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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/10/07/the-dos-and-donts-of-nfl-celebrations/

The do’s and don’ts of NFL celebrations
Posted by Mike Florio on October 7, 2016

The NFL’s coaches and players want guidance regarding what can and can’t be done when celebrating. In his weekly media video, NFL senior V.P. of officiating Dean Blandino attempts to clear things up.

Here’s what’s allowed: (1) dancing that is not sexually suggestive; (2) celebrations with teammates that are not choreographed; (3) spiking the ball, as long as it’s not directed at an opponent; (4) spinning the ball, as long as it’s not directed to an opponent; (5) bowing to the crowd; (6) saluting; (7) going to the ground in prayer; (8) the “Lambeau Leap”; and (9) handing the ball to the official.

Here’s what isn’t permitted: (1) anything that mimics a violent act, including slashing the throat, shooting guns, and shooting arrows, whether directed at an opponent or not; (2) sexually suggestive dancing; (2) choreographed celebrations; (3) excessive celebrations; (4) prolonged celebrations; (5) spiking or spinning the ball at an opponent; (6) going to the ground; (7) using the ball as a prop; and (8) using any other props.

When it comes to sexually suggestive dancing, the NFL will apply the “know it when you see it” rule.

“If it looks like it, it probably is, and we’re trying to give our officials some consistent guidelines,” Blandino said in the video. So, basically, it’s not a matter of two pumps or three pumps. Any pumps should result in a penalty.

As to choreographed celebrations, Blandino explained that the goal is to avoid efforts by players to come up with bigger and better ways to celebrate.

“Believe me, if we let this go, it will continue to grow and certain players will continue to try to outdo each other, and then it leads to other things. Players stomping on logos, and players hitting those players stomping on logos,” Blandino said.

The rules have been on the books for years. In 2016, it has become a point of emphasis, a fancy label acknowledging that the officials haven’t been enforcing the rules properly. Blandino explained that the fouls will increase at first, and that players and coaches then will adjust.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/r...ffs-last-year-and-chances-to-make-it-in-2017/

Since the NFL expanded to a 32-team league back in 2002, the league's annual postseason tournament has featured an average of 5.8 teams that did not participate in the playoffs the year before. There have been as many as eight new teams in the playoffs (2003) and never fewer than four (2012 and 2015).

As of this writing, six teams are in position to make the postseason after missing it last year, two from the AFC and four from the NFC. The Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders have taken the places of the Cincinnati Bengalsand Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC. In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and Los Angeles Rams have taken the place of the Carolina Panthers, the Arizona Cardinals, the Green Bay Packers, and the Washington Redskins.

Which of those six teams is most likely to still be in possession of its playoff spot at the end of the season and which is likely to relinquish it? After watching tape and breaking down numbers for all six teams, we ranked them below -- in reverse order of likelihood to make the playoffs.

6. Los Angeles Rams
We may live to regret this ranking as the Rams don't play another team that currently has a winning record until they meet the New England Patriots in Week 13, but they are still the team in this group that seems most like a mirage.

They've have arrived at their 3-1 record despite having been outscored by 13 points so far this season; that record includes a 28-0 loss to the 49ers in Week 1, which they followed up with one-score wins over the Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Cardinals. Point differential is generally a better indicator of future success than actual won-loss record, and blowouts also tend to be a better indicator of true team quality than close wins or losses because a team's record in one-score game tends to regress toward .500 over time. (The Rams themselves went 5-4 in one-score games last season and 3-4 the season before that.) Both of those factors point toward a regression in record over the next 12 games for the Rams.

We also have to consider that the Rams currently rank 32nd in yards per game, 30th in points per game, and 31st in Football Outsiders' offensive DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average, which adjusts performance for down, distance, and opponent). There hasn't been a single team since the league expanded to 32 teams to make the playoffs with a bottom-three ranking in offensive DVOA.

Considering the Rams are unlikely to get above-average quarterback play at any time this season, that their offensive line has been among the league's worst units in both pass-blocking and run-blocking, and that they are generally bereft of playmakers beyond Todd Gurley, they do not exactly strike one as the kind of team that is about to make a jump out of the offensive basement.

Add to all that a defense that has so far been good but not great (23rd in yards allowed, ninth in points per game allowed, 12th in defensive DVOA) and you have a team that is seemingly just waiting to fade out of the playoff picture.

5. Baltimore Ravens
Like the Rams, the Ravens have played a bunch of close contests; each of Baltimore's four games this season has been decided by one score. Their three wins have come over the Bills, Browns, and Jaguars, teams that are a combined 3-6 in their other nine games this season. (The lone loss was to the Raiders, who we'll get to later.) Only being able to beat those teams by a combined 14 points is not exactly a great sign for their future prospects.

The Ravens also have the misfortune of playing in what might be the most competitive division in football, and have to battle it out with both the Steelers and the Bengals for the AFC North crown. FiveThirtyEight's Elo rating system considers both of those teams more likely than Baltimore to actually finish atop the division, which puts a dent in the Ravens' postseason chances. If they're competing with four or five teams for two spots, it's much more difficult to get in.

Now, an interested observer might say that those qualifications apply to the Raiders as well, and wonder why Baltimore finished behind them in these rankings. (The Ravens have a better point differential than Oakland through four weeks and also share a division with two 2015 playoff teams in the Broncos and Chiefs.)

Here's why: Oakland's offense seems more likely to be a sustainably elite unit for the rest of the season than Baltimore's defense, due to the strength of the offensive line and the receivers surrounding Derek Carr; and we're more confident in the Oakland defense bouncing back from its comparatively poor performance than we are in Baltimore's offense.

4. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are surprisingly sitting at 3-1 despite being without Tony Romo, DeMarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, and Rolando McClain for all four games, Tyron Smith for two, and Dez Bryant and Orlando Scandrick for one (and maybe more).

Dak Prescott is making believers out of everyone in the football world, Ezekiel Elliott is living up to expectations, and the defense (led by Byron Jones, Sean Lee, and the resurgent Morris Claiborne) has been merely below-average, as opposed to awful like it was last season.

They've been steady in a way that seems eminently sustainable, and we actually had a different team in this spot before taking a look at the schedule. (Really, you could put the next three teams in any order and it'd be OK by me.) In four of their next five games, they'll play the Bengals, Packers, Eagles, and Steelers. Dallas' three wins are over Washington, the Bears, and the 49ers, not exactly the class of the league.

The Cowboys are about to come up against a considerably tougher slate.

They'll be getting reinforcements on both sides of the ball in the form of Lawrence's return from suspension this week, Dez, Scandrick, and Tyron's expected returns from injury sometime soon, and Romo's possible/probable return sometime after the bye as well, but the Cowboys definitely seem like the team on this list with the greatest amount of unknowns.

When trying to determine which team has the best chance of doing something (in this case keeping a playoff spot), unknowns are the last thing you want to see. None of that is to say that the Cowboys can't or won't make the playoffs -- they actually seem like a pretty decent bet to do so. There are just a few safer bets on this list.

