email was deliberately erased to hide its contents.

Lawyers for the persons who have sued the Giants contend that Manning sent an email requesting “helmets that can pass as game used,” arguing that this is proof of an effort to sell items that were never actually used in a game.

The Forgotten Man: Why WR Marquez North is a Ram to keep an eye on this summer

https://www.downtownrams.com/single...-North-is-a-Ram-to-keep-an-eye-on-this-summer

The Rams are back at work with a new regime, players, slogan, personnel and culture. With all of that being said, it's all deja vu for second year wide receiver Marquez North.

The soon-to-be 22-year old WR went undrafted last year and signed a contract with the Rams. He seemed to go undrafted after leaving Tennessee too early and not putting much to boast about on film. North has the size and athleticism. He is at an advantage this season coming into camp as the biggest receiver by far at 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds. There were plenty of rumblings out of camp last year that North looked like a possibility to make the 53-man roster but he battled injuries and was eventually put on injured reserve. A blessing at the time? Not quite, but North didn't foresee an injured reserve stash for the 2016 season and he especially didn't foresee a coaching staff overhaul.

With the new coaching staff in place and the intriguing ability North flashes at a position of need, it could be a recipe for success. North is a giant target who ran a 4.48 forty yard dash and was originally a top high school prospect that just never got it going at the college level. There is a good chance with the new regime, North gets coached up enough to become a serious contender to make the roster. Of course, with the positive side...there can always be a negative side. North could be let go early on into the off-season program due to the fact the draft is coming up and the Rams could take a few talents early on that would make North an afterthought if he isn't already one.

The best case scenario in my opinion for North is the fact he ends up being Brian Quick with actual coaching. I believe North has a chance to make the roster but he really needs to show up and prove it. With almost all new coaches one could argue free agent signing Robert Woods and recently extended Tavon Austin are the only locks to make the Rams 53-man roster. North will have to play to his strengths and show his value off with this new clean slate mentality. The Rams may opt to draft more edge rushing help or even go safety or offensive line heavy if they believe they have enough help at the position. Outside of Tyler Higbee, you could argue the Rams only have two other red zone threats in Nelson Spruce and Paul McRoberts. North is about three inches taller and would provide a big bodied frame that could be used on the fade routes in the corner for Jared Goff.

North's biggest strengths are the way he is able to box out defensive backs and his adjustment to balls thrown around his catch radius. He is actually slightly underrated despite the lack of production he had in college. This is a player that has enough tools to want to try developing. Last year he went against serious competition, but this year the competition has gone down significantly. The Rams are missing more than 50 percent of their receiving production after both Kenny Britt and Brian Quick departed Los Angeles. That leaves an opening for North and everyone else for that matter.

When it’s all said and done it’s likely North will be on the list of cuts at the end of training camp, but he has enough to him where you could realistically see him finding a spot on the team. As long as he stays fully healthy and continues to work as hard as he did last season there is a good chance he will at least be thrown onto the practice squad. Regardless what happens there is no denying that North’s size factor is enticing and makes him a big player to watch out for this summer.

What are your thoughts Rams fans? Do you like North? Do you dislike North? Do you even have any idea who he is? Let us know all of your thoughts below!

So the USPS has a new program called "INFORMED DELIVERY" in which they email you a scanned photo of all the mail you can expect in your mail box by the end of the day.
Really? Yes Really !!!!

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/con...lets-you-digitally-preview-day-s-mail-n741926

Knowing when that check really is "in the mail" could change how you plan your day. You might want to get home in time to deposit it.

The service has been available in Northern Virginia since 2014. The pilot program was later expanded to parts of California, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Bob Dixon, the executive program director for Informed Delivery, told NBC News the feedback was "tremendously positive," so it's being rolled out nationally in mid-April. A USPS survey found that nine out of 10 people who signed up for the service checked their Informed Delivery notifications every day.

What's in the Mail?
Feedback from the pilot program showed that Informed Delivery was popular with people who had roommates. This way, everyone in the household knows what they should expect that day, no matter who goes to the mailbox.

It's also been a hit with people who travel and want to know what's in their mail, even if they can't physically retrieve those letters.

