1) What Will Stan Do?

Minnesota, Oakland, San Diego, Jacksonville, and St. Louis.

These 5 teams make for some strange bed fellows but not according to AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) billionaire owner Philip Anschutz.  Word from the OC (Orange County) is he’s in the hunt to become the next majority owner of an NFL franchise.

It hasn’t been very long since he bought the Rams but as a businessman would he be willing to flip the club to make a few hundred million?  Or does he want to keep the Rams as the NFL trophy on his sports empire display mantle?  I’m hoping the latter scenario.

Really, how invested is Kroenke in the Rams – and I’m not talking about his money.  I think this is where his “Silent Stan” reputation does him a disservice.  Most things we know about him come second hand.  Last week Rams EVP – Football Ops, Kevin Demoff said Kroenke was present and engaged during the NFL owners’ meeting.  Sounds like the standard company line, if you ask me.

How about engaging the fans directly, Mr. Kroenke?  He’s such the anti-Jerry Jones, isn’t he?

Kroenke still has until the December 2014 to finalize the transfer of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche to his son, Josh, or his wife, Ann, to comply with NFL ownership rules.  The Rams have the option to leave the lease at Edward Jones Dome at the end of the 2014 season.

Curious timing…  Chew on that one for a bit.

2) Not looking good for Spags’ sleep away camp

The longer this lockout lingers the greater chance the Rams will have to hold their training camp at Rams Park.  Sounds like the likelihood of going to Rolla or SIU – Carbondale is losing steam.  This is all right with me.  It would make my life a lot easier if it stays in Earth City.  I’d bet money the players wouldn’t mind sleeping in their own beds instead of tiny dorm rooms with their gigantic feet dangling over the mattress.

Spags hasn’t been shy about his feelings towards some “away camp” bonding for his players.  Or maybe that’s just his micro-managing talking.  It’s a lot easier to control what the players do when you have them all under the same watchful eye dorm roof.

Hey, I hear the new OC does video recordings on the side.

3) Rams defense needs an identity

When you ask about the Rams offense, people reply it’s either Steven Jackson or Sam Bradford’s team.  But when you think of the Rams defense it’s Coach Spags, NOT a player, that comes to mind.  This needs to change.

I think someone from the defense needs to take command and make it his own.  I think that someone could be LB James Laurinaitis.  He needs to become what Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis are to their respective teams.

Despite this only having two years under his belt, Laurinaitis has already shown leadership off the field by being an active part of player organized workouts this summer.  But he also has to take it to the next level on the field.  I’m thinking with the addition of Robert Quinn at DE, this should help free up Laurinaitis take his team leading 114 tackles to another level.

4) The hourglass is almost empty

Is it day 91 or day 92?  It’s 91 or 92 days too many!

C’mon men!  I’m thrilled to hear Goodell and De Smith are playing nice at the dinner table.  Did one onlooker call it “jovial?”  Am I the only one who thinks they should have just settled the matter in the octagon barefoot (insert foot jokes here) in their suits.  No holds barred.

This mess could have been settled weeks ago.  As so many NFL players like to tweet, “Who you got?”

In all seriousness, if this goes on any longer than the end of June we’re in trouble.  See what the lockout has already caused:

• Players having to take on other jobs to make ends meet. See Dolphins draftee Charles Clay.
• Players getting injured during the voluntary workouts and camps.  So far, I haven’t heard of any major injuries resulting from these player organized activities.
• Players getting themselves into trouble with the law.  There’s LOTS of this happening.
• All of those free agents (and their families) who live in limbo.
• Players taking reality shows to new heights (Hines Ward winning DWTS) or depths unimaginable by growing out their hair and attempting to show rhythm at Carnival.  Sorry, this just doesn’t get old.

They may be able to start the season as scheduled but the quality of the product on the field will not be anywhere close to where it should be.  We may be paying big bucks to watch something not much better than the UFL.

Good news is multiple reports are saying we are 2-3 weeks away from getting a basic CBA cranked out.  It’s about time we saw some urgency from both sides.

Welcome to the third installment of the Aerys Huddle.  The Aerys NFL writers get together to discuss various hot topic that are going on in the league.

We have several teams represented here tonight and I’m sure we all have lots on our minds.  Q1: Lockout, Q2: Hard Knocks, and Q3: Free agent wish list.

So, let’s get right to it.

Patty (Rams): Q1) What should the players do after yesterday’s big blow?

Colleen (Bears): Sounds like they need to come up with a different reason for why the lockout should be lifted.

Melissa (Lions): I’m not really sure there’s much the players can do at this point. They can “appeal” again, but that will likely drag this out for months and cause a shortened season (if a season at all).

Kristen (Patriots): Players have to quit their mentality of “leaving the game better than we found it.”

Brenda (Broncos): All that momentum from Judge Susan Nelson’s ruling is all but kaput.

Patty (Rams): The 8^th Circuit Court’s Judges Colloton and Benton were not kind to Judge Susan Nelson at all.  They slammed her ruling and then some.  Momentum has definitely shifted back to the owners.

Melissa (Lions): So, if they want to play football (and get paid), they are going to have to, in a sense, succumb to the owners.

Lauren (Packers): Someone should give DeMaurice Smith some PR tips. He is really doing a disservice to the NFLPA with fans.

