kinda sorta

horns still look skinny

to follow up on @DaveFan'51 post in another thread here is an article with a little more info on our uniform update from nfl.com. It seems it one of the most popular subjects on ROD so thought I'd post with info I didn't know. P.s. think I'm going to have to change it to the white facemask Dave! lol




As the Rams welcome a new neighbor in the greater Los Angeles area less than a year after returning to SoCal themselves, their evolution as an organization continues.

Ground has been broken on their new Inglewood stadium, the team installed a new head coach in Sean McVay, and now a new lid with a familiar look will fill the team's lockers.

The Rams announced the team will wear a new helmet in 2017, replacing the team's metallic gold (creatively dubbed New Century Gold) horns with white horns.

21h
Los Angeles Rams

✔ @RamsNFL
In 2017, the #Rams new helmet will have white horns. {http://gora.ms/r4y9lQ}

Help us take the next step by deciding the face mask color.


Follow
Los Angeles Rams

✔@RamsNFL
Which face mask should be worn with our white-horned helmets?

Vote in our Twitter poll for face mask Option A (blue) or Option B (white) pic.twitter.com/L6dmsw8o9I

4:41 PM - 1 Mar 2017

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The color change made its 21st Century debut on Thursday Night Football, when the visiting Rams played the neon-green-clad Seattle Seahawks in a Color Rush game on Dec. 15. That night, the Rams wore gray facemasks, evoking memories of the Fearsome Foursome and the Los Angeles Rams of 1964-72.

There was a problem with those shells, though. While it was a clean lid, it paired poorly with the rest of the Rams' road uniform, which still had a significant amount of gold trim throughout. Rams executives also have eyes and noticed the clash, adding to Wednesday's announcement the introduction of a new pair of white pants with either one or two blue stripes, a decision left up to a fan vote. Fans will also be able to vote on whether the team will wear blue or white facemasks with the helmet (this writer approves of the white facemask for a look that pops).

When the Rams announced their move to Los Angeles in early 2016, fans following from afar came out in droves, donning royal blue and gold gear that had likely been collecting dust. The team appeased the fans' desires to see the team's old colors return by twice wearing throwbacks to their time in Los Angeles, but made it clear almost from the outset with a change to a blue and white logo that the organization would move toward that color scheme in the future.

The Rams also added that "the team is continuing to explore a full rebrand, including new uniforms, that will be unveiled in 2019." This is about the closest you can get to a sure thing in the world of uniforms, with the organization eager to ditch the uniforms the team unveiled while in St. Louis for a more modern, cleaner look that will resonate with the L.A. fanbase, which spans generations, and will coincide with the Rams moving into their new stadium.

Might be easier and cleaner to keep combine thoughts and reports in one spot. I just saw Twitter reports that Antonio Garcia OT did 24 reps on the bench and was followed by Forrest Lamp doing 34. The measure and weigh ins are done. Anything stand out to you guys?

So far these are the highlights (feel free to post interesting tidbits as you see them):

• Looks like Britt is going to free agency.
• They tagged Johnson because they wanted to see how he fits in Wade's defense before giving him a LT deal.
• Higbee was hampered by injury last year.
• Says Gurley's second year was a sophomore slump, said they need to get more help around him.
• He loves the new helmets.

Rams aren’t playoff bound in 2017, so success for me is a winning season (9 or 10 wins). To do that, McVay has to address key positions and give his new coaching staff a full year to evaluate current players, coach them up, and look to spend heavily in FA in 2018 after Goff is put on the right development path to succeed in the NFL. They also have some time to take advantage of some castaway players that might find a better home with the Rams. The Rams need to make key choices in trades, Free Agency, and the upcoming draft.

