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Twitter Talk
Good news for the Rams. Let's hope he can stay healthy and productive for a full season:
Got cleared to play. Now on to the 2016 season #RamsNation
— Rodger Saffold (@Rodger_Saffold) March 11, 2016
Were the Rams guilty of this over the last year?:
There aren't enough @nfl teams that lock their guys up early. If someone has been in ur building for 3 years & ur unsure, ur not qualified
— Blake Baratz (@blakebaratz) March 11, 2016
Winners, losers from NFL free agency's first week: NFL.com
The Rams' secondary were big winners in the past two weeks, with Rodney McLeod, Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson and Mark Barron all signing lucrative deals. As Gregg Rosenthal notes:
"Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams makes people money."
2016 NFL Mock Draft: Walter Football
Walt updates his 5 round mock draft. The Rams select DE Kevin Dodd in the first round, DE Noah Spence and TE Hunter Henry in the second round, DL Chris Jones in the third round and CB Kevon Seymour in the fourth round. I highly doubt the Rams will be selecting 3 DL with their first four picks.
Why the Los Angeles Rams must spend wisely this offseason: isportsweb
Negotiations on long-term contracts are coming up in the next two years with many Rams core players: Trumaine Johnson, Michael Brockers, Tavon Austin, Alec Ogletree, Aaron Donald and Tim McDonald Jr. The Rams are wisely watching how they spend their dollars this year in anticipation of what is needed over the next couple of years.
Rams still can find free agent bargains: ESPN NFL Nation
Will the Rams be on the hunt for bargains in Free Agency in the coming weeks, similar to last year when they signed Nick Fairley and Akeem Ayers?
Draft Prospect Highlight Reel: CB - Eli Apple - Ohio State
NFLPA tells agents to reject "inappropriate" language in Rams contracts: Pro Football Talk
It appears as though Kevin Demoff likes more than just palindromes in Rams contracts. He likes the contracts to be controlled by Missouri law, not California law at this time. A much bigger issue was made out of this than needed to be, in my estimation. Mike Florio strikes again:
"It’s a gutsy move by the Rams, for a variety of reasons. Apart from trying to keep workers’ compensation claims out of a forum that universally is regarded as grossly pro-employee, the Rams hope to impose burdens on the administrative mechanisms of the state they have now abandoned."
But it was cleared up pretty quickly:
FYI on #Rams contract language: Once Rams relocate to L.A. all contracts will fall under California Workers Comp jurisdiction 1/2
— Vincent Bonsignore (@DailyNewsVinny) March 12, 2016
2/2 #Rams did contracts that way so player bonus $ in March earned in Missouri, which comes with a 7% savings (to player) on state tax
— Vincent Bonsignore (@DailyNewsVinny) March 12, 2016
Rams concede California law will apply to contracts after move is finalized: Pro Football Talk
A day later (Sunday), Mike Florio retreats quite a bit (surprise!) from his initial article the day before (one which caused quite the furor on TST on Saturday). The only real lesson to be learned from all of this:
"...maybe improved communication between the Rams and the NFLPA could have helped this issue from becoming a thing."
Rams say fix to contract issue has been negotiated with agents: Pro Football Talk
Mike Florio finishes the cycle by retreating completely. Turns out the whole weekend fiasco was really much ado about nothing. As Kevin Demoff noted:
"This really shouldn’t have been an issue given that all involved also believe that all of the contracts signed in previous years transfer to California as well. If that position was assumed by both the team and the agents, then it only logically follows that any contracts signed this offseason would transfer as well."
What's next for Rams at quarterback: ESPN NFL Nation
Despite loads of speculation and rumors, I'll stick to what I said many, many weeks ago: the Rams will head into the 2016 season (for better or worse) with the three-headed monster of Keenum, Foles and Mannion.
Stat Facts Of The Week: Big Play Differential
| Rank | Team | Plays | Big Plays | Rush | Pass | Big Play % | BPA | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Seattle Seahawks | 1,035 | 93 | 61 | 32 | 8.99% | 51 | 42 |
| 4 | Carolina Panthers | 1,060 | 95 | 64 | 31 | 8.96% | 61 | 34 |
| 1 | Buffalo Bills | 1,016 | 102 | 70 | 32 | 10.04% | 73 | 29 |
| 13 | Cincinnati Bengals | 1,004 | 77 | 46 | 31 | 7.67% | 52 | 25 |
| 2 | Minnesota Vikings | 973 | 91 | 64 | 27 | 9.35% | 72 | 19 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1,011 | 90 | 47 | 43 | 8.9% | 71 | 19 |
| 22 | Denver Broncos | 1,056 | 73 | 46 | 27 | 6.91% | 59 | 14 |
| 16 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1,017 | 76 | 50 | 26 | 7.47% | 64 | 12 |
| 6 | Kansas City Chiefs | 955 | 85 | 53 | 32 | 8.9% | 74 | 11 |
| 10 | Arizona Cardinals | 1,041 | 85 | 50 | 35 | 8.17% | 74 | 11 |
| 12 | New York Jets | 1,074 | 85 | 56 | 29 | 7.91% | 74 | 11 |