Patty (Rams): I just fear that it’s become a personal vendetta for DeMaurice Smith.  HE has to win.  You have to wonder if he still has all the players’ best interests in mind.

Colleen (Bears): Or, to be super corny, they need to call an audible.

Kristine (Jets): I say this being selfish about my own needs but I think they need to accept that they aren’t going to be able to accomplish everything they want.

Kristen (Patriots): They’re too “big think” and it’s costing them getting a deal done right now.

Kristine (Jets): Yes.

Melissa (Lions): Which sucks, because they shouldn’t have to. I couldn’t be anymore on the side of the players than I already am. The owners are making me angrier and angrier by the day.

Colleen (Bears): Neither side is going to accomplish everything they want, unfortunately, I don’t see the owners budging as easily/quickly as the players.

Lauren (Packers): Agreed with Kristen on the “big think.” I think so much of the media drama is influencing and spurning on unnecessary direction.

Melissa (Lions): Lauren, I thought what he said was hilarious. Though, you’re right, not very appropriate.

» Continue reading “Aerys Huddle 3.1 – Lockout”

Continuing my random draft thoughts, musings, and rants:

• The Vikings take Christian Ponder in the 1st round.  Does this really mean that Brett Favre is retired for good???  Has Peyton Manning sent that congratulatory letter to Favre yet?  Please, pretty please?  I would like a “Favre-watch” free summer.  I’m sure ESPN’s Ed Werder would sign off on that one, too.

• I was actually hoping to see the Pouncey twins reunite in Pittsburgh.  Imagine all the fun the two of them would have had fooling teammates.  I wonder if Maurkice would have hazed his rookie twin brother.  Guess we’ll have to wait until one of them gets traded to see what happens.

• The Indianapolis Colts selected two O-linemen to help protect their biggest investment, Peyton Manning.  6′ 7″, 311 lbs. Anthony Castonzo from Boston College and  6′ 4″ 317 lbs Ben Iljalana from Villanova.  They’re going to need to protect Peyton and his big ole noggin from getting knocked around.

• Technically, Peyton’s not a Colt since he’s a UFA but honestly where else would be go?  Can’t see Jim Irsay letting his franchise walk out the door because of salary issues.

• The Lions not only fortified their DL but also picked up some good talent on the offensive side as well.  Boise State WR Titus Young will be a solid compliment to Megatron and another target for QB Matthew Stafford.  They also got Illinois RB Mikel LeShoure to add to their talented young backfield with Jahvid Best.

• If Detroit can keep Stafford HEALTHY and injury free they will definitely be a force to be reckoned with.  The NFC North is going to be a very competitive and fun division to keep tabs on.

• The Bengals on the other hand, are going through massive changes.  Or at least judging from Carson Palmer and Ochocinco it’s certainly looking that way.  My guess is Carson retires because Mike Brown refuses to trade him.  Ochocinco has already burned bridges with Marvin Lewis and has expressed some interest in coming to STL – not that the Rams should seriously consider 85.  No way!

• Will TCU QB Andy Dalton come into Cincy and be able to win the starting job?  Where does Jordan Palmer fit into all of this?  Maybe Jordan should hang up his cleats and focus on Rocksoftware, his booming software/app business with John Shahidi.

• I’m still not 100% certain about what took place between the Bears and Ravens during that trade gaff.  But it sounds like someone in the Bears organization dropped the ball big time.  Verbal apologies were made regarding the confirmation phone call that wasn’t made but the Ravens wanted more.

• The Ravens wanted a pick in return from the Bears.  The Bears refused such a demand and a BAD taste was left in the Ravens’ beak.  In the end I think the Ravens still got the guy they wanted but just one pick later.

• But it just wasn’t the Ravens who came away scorned.  Other teams will be weary of doing future business with the Bears and it could come back to haunt them.  Bad business karma.

• I watched the Mark Ingram interview over again and I began to get annoyed with Suzy Kolber.  Was she trying to pull a Barbara Walters on him by making him cry with that email from his father who happens to be in prison?  What won’t networks and reporters do for ratings these days.  Or were they trying to get in touch with the female audience by adding that human interest element into the draft coverage.  I’d love to hear who’s idea it was to do that to him.

• The next few days stories from the war rooms will start leaking out.  ”Bart Scott!” to read about how close teams got to making trades that never materialized.  Maybe they’ll answer some linger questions that Rams fans have regarding the draft picks.

• One thing that absolutely drove me nuts the past few months about the draft is all this talk about “value.”  ”Player X was a great value at that pick…”  or “Player Y was a steal at round x.”  Value of what?  A bargain compared to who?  Are they talking about how much talent they got from that pick?  Or maybe the value of how much they’re going to have to pay the player based on what round they were taken?  I’ve yet to see an article where someone addresses this notion of “value.”

• The UFL (United Football League) conducted their draft for the 2011 season last night.  A few players who slipped through the NFL draft were taken by the UFL.  The most noticeable name for me was Mark Herzlich.  It’s a shame that no one in the NFL had the vision to take Mark.

It’s a shame this draft was marred by the lockout.  Not only did it steal some of its thunder but it changed the dynamics of the draft.  It will be interesting to look back at this draft 3 or 4 years from now and realize its impact on the league.