It's Friday folks. The first week of training camp is in the books, and boy howdy has the media coverage on this one been top notch so far. Turf Show Times has run a position preview that is worth a gander, especially if you are just getting started with your football fandom for this year. Also, Ryan is constantly updating the site with in-person updates from those in attendance using Twitter. I have to say that so far this year I feel as connected to training camp as a lobster to his tail. In just 10 short days the St. Louis Rams will face off against the Indianapolis Colts in their first preseason game. Fans will get to observe all the new additions to the team in live action, and critique those guys on the bubble looking to earn a roster spot. Rams fans will also get a taste of the new look offense offered up by Brian Schottenheimer and the retooled defense a la Greg Williams via his proxy coaches in Chuck Cecil, Dave McGinnis, and Blake Williams. This year will surely be interesting with no designated coach for the defense.
Let's take a spin around the NFC West:
Braylon Lands in Seattle
It seems the Seattle Seahawks are not happy with where they stand in regard to the wide receiver position. They went out this week and grabbed Braylon Edwards, the former promising receiver originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns. This makes his second team within the division, having played sparingly and oft-injured with the San Fransico 49ers last season. Pete Carrol wasn't happy with just signing Antonio Bryant this off season. He wanted to give Edwards another shot after the team decided not to sign him earlier in the off season.This would appear on the surface to be a depth move, but it sure smells of desperation to me.
Hall of Fame
The Arizona Cardinals kick off the preseason with the Hall of Fame Game against the New Orleans Saints. Look for the running back position to be the position of interest through out this game. The back up guys really get a chance to shine with Beanie Wells and LaRod Stephens-Howling still recovering from injuries. Look for Alfonso Smith, Thomas Clayton, and William Powell to get all the carries. Wells and Stephens-Howling should be ready for the season opener.
Red Zone No Zone
The San Francisco 49ers may have made the playoffs last year, but what they didn't make were touchdowns from the red zone. The team ranked 30th in the red zone last year, and set a record for field goal attempts and field goal makes. Expect to see some of the old man himself, Randy Moss in the preseason. With a year off Moss still has to prove himself, and with his shiftiness and catch radius, he should help improve the woes in the City by the Bay.
Long is in for the Long Haul
Perhaps the biggest news coming out of St. Louis this week was the signing of star defensive end Chris Long. He signed a contract extension that will keep him in town for the next four years and pay him $58 million. Getting Long at this price was a heck of a deal for the Rams. To look back in history, Howie Long was due a salary of $9 million when he held out during the 1990 off season. He was 30 years old. Wow!
Mughelli the Road Grader
Former Atlanta Falcon Ovie Mughelli signed with the Rams this week. With Schotty's offensive scheme and Jeff Fisher's history, look for the Rams to be one of only a handful of teams to run a lot of plays with a true fullback paving the way. At 6'1" and a whopping 260 lbs., Ovie will definitely be putting the hurt on opposing defenders. Having spent his career in Baltimore and Atlanta, he is another veteran this front office has brought in that has experienced winning; something that will help our beleaguered team along during rough times.
Randomness:
Seriously Ocho? Seriously? The self proclaimed Future-Hall-of-Famer states that he will do the dirty in front of the camera if the Miami Dolphins cut him. Really Ocho?
Keep Swimming
Michael Phelps went ahead and made it a solid 20 medals in the Olympics, beating teammate Ryan Lochte in the 200M individual medley. Have you ever swam 100 meters? Did you reach that distance without stopping? Hats off to these guys and what they can do in the pool. Freaking Dolphins Man!
Pants on the Ground
A man was kindly asked to leave a Chicago plane bound for Orlando Florida due to his refusal to pull up his pants. Apparently wearing your pants below your buttocks is not ok on Spirit Airways. Come on man! Sagg'in isn't allowed? Reminded me of this:
And this:
Man that was a magical season for the Vikings wasn't it?
DC, here you go. I'm out.