Los Angeles Rams General Manager Les Snead has his groove back

Like a 40-something year old stockbroker who fell in love with a 20-something year old hunk ala Taye Diggs, Los Angeles Rams General Manager Les Snead has his groove back. It wasn’t through a tall drink like Diggs. Instead, it was with the presence of 30-something hottie from lead casting Sean McVay.

Snead used to be the man in charge back when he was in a relationship with a player’s-coach who was more talented in the player department than he was coaching an entire team part. It was a relatively okay relationship. They seemed to work well together, and even managed a few trades. But aside from screwing Washington (Which is so easy to do, even they screw themselves), Snead’s most known for being a GM in name only.

For instance, under Snead’s watch, the Rams allowed a few of their most talented homegrown talents to walk to greener pastures in free agency: CB Janoris Jenkins and S Rodney McLeod. He did, however, manage to keep (or at least delay losing) CB Trumaine Johnson for a few years by tagging him to death. They drafted and then kept Brian Quick for a time. Who should the Rams get in the offseason to make sure they don’t come to LA with a pile of dirty diapers as an offensive line? Ah, no one—got to keep that consistent pile of shit intact for the No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff to get murdered for the last seven weeks of the season. The Rams extended Tavon Austin’s contract based on how impressive he was at existing on the roster and piling up unfounded preseason hopes. Meanwhile, the best player the Rams have drafted in forever—Aaron Donald—remained without an extension of his own.

Suffice to say, his resume heading into the 2017 preseason was hardly impressive. After the 2016 season, I wrote off Snead as a head that would roll with Jeff Fisher’s. But McVay’s influence, we learned, doesn’t end in the locker room. Everything McVay touches turns to gold. He saved Goff’s early career. He legitimized RB Todd Gurley as a superstar. He made the offense No. 1. He did the same thing in Washington, where Dan Snyder owns the team. Snyder could let a pet rock die he’s so stupid. Yet McVay’s greatness defied him.

Now, I’m a blogger so I can’t write based off of sources. I have also not heard back from anyone in the Rams media office via LinkedIn messenger about gaining credentials to ask Snead or McVay myself, so I will go off what famous bloggers like Alex Jones and my mom go off of—guessing.

Was Snead’s groove returning correlated to the arrival of Snead? I guess so. Since McVay got here, the Rams signed two veteran offensive linemen who have helped the line become a line and not a revolving door (sure, an offensive line coach may or may not have helped).

After McVay came to LA, the Rams also got rid of CB E.J. Gaines and received WR Sammy Watkins. They signed OLB Connor Barwin, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, CB Kayvon Webster and WR Robert Woods. The 2017 NFL Draft brought TE Gerald Everett, S John Johnson and WR Cooper Kupp—and those are just the guys who played right away.

The most recent trade solidified Snead’s return: CB Marcus Peters for a second-round draft pick (2019) and a fourth-round draft pick (2018). Peters also has a fifth-year option in that rookie contract. Basically, the Rams got Peters and Snead gave them a backup WR from UCLA and a rotational defensive end from Texas Tech. I can live with that.

The Rams’ front office—specifically Snead and oldest-looking-9-year-old Kevin Demoff (who sucks)—is finally operating like they know how to win. For years, we’ve heard the “we want to win” mentality for years. Yet, for years, the Rams thought wanting to win was killing QB Sam Bradford and letting Gregg Williams have the house keys without any supervision...or demands.

Now, it’s different. We have a GM with a groove, a head coach with brains and beauty, and future filled with actual hope; not hope that was pinned on not finishing fourth in the division last year.