The only bright spot in Sunday’s loss: St. Louis Rams WR Chris Givens (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

Not that the 3-4 Rams were high flying going to London but if there ever was a wake up game for the Rams, this was it. Expectations were a bit higher than they probably should have been considering the Rams played the Packers close last week.

I was expecting a close game. I didn’t think they would win but I at least thought they’d keep it close and the Patriots would win in at the end.

But it wasn’t even close. The Rams crash and burned in Wembley Stadium in front of 84,000 plus NFL fans.

The game started out beautifully with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Sam Bradford to rookie wide receiver Chris Givens. That was Givens‘ fifth consecutive 50+ yard reception. Boom. Just like that the Rams had the lead on New England 0-7.

That lead lasted all of 4 minutes and 35 seconds. Tom Brady threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to former Rams wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and the Patriots never looked back.

» Continue reading “Mayday Mayday, Rams Wrecked At Wembley 45-7″

Week 8 is finally here and honestly I’m not sure how I feel about it. Kind of a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, like many other local St. Louis fans, I’m upset that we’ve lost a home game and the advantages that come along with playing in the Edward Jones Dome. It also would have been nice to watch certain New England Patriots play in person. Of course I’m talking about Danny Woodhead. Who else?

On the other hand, what a great opportunity for the Rams fans in the UK and abroad. I have many tweeps in the UK that are just thrilled to be able to see their cherished team in the flesh. Some have been counting down the days and hours since the announcements were made January 2012.

Here is a long time Rams UK tweep @PFF_RossMiles. See the joy on his face. Almost makes it worth losing that home game. Almost…

St. Louis Rams great Torry Holt and Ross Miles (Ross’ personal photo.)

Ultimately, this weekend is about the match up between your beloved Rams and the New England Patriots. If my research is correct, quarterback Tom Brady is the only remaining Patriot from that Super Bowl XXXVI squad. But I digress.

Five Things I’ll be watching for in Week 8

1) Can Rams quarterback Sam Bradford live up to the pre-grame hype?

With everyone and their third cousin’s uncle poo-pooing the Patriots secondary the pressure is on Bradford to put up some big time numbers on Sunday.

New England is giving up an average of 23.3 points per game (19th in the league) and their passing defense is giving up on average 290 yards per game (29th) to opposing teams.

» Continue reading “New England Patriots At St. Louis Rams Week 8 Preview”

He'll be sitting next to his favorite #12 this week. (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

Just when you thought things in the NFL couldn’t get any wackier, it does.  One of the many reasons why I kicked my day time soap opera habit years ago.  Because as any real NFL fan knows, it’s the best drama reality show the world has ever known.  Move over “Real Housewives of (insert city name)” and “General Hospital.”  The NFL has you beat – hands down.

Wild card weekend totally lived up to its billing – and some of it off the field.

McDaniels officially returns to the Patriots

 It’s official. Josh McDaniels will return to the New England Patriots as an offensive assistant this week, and will serve under Bill O’Brien, the offensive coordinator who was named coach at Penn State on Saturday.

If there was an award for luckiest bastard man in the league it would go to Josh McDaniels.  He went from orchestrating the Rams’ second to bottom NFL offense to the Patriots’ second from the top offense – all within one week.

Never mind that he contributed to the sinking of the Rams’ offensive even lower than its 26th ranking from 2010.  He set Rams QB Sam Bradford back a few (drop) steps, too.

» Continue reading “Josh McDaniels, You Lucky Bastard”

Did they or didn’t they? 

Did Peyton Manning and Drew Brees in fact ask for special treatment as part of the anti-trust law suit settlement?  Did they indeed request an exemption from the franchise tag for the rest of their career?

Manning’s agent Tom Condon says on NFL Network, “Absolutely not.”

He explains further:

Well, of course Dew is a part of the executive committee so he was literally sitting in the meetings. 

The story came from an unnamed source.  Certainly not from Drew or Peyton. 

