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Will St. Louis Rams Turmoil Lead to L.A. Move?…

enfofssoili — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:01:00 +0000

After a truly dismal 2011 season, the St. Louis Rams rang in the New Year by firing head coach Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney. The team ended the season 2-14 and I think the whole situation could push the team to move to Los Angeles. We’re eager to get a team here, with two competing stadium projects (Farmers Field and Los Angeles Stadium at Grand Crossing) ready to start construction, once a team is named. In addition to their poor record and recent personnel changes, the Rams have issues with their stadium and I think it could all combine to form a “perfect storm” that could bring the team back to L.A.

The St. Louis arch.
morguefile.com/spiroll

The Rams poor results speak for themselves and I agree with the decision to make changes. Rams owner Stan Kroenke is a smart businessman and didn’t get to be a billionaire by making bad decisions. The team was 10-38 in the three seasons under Spagnuolo and Devaney. Devaney has been there a bit longer than Spagnuolo, and the team was 12-52 in his four years as GM. After a horrible 1-15 season in 2009, the Rams seemed to make a comeback in 2010, going 7-9 and finishing second in the NFC West. But then after coming into the season with high expectations, the bottom dropped out and here we are.

Now that the 2011 regular season is over, I think we will see another big announcement from the team very soon, and that announcement just may be the return of the Rams to Los Angeles. The Rams left Los Angeles due to stadium issues, but now we’re looking at a situation that would bring them into a brand new stadium. I’m sure this is an attractive proposition, given the Rams are having issues with their current stadium. The Rams have played in Edward Jones Stadium since their move from Los Angeles in 1995. Although not very old, the stadium needs upgrades and is not comparable to a brand new facility. They currently have a deal that forces St. Louis to come up with a viable stadium renovation plan by March 2015, or the team is able to accept an offer to move. The city must inform the team of the plan by February 2012, which is rapidly approaching. The Rams have not yet been presented a stadium plan from the city.

AEG, the developer of the Farmers Field NFL stadium, proposed for downtown Los Angeles, has confirmed the Rams as one of the five teams they’ve had formal discussions with. Rams owner Stan Kroenke (who also owns the Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Nuggets) has done business with AEG in the past, and has even bought teams from them. He is also friends with AEG owner Philip Anschutz, which would seem to make the deal easier to put together. Mr. Kroenke was part of the successful effort in 1995 to bring the team to St. Louis and helped put together a deal that had the city pay $260 million to get the team to move there. But if he can make a large profit on the the move and create much higher revenue for the team by moving them, I think he will do it. And as an L.A. football fan, I know the city would welcome their return, more so than moving a team here from another city.

Although born and raised with Eagles fans in Philadelphia, Freddy Sherman has always been a citizen of Raider Nation at heart. Since his dad got him a signed George Blanda football as child, to meeting Lyle Alzado in the 1980s, he hasn’t looked back. Follow him on twitter @thefredsherman

St. Louis Rams fire Spagnuolo and GM

annmclee — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:21:00 +0000

Article updated: 1/2/2012 10:42 AM

After finishing 2-14 this season, St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo, left, and general manager Billy Devaney are now looking for work. Both men were fired with one year left on their contracts.

Associated Press/2010 file

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Rams have fired coach Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney.

The team made the announcement Monday, a day after the team wrapped up a 2-14 season that tied for the NFL’s worst.

The Rams made a six-win improvement last season and played for the NFC West title in the finale, but were just 10-38 overall in three seasons with Spagnuolo and Devaney calling the shots. Devaney joined the front office in 2008. In his four years as GM, the Rams were 12-52.

Owner Stan Kroenke fired both men with one year remaining on their contracts, and with fan interest dwindling. The Edward Jones Dome was been about half-filled much of the year.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

St. Louis Rams 2011 Fantasy Football Stars:…

avigunba — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:40:00 +0000

The 2011 St. Louis Rams weren’t playing for a division title this season; they were playing for a chance at Andrew Luck. With a 2-14 record, they were close, but the Peyton Manning-less Indianapolis Colts will get that pick instead. The Rams may have been one of the worst teams in terms of producing fantasy points this season, but did see a couple players succeed. Who are the biggest surprise and disappointments, and which star can say they were the Rams 2011 fantasy MVP?

MVP – Steven Jackson

Jackson didn’t have the best season of his career, but he surpassed 1,000 yards for the seventh straight season. He finished the campaign with 1,145 yards and five touchdowns, while also adding 42 catches for 333 yards and an additional score. Jackson will continue to be a late first or early second round selection next season, but would benefit greatly from a more stabilized offensive system.