1) Trade for a new LT: Priority #1 is Goff and that means protecting him. Let’s assume McVay and OL Coach Aaron Kromer decide that in the short-term the best decision for everyone (including GROB) is to move him inside. I’d like to solve the LT position and protect Goff’s blindside for the next 2-3 seasons by signing UFA Andy Whitworth (35) from the Bengals but he’s looking for a SB trophy so his agent is focusing on the NY Giants. The best option may be in a trade for Bills’ Cyrus Kouandjio. Bills signed starting LT Cordy Glenn to a 5-year extension in 2016. Kromer drafted and coached Cyrus for the last 2 years. Former Rams OC Rob Boras and DL coach Mike Wauffle are now with the Bills. I know you can’t really trade RFA’s but since all of these players I’m considering in a deal are 2nd tier contracts, I’m not sure if there are sign and trade type deals in the NFL, the Rams and Bills could work out a UFA and RFA exchange/trade between teams, players, and agents to help all involved. Trade Kendricks (Bills only have TE Charles Clay), Britt, and Keenum (help Bills learn Boras offense); and RFA DE Westbrooks for LT Kouandjio, WR Robert Woods, and FS Jonathan Meeks. These players are pocket change to the overall expense - very different if I was including large contracts (e.g. Tavon Autin, Robert Quinn, Michael Brockers). Rams should shed players who aren't part of the long-term solution and can put them on a team that would benefit from their services in the short-term at a minor price. The players would benefit too since they may not have many other options... Also, lay the groundwork between GMs to trade Rams 35th pick for Bills 44th and 3rd round picks. (see draft item below).

2) Sign key FAs to help transition to 3-4 defense: Very interested to see what Wade Phillips can do with Dominique Easley (29th pick of 2014 draft by the Pats), Longacre, and Trinca-Pasat. Wade definitely needs a couple weapons to add to the talent already on the Rams D to help transition it to a hybrid 3-4 defense. The FAs I see having a huge impact potential impact on this team are the Packers OLB stud Nick Perry (was coached by new Rams LB coach Joe Barry at USC) or OLB John Simon from the Texans and the Patriots CB Logan Ryan but they just tagged Trumaine Johnson (Rams should have kept JJ instead). I also bring in former No. 8 overall pick CB Justin Gilbert, recently released by Steelers after being traded by the Browns for lack of heart and see if Wade and his coaches can squeeze the talent out of Gilbert as the Rams did with Mark Barron. I also trust Wade Phillips to offer incentive-based contracts with Gilbert, DE Mario Williams (who was recently cut by Dolphins) and maybe even DE Greg Hardy (probably foolish to expect he can keep it together but as with Gilbert these are last chance cheap contracts) if he can make it through the Rams new team philosophy. Bottom line is to bring in low-cost upside players in 2017, who will have strong set of coaches (especially under Wade) to coach and keep them focused on Sunday play and get the defense ready for playoff runs beginning in 2018.

3) Sign key FAs to help install McVay’s Offense: McVay coached DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon in Washington. I don’t want Jackson, but if the Redskins aren’t going to resign Garcon, then I’d grab him to help develop the young Rams WRs and teach Goff the new offense. Another key priority is center. Sign FA center John Sullivan from the Redskins. Sullivan blocked for Brett Favre and A.P. during a 7-year career with the Vikings. He also spent the last year in DC being coached by OL genius Bill Callahan and in McVay’s system. I can think of no better FA to bring in to help be the veteran presence the Rams Oline needs to go to the next level. While not starting at center, he did play in 13 games in 2016. Barnes isn’t the answer to be the captain of the O-line. Use Rhaney for emergency needs, the draft, and a FA to solidify this key position for the next 4 to 6 years.

4) Cut ties with existing FA’s: Wish the Rams had cut ties with CB Trumaine Johnson ($13.9M) but they tagged him today. QB Case Keenum ($3.6M), and WR Kenny Britt ($3.6M). If McVay can snag Garcon from the Redskins than say goodbye to WR Brian Quick too and his ($1.3M) – especially after having time to evaluate his film and new coaches evaluate his prospects. By cutting these FAs, and using the existing salary cap space (approx. $40M) wisely, the Rams should be able to reserve salary cap room and prepare to spend for 2018 season (WRs DeAndre Hopkins [go all out] or Allen Robinson) after a full season of seeing how the current players fit into both McVay and Phillips schemes.

5) Acquire Additional Picks in the Draft: Rams still need to fill out skills positions and add depth – especially with changes coming on both the offense and defense. Without a 1st rounder this year, the Rams can gain 2 additional Top 122 players by trading back with both of their early picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds to acquire additional picks. Teams are looking for early round picks to claim those that slipped out of the previous rounds. In the 2nd round, Rams trade the 35th pick to the Bills for their 44th and 3rd round 75th picks. In the 3rd round, Rams trade the 69th pick to the Vikings for their 80th and 122nd (4th round) picks. There’s significant abundant talent at DB in the 2017 draft. Utilize one of these additional top round picks on a quality DB and draft a Center high enough to become the starter. With 7 picks now in the first 4 rounds, select the two positions above and then focus on OT, LB, DE, FS, and WR (Zay Jones) if he happens to drop in the Rams lap.