Drew, Peyton and Tom Brady made a statement about a week or so ago that they were completely supportive of the players’ position.  They thought it was a fair offer and they encouraged management to accept the offer and to get back to playing football.

My understanding is that offer included a one-time franchise limitation.  And I have to assume that is where this came from.

Condon maintains “it was a part of the proposal that the players and the executive committee made to the NFL management council.”

But if Drew Brees was “literally sitting in the meetings,” who’s the say he didn’t bring up the offer?  I’m highly suspicious.  Seems to me they put it out there to see what they could get away with and once they saw the backlash they withdrew their demands.

When asked whether that part of the universal settlement was specific for Manning and Brees, Tom Condon replied:

No.  No.  No, not specific at all.  It would affect any player.  You can franchise a player only one time in his career.

Interesting to note Drew Brees and Peyton Manning both have been franchise once already.

What’s the process?

Here’s an outline of how this process will play out as SI’s Jim Trotter understands it.

• The executive committee votes to froward a proposed settlement agreement to the player reps.
• The players reps then debate and vote whether to forward the settlement agreement to the plaintiffs in the anti-trust case.
• The named plaintiffs then have to approve the settlement before the owners can vote on it, presumably tomorrow.
• If the owners approve the settlement agreement, then the players would have to reform as a union to finalize CBA issues.

In other words, both lawsuits (Brady vs. NFL and TV money case) will have to be settled.  Then the players need 51% majority vote to re-certify the NFLPA as a union.  And lastly, the union has to vote to ratify the new CBA.

Some player reps have already left meetings but some have stayed behind to further discuss the proposal with NFLPA executive committee.  It’s possible the reps who left have already casted their votes. 

So, we’re close.  Very close but not there yet.

Mayhem - Allstate

I was watching NFL Live for the first time in a few weeks.  (Basically, I only watch it live when Trey Wingo is hosting but I digress.)

Trey Wingo, Tim Hasselbeck and Mike Golic were discussing the end of the 130 day lockout.

As I watched I couldn’t help but think, “Will the beginning of the end signal the start of a different type of  ’out,’ sheer chaos, or both?”

Lockout

Items still left to be ironed out in the negotiations before we can even get to that are:

• Settlement of the anti-trust law suit Brady et al vs. NFL
• Settlement of the “lockout insurance” case in Judge Doty’s court
• $320M in lost player benefits from an uncapped 2010
• Off season player safety concerns
• Re-formation of the NFL Players Union

As the main plaintiffs in the anti-trust law suit, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Logan Mankins, and Vincent Jackson made their settlement terms known.

• Peyton Manning and Drew Brees want exemptions from the franchise tag for the rest of their careers.  Both QB’s were slapped with the tag back in February.
• Logan Mankins and Vincent Jackson want to become UFA’s (unrestricted free agents) or receive $10M.  Both Mankins and Jackson were hold outs in 2010 over contract disputes.

But surprise!  Just as we’ve seen one too many times throughout this lockout, the Fab Four reverse course and ultimately withdrew their demands late last night.

After some debate over possible special relief for at least some of the 10 player-plaintiffs, it was determined it would be too cumbersome to try and work out individual deals,” Borges writes.  “Since the bulk of plaintiffs were well-placed NFL veterans, the best way to go, it was decided, was to stick simply with the larger deal negotiated between the NFLPA and the league’s owners.

Who’s bright idea was it to try and squeeze every last drop out of this law suit anyway?  It’s got the stench of Kessler written all over it.  And Mike Florio agrees.

Holdout 

From the league’s and owners’ standpoint they didn’t “lose” money since the preseason will most likely start on time.  Games will not be missed and therefore no tangible loss of revenue.

But from the coaches and teams perspective it’s not quite so rosy.  As the lockout dragged on for what amounts to the entire off season, lost were weeks of OTA’s, mini-camps and most importantly time for a proper free agency period.

