Twitter Talk
The Rams have added QB Case Keenum (Houston) off of waivers:
Rams claimed QB Case Keenum on waivers, per team official. Rams spent a lot time researching Keenum past 24 hours.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2014
In a related transaction - to free up roster room for Keenum - the Rams place Justice Cunningham on IR:
Rams place Justice Cunningham (ankle) on IR; that frees up spot for Keenum.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) September 1, 2014
And there it is...the practice squad is complete...no Michael Sam and no Greg Reid:
Rams complete practice squad by adding LB Denicos Allen, WR Emory Blake, S Christian Bryant, QB Garrett Gilbert. As expected, No Michale Sam
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) September 1, 2014
Michael Sam, after his release by the Rams:
I want to thank the entire Rams organization and the city of St. Louis for giving me this tremendous opportunity and allowing me to (1/2)
— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) August 30, 2014
show I can play at this level. I look forward to continuing to build on the progress I made here toward a long and successful career (2/2)
— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) August 30, 2014
It was close...but Robert Quinn made the final 53-man roster:
.@RQuinn94 congrats on making the team.
— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) August 30, 2014
The Rams and Michael Sam are parting ways:
Despite praise from Fisher, the Rams will not sign Michael Sam to their practice squad http://t.co/BiGJdoRQ4K
— TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) September 1, 2014
Rams Complete Practice Squad: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
It took the Rams some time on Monday to get the final 4 spots on practice squad figured out. QB Garrett Gilbert, LB Denicos Allen, S Christian Bryant, and WR Emory Blake have all been added to the PS.
2014 NFL Preview: The Top-Heavy NFL West: FiveThirtyEight
Chase Stuart previews the NFC West. The Rams are projected to win 6-7 games this coming season.
Who is the best backup quarterback ever?: Football Perspective
Rams QB Shaun Hill ranks as the 15th best backup QB in NFL history, according to FP's statistical analysis.
Ranking NFL Teams By Age: Philly.com
In case you missed it in yesterday's article for Turf Show Times, the Rams - for the third consecutive year - rank as the youngest team in the NFL.
The 10 best defensive teams in the NFL: Sports Illustrated - Fansided
All four NFC West teams make the top-ten defensive ranking. The Rams are ranked No. 7 overall.
Rookie Highlight Reel: RB - Trey Watts
Rams Look Like Eight-Win Team As Opener Approaches: 101 ESPN
Can the Rams overcome the loss of QB Sam Bradford, and finish the season with a winning record?
NFL Roster Cuts Tracker: Down To 53: NFL.com
A complete list of the players who were released before the Saturday deadline, for reducing rosters to the 53-man limit.
The Rams and First Round Linemen: Football Perspective
The Rams won't set the record for most starting linemen who were former first round selections. But they're close to the record shared by the 1976 Los Angeles Rams.
Here's how Rams can have a winning season: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Bernie Miklasz shares his thoughts on how the Rams can rise above the .500 mark this coming season.
Stat Facts Of The Week: Team Rushing Play Percentage
Rank
|
Team
|
2013
|
1
|
|
52.71%
|
2
|
|
52.23%
|
3
|
|
48.92%
|
4
|
|
48.33%
|
5
|
|
48.20%
|
6
|
|
47.03%
|
7
|
|
46.66%
|
8
|
|
44.77%
|
9
|
|
44.01%
|
10
|
|
43.66%
|
11
|
|
43.17%
|
12
|
|
43.03%
|
13
|
|
42.81%
|
14
|
|
42.69%
|
15
|
|
42.07%
|
16
|
|
41.76%
|
17
|
|
40.92%
|
18
|
|
40.69%
|
19
|
|
40.38%
|
20
|
|
40.32%
|
21
|
|
39.88%
|
22
|
|
38.94%
|
23
|
|
38.81%
|
24
|
|
38.56%
|
25
|
|
38.51%
|
26
|
|
38.02%
|
27
|
|
37.22%
|
28
|
|
36.96%
|
29
|
|
35.11%
|
30
|
|
34.80%
|
31
|
|
32.28%
|
32
|
|
31.35%
|
The Rams ranked 9'th in rushing play percentage for the 2013 season. With the loss of Sam Bradford - and the emphasis on the power-running game this season - expect the percentage of rushing plays to rise. Division rivals Seattle and San Francisco ranked 1-2 in rushing play percentage for the 2013 season.
Sam Bradford
Sam Bradford is still a legend: Sports On Earth
The Day The Rams' Season Imploded: Grantland
Bradford's Injury Is A Turning Point: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The Emotional Injury Of Bradford's Torn ACL: 101 ESPN
Four different takes on Sam Bradford's injury, career, and future with the Rams.
The It Factor: Grantland
We've all heard the expression. It's an intangible, elusive trait found in the NFL.
"What on earth is an It Factor? Where did it come from? And does it actually tell us anything about an NFL player’s chances of succeeding?"
10 NFL Numbers To Remember: Sports On Earth
The most important numbers to remember for Rams fans: Robert Quinn is one of only 4 NFL players to notch a 19-sack season before their 24'th birthday.