Biggest Surprise – Brandon Lloyd

When the Denver Broncos traded one of the best wide receivers from 2010, fantasy GMs had to wonder what was wrong. He averaged nearly five catches a game during the four games he was a Bronco this season, but failed to reach the end zone. In 11 games as a Ram, Lloyd made 51 catches for 683 yards with five touchdowns, becoming one of the top-two fantasy threats for the Rams.

Biggest Disappointment – Sam Bradford

The second year quarterback was expected to make the Rams contenders in the normally weak NFC West, but after playing in just 10 games this season, there had to be serious discussion about drafting Luck if they got the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. After putting up more than 3,500 yards with 18 touchdowns, Bradford regressed in 2011, throwing for 2,164 yards and six touchdowns. There are going to be a couple of top quarterbacks in the draft that could pose a problem to Bradford ever becoming a star in the NFL. If the Rams can’t get Luck, maybe Robert Griffin III could be a solid fit for St. Louis.

For a closer look at All-Injury teams for all major fantasy positions and biggest stars and busts from each NFL team, click here.

San Francisco 49ers vs. St. Louis Rams: Injury…

Kamppaymn — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:36:39 +0000

The outcome of Sunday’s regular-season finale at St. Louis will go a long way in boosting the 49ers’ chances for playoff success.

A win would guarantee a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the subsequent game. With the blazing hot Saints as a possible opponent, any sort of advantage will be welcomed with open arms.

A loss could drop them to the No. 3 seed for a likely rematch with the Detroit Lions and Coach Schwartz. As entertaining as another Harbaugh-Schwartz handshake sounds, the 49ers are looking to beat the host Rams.

When the two teams met in early December, it was smooth sailing for the 49ers as they shutout the Rams 26-0 in Candlestick Park. This time around may prove to be a little more challenging for the 49ers who are battling through several injuries at key positions. Then again, the Rams are also dinged-up and, with a 2-13 record, look primed for a shot at the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft.

Injuries will be a decisive factor in Sunday’s result between the NFC West rivals.

49ers Injury Report

Out:

TE Delanie Walker (jaw)

Questionable:

CB Chris Culliver

Who will lead the 49ers in catches this Sunday?

Michael Crabtree

Vernon Davis

Frank Gore

Kendall Hunter

Brett Swain

Joe Hastings

Total votes: 229

WR Ted Ginn (ankle)

FB Bruce Miller (knee)

CB Carlos Rogers (knee)

WR Kyle Williams (concussion)

LB Patrick Willis (hamstring)

Outlook

The 49ers are floss-thin at the wide receiver position with the absence of Ginn, Williams, and Edwards who was released earlier this week. As a result, Brett Swain will slide into the starting spot opposite Michael Crabtree and Joe Hastings will be promoted from the practice squad.

Swain, added to the team after the Josh Morgan injury, has seen the field mostly on special teams and has only one reception for nine yards on the season. Hastings, an un-drafted rookie out of Division II Washburn University, will be making his NFL debut.

Despite the inexperience, the young receivers will need to step up as the Rams’ defense will shift their focus towards playmakers Vernon Davis and Crabtree.

Look for star linebacker Willis to sit another game in hopes of being full strength come playoff time. He will be missed, but Larry Grant has stepped up and made plays for a top-ranked defense. The others on the list have been limited in practice throughout the week but should be ready to contribute on Sunday.

Rams Injury Report

Doubtful:

QB Sam Bradford (ankle)

QB AJ Feeley (right thumb)

Questionable:

DE Chris Long (ankle)

Probable:

CB Josh Gordy (abdomen)

RB Jerious Norwood (illness)

LB Brady Poppinga (illness)

Outlook

Quarterback Sam Bradford will miss his sixth start in what has been a disastrous season for the former No. 1 pick. A Rams win would save Bradford’s job, but a loss could lead to the selection of QB Andrew Luck in the upcoming draft.

With backup AJ Feeley also sidelined, Kellen Clemens should get his second consecutive start. For the Rams to have any chance at a victory, Clemens must improve on last week’s performance that saw him complete 9 of 24 passes for a measly 91 yards and zero touchdowns.

The Rams will also need defensive end Chris Long to play and continue wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks—13 total sacks on the season and counting.

Prediction

Injuries aside, the 49ers are the superior team and will prove that this week. It’s never easy to win on the road in the NFL, but this is as close as it gets. Look for the 49ers to jump out to an early lead behind a balanced attack through the air with Alex Smith and on the ground with Frank Gore. The Rams will then have to rely on the arm of Clemens, a recipe for disaster as the 49ers defense is constantly on the prowl for turnovers.

The 49ers’ New Year’s Eve celebration will continue Sunday as they emerge victorious and the Rams will get a head start in making their New Year’s resolutions.

Prediction Within a Prediction

Needing only one sack to tie the NFL rookie record for sacks in a season, Aldon Smith will go the extra mile in gathering two sacks to break the record previously held by Jevon Kearse.