DRAFT:

2 (5-37) Trade back for additional picks: Trade with Buffalo (44) and 3rd round pick (75th) so Bills get their QB of the future Pat Mahomes. With Deshaun Watson gone in the first, Mahomes could be the Derrick Carr of the 2017 draft and that’s why the Bills can’t wait until pick 44 to grab him.

2 (5-44 - from Bills) WR Zay Jones, East Carolina: Really thought a lot about Antonio Garcia, OT out of Troy, but Goff needs a more dynamic ball magnet than the WRs on the team. I trust McVay to develop one of the guys already on the team to a quality #2 but since Tavon is really a #3 WR, I bang the table for Zay. Sure, Zay gets paid for inflated NCAA record and his Senior Bowl performance but I’m buying and Goff is doing back flips.

3 (5-69) Trade with Vikings for their 80th and 122nd picks: Vikings have 2 picks in both the 3rd and 4th rounds and an absolute need for quality to rebuild their Oline and protect Bradford. Since there are few first round OL in the 2017 draft several will go in the 2nd and will slip into the 3rd and Vikings need to grab one in each round. Vikings see OT Erik Magnuson (Michigan) slip into the 3rd but believe he won’t make it to the 75th pick so they trade for the Rams 69th pick.

3 (5-75 - from Bills) CB Kevin King, Washington: Tall (6-3, 192lb) corner to match up against big WRs.

3 (80 - from Vikings) C/G Ethan Pocic, LSU: Rams get their Center of the future with ability to seize the job in 2017.

3 (100 - compensatory) – Goes to Titans

4 (112) OT Brad Seaton, Villanova: Ideal LT size (6-8, 325 lbs., 34.5” arms), he was injured for most of 2015, but returned for a strong senior year in 2016 on a Villanova team that had a strong OL play.

4 (122 from Vikings) 3-4 DE Vincent Taylor, Oklahoma State: Has disruptive speed off the ball and strength to fight off blockers. Skipping senior year helps him drop to the fourth round.

4 (141-compensatory) OLB/DE Carl Lawson, Auburn: Breaking my ban on Les Snead from considering any Auburn players to grab Lawson who has a history of injuries that helps Rams land great athlete in the 4th round.

5 (149) FS Eddie Jackson, Alabama: Looking for value in later rounds and thankfully Eddie’s season ended after eight games due to a broken leg and having so many other talented players on defense helping him has Jackson slipping out of the fourth round and into Wade Phillips arms. Crimson Tide pedigree and desire to play at high caliber also helps his new teammates.

6 (191) QB Jerod Evans, Virginia Tech (6-4, 235 lbs): McVay can grab a surprise early entry junior into the 2017 NFL with only one year starting experience. A perfect late round developmental QB to sit behind Goff and Manion. He completed 64% of his passes for over 3,500 yards (29 TDs & 8 INTs) also running for 12 TDs. May have cost himself 4 rounds by not staying in and playing his senior year at VT. His loss is the Rams gain!

7 (225) FB Sam Rogers, Virginia Tech: Rams go back-to-back picks from Virginia Tech.Rams should install a real FB into their offense and Rogers is the most talented one in the draft. He’s a solid blocker with great versatility. In 2016, he had 67 carries, 283 yards, 2 TDs rushing along with 24 receptions, 301 yards & 4 TDs receiving. He also threw a touchdown pass. In the 2015 season against Ohio State he has a 16-yard run, hit a block on two defenders to spring his back for a long run, and then caught a 51-yard TD on a wheel route with a superb run after the catch. He can also contribute on Special Teams.

7 (236 - from Baltimore for Chris Givens trade) NT Tyrique Jarrett, NT, Pittsburgh: Wade gets to draft a legitimate NT late in the draft. Another option may be ILB/OLB Hardy Nickerson, Illinois (after transferring from Cal, got to play under new coach Lovie Smith) He is the son of former Steeler and Buccaneer stud LB Hardy Nickerson.