Christopher Ebert is CEO of Ophelia Myth Media, which is based in New York and London, so he is always on the go. He's used Informed Delivery for about two years and likes the way it helps him stay more aware and more in control.

"My life is largely digital," he wrote NBC News in an email. "Having the ability to see my mail deliveries right on my phone keeps me connected."

Integrating the physical and digital is a smart move, according to Miro Copic, a marketing professor at San Diego State University.

"This makes postal mail more interesting to millennials, who are on their devices all day long," Copic said. "And it just might change the equation of how millennials think about the post office longer term."

A Few Specifics
Informed Delivery is for residential mail customers and you must sign up for it at InformedDelivery.USPS.com. It is not currently available for mail delivered to P.O. boxes.

Only 10 images will be sent via the daily email notification. If you receive more than 10 pieces of first-class mail, you'll get 10 images and a link to see the rest. These images are available for seven days.

Notifications are sent Monday through Saturday on days that mail is processed. If for some reason a piece of mail is not handled via automation, an image cannot be sent.

The Postal Service does not open any mail. This is simply a digital scan of the address side of the envelope. And those images will only be emailed to the person to whom the letter was sent.

If all the mail in one household is delivered to one mailbox, those who share the residence and the mailbox will receive the same images for all the mail delivered to that household.

If you get an image of a letter, but not the physical piece itself, Informed Delivery makes it easy to report that missing mail to the Postal Service. The image can help speed up the process of finding what's missing.

Why Give Snail Mail a Digital Twist?
In a world of instant communication, the U.S. Postal Service is searching for ways to remain relevant and increase revenue. Mail volume has dropped dramatically during the last 10 years. USPS reports that it handled 61.2 billion pieces of first class mail in 2016, down from 98 billion in 2006.

Informed Delivery gives it a way to reach the growing number of Americans who've shifted to digital communications.

"Our emerging consumers, younger folks, are digital natives. That's how their communications are coming to them," Dixon said. "We also know that if we can get those folks to the mailbox, they'll spend longer with each piece of mail than someone who has a long history of mail usage. So the benefit to us is that we continue the relevance of mail in a very digital world and we provide access to the consumers for those mail pieces."

This scanning technology has been in place since the 1990s. It's part of the automation process that sorts the mail. This is a way for USPS to leverage something it's already doing. This digital presence also gives the Postal Service a way to deliver digital advertising. For now, it will be a free bonus for companies that use the mail.

Prof. Copic thinks the Postal Service has found a way to add value for both mail customers and potential advertisers by offering something that no other service provides.

"It's an opportunity for the Post Office to work with marketers to make their offers more appealing and interesting and to reduce the decline of mail being delivered," he said. "It opens an opportunity that allows them to play with the big boys in direct marketing, rather than being on the sidelines."

USPS policy will strictly limit that advertising. It must be related to a piece of mail sent to you that day. For example: If you're getting a frequent flier statement, the airline could have a link for a special offer sent to you along with the image of their envelope. But you'll never see an ad for something that's not already a physical piece of mail in your mailbox, USPS assures customers.

"We don't want to create spam," Dixon told NBC News. "We don't want to create a channel that's got a lot of noise in it for consumers. Physical mail cuts through the digital clutter and we don't want to add digital clutter to this channel."

Security Implications
Mail theft is a serious problem. It's one of the common ways identity thieves get personally identifying information to commit their crimes. Informed Delivery can help you spot a problem in real time.

If an important piece of mail that was supposed to be delivered isn't in the mailbox — a credit card bill, tax document or financial statement — you can assume it was stolen or delivered to the wrong address and start working to find out what happened. With identity theft, the quicker you discover a problem, the faster you can move to manage the damage.

These email notifications can be a double-edged sword, cautioned Adam Levin, co-founder of the digital security firm CyberScout.

"If your account is compromised, criminals will know when something of value that they can cash, charge or use for the purpose of exploiting your identity is coming to your mailbox and be there to grab it before you do," Levin told NBC News. "That's why it's imperative that you use a long and strong password for a service like this. It also needs to be a unique password that you don't share or use for any other websites."