3.Oakland Raiders
In what is quickly becoming a theme here, the Raiders have also played four one-score games. They've actually have two one-point victories in four weeks. That's an almost impossibly rare occurrence.

Like the Ravens, the Raiders play in a very tough division. FiveThirtyEight actually gives them a worse chance of winning the AFC West than the Ravens have of winning the North. The Broncos once again look like the class of the AFC West, and the 2-2 Chiefs could pick things up over the second half of the season once again, this time due to an offensive infusion when Jamaal Charles comes back from his latest ACL tear.

The Derek Carr-led offense is third in yards per game, seventh in points per game, and second in DVOA through four weeks and that's a good, solid base on which to build a contender, but the defense has been disappointing thus far, especially compared to expectations. We have confidence it can bounce back and become at least a league average unit, but it's safe to say that there's rational reason for at least mild concern.

The thing the Raiders have working in their favor is their schedule. They have a pretty good chance to stack wins with the Chargers, Chiefs, Jaguars, and Buccaneers coming up over the next four weeks. If they can go 3-1 or better during that stretch, it would go a long way toward securing playoff position, even if it's as a wild card team.

2. Atlanta Falcons
After watching all four games and looking into the numbers, I'm actually reasonably certain that both the Cowboys and Raiders are better football teams than the Falcons. Atlanta has an advantage they don't, though: the Falcons are 3-1 in a division where every other team is sitting at 1-3.

Getting off to a hot start doesn't guarantee you a playoff spot -- the Falcons know that better than anyone; they started 5-0 last year before missing the postseason. Getting off to a hot start, complete with a win over the biggest challenge standing in your way of a divisional title (the Panthers), while the rest of your division is ice cold, though, gives you a leg up. And that's what's happened for the Falcons so far.

And that's all before we get to the Atlanta offense, which has been the best in the NFL by every measure so far. The Falcons lead the NFL in yards and points per game, and are first in offensive DVOA. Matt Ryan leads all quarterbacks in every meaningful statistical category, and he's even been excellent when throwing to non-Julio Jones targets (79 of 105 for 985 yards, eight touchdowns, and two picks; good for a 121.3 passer rating). Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman have combined for 451 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 95 carries, and have chipped in an additional 263 yards on 24 catches. The offense is firing on every cylinder possible.

I'm skeptical of the Falcons for two reasons, and they're why we originally listed the Falcons behind both the Cowboys and Raiders (and wouldn't begrudge anyone else who slotted them there):

1. The schedule. The Falcons play the Broncos and Seahawks the next two weeks. Those are two of the best defenses in football, and the Falcons haven't played a defense ranked in the top-half of the league in DVOA yet. It's entirely possible that two weeks from now the Falcons will be a 3-3 team that has had merely a good offense through six weeks, rather than a great one through four.
2. Their defense is an abomination. The Falcons rank 30th in yards allowed, 29th in points allowed, and 31st in defensive DVOA. And those figures might undersell how bad that unit really is. They rank in the bottom-half of the league in DVOA on passes everywhere except the right side of the field (they've been brutal on passes to the left and middle, as well as short, medium, and long), which is where Desmond Trufant spends a lot of his time. Only two teams have gotten pressure on the quarterback less often so far, per data from Pro Football Focus. They have the third-lowest Adjusted Sack Rate in the league, per Football Outsiders, which also ranks the 26th in Adjusted Line Yards against. This is a defense that does nothing well.

If the offense takes even a moderate step back, it may no longer be enough to prop up a defense that simply doesn't have anything going for it. It's just a matter of whether that step back happens soon (i.e., the next two weeks) or takes a while. The Falcons having a built-in margin of error in their division is the only reason they're ahead of the Cowboys and Raiders here.

1. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles currently lead the NFL in point differential (plus-65) despite having played fewer games than 30 of the 31 other teams. They are the only team in the NFL that ranks in the top-five in DVOA in both sides of the ball. They have looked utterly dominant in their three games.

All that said, two of those three games were against the Browns and Bears, and this is still the same team that looked like it was tanking coming into the season. They're also the only team in the league that hasn't really had anything go wrong yet. That'll come at some point. We'll see how they deal with it then.

Still, they still get the Lions and the Redskins the next two weeks before they get into the meatier part of their schedule (Vikings-Cowboys-Giants-Seahawks-Packers-Bengals might be one of the toughest six-game stretches anyone has all year long), giving them a decent chance at running their record to 5-0 before they're seriously tested.

Barring injury or major regression (which, while it may come on offense, doesn't appear likely to on defense given the talent on hand and the fact the Jim Schwartz is running the show), they currently seem like the best bet of this group to be playing in the postseason.

By Gary Klein

Todd Gurley catches footballs before, during and sometimes long after Rams practices.

He requests extra pass routes with quarterbacks, and grabs ball after ball after ball shot out of a machine.

The work paid off for the running back in last week’s victory over Arizona. He caught five passes, including one that set up the game-winning touchdown.

“Man, I only caught like three balls and I guess I’m the best receiver now,” he said, laughing, when asked Friday about his progress. “Showing you can be a threat somewhere else, I think, that definitely can help us out a lot.”

Of course, the best way for Gurley to help the Rams would be a return to the form he showed last season as a rookie, when he rushed for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns.

So far, there have been only glimpses.

With defenses loading up near the line of scrimmage to stop him, Gurley has averaged 54 yards rushing a game, and only 2.6 yards per carry. He has scored two touchdowns.

A running back who began his NFL career with a record 100-yard games in his first four starts has not reached that plateau this season. He has done it only once in his last 12 games.

The Rams are 3-1 and in first place in the NFC West going into Sunday’s non-conference game against the Buffalo Bills (2-2) at the Coliseum.

But Gurley has been noticeably frustrated after each game.

”It’s life,” he said Friday when asked about the challenge of managing frustration. “Sometimes you kind of wonder what’s going on.

“But you’ve got to look at the bigger picture. We’re still winning, 3-1 and the running game hasn’t been going good, so you always know there’s room for improvement. So you’ve just kind of got to stay positive about everything.”

Opposing teams’ focus on stopping Gurley has created opportunities in the passing game for quarterback Case Keenum, receivers Brian Quick, Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin and tight end Lance Kendricks … and for Gurley, who also had a one-handed 33-yard reception against Arizona.

But the Rams apparently won’t become a pass-first offense.

“You dress things up, but you you’ve got to stay with your bread and butter,” Coach Jeff Fisher said, adding that run-game problems have “nothing to do with Todd, whatsoever. It’s just a matter of getting him some opportunities.”

Offensive coordinator Rob Boras said it was “an ongoing process” to figure out ways to get Gurley going.

“We’re taking a look at everything,” he said. “Schematically, play calls, our technique at the point of attack, our decisions.”

The Rams’ offensive line is essentially the same group that led the way for Gurley during his breakout rookie season, but center Tim Barnes said t the line must avoid breakdowns. It will be a challenge this week against a Buffalo front seven that will welcome back tackle Marcell Dareus from a suspension.