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http://ramsrule.com/herd/file.php?19,file=1232

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18799034/chris-long-says-re-sign-new-england-patriots

• Mike ReissESPN Staff Writer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Veteran defensive end Chris Long signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots last offseason in hopes of winning a Super Bowl, and with that goal accomplished, he explained Wednesday why he will be moving on in 2017.

On his Instagram account, Long thanked Patriots fans and expressed his admiration and appreciation for teammates and coach Bill Belichick, before writing, "This has zero to do with money ... it's the right move in my heart because I want to get back to being the player I was before. I'm thankful for my role this year, but as a competitor, I'm itching to do what I do best."

Long, who played the first eight years of his career with the Rams in St. Louis and was never part of a team with a winning record, might be seeking a more expanded role or a defensive system that he feels is more tailored to his skill set.

In Super Bowl LI, he played just 15 snaps as a designated pass-rusher and made a big impact, drawing a critical holding penalty that helped push the Atlanta Falcons out of field goal range when they had been in position to kick a field goal late and possibly increase their lead to 11 points.

Some of you know that I had a home invasion about 4 years ago. It was 2 A.M. and we were all home, kids and all. The dog barked, I got up and ran into the living room and saw the back door swinging in the breeze. It was quite the unsettling experience. It turned out that I knew the guy. He worked for me for about 4 months and he got into drugs pretty heavily. He knew I had neck surgery and was coming for Pain Killers.

Anyone the State Police nabbed him in less than a week. There was lots of evidence but he was released on his own recognizance and expected to report to court. He reported and constantly asked for continuances or changed his plea. It drug on for 2 years. The DA and judge offered him a deal in exchange he would plea guilty. ( I don't understand why they couldn't just say that he can no longer change his plea and use the evidence they had on him). So they dropped 3 of the felonies and he pleaded guilty to one. He showed up for sentencing and just before it was his turn to go before the judge, his lawyer walked back to him and told him they were going to cuff him and take him straight to jail, instead of him having to report. This guy was sentenced in the past and ran. I guess that was his plan again and they were trying to keep that from happening. He got up and asked to go to the bathroom and walked out of the court room.

So he fled. That was over a year ago. He moved from PA to Maryland and then we lost track of him. The other day my brother texts me a link. We are glad he was caught and our two counties where I live are going to extradite him back to PA.


http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/a...cle_ac8c9b0a-ee40-11e6-8d69-473a1484a591.html


LOS LUNAS — An attempt to liberate a man held at the Valencia County Detention Center last week ended with the inmate staying in his cell and four additional people being arrested and charged.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the U.S. Marshals Service brought Andrew Pankotai, 35, to VCDC to await extradition on a bench warrant out of Pennsylvania. Pankotai, and his wife, Dixie Pankotai, 34, have lived in Belen for nearly a year after he allegedly absconded from Pennsylvania after pleading guilty to one felony count of burglary.


Andrew Pankotai



When the date of his sentencing came on Dec. 30, Pankotai consulted with his lawyer, didn’t like what he heard and left the courtroom, county Sheriff Robert Wolfe told The Daily Item, a Pennsylvania newspaper.

Valencia County Detention Center Warden Joe Chavez said he started receiving faxes the day after Pankotai was arrested from a “Continental United States Superior Court” judge, saying Pankotai was being unlawfully held and he was to be immediately released.

+4

Dixie Pankotai

+4

Dylan Stamper

+4

Christie Townsend

+4

Randall Townsend

“It was a pretty decent document but you don’t know who is sending what,” Chavez said.

A second fax came through from the same organization, naming three individuals who were traveling to the jail to retrieve Pankotai and would have the proper credentials to retrieve him. Chavez contacted the marshal who brought the inmate in to verify the request to release Pankotai was legitimate.

The response was the “court” was a group similar to sovereign citizen groups, which believe local laws and ordinances do not apply to them, and to ignore the fax.

“They said (these groups) try this kind of thing but to keep him in custody,” the warden said.

Chavez then received a phone call indicating the group referred to in the second fax would be at the detention center shortly to take Pankotai. He contacted the marshal again, asking someone from the agency come to the jail in case they showed up.

“So, were they really coming? Was this a case of the left hand not talking to the right hand?” Chavez said. “I wanted (the U.S. Marshals) there to validate their credentials.”