Recently, Funny or Die posted a hilarious 3 minute spoof of the movie “Field of Dreams” with an NFL lockout twist.  An Iowa corn farmer (Taylor Lautner) builds a football field and the ghosts of lockout players appear.

“If you build it, they will come…”

Field of Dreams 2: NFL Lockout with Taylor Lautner

Just as Ray Kinsella built his baseball diamond, Taylor Lautner’s character followed the voice and built the make shift football field.  He didn’t know why he was doing it and what would happen once it was finished – he just built it.  He built it and the players came.

The owners and players sides have been in marathon negotiating sessions over the past couple of weeks.  It seems the fire was finally lit under their arses, doesn’t it?  Apparently fans’ ranting and raving for the last four months wasn’t enough to fuel their sense of urgency.  But as we can see, nothing speaks louder than the possibility of forfeiting hundreds of millions of dollars.  That’s what finally spoke to them – the sound of (losing) money.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” said NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith after a long day of meetings.

We’re not privy to the exact details of their talks but we get calculated leaks from an “a person with knowledge of the situation” despite a gag order.  There’s certainly a part of me that wishes we could know all the details but at this point, and I’m sure I speak for many, we just want the deal to get done.

Up until now I’ve expressed anger, despair, frustration, denial, ambivalence, and a slew of other emotions not fit to elaborate here.  Maybe it’s time I showed some faith and optimism.  It’s finally time for me to write about it in a positive light.  Sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy?  Maybe once I do, this lockout will finally come to an end and we’ll have football again.

Okay, here I go.  Happy thoughts… Positive thoughts…

I am certain this deal will get done in time to save the entire preseason and all 16 games of the regular season.  Both sides will realize the error of their ways, make nice, and try and do what’s best for the other side.

I envision Roger and DeMaurice will not only have a cordial lunch together at their local NYC hangout but they’ll share a tender moment sipping bubble tea during a $30 mani-pedi special in Chinatown.  After that they’ll be shopping at Barney’s for matching boxer briefs and fedoras.  And to top off the BFF makeover day, they’ll head on over to a photo shoot as they will be co-winners of Time Magazine Man of the Year award for saving the 2011 NFL season.

Across town, I’m confident you’ll find the Big Three sitting at a table enjoying their own lunch – Drew, Tom, and Peyton.  Drew will be on the phone profusely apologizing to Carl and Franco.  While Tom is trying to show Peyton some moves he learned at Carnivale.  But wait, I see Peyton in a neck brace.  He shoos Tom away telling him he can’t draw any attention to himself.

“Gotta lay low, Tommy.  And I can’t talk about the lockout.  It’s bad for the Manning brand and for my new show, ‘Football Cops.’  By the way, Tommy.  You should really consider getting a hair cut.  The Geico caveman is so four seasons ago.  Here’s my hair stylist’s business card.  Just ask him for the PeyPey – short cut that shows off your forehead.”

I’m sure Uptown all the lawyers are breaking out the Cristal and congratulating themselves about how they were able to fool both sides into dragging out this lockout as long as they did.

“Great job, Jeff.”  ”No, you were great, Jeff.”  ”Cha-ching!” says Jeff.  ”What do you mean, cha-ching?  I only made $1!” says Jeff.  ”Oops.  Sorry, I forgot about that, Jeff.”

Most definitely, over in Synderville, Dan, Robert, and Jerry are tickled giddy over how they stuck it again to Mike and Ralph.  But unlike Jerryworld, they’ll actually have seats to sit in that have passed safety inspections.

Then Dan decides he wants to give Donovan and Albert another chance on top of signing Nnamdi and the triplets, Randy, Terrell, and Chad.

And the scribes…  I can’t forget about how tirelessly they covered every passing moment for us football fans:  When both parties came and went.  What they were wearing and even what food was being delivered for supper.  Some went beyond the call of duty.