“Hate to say it but we’ve been so close on way too many plays,” Barnes said. “We just hope we can eliminate that word ‘close’ and make it happen.”

So does Gurley.

But he will continue to work on his receiving skills that accounted for 49 yards last week.

Gurley caught 65 passes in two-plus seasons at Georgia. He had 21 receptions for the Rams last season and has eight this season.

“Any time we can get him in space, he can make things happen,” Boras said, “so it’s obviously something we want to continue to build on.”

Quick hits

Defensive ends William Hayes (ankle) and Robert Quinn (shoulder) and defensive tackle Michael Brockers (hip) did not practice and are listed as questionable. But Fisher sounded confident that some or all of them would play against the Bills. “We have a tendency of healing up,” he said. “We still have some time. It’s about being smart…. If they could practice, they would, but we’re concerned about Sunday.” …. An arraignment hearing for safety T.J. McDonald, who was charged last month with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs, was continued Friday to Oct. 16, a spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office said. McDonald was arrested in May in Woodland Hills after a collision with a parked car.

[www.latimes.com]

It’s safe to say no one expected the 2015 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year to have only 216 yards rushing through four games. And it’s probably safer to assume if someone told you that would be Todd Gurley’s total in the season’s first quarter, you wouldn’t think Los Angeles was carrying a 3-1 record into Week 5.

But that’s the case from both standpoints. And everyone would like the second-year running back’s production to increase, which is why it’s a team issue that the club is working to solve.

“It’s life. Sometimes you kind of wonder what’s going on,” Gurley said after Friday’s practice. “But you’ve got to look at the bigger picture. At the end of the day, we’re still winning. We’re 3-1, and the running game hasn’t been going good. So you always know there’s room for improvement, so you just kind of have got to stay positive about everything.”

“It’s an ongoing process. We’re taking a look at everything,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said this week. “Schematically, play calls, our technique at the point of attack, our decisions — we’re taking a look at everything right now. Obviously, we’re determined to get it right and get better.”

Head coach Jeff Fisher described last week’s line of scrimmage as being “full of Cardinals” in the Rams’ 17-13 victory, which is one reason Gurley had a tough time getting going on the ground. That’s a reality of what teams are going to do in order to limit Los Angeles’ effectiveness as an offense.

But there are some advantages to that, as it can open up plays for tight end Lance Kendricks and wide receivers like Kenny Britt, Brian Quick, and Tavon Austin.

“I think we’re seeing happen right now in our run-actions and obviously guys are loaded up and stacking the box to stop the run and we’ve been able to try to take advantage of that in other areas,” Boras said. “Part of being balanced is being able to take advantage of what the defense is giving you. And that’s part of being a balanced offense. Right now, in the run-action game, we’re able to make those plays and then, hopefully, that will loosen up and the runs will start coming as well.”


And it’s gratifying for Gurley to see his teammates cash in on those opportunities.

“Quick, KB, Tavon, Lance — all of those guys have been doing good,” Gurley said. “So I know just having all those guys down in the box, that’s just going to give those receivers a good chance to win those one-on-ones. And that’s what we talk about every week, win your one-on-ones. That’s all football is, beating the man across from you. As long as we do that and keep executing, we’ll be just fine.”

Both Fisher and Boras noted Gurley made two outstanding plays in the passing game against Arizona last week. When reporters brought up the receiving skills in the running back’s Friday media session, he just laughed.

“Man, I only caught like three balls and I guess I’m the best receiver now,” Gurley said.



Joking aside, Gurley’s prowess as a receiver can be a boost to the Rams’ offense.


“Since he’s been here, we’ve always said that Todd has unbelievable ball skills,” Boras said. “He’s like any young player, he’s getting better because it’s not something he was asked to do a whole lot at Georgia, but he has natural athletic ability and natural skills. Any time we can get him in space, he can make things happen, so it’s obviously something we want to continue to build on.”

“Just going out there, being consistent, just putting the same thing on film every week. Just showing that you can be a threat somewhere else,” Gurley said. “I think that can definitely help us out a lot.”

But when it comes down to it, the Rams will continue to do their best to ensure Gurley gets back to being the ground threat they know he can be. And that involves much more than just the second-year RB.

“The big thing for us, it’s all tied together — it’s defense getting off the field on third down and getting another possession or offense converting a third down or moving the ball,” Fisher said. “Then of course, as of late — actually since the season’s started — we got everybody jammed in there and they don’t want to let him get going. So, we have to make our plays down the field. But it has nothing to do with Todd, whatsoever. It’s just a matter of getting him some opportunities.”

A FAMILY AFFAIR

In every NFL matchup, there are connections abound between the personnel of the two teams. Players might have attended the same college, coaches might have worked together at different stops — there’s any number of possibilities.

But there will be one that’s a bit unique on opposite sidelines of the Coliseum this Sunday, as Rams safetyT.J. McDonald will be lining up against his father.

Well, one could say that’s technically not the case. McDonald’s father, Tim McDonald, will be with the visitors as Buffalo’s defensive backs coach. As you might expect, that’s going to bring out the competitor in both father and son.

“Of course you want bragging rights and what not. But we haven’t been talking at all this week,” the Rams’ safety said on Friday. “We’ll talk after the game. It’s all love there. We’re just both competitors and we want to go out there and get the win.”

The two talk pretty regularly, so the silence between them has been a change.

“We’re just going to chop it up after the game,” T.J. said. “And that will be a good one in the Coliseum.”

In many ways, the younger McDonald has followed in his father’s footsteps on the gridiron. Hard-hitting safeties, T.J. attended the same high school as his father before going down the same path to USC.

Now, they’ll meet at the stadium where they both played their college ball.

“We’re not on the field at the same [time],” said No. 25. “He’s coaching their defensive backs, I’m on the field with [ours]. I just want to go on the field and put on my best display. I’m going to have a lot of family there — want to go out there and put on a good show.”

It certainly will be a family affair on Sunday.

INJURY REPORT

Los Angeles has six players listed on its injury report for Sunday’s matchup against the Bills.

Wide receiver Kenny Brit (thigh), defensive tackle Michael Brockers (hip), safety Cody Davis (groin), defensive end William Hayes (ankle), defensive end Robert Quinn (shoulder), and running backBenny Cunningham (thigh) are all listed as questionable. Cunningham was limited in practice on Friday, as was Davis. Britt was a full participant.

Brockers was a limited participant in Wednesday’s session, but was listed as DNP for Thursday’s estimate and for Friday’s session. Hayes and Quinn did not practice all week.

“We have a tendency of healing up. We still have some time,” Fisher said of the injured defensive linemen. “It’s about being smart. It’s [less] about the lack of practice reps for Rob and Will and Michael [and more] just trying to get them ready for Sunday right now. If they could practice, they would. But we’re concerned about Sunday, [No.] 1.”