Marshals and New Mexico State Police officers went to the jail and about 10 minutes later, four individuals arrived.

“Everyone was surprised. From what I understand, no one ever shows up,” the warden said.

Two men with sidearms, dressed in polo shirts with official-looking badges embroidered on them, and two women in street clothes entered the jail through the public entrance.

Chavez instructed them to go to the rear of the facility and drive in through the sally port to pick up the detainee, where they were greeted by U.S. Marshals and NMSP, and taken into custody.

“They followed directives; there was no resistance,” Chavez said. “They were arrested and charged.”


NMSP is the lead agency on the case, making the arrest and investigating the incident further.

The four arrested in the attempt to remove Pankotai from the jail were his wife, Dixie Pankotai, Dylan Stamper, 25, Christie Townsend, 43, and Randy Townsend, 48.

Stamper and the Townsends were charged with bringing contraband into a jail and conspiracy to commit bringing contraband into a jail, both fourth-degree felonies. Stamper and Randy Townsend were carrying firearms and Christie Townsend had a knife with her.

Dixie Pankotai was unarmed and charged with conspiracy to commit bringing contraband into a jail.

All four made their first appearance before Los Lunas Magistrate Tina R. Garcia on Monday and are being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond.

The warden said it doesn’t appear the four knew each other before last week, saying the Townsends drove from Texas, picked up Stamper in Roswell, then picked up Dixie in Belen and then went to the jail to take custody of Andrew Pankotai.

“My understanding is the Pankotais are from Pennsylvania, however they moved to Belen, where Andrew was picked up for the warrants out of Pennsylvania,” Chavez said.

“In my 26 years of doing this, this is a first for me. I’m glad the marshals and state police took it seriously. My staff was excellent and on the ball. I let them do their job and didn’t interfere with their expertise.”

Chavez said he has spoken to the four since they’ve been detained and they don’t believe they were doing anything illegal.

“They fully feel their sovereignty gives them rightful authority and they are legitimate law enforcement,” he said. “They are just waiting for the miscommunication to be cleared up.”

According to The Daily Item, Pankotai was arrested in November 2013, and was scheduled for a jury trial in December 2016 on two felony counts of burglary, two felony counts of criminal trespass and nine related misdemeanor counts. He instead pleaded guilty to one felony count of burglary.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18796373/colin-kaepernick-san-francisco-49ers-opts-contract

Colin Kaepernick to opt out, become free agent
Nick Wagoner/ESPN Staff Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- For the first time in his NFL career, quarterback Colin Kaepernick will be a free agent.

Kaepernick is planning to opt out of the final season of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers, a source confirmed to ESPN's Adam Caplan.


Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The league was notified in a letter sent to all teams by Kaepernick's representation, Select Sports Group. The quarterback cannot opt out until Thursday, and he has until the new league year begins March 9 to do it.

NFL Network first reported the news.

Kaepernick's contract was originally supposed to keep him with the Niners through 2020, but the team worked with the 29-year-old to revamp it before he reclaimed the starting job in October.

As part of the deal's reconfiguration, Kaepernick traded $14.5 million in injury guarantees during the 2017 season for the opportunity to opt out of the deal early. His decision saves the Niners his $14.5 million base salary in 2017 though he will still count nearly $2.5 million in dead money for the remainder of his signing bonus proration.

From the moment Kaepernick and the Niners struck that agreement, the expectation was that Kaepernick would explore his options. Even if he elects to stay, the 49ers still would have the ability to release him with minimal salary cap repercussions.

Even after the restructure, Kaepernick insisted he wasn't thinking about anything beyond the season. At the end of the year, he expressed gratitude toward 49ers CEO Jed York and executive vice president Paraag Marathe.

"Once again, I have a great appreciation for this organization," Kaepernick said. "Jed and Paraag, I have a good relationship with them, so a lot of things to think about moving forward and we'll see where this goes."

That was the last time Kaepernick spoke with Bay Area media, and much changed in the days and weeks that followed. The 49ers fired general manager Trent Baalke and coach Chip Kelly and eventually hired John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan as their replacements.

Kaepernick reached out to Lynch, whom he had a previous relationship with from Lynch's time as a broadcaster. Shanahan and Lynch agreed to meet with Kaepernick, and Lynch told 95.7 The Game radio in late February he would give Kaepernick a fair shake in his evaluation.