| 15 | New England Patriots | 1,050 | 79 | 40 | 39 | 7.52% | 73 | 6 |
| 26 | Baltimore Ravens | 1,083 | 70 | 38 | 32 | 6.46% | 64 | 6 |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | 1,056 | 92 | 53 | 39 | 8.71% | 88 | 4 |
| 9 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 1,012 | 83 | 44 | 39 | 8.2% | 80 | 3 |
| 8 | St. Louis Rams | 920 | 79 | 56 | 23 | 8.59% | 78 | 1 |
| 20 | Atlanta Falcons | 1,073 | 75 | 48 | 27 | 6.99% | 75 | 0 |
| 11 | San Francisco 49ers | 969 | 79 | 42 | 37 | 8.15% | 81 | -2 |
| 29 | Houston Texans | 1,127 | 71 | 43 | 28 | 6.3% | 73 | -2 |
| 23 | Philadelphia Eagles | 1,102 | 76 | 47 | 29 | 6.9% | 84 | -8 |
| 18 | Chicago Bears | 1,025 | 75 | 44 | 31 | 7.32% | 84 | -9 |
| 17 | Dallas Cowboys | 969 | 72 | 51 | 21 | 7.43% | 82 | -10 |
| 24 | Oakland Raiders | 1,008 | 67 | 33 | 34 | 6.65% | 77 | -10 |
| 21 | New York Giants | 1,053 | 73 | 39 | 34 | 6.93% | 86 | -13 |
| 14 | Miami Dolphins | 977 | 74 | 41 | 33 | 7.57% | 93 | -19 |
| 28 | Detroit Lions | 1,030 | 65 | 36 | 29 | 6.31% | 85 | -20 |
| 31 | Tennessee Titans | 976 | 59 | 33 | 26 | 6.05% | 80 | -21 |
| 25 | Indianapolis Colts | 1,052 | 70 | 37 | 33 | 6.65% | 93 | -23 |
| 19 | New Orleans Saints | 1,096 | 80 | 43 | 37 | 7.3% | 104 | -24 |
| 27 | Cleveland Browns | 1,042 | 66 | 40 | 26 | 6.33% | 90 | -24 |
| 30 | Washington Redskins | 1,011 | 63 | 32 | 31 | 6.23% | 93 | -30 |
| 32 | San Diego Chargers | 1,100 | 58 | 28 | 30 | 5.27% | 90 | -32 |
Big Play Differential is the difference between the number of big plays - running plays of 10+ yards plus passing plays of 25+ yards - an offense creates, and the number of big plays a defense allows. How important are big plays to a teams offense/defense? Last season, NFL teams averaged 0.8 points per drive without a big play, and 3.9 points per drive with at least one of them. The higher the big play +/- the better, as this shows the team more often generates big plays than gives them up.
For the 2015 regular season, the Rams ranked 16th in the league in Big Play Differential (+1), mostly thanks to the efforts of RB Todd Gurley, WR Tavon Austin and a stingy defense. The Rams were 7-2 in games with a positive Big Play Differential and 0-7 in games with a negative or even Big Play Differential. The Rams ran the fewest offensive plays in the NFL (920) and ranked 8th in the league in Big Play percentage (8.59%).
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Rams seem fine sticking with a QB group that threw 11 TD's last season: SB Nation NFL
The three-headed monster at the Rams' QB position is not an ideal situation by any means. Nonetheless, I've been stating for many weeks that the Rams will inevitably roll with what they've got through 2016. I've seen nothing materialize in the interim that would suggest otherwise.
Departed players who will be missed the most: NFL.com
James Laurinaitis makes Gil Brandt' s list of players who will be missed the most by their respective teams. Did the Rams make a mistake in releasing JL55?
On Free Agency, the Eagles and the truth about Brock: Sports Illustrated - MMQB
Peter King takes us through the week that was in the NFL.
NFL Free Agency Grades: CBS Sports
Pete Prisco hands out his grades for the first week of Free Agency. The Rams earn a "C" for the week.
The best of the rest: NFL.com
Who are the best players left on the market after the first frenzied week of Free Agency?
Rams to play international games the next three seasons: Los Angeles Times
Stan Kroenke is spreading the Rams' brand around the globe.
On This Day In Sports History
1978 - The NFL permanently adds a 7th official (side judge).
1967 - In the first NFL/AFL common draft, the Baltimore Colts select DE Bubba Smith.
Los Angeles Rams Weekly Salary "Re-Cap"
I haven't finalized the figures for two Rams signings of the past week (Cody Davis and Eugene Sims); nonetheless, the Rams have approximately $12.5 million in available salary cap space remaining (with all additional 2016 financial obligations taken into consideration) heading into the second week of Free Agency.
Los Angeles Rams Current Roster & Depth Chart
C Tim Barnes Demetrius Rhaney Eric Kush RG Jamon Brown Cody Wichmann Brian Folkerts LG Rodger Saffold Garrett Reynolds David Arkin RT Rob Havenstein Andrew Donnal LT Greg Robinson Darrell Williams Isaiah Battle TE Lance Kendricks Justice Cunningham WR Tavon Austin Stedman Bailey Kain Colter WR Kenny Britt Nick Toon Isiah Ferguson WR Brian Quick Bradley Marquez Deon Long RB Tre Mason Trey Watts Malcolm Brown RB Todd Gurley Benny Cunningham Zach Laskey QB Case Keenum Nick Foles Sean Mannion PK P John Hekker LS Jake McQuaide DT Aaron Donald Doug Worthington Louis Trinca-Pasast DT Michael Brockers Ethan Westbrooks DE William Hayes Eugene Sims DE Robert Quinn Matt Longacre MLB Alec Ogletree Bryce Hager OLB Mark Barron Zack Hodges Matthew Wells OLB Akeem Ayers Cameron Lynch CB E.J. Gaines Marcus Roberson Eric Patterson CB Trumaine Johnson Lamarcus Joyner Troy Hill SS Tim McDonald Jr. Maurice Alexander FS Cody Davis Christian Bryant 62 Players Total