Notably for the Bills, running back LeSean McCoy apparently injured his hand in practice on Friday and is listed as questionable. McCoy, however, told ESPN the injury is “something small” and that he “won’t miss the game.”

Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, who is returning from a four-game suspension, is also listed as questionable with a thigh injury on the Friday report.

[www.therams.com]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...t-hits-cb-top-10-trumaine-johnson-on-the-spot

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The Los Angeles defense has led the team to a surprising 3-1 record (tied with Seattle at the top of the NFC West), so it's time we turn our attention to this Rams secondary -- and specifically, CB Trumaine Johnson. The fifth-year pro is a solid cornerback and the main reason why the team didn't mind letting Janoris Jenkins go in the offseason. Johnson, who has eight passes defensed this year, is a big corner (6-foot-2, 208 pounds) with short-man quickness. He can get in and out of breaks quickly from a lateral standpoint and high-points the ball especially well. He has shown flashes of greatness in the first quarter of the season, but I need him to be more consistent on the island.

In the first two games of the season -- a shutout loss to the 49ers and a tight 9-3 win over Seattle in the home opener -- Johnson allowed four receptions for 13 yards on seven targets. Lately, though, he's struggled a bit. While shadowing Bucs star Mike Evans in Week 3, he gave up 10 receptions for 120 yards and a TD. And last week in the Rams' road win in Arizona, Johnson gave up six catches for 93 yards on 12 targets. That is 15.5 yards per catch, which is too much for my liking. He did, however, record his first interception of the season and had other opportunities for picks in that game.

I think Johnson takes plays off mentally, and cornerbacks can't do that in this league or they'll show up on the wrong side of the highlights. If he is on the field 100 plays, he needs to play 100 of them full out. Right now, he's playing 98.

Johnson will have a good test this weekend when Tyrod Taylor and the Bills come to town. Taylor extends a lot of plays and has many opportunities to step outside the pocket. Buffalo's wideouts have a lot of time to separate, so Johnson and the rest of the Rams' secondary must plaster the receivers. I'm eager to see if Johnson can do that and still make plays.

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Just going to leave this here LMAO

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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Jared Cook made news again Friday, and this time it had nothing to do the with the ankle injury that has kept him out of the Green Bay Packers' lineup.

In fact, it didn't have anything to do with football. This time, it was about chicken wings.

Or, in this case, a chicken head.

The Packers tight end caused a stir when he tweeted a picture of what he said was a chicken head that came in his takeout order earlier this week from the Buffalo Wild Wings just down the street from Lambeau Field.

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This happened Tuesday when I went to eat @BWWings How Sway? How?

6:39 AM - 7 Oct 2016

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"I had drove there, took it all the way home, got home, started eating the first wing," Cook explained Friday. "As I was putting the bone back in the box, I saw the chicken head and immediately spit my food out."

The restaurant chain issued a statement Friday: "Buffalo Wild Wings takes food preparation, service and quality extremely seriously and we are looking into this situation. We've reached out to Jared Cook and our suppliers for more information."

Cook said he drove back to the restaurant, where he was given a refund and this explanation:

"They were just, like: 'We're sorry. Typically, this doesn't happen. That just means your food was fresh,'" Cook said. "OK, that doesn't make it any better."

Cook said he eventually plans to become a vegetarian, and his latest experience might help push him in that direction.

"Seeing as how it's one of my favorite foods, I don't see how I can give that up," Cook said. "My wife is a vegetarian, and she's strongly encouraging I become one now.

"I think it's good advice. Eventually, I will become one, but not right now."

Before he returned his order, he had a little fun with it.

"In the picture, I don't know if you noticed, but there's a fork stuck in the bottom of it. The first thing I did was, I FaceTimed her and I pretended the chicken head was talking to her via FaceTime. So, she was pretty grossed out."

Cook, 29, said he's never had anything like this happen to him before.

"I've never had anything that could taste me back in my food ever," Cook said.

I'm confused,

I know Goff is on the bench and Gurley hasn't busted out a big game yet. But at the quarter mark we're in 1st place and our Offense has finally gotten a bit of a spark under Case. So why all of the bitching? Can't we just enjoy this moment and not be such jaded fans?

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http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...d-rams-football-danny-trejo-feels-whole-again

Taco trucks and Rams football: Danny Trejo feels whole again
Alden Gonzalez/ESPN Staff Writer


Jeff Fisher gets his meal ready as actor Danny Trejo provided lunch Wednesday to the only team he ever loved. Alden Gonzalez/ESPN.com

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Danny Trejo used to hide in the bathroom. Any bathroom, really. Back then, in the 1950s, a system of streetcars operated through central Los Angeles, so Trejo and a couple of friends used to take them from their neighborhood in Echo Park to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

They would arrive about an hour before kickoff for basically every Los Angeles Rams home game, then find a nearby restroom and hide in the stalls until fans made their way into the facility. Then they would watch their favorite team for free.

"Hiding from the police was a little different then," Trejo said. "There wasn’t as much violence in L.A. in the '50s. It was a pretty mellow spot. It wasn’t that hard to sneak in."

Trejo, now a 72-year-old actor who has appeared in more than 200 films, recalled those times after Rams practice earlier this week. He was seated in a common area of the team's facility at Cal Lutheran University, wearing a throwback Todd Gurley jersey he purchased "the minute the Rams came back."

Behind him was his taco truck, plainly called "Trejo's Tacos," providing lunch for the only team he ever loved. In front of him was a football, autographed by a handful of prominent players.

And it was at this point that Trejo felt utmost bliss.

"I keep pinching myself," Trejo said, then suddenly he looked up to the heavens and raised both of his arms in the air. "‘Are you taking me now, Lord?'"


Actor Danny Trejo shakes hands with Rams defensive lineman Dominique Easley on Wednesday. Alden Gonzalez/ESPN.com

Trejo is from the days of Norm Van Brocklin and Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch and "The Fearsome Foursome." His favorite player was Jack Youngblood, the Hall of Fame defensive end who spent his entire 14-year career with the Rams.

"But that was back in the day," Trejo said. "Now, we’ve got Gurley."

The Rams were a fixture in Trejo's youth, a constant amid the chaos. He was a drug addict and a delinquent who spent the 1960s in and out of maximum-security California state prisons before turning his life around, counseling others and venturing into the acting world basically by happenstance.

He quickly became a fixture as the heavily-tattooed Chicano nobody ever wanted to mess with, holding indelible roles on hit films such as "Heat," "Desperado," "From Dusk Till Dawn" and "Con Air."

That was right around the mid-1990s, when the Rams left for St. Louis.

"I stopped having a football team," Trejo said. "I didn’t root for anybody. I just worried about point spreads. I would bet on games, but I didn’t care about the team. It was all about point spreads. I didn’t even care who was playing.

And then when the Raiders came, well, they had Raider Nation, but I wasn’t that into the Raiders. But now, it’s like, I’m back. I’m back. I’ve bet on the Rams and I’ve already won."