Final score: San Francisco 27, St. Louis 7

Not much else going on in the NBA world today.

Rams’ Long has equaled father’s best sack season

angesseno — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:27:30 +0000

ST. LOUIS (AP) — If Chris Long gets a sack in the St. Louis Rams’ finale Sunday, he will top the best season ever put together by his Hall of Fame father.

In his mind, he’ll still be playing catch-up.

Chris Long has 13 sacks, tied with Howie Long’s personal-best total from 1983. The younger Long points out dad played most of his career as a tackle in a 3-4 defense. That made it a lot tougher to rush the passer, so to measure up Chris Long guessed he would need 22 sacks to earn some family bragging rights.

Long said he is happy to be enjoying his best year, despite the Rams’ struggles. St. Louis (2-13) hosts San Francisco (12-3) this weekend to wrap up a disappointing season.

He’s not interested in a competition anyway.

“Let’s be real,” Long said. “I don’t really look to compete with my pops. I don’t know what he did that year but he had to fight a lot of double teams, so it’s pretty remarkable.”

Howie Long totaled 84 sacks in a 13-year career with the Raiders and had three straight years in double digits from 1983-85. The 51-year-old Long, now an analyst with Fox Sports, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Chris Long’s total this season is sixth in the NFL and he’s come on strong with 10 sacks in the last nine games, even while nursing a high left ankle sprain that kept him out of most practices for several weeks but never held him back on game day. He also has 13 quarterback hits.

Long has been on the field more this week and said the ankle has “gotten a ton better.”

“It takes time to heal and they’ve given me that time by cutting down my reps a lot,” Long said. “I feel like it’s paid off a lot.”

So yes, he’s happy with the progress he’s made. He’s built on the sack total each year, getting four in ’08, five in ’09 and 8.5 last season.

“Individually, I’d say I’m proud of my effort and what I’ve put into it,” he said. “I’m not disappointed in myself, I feel like I’ve worked hard and I’ll continue to work hard.”

Long’s realistic about where he stands among pass rushers. There’s no disappointment he was passed over in Pro Bowl balloting, although he, running back Steven Jackson and middle linebacker James Laurinaitis were picks as alternates. Expectations for the announcement were so low for Long he was at the movies enjoying “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” when he began to get texts offering condolences.

He has no quibble with those picked ahead of him. Minnesota’s Jared Allen and Philadelphia’s Jason Babin are starters and the Giants’ Jason Pierre-Paul is a reserve.

“If you’d asked me to pick the Pro Bowl, I would have picked it that way,” Long said. “I don’t think I’m one of the top three defensive ends or that I had one of the top three defensive end years in the NFC, so I think it’s fair. What happened is what’s supposed to happen. I think there are three awesome players there.”

A better season for the Rams no doubt would have raised his standing. If they finish with a loss against the NFC West champion 49ers and the Colts win at Jacksonville, the Rams would get the No. 1 draft pick for the second time in three years, plus they won only two games in Long’s rookie year.

So he’d take more wins over recognition.

“I mean, it’s been really frustrating. To have two wins at this point in the season, it’s unacceptable,” Long said. “There’s no way around that. We haven’t played to our potential and I guess we have only one more game to show what our potential is.”

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Rams kicker says team struggles have affected him

LafTatsTref — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:39:17 +0000

Credit: AP

St. Louis Rams kicker Josh Brown (3) walks away after missing a field goal in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers won 27-0. (AP Photo/Don Wright)

by R.B. FALLSTROM

Associated Press

Posted on December 30, 2011 at 12:36 PM

Updated
today at 12:36 PM

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Josh Brown is unaccustomed to missing at any distance.

The St. Louis Rams kicker entered the year with one of the most accurate legs in the game, making 81 percent of his field-goal tries and with seven career game-winners. Entering the season finale Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, he has connected on just 19 of 26 opportunities this season, a 73 percent success rate that is his lowest in six seasons and the worst in the NFL this year.

The NFL’s lowest-scoring offense averages just 11 points, meaning Brown has fewer chances to kick. But he has missed three of five attempts the last two games alone.

Even though there’s been no perceived lack of effort, Brown believes the Rams’ 2-13 record has taken its toll and criticized himself for perhaps not being mentally alert enough.

“Oh yeah, absolutely, it wears you down man,” Brown said. “It’s hard, and it’s your responsibility to stay up.”

Brown believes lack of focus may have been the problem on his biggest miss last week, a virtual chip-shot 33-yarder in a 27-0 loss at Pittsburgh. Combined with a 52-yard miss, it cost the Rams a chance to make it a 13-6 game.

“Lack of focus, because the ball went perfectly straight, perfectly right down the hash, not where I wanted it to go,” Brown said. “Just didn’t go through the ball completely, the speed was slow. Just a very disappointing moment. Just let one get away.”