"The one thing we will do very well with Kap is we'll communicate," Lynch said. "I think that's very important for both sides. Like everything else, that process is well in the works. We'll continue to do that and we'll be very up front with him."

Kaepernick started 11 games for the 49ers in 2016, posting his best statistical season since 2013 despite the team's 1-10 record in his starts. His 90.7 passer rating was his best in three years and ranked 17th in the NFL.

His 4-1 touchdown-interception ratio was tied for sixth, his 468 rushing yards were second among quarterbacks and his 6.78 yards per carry were first. On the flip side, Kaepernick's 59.2 percent completion rate was 26th.

Of course, nothing Kaepernick did on the field registered in the way his protest of racial inequality did. As a means of protest, he began sitting during the national anthem in the preseason before taking a knee for the final preseason contest and 16 regular-season games.

Kaepernick also vowed to donate $1 million plus proceeds from his jersey sales to various charities, a project he dubbed "The Million Dollar Pledge." He has followed through with monthly donations of $100,000 spread over 10 months to organizations all over the country.

At the end of the season, teammates recognized Kaepernick with the highest in-house honor a 49er can receive when they voted him the winner of the Len Eshmont Award. According to the team, the award goes to the 49er who "best exemplifies the inspirational and courageous play of Len Eshmont, an original member of the 1946 49ers team."

Lynch and Shanahan met with Kaepernick to discuss his future on Feb. 22, a conversation Lynch described as "positive." Earlier in the offseason, Lynch indicated the evaluation of Kaepernick's future with the franchise would take into account a little bit of everything.

"It will be a football decision, but I think part of that, there's different layers to that," Lynch said. "So I think everything will be included in the decision. I'm not talking specifically about his stance, though. I think you have a quarterback; the great ones are leaders of men, so I think all of those things will be taken into account."

The Niners originally selected Kaepernick in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft out of Nevada. He played in 69 regular-season games, throwing for 12,271 yards with 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions while completing 59.8 percent of his passes. The 49ers were 28-30 in his regular-season starts and 4-2 with an NFC championship in his six postseason starts.

San Francisco nearly traded Kaepernick to the Denver Broncos last offseason. That deal did not happen when the Broncos and Kaepernick couldn't come to terms on a new contract.

Now, Kaepernick will enter his first trip to free agency with an uncertain market and new representation. Kaepernick had agent Jeff Nalley of Select Sports Group represent him for the reworked deal he did in October and he officially parted ways with XAM Sports after the season.

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From Ag at butthead's site.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000788547/article/nfl-salary-cap-for-2017-season-set-at-167-million

Wow. That should help us in FA.

Rams QB Sean Mannion will probably back up Jared Goff in 2017

By Alden Gonzalez

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- At this time last year, the Los Angeles Rams were all about the quarterback. They entered the scouting combine with the 15th overall pick in the upcoming draft, and the likes of Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch weighed heavily on their minds. The Rams eventually traded up for the No. 1 overall pick and drafted Goff out of Cal.

Now the quarterback position is the furthest thing from their mind.

Goff will be the starter this coming season, and Sean Mannion, a third-round pick in 2015, is expected to be his backup. The Rams won't pay much attention to the quarterback position, be it in the draft or in free agency or via trade. The most they're expected to do is sign a third-string quarterback down the road, for training camp and the preseason.

Tony Romo and Jay Cutler are expected to be made available, but the Rams won't really care. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown, Matt Schaub, Matt McGloin and Mike Glennon are appealing backup options in free agency, but the Rams are expected to stay in-house. They have too many other needs, particularly at receiver and along their offensive line. And they're intrigued by Mannion, who was taken 89th overall out of Oregon State in 2015.

The Rams are hopeful that Mannion -- and Goff, of course -- can take a big developmental step under new coach Sean McVay, who worked wonders with Kirk Cousins in Washington.

Mannion has only thrown 13 passes in his NFL career. He spent most of the last two years as an inactive third-string quarterback, but towards the end of the Rams' eventual 4-12 season in 2016, Mannion was promoted to backup duties. He jumped ahead of Case Keenum, who will soon become an unrestricted free agent, for the final three games. And he got some snaps towards the end of their regular-season finale.