NASA: Saturn's moon, Enceladus, could support life

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/04/13/nasa-saturns-moon-enceladus-could-support-life.html

In a major press announcement, NASA announced Enceladus, Saturn's moon, could support life thanks to the presence of hydrogen discovered.

Known as an "ocean-world," Enceladus has been spewing off hydrogen from a plume, said Linda Spilker Cassini project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California during the press event.

The findings are the results of 12 years of investigation by the Cassini spacecraft and were released in a paper from researchers with the Cassini mission, published in the journal "Science."

"It could be a potential source for energy from any microbes," Spilker noted. "We now know that Enceladus has almost all of the ingredients you would need for life here on Earth."

So far, Enceladus has shown to have the existence of nearly all of the elements of habitability (primarily carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur), except for phosphorus and sulfur. Scientists expect they are present due to Enceladus' rocky core, which is thought to be chemically similar to meteorites, which contain both phosphorus and sulfur.

“This is the closest we've come, so far, to identifying a place with some of the ingredients needed for a habitable environment,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at Headquarters in Washington in a statement. ”These results demonstrate the interconnected nature of NASA's science missions that are getting us closer to answering whether we are indeed alone or not.”

Chris Glein, Cassini INMS team associate at SwRI, noted that the team thinks hydrothermic fluids are circulating on the floor od Enceladus' ocean. The warm fluids, mixed with the ocean water, would cause mineral precipitates to form on the sea floor.

"When Cassini was first built, you never thought you'd see an active ocean floor," Glein said. Spilker added that they don't currently have the instruments to look for life on the moon and that Cassini has gone as far as it can go.

In addition, the Hubble Telescope observed that there was a probably plume of hydrogen released from Europa, the smallest of the four Gallilean moons orbiting Jupiter.

Observations were made in 2016, as well as 2014, which "bolster evidence that the Europa plumes could be a real phenomenon, flaring up intermittently in the same region on the moon's surface."

Sorry to hear about his passing, he was a great owner and ran a great organization.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/nfl-dan-rooney-death-tribute-reaction-twitter-pittsburgh-steelers

Nice to see it get some use. Let's do it again!

It's about the possibility of Rams trading for Josh Gordon. This is getting more and more possibly a real thing.

Please bear with me for just a second, okay?

Could this be a smart risk/reward decision for the Rams? I'm trying to look at this as a business decision, without getting all emotional about it.

Let's take a look at some of the things that seem to be coming about.

Gordon is meeting with Goodell next week and is expected to be reinstated.
Browns (Hue Jackson) have said that they're moving on from Gordon, so we know he's done in Cleveland.
Gordon has said that he wants to move on from the Browns.
Gordon has been training in LA.
The trade cost could be as little as a 6th or even a 7th, practically a throw away pick.
Rams need a #1 WR type desperately. Haven't had one since Holt/Bruce.
Only Woods would be considered an experienced starting quality WR on our current roster. Goff/McVay could certainly benefit from another.
Gordon has reportedly pulled his act together in this last year and a half, based upon articles I've seen.

I know, I know...

There are reasons from Gordon's past that have caused him to even be considered possibly available, shortly. And I fully realize that the former Gordon doesn't exactly match McVay's "we, not me" philosophy. Emphasis Former Gordon.

But I'm just asking, does the low risk not get heavily outweighed by the high reward here? I would love to get such a favorable ratio at the poker table. Lol.

I definitely think it's worth considering and doing a deep dive into any available Gordon recent background info. At the very least.

Think about the alternatives.

Acquiring an elite WR weapon for a 6th or 7th for a team that definitely lacks one and also lacks a 1st rounder to get one this year. And for a pittance, mind you.

The worst case scenario? Gordon screws up again and we've wasted that late pick. Don't see how Gordon can screw up the chemistry being installed by this new coaching staff in conjunction with the leadership on this current roster.

Snead has made bold moves before. Is it time for yet another bold move to maybe jumpstart a 4-12 team coming off back to back NFL worst O's?

I'm leaning in favor of at least pursuing this opportunity. I guarantee you that some other team will take a chance on Gordon for the right price. Why not the Rams?

Thoughts?