Asked about his emotions when he found out the Rams were coming back, Trejo shook his head.

"Just joy," he said. "Just so happy. It was kind of like part of Los Angeles came back. Los Angeles is this huge puzzle, and there was always a piece missing. Our sports team. Our football team. This is a football city, you understand? This is a football city.

We’ve got UCLA, we’ve got SC. This is a football city. And then our biggest piece of the puzzle was missing. And then -- bam! -- they came back with a vengeance. We’re 3-1."

Several Rams players were elated to meet Trejo on Wednesday, many remembering him for starring in "Machete" and appearing on recent movies like "Spy Kids" and "Anchorman."

The local guys know him for his tacos, too.

Trejo's mother was a gifted cook who always dreamed of owning her own restaurant, and now Trejo is living her vision out for her. He joined a couple of producer friends, Ash Shah and Jeff Georgino, and opened up a Trejo's Tacos location on La Brea Avenue early this year to rave reviews.

A second, Trejo's Cantina, opened on the corner of Selma Avenue and Cahuenga Boulevard in October. Trejo wants to open at least a couple more in the area, then venture out to Las Vegas and San Antonio.

He also has the truck, which now stops at Rams games.

Trejo and his black taco truck were there for the home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 18, an eventual 9-3 win that was attended by more than 91,000 fans.

"It was alive, homes," Trejo said, his eyes widening. "It was alive. I felt like I was back in 1954, when everybody loved the Rams. It was like there were no haters. I don’t think there was a Seahawks fan there. It was just an unbelievable atmosphere. Like, our team is back. That was awesome. "

Breaking news:LeSean McCoy, Marcell Dareus questionable vs. Rams after suffering injuries in practice
10:00 AM PT

• 
  
  Mike RodakESPN Staff Writer

Buffalo Bills star running back LeSean McCoy and defensive lineman Marcell Dareus both suffered injuries in practice Friday and have been listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams.
McCoy injured his hand in practice while Dareus, who is returning from a four-game suspension, injured his hamstring.

Bills coach Rex Ryan declined to elaborate on either injury, simply smiling and
replying "questionable" when asked whether McCoy would play Sunday.

McCoy, however, said during an interview later Friday with ESPN's SportsCenter that he jammed his hand but vowed that he "won't miss the game." McCoy also described the injury as "something small" and said, "I'll be fine."

Dareus remains on the exempt list, meaning the Bills have until 4 p.m. ET Saturday to activate him to their 53-man roster if they want him to play against the Rams. Otherwise, Buffalo has until Monday afternoon to clear a roster spot for Dareus.

"We'll see how it is," Ryan said of Dareus' injury. "We'll find out later how he responds."

If Dareus cannot play, the Bills would likely start Corbin Bryant at nose tackle in his place. Bryant started the first four games of this season while Dareus was suspended.

The Bills also listed starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore (ankle), tight end Charles Clay (knee), offensive tackle Cordy Glenn (ankle) and fullback Jerome Felton (back) as questionable.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ionable-vs-los-angeles-rams-practice-injuries

*Disclaimer the following will make most of you roll your eyes... and the rest won't read it all. That's ok.
I am writing this in the hope that someone out there finds something interesting in the mixed-up mess of words, numbers and thoughts I will try to present.

There are many similarities between the two Quarterbacks I'm comparing here. When looking at their pre-draft rookie scouting reports, many of the descriptions used to describe their "Pros" and "Cons" in college and potential are completely interchangeable to a surprising extent.
The similarities between them run deep and wide, too.
Both played at small college programs in a spread offense where they put up enormous record setting numbers. Both considered very intelligent and heralded for their natural leadership skills. Both were called "tough" and were known for being "gamers". Both had question marks about their arm talent and being able to throw intermediate and deep passes with enough zip, touch and accuracy to win in the NFL.
There are some differences of course.
QB#1 was drafted 10 years earlier than QB#2, who wasn't drafted at all. QB#1s draft class lacked any real prototypical QBs and was weak at that position from top to bottom with only one first round QB being selected.
The rookie Quarterback class that QB#2 found himself in was considerably different in both depth and prestige and was without question one of the most highly regarded and hyped QB classes since 1983.

FIRST 20 NFL STARTS
QB#1 ____________________ QB#2
QBR - 69.8 _______________ QBR - 79.3
YDS - 4,159 ______________ YDS - 3,848
TD - 21 __________________ TD - 19
INT - 22 _________________ INT - 12
Cmp - 391 _______________ Cmp - 325
Att - 692 _________________ Att - 576
CP% - 60.8 _______________ CP% - 56.4
YPA - 6.01 _______________ YPA - 6.6
YPC - 10.6 _______________ YPC - 11.8

So these two guys who shared so many common traits before starting their first 20 NFL games continued that trend by putting up very comparable numbers. In almost every category QB#2 has the edge, though it's close.
When we account for the fact that QB#1 averaged almost 20% more passes per game, it becomes clear that his only legitimately superior stat is his completion percentage. Both post subpar numbers in that category but QB#2 is clearly losing in that department.
Both of these guys started on bad teams. Neither played in more than one game as a rookie.
...Oh, and neither of them is over 6'1".
(As I'm sure most of you have already guessed)
QB#1 - Drew Brees
QB#2 - Case Keenum

Like so many great QBs, Brees needed time. He didn't enter the league as the badass HOF lock we know now.
He had to learn to play in a pro style offense and he had to continue to learn how to not let his height hold him back from being successful at the next level.
There is no question that Brees has always had a superior arm.
(seemingly more so after the surgery to repair his injured shoulder before being traded to the Saints)

I am 99.999% sure that Keenum will never really come close to being the same caliber of passer that Brees has become..... but it is entirely possible, I'd say probable, that Keenum will continue to improve with time. He will have his ups and downs but if he manages to stick around long enough as a starter, I think he will continue to get better and do what he has always done - find ways to WIN.

Since it's going to be assumed that my post has an ulterior motive regarding Jared Goff, I guess I should be clear on where I stand. I can't wait to see him play and I think he is an awesome prospect and I am still thrilled that we traded up to get him. However, I am also prepared to accept that like Bradford, Brees or any other QB coming out of a spread offense, his adjustment to the NFL might take a little while longer than the average impatient fan wants to believe.
Until he is ready to take over, I'll just relax and enjoy watching Keenum give everything he's got.

One of these low-life scumbags is the reason I screen all my calls now. Hope this vulture was one of those arrested. About damn time. Now if they can arrest the rest of the phone scammers who prey on the old and the just plain dumb, that would be a relief.
**************************************************************************************
http://abc27.com/2016/10/06/dozens-arrested-at-india-call-center-linked-to-irs-scam-calls/

Dozens arrested at India call center linked to IRS scam calls
By Associated Press and Griff Benner


A police official, right, escorts two men outside the court in Thane, outskirts of Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. Indian police have arrested 70 people and are questioning hundreds more after uncovering a massive scam to cheat thousands of Americans out of millions of dollars by posing as U.S. tax authorities and demanding unpaid taxes. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)

NEW DELHI (AP) – Indian police have arrested 70 people and are questioning hundreds more after uncovering a massive scam to cheat thousands of Americans out of millions of dollars by posing as U.S. tax authorities and demanding unpaid taxes, a police officer said Thursday.