I’m positive Albert Breer will not want to stake out another dirty city sidewalk or sit in a green fluorescent camping chair if he can help it.

There, do you think that was enough sunshine and good vibes to tip the scale to getting this CBA done?  I sure hope so because that’s about all I’ve got.  I’ve written it.  Now they have to get it done.

I leave you with this final thought.

“Retired” Brett: Is this heaven?
Me: No, it’s a signed CBA.

Does anyone know what the going rate is on how much the Tooth Fairy pays out on a kid’s first tooth?  My husband and I were debating this last night as our youngest lost her first tooth.  I think we used to get a quarter!  I imagine with inflation it’s up around a buck?  5 dollars?

Why do we even promote such things as the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy anyways?  Is it just another Hallmark holiday ploy to make us buy their cards?  Dastardly!

Ok, that’s my Hallmark rant for the month.  Now I can rant about the NFL…

1) Need a little Rams history overview? Found this yesterday online and it’s a bit on the short side but learned a few things nonetheless.

Where did the “Rams” nickname come from and another bit of helmet history.

Yes, this lockout needs to end because this just shows how desperate we are for any sort of football related information.

2) Ok, back to lockout reality: Adam Schefter is brings us back to the reality that is the NFL lockout negotiations.  Despite all the high hopes of a quick resolution – something we’ve all dreaming about – sounds like things are still very much touch and go.

Bringing the lawyers back into the mix yesterday made for bad joojoo and talks almost “blew up.”

With the lawyers removed from the direct negotiations, the process was said to get back on track and to a good spot. The incident is an example of just how tenuous these talks can be and how quickly they can be derailed.

But it also is the ultimate proof that Smith and his players, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the owners have taken the process out of the hands of the attorneys and demanded that they control it as the two sides try to hammer out a collective bargaining agreement.

3) I for one would love to see Visanthe Shianco as a QB: Ok, so this isn’t really likely to happen but the thought is interesting.  Mike Freeman has a nice write up about his conversation with the Vikings TE.

He echos what many of us have been saying throughout most of this lockout – the quality of the football on the field will be quite sub par the longer this draws out.

By Limonc (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

Another week has passed with some ups, some downs, and definitely plenty of drama.  Why waste time on made up day time soaps when you have the real world of sports?  If the non-sports watching women only knew what they were missing!

• The Young Leading Man: Rams first big team workout in St. Louis this week gave us a glimpse into the future of the franchise: Sam Bradford as its leader.

The tall, dark and boyishly handsome Bradford is organizing, facilitating workouts, teaching the new playbook, etc.  He’s taken matters into his $50M hands and the team onto his shoulders.

He’s shown a great amount of maturity for someone just going into his second year in the league.  What’s more impressive is the players have enough trust and faith in Sam to follow his lead.

• The Seasoned Competitor: The “Warrior and work horse” of the team, Steven Jackson, didn’t make an appearance during these voluntary workouts.  He was in town but wasn’t at the practices.  I believe he’s off in Paris now.  Is this SJ’s way of passing the reigns to Sam?

It will be interesting to see if he’ll join the team for the next round of practices to be held the first week of June in Arizona.  And if he does where does SJ fit into the leadership scheme?  I could be wrong but he doesn’t strike me as a good second fiddle.

• The Missing Brother: Another visibly absent Rams player was Mardy Gilyard.  Lots of buzz and concern surrounded him last season as he struggled to grasp the offense and playbook.  He’s got a lot of competition in front of him with all the newly drafted offensive weapons.

So why not take every opportunity to get exposure to McDaniels’ new offense?  I have read rumors he had to attend to some personal matters (a close friend passed away) this week.  But he’s pretty much been M.I.A. most of the off season.  Where are you, Mardy?

• The Reformed Bad Boy: This week Jets WR Braylon Edwards fulfilled his $1M promise to help Cleveland high school students with their college tuition.

He’s had his fair share of run in’s with the law over the years but that didn’t stop him from making good on his word.  Maybe there’s hope for him after all.