"I feel like I've made huge strides," Mannion said as the season was winding down. "... Without getting a chance to play, maybe it doesn’t show to you guys and you guys aren’t able to see it, but I certainly feel like I’ve been getting better and better each day and each week, from last year to this year. That’s something I feel good about."


[www.espn.com]

VOTE:

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HERE is a FA list that is being updated as teams have started throwing tags around. Some of those listed in the poll are going to come off due to tags and signings, but overall it's clearing up a bit in terms of who the big names will be.

My prediction is the Rams' biggest signing will be the OG Zeitler. He is a quality FA in his prime, and sorely needed to help settle down the OL. I think they'll be in the mix on Jeffery, but will end up signing a lesser option at wideout and the biggest money will go to the line.

http://football-players.pointafter.com/stories/29956/nfl-players-worst-hands-drops

#25 - WR Tavon Austin, Los Angeles Rams
Drop rate: 6.60%
Targets: 106
Drops: 7
Catch rate: 54.72%

#23 - TE Lance Kendricks, Los Angeles Rams
Drop rate: 6.90%
Targets: 87
Drops: 6
Catch rate: 57.47%

#22 - TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Drop rate: 6.90%
Targets: 29
Drops: 2
Catch rate: 37.93% (Worst catch rate on the list)

While those numbers obviously are not all on the receivers, Higbee's catch rate is barely above a third of his targets. Brutal. Simply brutal...

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Looking out the window I realise it is that time of year again when I see three squirrels very high up a sugar maple, nearly the very top, jumping from high outer branch to branch bending the branch into an upside down U-shape while holding on for dear life. Despite the fact that last year was a mast year for all acorns the squirrels are again gorging themselves on the fast expanding tree buds. I and my now older dogs watch these annual acrobatics in anticipation of the tomato thieving, soffit gnawing, electrical wire chewing little fucks falling to the ground. Given my neighbors freaking out over me blasting them in my yard I now have to wait until they go on vacation. So this opportunity for natural selection is welcomed (as is the squirrel between my dogs jaws) since the population explosion of the squirrels around here will no doubt go after my tomatoes more so than usual and that is on top of the fucks eating $$$$$ worth of my wife's flower bulbs. If I must endure another hard freeze perhaps it will be one that freezes the outer reaches of the branch thus making it very brittle so when the furry fuckers jump on it....it breaks and they fall to the ground? We wait and see.

I just want to discuss how much of a beast AD99 is gonna be inside Wade Phillips D. Sorry if already posted but I thought this hash tag was so great to see. This is the kind of attitude I want our team to have, accept nothing less then winning. Now that Donald is playing essentially the same position as Watt, the NFL better watch out cuz AD is coming for that DPOY.

A guilty pleasure of mine. I KNOW it's douchey, but I like gadgets and it tastes good.

The best part is I bought my girlfriend a basic set-up for Xmas and she has has been smoke free since New Years. Says she feels great. I saved her fucking life! (well, not really, but it was mighty American of me to help her quit smoking). She was a total baby door for about the first month, but now she is back to just being surly.

So yeah, vaping is pretty gay, but it works better than anything I have seen to help people quit smoking.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ips-in-all-footballs-but-not-for-officiating/

NFL plans to put chips in all footballs, but not for officiating
Posted by Michael David Smith on February 28, 2017

The NFL plans to put microchips in every football during the 2017 season, but the chips will not be used to help the officials.

Instead, Daniel Kaplan of Sports Business Journal reports, the chips will be used as part of the NFL’s “Next Gen Stats,” which track player performance.

The league already puts chips on every player’s shoulder pads for the Next Gen Stats, and having chips in footballs as well will allow teams to track everything from how fast a quarterback throws a football to how well a defensive back moves toward the ball while it’s in the air. Next Gen Stats are closely guarded secrets, with only a tiny portion of them ever becoming public.

The NFL has previously put chips in kicking balls to determine how significant the change would be if the goal posts were narrowed. There’s long been a movement to put chips in footballs to help determine when a ball crosses the goal line, but logistical challenges have prevented that from happening.

Falcons President Rich McKay, the chairman of the competition committee, says the full scope of the way the data from chips in footballs will be used won’t be known until after the season. But it will be a significant amount of data that the league has never had before.