According to police in Mumbai, the yearlong scam involved running fake call centers which sent voice mail messages telling U.S. nationals to call back because they owed back taxes.

Those who called back and believed the threats would fork out thousands of dollars to “settle” their case, Mumbai police officer Parag Marere said Thursday.

The scam brought in more than $150,000 a day, Marere said without giving a total sum. If the scam netted that amount daily, it would have made almost $55 million in one year.

Some victims were also told to buy gift vouchers from various companies, and hand over the voucher ID numbers which the impostors then used to make purchases, Marere said.

Police said they are likely to file charges against many of the 600 or more people still being questioned on suspicion of running the fake call centers, housed on several stories of a Mumbai office building.

Those arrested so far include several of the alleged ringleaders, as well as people accused of providing equipment and setting up the fake call centers. The criminal charges filed against the suspects include extortion, impersonation and violations of India’s information technology laws.

“We are questioning those who were involved in the fraud, including those posing as tax investigators,” Marere said.

Police raided the offices this week and seized hundreds of hard disks, hard disks, high-end servers and other electronic equipment.

Indian media reports said 70 percent of the scam’s proceeds were retained by the suspects in India, while the rest was paid to collaborators in the U.S.

Indian news broadcaster NDTV reported that one U.S.-based company allegedly collected the victims’ personal information and passed it to the fake call centers.

The IRS reports receiving more than 900,000 complaints about similar scam calls since October 2013. More than 5,000 people have fallen for the scam, paying out more than $26 million collectively as a result of scams.

The IRS has yet to comment on this recent arrest in India.

The IRS warns it will never call and demand immediate payment. It will never require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, like a gift card or prepaid debit card. The agency will never ask for credit card numbers over the phone.

If you receive a call form someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, you should never give out personal information. Report the call to the IRS using their “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page. You can also call 800-366-4484.

THOUSAND OAKS – Matt Longacre has been with the Rams for almost 18 months, but sometimes, he can’t completely shake his apprehension – the feeling that any given week, he could either be thrust into the starting lineup, or cut from the roster entirely.

That’s the mentality that comes with having clawed his way into the NFL – a path that has seem him go from an undrafted defensive end out of Northwest Missouri State, to practice squad member, to one of 53 names on the active roster. In a 17-13 road win over the Cardinals on Sunday, Longacre made his season debut – registering two tackles while playing a career-high 43 snaps on defense.

And with starting defensive ends William Hayes and Robert Quinn limited by ankle and shoulder injuries, respectively, Sunday’s home game against the Bills looms as another potential opportunity.

“You know your time’s going to come,” Longacre said after a recent practice. “You just don’t know when. You just have to look at it like that.”

The Rams have a habit of finding unpolished gems on the defensive line, with four players in the unit having hailed from non-FBS schools. Longacre is one of them. He drew little attention heading into the 2015 NFL draft, but on the advice of his agent, jumped at an offer to sign with a team that hasn’t been scared off by poor measurables.

“The difference (big and small schools) is, a lot of times, competition and coaching,” Rams defensive line coach Mike Waufle said. “But lot of these players have more gifts.”

Though he has only made six regular-season appearances in his young career, Longacre has shown promise. After last season, Pro Football Focus named him one of their top eight low-drafted or undrafted rookies. Two months ago, the site gave him the highest pass-rushing and run-defense grade of any defensive end in Week 1 of the preseason.

After being cut at the end of last year’s training camp, however, he was just as nervous heading into the 2016 regular season. Rams coach Jeff Fisher tried to ease his mind, but the friendly notice came with one round of trimming still to go.

When he made the final cut down to 53, it brought real playing time that much closer.

“It’s completely different from this year, being on active, when you know you’re most likely the next guy up,” Longacre said.

That’s particularly true for the Rams, who have a habit of frequently rotating their defensive linemen. Not even star defensive tackle Aaron Donald, arguably the best player in the NFL on either side of the ball, has played even 70 percent of defensive snaps in every game. (Donald was one snap short of the threshold in a win against the Seahawks, playing on 46 of 67 snaps.)

“That’s the key, is that you have to have depth, and you have to keep them fresh all the time,” Fisher said.

Since last season, Longacre said he’s been able to improve his pass rush. Picking up new techniques took time, and it was difficult for him to get comfortable without game reps.

“It helps knowing to not be afraid to make mistakes,” he said. “That’s one thing that hurt my game. Playing slow is not the right word, but you’re kind of apprehensive when it comes to guessing how you could in college.”

Longacre has a clear goal in mind too: “Get that sack that’s eluded me so far.”

[www.ocregister.com]

Contact the writer: jwang@scng.com

THOUSAND OAKS – To understand where E.J. Gaines is at the moment it’s important to remember everything he’s been through the past 24 months. To do so is a case study in the roller-coaster ride professional sports sometimes takes its participants, rising as high as the imagination is willing and as low as it can bear.

For now, the ride has leveled off, with Gaines returning from more than a year-long battle with foot and leg injuries that cost him his entire second season and all of the first three games of this year.

It’s time Gaines will never get back, frustration he wouldn’t wish on anyone and a grueling match of mental gymnastics in which he battled pain, worry, apprehension and impatience.

“Frustration beyond frustration,” is how Gaines described it.

He finally made it back to the field on Sunday in the Rams’ 17-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, steadying the Rams secondary with seven tackles and two passes defended. His presence completes the Rams’ cornerback picture, the eventual depth chart consisting of Gaines as the starter opposite Trumaine Johnson, Lamarcus Joyner in the slot and Troy Hill a valuable reserve in nickel and dime packages.

“There was no evidence of any injury, or anything,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “He just went out there and played like he did a year ago.”

It’s a cornerback vision the Rams conceptualized almost from the moment Janoris Jenkins bolted last March to the New York Giants in free agency. In fact, it was the comfort level the Rams used in letting Jenkins walk.

Gaines was the Rams’ safety net, his surgically repaired foot that cost him all of 2015 healing sufficiently enough to enable him to ease the blow of Jenkins’ departure.

Ideally, perhaps even provide an improvement.

But that would all have to wait after Gaines suffered various leg injuries during training camp – partly the result of some compensation he was making for the foot that inadvertently affected his legs.

Bottom line, his return was pushed back by three games.

His disdain is impossible to disguise.

“I’m a player that hates missing football games,” Gaines said. “Whether it’s a full season like last year or three games to begin this season, missing games isn’t something I want any part of. Both situations were mentally challenging and frustrating.

So imagine the satisfaction in not only returning to the field Sunday against the Cardinals, but also contributing.

“Just being back out there, making plays, helping out,” it’s a feeling I can’t really describe,” Gaines said.