• The Natural Disasters: (This is in all seriousness) I’ve lived in the Midwest for a very long time but these past few weeks have been the most devastating in terms of severe weather.  I was very happy to see the Rams as whole making a difference.

Last week Spags and some of the assistant coaches helped in clean up efforts in nearby Ferguson, MO. while players delivered much needed supplies to a very hard hit Joplin, MO. (American Red Cross shelter at Missouri Southern State University.)  And the Rams organization is making a $25,000 donation to be divided between the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

• The Rebel: I’m still trying to grasp what former Rams QB Kurt Warner said during his interview in USA Today.  There’s a lot there to digest and he probably meant it in a way to help his former teammates but it comes off the wrong way and it came out at the wrong time.

I don’t think there’s any question the players have to give back money and we have to realize we’ve had it great for a number of years.

We made a lot of money, and the salaries went crazy. As a player, you have to say, ‘It’s OK for us to pull back a little bit and make less.’

So now where do we subsidize that? Where do we get our benefits in this new agreement?

I’ve tweeted him last night asking if he would have said the same thing if he wasn’t retired from the game but got no response.  I was having a discussion with @Ftblsickness yesterday.  He called Warner’s comments “realism.”  And I agree with him.  But I told him, it’s one thing to think it but a whole different thing to verbalize it in an interview.  This will not go over well.

• The Villian: Roger Goodell and the owners are at it again.  Why do they insist on beating the dead horse?  Goodell keeps insisting that season ticket holders want an 18-game regular season.  Maybe I’m talking to different season ticket holders but the ones I’ve spoken to don’t agree.

@FO_DougFarrar has a nice article on this complete with real fan responses.

In fact, I’ve seen tweets where people have chosen to not even renew their season tickets because they are so turned off and disgusted by the lockout.  I can’t say I blame them.

• The Town Drunk: So was Scottie Pippen drunk or just plain high when he said on Mike and Mike that LeBron James may be better than Michael Jordan?  This is where Deion Sanders would loudly interject with a H.O.P. (Hold On Playa)!  Even their former teammate Horace Grant thinks Pippen’s gone off the deep end.

I guess hypothetically LBJ could reach MJ level someday but to even bring it up this early in LBJ’s career is ridiculous.  Someone call me after he’s gotten his first three-peat under his belt.  Then we’ll begin the conversation – maybe.

• The Village Tramp/Idiot: Thy name is Tiki Barber.  We knew he was no good when he left his then pregnant wife, Ginny Cha, and started playing house with the intern.  But the latest idiocy to spring from his pie hole was unbelievable.  How in God’s green earth do you compare your sad self to Anne Frank?  Since when do the paparazzi equal the Nazi?  It doesn’t take a journalist to realize why NBC let this gem of a man go.

Our resident Aerys Giants writer, Christine, gives us her take.

• The Power Couples: SI comes out with a list of athlete-celebrity power couples each year.  They have our usual favorites Tom Brady & Giselle Bündchen, Mike Fisher (NHL) & Carrie Underwood, Lamar Odom & Khloe Kardashian, Jay Cutler & Kristin Cavallari just to name a few.

One fairly new couple we could add to the mix is NYJ QB Mark Sanchez and actress Hayden Panettiere (from our Aerys Jets writer, Kristine).  Although I’m not so sure it was such a great idea for Jets pretty boy to be dating an actress whose former flame (Wladimir Kitschko) was a heavy weight boxer.  Oops.  Not only does Sanchez need to learn how to slide he’ll have to learn how to duck and run.

And to round out our sports soap opera world with something warm and heart felt:

• The Good Guy: Our Bears writer, Colleen, shares with us the story of their newest rookie, JT Thomas. JT becomes the prom date for a very special young lady.

So for everyone who thought sports was just about sweat, lots of grunting, and testosterone I hope this week’s headlines recap helped you see things in a “guiding light.”