Tag Archives: St. Louis Rams
Next in line: 5 teams Los Angeles should court next
Yesterday it was announced that the Minnesota Vikings are staying in Minnesota for good. The Minnesota Legislator passed a Bill toward a new stadium and Vikings fans can now rejoice and celebrate the biggest win in Franchise history.
Kurt Warner: Past NFL greats
As a St. Louis Rams fan I was used to mediocrity in the eighties and nineties. I was used to ending up behind the San Francisco 49ers in the division.
The Rams acquisition of free agent, Trent Green, in 1998 changed the fate of the franchise. Joined with incredibly fast receivers combined with a QB that was reported to be top shelf left the Rams confidently marching into the 1999 season.
The third week of the preseason, in a game against the San Diego Chargers, Green had his ACL ripped – done for the season. Head coach Dick Vermeil sent Kurt Eugene Warner on to the field.
2012 NFL draft: Forget No. 6, the 2nd round is key for Rams
The St. Louis Rams stunning and franchise-changing draft trade with the Washington Redskins has left a few simple choices with the No. 6 pick that they now own. Ideally Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State, will be available and the Rams pick up a valuable target for QB Sam Bradford. If not, then it means the five previous teams selecting before them did not pick up one of the following – allowing the presumption that Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III go one and two:
St. Louis Rams will fill needs by selecting Blackmon and Worthy
If the St. Louis Rams plan on contending in the NFC West they must surround Sam Bradford with talent and there is no better wide receiver than Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon.
The Rams have a huge need at wide receiver. Last season they desperately brought Brandon Lloyd in for fourth round pick but he quickly left and signed with the Patriots this off season.
Some members of the media may want to say Blackmon isn’t the total package and isn’t on the same level as a marquee player such as Calvin Johnson, but I beg to differ.
I believe Blackmon is one of the best players in the 2012 NFL draft and by adding a dynamic wide out like him the Rams could have a solid one-two punch along with running back Steven Jackson.
After the Rams lock up Blackmon another need is defensive tackle and there are plenty to choose from.
2012 NFL draft: Possible selections for the St. Louis Rams
By trading back the St. Louis Rams have a chance to have one of the strongest drafts in team history, but they can’t afford to miss.
The level of confidence they have shown in quarterback Sam Bradford after a sub par, injury filled 2011 season is somewhat questionable. Especially when Robert Griffin and Andrew Luck were there for the taking.
The Rams must find a way to compliment Steven Jackson and become more explosive on offense. There is no better way to do that than to add Justin Blackmon who is possibly the best wide receiver in the draft.
Torry Holt to retire as a Ram
Insiders are saying that one of the greatest receivers in St. Louis Rams history is temporarily leaving his job as an NFL Network Analyst to sign a one year contract with the St. Louis Rams; a contract he is expected to retire from within days of signing, allowing him to forever be a Ram.
The Rams begin free agency offensively – on defense
The first 24 hours of Free Agency have seen the St. Louis Rams nab one of the best cornerbacks in the league from the Titans, Jeff Fisher’s former pupil Cortland Finnegan. Finnegan, 28, is considered one of the best corners in the league and young enough to still have some years in him. Finnegan’s five-year contract is reportedly in the neighborhood of $50 million with $26.5 of that guaranteed.
2012 NFL mock draft: First round
After teasing you with my divisional mock draft tour, I now present to you the full 32 team first round mock. This will be the first of about 3 or 4 mock drafts I will do leading up to Thursday Night April 26th when the 2012 NFL Draft gets under way.
Rams like Richardson at 6: Steven Jackson out in St. Louis?
In one of the biggest steals in NFL history the St. Louis Rams pulled of a blockbuster trade with the Washington Redskins last week. The Rams exchanged their No. 2 pick in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft for Washington’s No. 6 overall pick.
2012 NFL Mock Draft: NFC West edition
A year after the NFC West gave the NFL a 7-9 playoff team thanks to the Seattle Seahawks, the NFC West in 2011 was much improved and had a shot at getting two teams in the playoffs.
Redskins strike a deal with Rams for second pick in NFL draft
The Washington Redskins search for a quarterback is over as they will move up to the number two pick in the 2012 NFL draft.
Out of the ashes: The St. Louis Rams
As the players sun themselves in Cancun, the offseason for the St. Louis Rams is wide open. While those players order margaritas, new arrivals Jeff Fisher at head coach and general manager Les Snead are in the war room, juggling their options for April’s draft as well as shopping lists in the free agency market. Rams Nation exhaled deeply after the regular season and immediately turned to the front office, demanding to know what is next. The front office responded by bringing in a highly sought after head coach Fisher, whom then wooed Snead away from 13 years with the Atlanta Falcons, and the two in concert have a lot of resources and seem dedicated to bringing about desperately needed positive change to the Rams franchise.
Let’s start with free agency. Free agency for the Rams starts with the fact that they are $40 million under the cap; so Fisher and Snead have money to play with. It also begins with resigning Brandon Lloyd, who proved to be a valuable commodity for the Rams offense;Bradford’s favorite and most productive target when Bradford was healthy and throwing the ball. Other possibilities at WR include Vincent Jackson from the San Diego Chargers and DeSean Jackson from the Philadelphia Eagles; both are game changers but also both have ‘Den Mothers’ who would like to keep them – but then again , note that $40 million to play with.
In keeping with the Rams’ needs, Carl Nicks, OG for the Saints is potentially up for grabs at an expensive price tag – one the Saints may not be able to maintain after they signed OG Jahri Evans to a huge deal in 2010 – chances are they can’t keep both. Also out there is Demetrius Bell from Buffalo at OT who despite an injury last season could come back healthy and potentially be a blind side threat reducer. Both are players that again are not wanted to be let go by their current squads but given the restraints of salary caps and NFL regulations, as well as the Rams wealth in this area, the possibilities do exist.
And now for the draft. The Rams with the 2nd pick of the draft have a lot to play with – much depending on the results from the 2012 NFL Combine. Many believe that it would be foolish for the Rams to not trade that pick away, most likely to the Cleveland Browns for their No. 4 and No. 22 picks. Going back to the combine, and given a for gone conclusion that Andrew Luck will go first overall to the Indianapolis Colts, there are many teams – like The Browns – that would trade up for a chance at Heisman winner Robert Griffin III. As ESPN Draft Analyst Todd McShay put it:
“I would do it,” McShay said of the Browns trading their two first-round picks. “I wouldn’t do it for any other position, but I would do it for quarterback.”
If the Browns were to do this that leaves the Rams wit the easy ability to pick up USC LT Matt Kalil or Oklahoma WR Justin Blackmon with the 4th pick and then virtually have their way with the 22nd pick – perhaps Louisiana State CB Morris Claiborne if he is still available.
Bottom line is that both Snead and Fisher have already stated that they believe in Bradford at QB, despite last season. Which opens up this years draft and offseason as a playground for the Rams; if Fisher can tame the talent about to come in, the Rams could easily change the face of an emerging NFC West.
Brent Bakeman is an NFL writer for The Penalty Flag. He can be contacted at BBakeman@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com
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