I hope this week has been moving by swimmingly for you. That post Super Bowl glow should be fading by now, unless you are Bill Belichick? Of course, as fans of the Rams, the big show is normally catching a glimpse of the team on ESPN, showing a highlight of the opposing offense.
So let's make that better. How about two straight months of our very own community mock? Continue on to see the schedule.
Cliff Avril, a defensive end with the Detroit Lions is perhaps one of the most underrated Free Agents out there. As a standout for the Lions for the past four years, Cliff has recorded 30 sacks. His 6’3" 252 lbs frame is certainly stout enough to handle the role of a rushing or coverage linebacker. The Purdue product had a great college career, starting in 35 contests out of 49, 12 of those starts coming in at strong-side linebacker
One could make the case, and Avril has said himself, that he would be willing to play outside linebacker. He was the top performer at the combine in the 3-cone drill, which measures a player’s burst and ability to switch directions quickly. He also was a top performer in the vertical leap. Can anyone say batted passes? Cliff Avril entered the league the same year our own Chris Long came aboard, and he out performed him. In Cliff’s rookie year he tied for the rookie lead of 5 sacks, following on with 5.5, 8.5, and 11 sacks in 2009, 2010, and 2011 respectively. He has also been a solid tackler on a defense dominated by Suh, with 23, 41, 33, and 36 tackle from 2008-2011.
His health is another high point having only missed 6 games over 4 years. Avril comes from a team who plays indoors, and he excels there, with 26 of his 36 tackles coming under a dome in 2011. Another awesome stat is that Avril has managed to lock up offenses where it counts, on 3rd and 4th down. In 2011 Avril had 26 tackles on 3rd and 4th downs, 12 of them solo, along with 4 of his sacks on those downs.
Time to pay the bills, yo.
Have you ever watched one of those TV shows where from thousands of hopefuls, one star is born? Well, TST readers, here's your chance to play "starmaker" and help pick the new voice of sports in social media!
XFINITY is looking for the next renowned sports social media star through its Ultimate Sports Social Media Job contest. The winning candidate will serve as the new voice of XFINITY in the sports social media space and go behind-the-scenes at some of the biggest sporting events in 2012, sharing exclusive insights and updates with fans.
From February 9-19, you can review qualified entry videos and vote for the contestant you'd like to see advance to the finals of the XFINITY Ultimate Sports Social Media Job contest. The five entrants with the most votes will advance to the final round of the contest where they will cover one of five premier sporting events the weekend of March 8-11. Fans can head today to Facebook.com/XFINITY and click on the Ultimate Sports Social Media Job contest tab to vote for your favorite personality (once per day)!
Will you choose the brainiac with the encyclopedia of stats, the former jock who knows the game inside out, or the corporate type who gets the marketing side of the business? You decide. Vote today at Facebook.com/XFINITY!
I'm old enough that when I see the letters "CB" used together to conjure up the song "Convoy" in my head. Of course, here it refers to cornerbacks, those pricey, oft-injured defenders tasked with locking down receivers. The release of Oakland Raiders CB Stanford Routt will have, is already having, a direct impact on the free agent market for CBs and potential ripples that will effect the St. Louis Rams.
Sort of like when the Rubber Duck decides to go a-huntin' bear. Or something like that ...
Good morning!! Let's just skip the usual BS and get right to the links today. Also, sorry for the lack of links lately. The post Super Bowl and Pre Combine is a huge dead period for NFL news.
Rams down to 2 or 3 candidates for GM
According to Steve Wyche of NFL.com, the Rams have narrowed down their GM candidates to 2 or 3 finalist. Ryan had a recap of the possible finalist last night. It's safe to assume that the Rams will have a new GM in place very, very soon.
Chargers will try to resign Vincent Jackson
Jackson, who has been rumored to be of interested to the Rams, may not hit the free agent market after all. Michael Lombardi also says that VJax's preference is to stay in San Diego. He also said that the Chargers are unlikely to franchise him. He'll still likely hit the open market, but the Chargers will be just one of the many players for him.
Could Jerome Murphy have a big impact in 2012?
Now I know the Bleacher Report is usually shit, but Shane Gray is a very good quality writer covering the Rams. He actually takes the time to use correct spelling of all things and he also puts actual thought into his articles! Anyways, enough ripping on BR, read his excelling post about Murphy.
That's all for today!! Have a good one and GO RAMS!!
For as long as I can remember, the tight end position has been an Achilles’ heel for the Rams. Why is it so difficult to find someone who can block, catch and … oh yeah, stay on the field? Every year the team makes an attempt to fill the void, yet results are never good.
Enter John Carlson, an NFC West rival who seems to possess all the tools of a typical "safety net" TE. During his first three years as a Seahawk, he became a regular "Red Zone" threat and a pain in defensive coordinators’ rear ends, accumulating over 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns. Were it not for a season ending shoulder injury in last year’s preseason, his stats may be greater.
Carlson appeared to fade off in Pete Carroll’s first year with the team, although he did catch two touchdowns during Seattle’s upset romp of the Saints in the playoffs. One has to assume that the young TE doesn’t figure into Seattle’s long-term plans, having recently signed Zach Miller to a lucrative five-year deal. He may also be a miscast in Carroll’s enigmatic offensive, when you figure that Miller totaled only 233 yards and no touchdowns in all of 2011.
If Lance Kendricks is the future of the Rams TE’s, he needs some guidance to get there. And if Bajema and "UhOh" are indeed goners, the Rams need a proven blocker to line up off tackle.
The St. Louis Rams may be close to landing their new general manager, according to Steve Wyche of the NFL Network. Owner Stan Kroenke will be weighing on the final decision soon, rounding out the team's new leadersip troika with head coach Jeff Fisher and COO Kevin Demoff.
Wyche reports that the team is down to "two or three" candidates for the position, citing a team source. They plan to parade those finalists in front of Kroenke in the coming days and have a GM hired next week sometime.
As far as who those finalists might be, that remains to be seen. Vikings personnel exec George Paton is the only candidate known to have interviewed twice since the Fisher hiring became official. Les Snead of the Falcons has interviewed twice as well, once prior to Fisher's hiring. Others to have interviewed include Tom Gamble of the 49ers and Steve Keim of the Cardinals.
The Rams requested permission to interview Steelers director of administration Omar Khan, who has been busy in his job restructuring player contracts and clearing cap room. Khan differs from the other candidates in that he does not come from the personnel side; he's a cap guy.
Reports as to whether or not the Rams were granted permission to talk to Khan differ. Tony Softli reported that they had received permission to talk to Khan, but a later report from the Pittsburgh Tribune said that the Rams had still not received permission to talk to him. The Steelers might be reluctant to let him go given their dicey cap situation and pressing needs on the roster. If the Rams GM does not have control, even just as a formality, the Steelers or any other teams do not have to grant permission.
Wide receiver, wide receiver, wide receiver... It seems to be the the #1 need among Rams fans? This year's free agent crop actually has a fairly rich of talented pass catching stars. One of the free agents that will garner a ton of attention is New Orleans Saints receiver Marques Colston. Stephen Corkran of the Contra Costa Times thinks Colston may be at the top of the Raiders shopping list? Would he be the guy to fill the Rams need at wide receiver? He has the stats (see after the break) to make a valid case for pursuing him, but what would he cost? Word today that the Rams are shopping for a "CAP Guru" in the form of Omar Khan may signal that the Rams are thinking of making a serious move in free agency this year.
The Saints have some serious spending to do this year if they plan to keep their powerful offense intact. Drew Brees' new contract is going to cost a pretty penny. They have some tough choices ahead. Will Colston be a luxury they decide they can do without?