Not that it makes up for the last year or so.

Or the opportunity lost.

“I wouldn’t ask that on anyone,” he said.

And who knows how things might have changed in the Rams secondary had what seemed to be the natural course of things not been interrupted by injuries. In fact, had you canvassed Rams people 14 months ago you’d have been hard-pressed to predict things would have unfolded as they did.

Two years ago Gaines was a surprise rookie starter for the Rams, pressed into duty when Johnson went down with an injury. To the casual observer Gaines was a sixth-round pick afterthought, a not nearly tall enough and not particularly flashy project who, if things broke right in training camp, might be a special teams player or practice squad candidate.

But the Rams liked the savvy, toughness and maturity of the Missouri born and bred defensive back, so when Johnson went down it was Gaines who eventually filled his spot opposite Jenkins.

If anyone worried Gaines would be a raw rookie simply occupying the position rather than excelling in it, they soon discovered the University of Missouri product was about to bring much more to the job than anyone expected.

Gaines was a stout run defender and tackler, totaling 70 tackles to fall within the top five Run Stop Percentage defender as accumulated by Pro Football Focus.

He was also impressive in pass defense, allowing just one touchdown reception and surrendering a respectable 9.6 yards per catch.

It was all the Rams could expect from Gaines and more, and by the time training camp opened for the 2015 it was Gaines, not Johnson, who was expected to start alongside Jenkins. Projecting even further ahead, the future of the Rams secondary looked more and more like Jenkins and Gaines as the long-term starting tandem with Johnson likely leaving as a free agent in 2016.

That rackety sound you hear is the roller coaster ride getting ready to take a plunge, on which the futures of Jenkins, Johnson and Gaines were buckled in.

Gaines never had a chance to fight off Johnson for the starting job after suffering a Lisfranc foot injury in training camp that required season-ending surgery. The domino affect was far reaching: Johnson regained his job opposite Jenkins – by default – then put together a career year in a contract season that landed him the franchise tag distinction from the Rams and a $14 million pay day for 2016.

In doing so, the Rams essentially chose Johnson over fellow free agent Jenkins – who left for New York – and gave a vote of confidence to Gaines and the strides he was making as a player and in rehabilitation.

In fact, when Gaines returned to the practice field last June for OTA’s, Jenkins and starting safety Rodney McLeod were gone, and he Johnson and Joyner were penciled in as the primary starters.

“It’s crazy to see how the room has changed,” Gaines remarked.

It’s taken some time for the picture to finally come into focus, but Sunday’s win over the Cardinals finally revealed the vision. Gaines, Johnson and Joyner provide athletic ability, coverage skills, intellect and toughness in a young, skilled cornerback rotation that complements a ferocious Rams pass rush.

“Glad to have him back,” Johnson said. “Real glad to have him back.”

And Gaines quickly alleviated any concerns about having to shake off any rust by immediately jumping into the action.

“I was just trying to help any way I could,” Gaines said. “Just trying to be as physical as I could on the outside opposite Trumaine, who is really physical on the other side. Just add to that, mostly. And moving forward, I’m focused on stopping these receivers from going down field and protect against the long ball.”

For now, the roller-coaster ride has leveled.

[www.ocregister.com]

Contact the writer: vbonsignore@scng.com

Gary Klein


He is the most experienced player on the Rams’ offense, an eighth-year pro seeking what thus far has proved to be an unattainable goal.

“Hopefully,” receiver Kenny Britt said. “I’ll get to the playoffs this year.”

Britt has helped the Rams to a promising start.

They are 3-1 and in first place in the NFC West heading into Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills at the Coliseum.


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It’s the first of nine games against non-division opponents before the Rams finish the season against the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers andArizona Cardinals.

Like Britt, the Rams are experiencing a postseason drought. They have not been to the playoffs since 2004.

Britt, 28, is determined to end the streak.

“I have responsibilities and try to be a leader,” he said, adding, “The guys are doing everything correct. Everyone is coming in on off days, looking at film, taking care of their bodies.

“You can tell there’s determination on this team to get to the playoffs.”

The Rams began the season with major questions about a receiving corps that did not undergo a significant upgrade from 2015, when the Rams ranked last in the NFL in offense and passing offense.

They drafted receivers Pharoh Cooper in the fourth round andMichael Thomas in the sixth. Cooper has not played because of a shoulder injury and Thomas has played mainly on special teams.

Through four games, the Rams rank last in offense and 30th in passing offense.

But there have been bright spots.

Brian Quick has been the biggest surprise, catching three touchdown passes. Tavon Austin has one.

But Britt has a team-best 18 receptions and is averaging 15.6 yards per catch.

He also has been a go-to receiver on third downs.

“He’s been productive. Made some big plays for us,” Coach Jeff Fishersaid. “He has overcome some drops, like the whole group has, but he’s been productive.

“He pushed through — he’s fighting through some nagging little injury things. But he shows up. He shows up and he’s emotional and he plays hard.”

In last weekend’s 17-13 victory at Arizona, Britt was targeted four times, had four receptions and averaged 20.5 yards per catch.

Tennessee Titans when they selected Britt with the 30th pick in the 2009 draft out of Rutgers. In his second season, Britt caught 42 passes, nine for touchdowns.

But in 2011 he suffered torn ligaments in his right knee.

He had surgery again on the same knee before the 2012 season and also had an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee.

He caught 45 passes and scored four touchdowns in 2012 but caught only 11 passes and did not score a touchdown in 2013.

The Rams signed him in 2014 and, reunited with Fisher, Britt responded with a career-best 48 catches, three for touchdowns. Last season, he averaged 18.9 yards a catch and scored three touchdowns.

Britt sat out off-season workouts after undergoing shoulder and knee surgeries, but he said he has not lost speed and still feels young.

“I’ve been taking care of my body a lot better,” said Britt, who is earning about $4.5 million in the final year of his contract. “The first two or three years in the NFL, you don’t really know what to do off the field to take care of your body.

“This is my eighth year and I’m doing better than before.”

During training camp, quarterback Case Keenum said that he and Britt had developed “non-verbal communication” that enabled him to anticipate the receiver’s moves. Keenum said this week that they remained on the same wavelength.

Britt concurred.

“Case trusts me out there,” he said. “When we need a first down, he trusts me to do it.”

With opponents crowding the line of scrimmage to stop running back Todd Gurley, the Rams have been unable to run effectively. But if Austin’s production increases and Britt continues his pace, defenses will have to adjust, Boras said.

“We’re going to continue to run the ball and we’re going to get better running the ball,” Boras said. “When they’re loading the box, we’re going to try to take advantage of it and get the ball out in the perimeter in the pass game and let those guys make some plays.”

Like all receivers, Britt said, he wants to score touchdowns.

But a run to the postseason would be even better.

“We’re winning,” he said, “so it really doesn’t matter who gets them as long as we’re putting points on the board.”