Remembering Marshall Faulk
A 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Faulk remains one of the greatest players to ever don a Rams jersey. Faulk will always be remembered for his stellar seasons as part of the famed GSOT. The following video is a tribute, to one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.
Roster moves may not be done: ESPN NFL Nation
The Rams trimmed the roster to 53 on Saturday. The roster could change in the next few days:
"We got to 53 (players), as everybody else has," Fisher said Saturday. "I can’t say that we’re done. We’re no different than any other team in the league. We’re going to watch the wire and see if it’s at all possible for us to upgrade our football team over the next couple of days."
2014 NFL Preview: ESPN
ESPN previews all 32 NFL teams. Nick Wagoner projects a 6-10 record for the Rams this season.
Grading the Rams' 2014 draft picks after the preseason: Rant Sports NFL
I pretty much disagree with each of these grades. Practically all of them are too low.
Rams go with 2 QB's for now: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The Rams are in no hurry to add a third QB to the team. As Jeff Fisher noted:
"We’re going to apply patience to this situation."
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: CBS Sports
Jamey Eisenberg and Dave Richard share their latest fantasy football rankings.
On This Day In Sports History
1937 - The 4th NFL Chicago All-Star Game is played. The All-Stars defeat Green Bay 6-0. Attendance: 84,560.
1996 - The Baltimore Ravens play their first NFL game, defeating the Oakland Raiders 17-14.
Rams taking talent to another level this season: 101 ESPN
Can the Rams compete for a playoff berth this coming season? They might just have the talent to pull it off.
Michael Sam has a spot in history, if not with the Rams: New York Times
"Will Sam’s journey continue in the N.F.L. or will teams breathe a sigh of relief; say, "Glad that’s over"; and move on?"
Doctors Optimistic Sam Bradford Two Months Away From Beginning Work On Broadcasting Career: The Onion
A tongue-in-cheek look at QB Sam Bradford's future career prospects. On a more serious note, I wish Sam all the best in his recovery.
10 Rams questions, revisited: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Rams reporter Jim Thomas revisits ten questions he posed six weeks ago, at the beginning of training camp.
Practice squad might not have room for Sam: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
As of Sunday night, the Rams still have four openings on the practice squad that will be filled. With needs at LB, QB, the secondary, and the OLine, there likely isn't room on the practice squad for Michael Sam.
The NFL's Uneven History Of Punishing Domestic Violence: FiveThirtyEight
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took a lot of heat for the 2-game suspension handed down to Ray Rice. Last Thursday, the NFL announced a new discipline policy:
"The baseline suspension is now six games, assuming Goodell doesn’t reduce it because of "mitigating factors." That means any domestic violence suspension going forward will double the previous record for any domestic violence punishment. The NFL will now take it more seriously when a player beats a woman than when he’s caught smoking a joint."
The Pressers
Jeff Fisher Press Conference - August 30: St. Louis Rams Official Website
Jeff Fisher Press Conference - August 29: St. Louis Rams Official Website
Michael Sam wasn't a distraction, and showed he could play in this league:
St. Louis Rams Weekly Salary "Re-Cap"
The Rams currently have $1,748,376 in available salary cap space, lowest in the league. I will be publishing a complete salary cap update within the next week.
St. Louis Rams' Current Roster And Depth Chart
C Scott Wells Tim Barnes RG Rodger Saffold Davin Joseph LG Greg Robinson Barrett Jones RT Joe Barksdale LT Jake Long Mike Person TE Jared Cook Alex Bayer TE Lance Kendricks Cory Harkey WR Tavon Austin WR Brian Quick Austin Pettis WR Kenny Britt Chris Givens RB Benny Cunningham Chase Reynolds Trey Watts RB Zac Stacy Tre Mason QB Shaun Hill Austin Davis Case Keenum PK Greg Zuerlein P John Hekker LS Jake McQuaide DT Kendall Langford Aaron Donald DT Michael Brockers Alex Carrington DE Chris Long Eugene Sims DE Robert Quinn William Hayes Ethan Westbrooks MLB James Laurinaitis OLB Alec Ogletree Daren Bates OLB Jo-Lonn Dunbar Ray Ray Armstrong CB Janoris Jenkins Brandon McGee CB Trumaine Johnson Marcus Roberson CB Lamarcus Joyner E.J. Gaines S Rodney McLeod Maurice Alexander S T.J. McDonald Cody Davis Practice Squad Reserve/Suspended Injured Reserve OT Sean Hooey WR Stedman Bailey TE Mason Brodine OL Brandon Washington RB Isaiah Pead DT Matt Conrath QB Sam Bradford WR Justin Veltung OC Demetrius Rhaney LB Kevin Reddick TE Justice Cuuningham SS Matt Daniels QB Garrett Gilbert WR Emory Blake LB Denicos Allen FS Christian Bryant
The roster has now been updated to include all transactions as of 5.00 pm, September 1.
Blast From The Past: Classic Rock Monday: Led Zeppelin - What Is And What Should Never Be
Please have a great Monday and a Ramtastic week!!