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesklein

By Dan Graziano
ESPN Staff Writer

The quarterback who went No. 2 overall in this year's draft is 3-0, ranks sixth in the NFL in passer rating and has five touchdown passes without an interception.

The quarterback who went No. 1 overall in this year's draft hasn't played yet.

So what happened here? Did theLos Angeles Rams blow it withJared Goff? Are the Philadelphia Eagles geniuses for trading up to No. 2 to select Carson Wentz? Is Wentz a prodigy? Is Goff a bust???

Yeah, it's a hot-take world when it comes to quarterbacks, and everybody loves to jump to their favorite conclusions. In this case, it's not that simple. While Goff and Wentz will forever be linked due to their proximity at the top of the draft, their 2016 situations are anything but apples to apples.

Here's a key difference: TheMinnesota Vikings didn't offer the Rams a first-round pick for their starting quarterback a week before the season. The Vikings did do that for the Eagles, which sentSam Bradford to the upper Midwest and elevated Wentz to the starter's role.

While the Eagles weren't preparing Wentz to start Week 1 until that deal went down eight days before their opener, the fact remains that they did manage to sufficiently prepare him to start -- and play very well -- in September.

To hear the Eagles tell it, it wasn't that tough.

Case Keenum said in a phone interview Wednesday. "Our protections are definitely a little bit different, and combining them with the concepts has been a challenge. Knowing who's hot on a particular play, when they're hot, the dropback game. ... There's been a lot of change, and it's a lot to process. But I think it's working pretty good."

Keenum takes responsibility for some of the offensive issues, saying, "I've missed a few throws with some guys running open." The Rams are 30th in the league in passing yards per game and last in completion percentage. Only three teams have fewer touchdown passes than the Rams' four.

They are 3-1, however, thanks in large part to a defense that has taken away the ball nine times and is holding opponents under 20 points per game. Keenum and the offense have largely protected the ball well, and they've done enough in spite of the growing pains.


So add up the surprisingly strong win/loss start and the fact that this offense is still putting itself together, and you can see why the Rams don't feel any rush to get Goff in there. It's entirely possible he's as ready as Wentz is. But the Bradford trade gave the Eagles a reason to elevate Wentz, and the complexities of the Rams' under-construction offense give L.A. reason to worry about Goff having too much on his plate if he does play.

Wentz's coaches in Philadelphia are all quarterbacks -- Pederson the head coach, Reich the coordinator and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo. Wentz is surrounded by people who speak his language, know what he's going through and communicate simply and on his level.

Groh and Weinke were quarterbacks, but neither had ever coached quarterbacks in the NFL until this season. Boras is a former offensive lineman, and Fisher's background is on defense.

That doesn't mean what the Eagles are doing is right or what the Rams are doing is wrong. What it tells you is that the situations in which Wentz and Goff find themselves at the outset of their careers are very different. It's easy to look at what has gone on so far -- Wentz lighting up the league, while Goff rides the bench -- and say they may have been picked in the wrong order, but it's important to remember there's a long way to go. A month does not make a career (or two careers).

[www.espn.com]

I'm curious to what us on ROD thinks what will happen and I'm debating this in my head.

Obviously Goff is our future etc etc etc. As been stated many times but how short of a chain is Keenum on? I love winning more than anything and just as long as we keep winning does Keenum stay the starter? If we lose one game like this Buffalo game will Goff be put in? I'm guessing matchups pretty well this year compared to knowing what to expect from this so interested to see what the rest of your opinions are as a whole.

Take it how u want it I don't know if it's true but this guy was a good poster here

http://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,503919

OC Anthony Lynn addressed the media following practice topics include; the defensive line of the Rams, former Bills running back Karlos Williams, and being on the job for two weeks. Rams have the best pass rush group they have seen all year.

Login to view embedded media View: http://www.buffalobills.com/video/videos/Anthony-Lynn-We-Have-to-Block-Them/9cbc7442-cc7c-4dbe-a920-165d5bcb9ab7

I'm surprised his MVP isn't Tom Brady after playing 0 games. He does give respect to Aaron Donald though.
******************************************************************
Why Sam Bradford is MVP
Hard to get any more valuable than what the undefeated Vikings have received at the quarterback position. Here’s an early look at the award race, with four more surprising candidates
By Peter King

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/10/05/sam-bradford-minnesota-vikings-mvp-nfl-mailbag

I feel like a 30 for 30 promo.

What if I told you …

that the MVP of the National Football League after a quarter of the season would be a quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings who is not named Teddy Bridgewater … who wasn’t even on the team 10 days before the season started … and whose acquisition enraged many of the team’s fans—who felt the GM who engineered the deal was an incompetent boob.

Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Normally I wouldn’t want to name a player who missed a quarter of his team’s games the MVP. But I will make an exception for Sam Bradford. Acquired for first-round and fourth-round picks eight days before opening day, Bradford sat out the opener (the Vikings got two defensive touchdowns and won by nine at Tennessee) and started the next three Minnesota games.

In those three games, learning a new offense on the fly, Bradford has beaten quarterbacks who have played in four of the past nine Super Bowls, and in each game outplayed Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton and Eli Manning. Bradford has no turnovers. He has the best completion and passer rating, both by a mile, in his career.

The words “valuable” has always meant something to me with this award. Minnesota lost its three most important offensive players to injury in a two-week span in the summer: Bridgewater, Adrian Peterson and left tackle Matt Kalil. The season, justifiably, could have spiraled to hell. But an unwavering coach, Mike Zimmer, and an emerging star defense have held the fort.

And a quarterback the Rams gave away in 2015 and the Eagles gave away in 2016 has played the best three-game stretch of his pro career. The MVP, I think, should never be determined on numbers alone—though they help. The MVP should be about the player who means the most to a very good team, and without whom that team would be Just Another Team. And the Vikings would be 2-2 or maybe 3-1 with Shaun Hill playing quarterback right now.

Bradford has lifted the Vikings to a point where they believe that without their three leading men they can still win the Super Bowl. And there is tremendous value in that.

“What I’ve gone through has given me perspective I never have had—perspective I didn’t have when I was younger,” Bradford told me after the Green Bay win. “Last year, going through all that stuff in Philadelphia, I’m not sure I would have handled this well. You might not understand it at the time, but there’s always a reason. I just think it’s all part of God’s plan. I don’t worry about it.”

Then he said: “You think I should write a book about all of this?”

What would he say after the third win? On Monday Night Football, over a man with two Super Bowl rings and two Super Bowl MVPs, Eli Manning?

Hopefully, Bradford would say he belongs on a team playing for the biggest prize in the game, something he’s never had a chance to do. And something I feel confident he’ll have a chance to do this year.

Runners up for the MVP at the quarter pole, by the way:

2. Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles. The Rams are 3-1. Reason enough.

3. Trevor Siemian, QB, Denver. This is not a misprint.

4. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta. On fire for the past three weeks.

5. Derek Carr, QB, Oakland. The dawn of the next great Raider is at hand.