The 33-yarder was wide right. The 52-yarder had plenty of distance but was wide left.

“I’m like, `Are you kidding, are you kidding?”‘ Brown said. “You have to simply forget and try to move on, try to stay motivated this week to do everything right. It’s sad for a 9-year veteran to have that happen.”

Last year, Brown was an 85 percent kicker, going 33 for 39. This is the first year of his career he doesn’t have one 50 yards or better, failing to add to his impressive total of 25, although he’s had only two chances.

The 32-year-old Brown has one season left on a five-year, $14.2 million contract he signed on the first day of free agency in 2008 as the replacement for the retired Jeff Wilkins.

If the Rams know why Brown is struggling, they’re not saying.

Special teams coach Tom McMahon went on the defensive, saying corrections are made on a weekly basis and an assessment would be made after the season. When asked specifically about the 33-yard whiff against Pittsburgh, McMahon said only that Brown needs to make that kick, and the 52-yarder, too.

“It’s one of those things where he’s a pro, he’s going to correct that, and that’s what he’s been doing this week,” McMahon said. “It had nothing to do with operation, it’s a miss.”

Was it a technique mistake?

“It’s just a miss. I’m not going to get into details of why he missed it or how,” McMahon said. “It’s not what you do. Next question.”

Brown is hoping for a big finale to lessen the bad taste: “I’d love to have three, four or five. I’d like a lot of business.”

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Same old story for Fletcher; no nods for Titans,…

randaj6 — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:00:26 +0000

Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher leads the NFL with 163 tackles this season, so it’s understandable that he was a bit frustrated to find out that he wasn’t selected to the NFC’s Pro Bowl squad on Tuesday.

“Don’t know if I should be upset or laugh. Obviously it doesn’t matter what u do on the field!” Fletcher tweeted.

For Fletcher, it was another in a career full of Pro Bowl snubs; the former St. Louis Rams and Buffalo Bills defender has been among the NFL’s tackling leaders every season for the last decade, but has only a couple recent Pro Bowl appearances (and as an alternate at that) to show for it.

The Redskins were one of four NFL teams that did not have a player make the Pro Bowl this season: The St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans were the other three.

At 8-7, the Titans are the only team among the four that still has a chance to make the postseason.

It was the second straight year that the Bills were shut out in Pro Bowl voting, although Buffalo running back Fred Jackson probably would have made the AFC team if he had hadn’t suffered a season-ending broken leg in Week 11.

Last season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks were shut out in the NFC, the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC.

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.

Latest loss puts Rams in running for No. 1 pick

plealtHessbib — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:52:26 +0000

James Hall goes for the strip and gets nothing. Donnie Jones needs 10 yards on a fake punt and gets 9.

Two big whiffs in another dispiriting loss Saturday that has put the lowly St. Louis Rams in the running for the No. 1 overall draft pick for the second time in three seasons.

The Rams (2-13) and Colts are tied for the NFL’s worst record heading into the final week of the season. St. Louis hosts NFC West champion San Francisco. If Indianapolis wins at Jacksonville (4-11) and the Rams drop their seventh in a row, St. Louis gets the top pick.

The season finale could also signal the end for coach Steve Spagnuolo, who is 10-37 in three years at the helm. The roster has been devastated by injuries, with the top four cornerbacks on injured reserve, three offensive linemen also out for the year and quarterback Sam Bradford missing five starts with a high left ankle sprain — but St. Louis played poorly when healthy, too.

The NFL’s worst offense has just 15 touchdowns, is averaging 11 points per game and ranks last in third-down efficiency. St. Louis needs nine points this week to match the meager total of 175 from Spagnuolo’s first season in 2009, a 1-15 campaign that led to Sam Bradford being drafted with the top pick

The defense is last against the run after yielding 169 yards and a 6-yard average per carry to Rashard Mendenhall and the Steelers in a 27-0 defeat Saturday.

St. Louis has the league’s worst kicker, too. Josh Brown is 19 for 26 on field goals and missed a chip shot 33-yarder against Pittsburgh.

Spagnuolo sounded hopeful on Monday, saying it would be nice to finish with a victory to give the franchise some momentum going into the offseason. The last time that happened was 2006, when St. Louis finished with three straight wins for an 8-8 record.

“There is something to winning the last game in my opinion, whether you’re moving on to the playoffs or not,” Spagnuolo said. “I think it carries you.

“One of the most rewarding things in this business is the locker room at the end of a win.”

Spagnuolo said owner Stan Kroenke had not given him an indication where he stood. A spokesman for Kroenke has not responded to repeated requests for comment by the AP.

“And those conversations wouldn’t happen anyway, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary,” Spagnuolo said. “That’s nothing different.”

Spagnuolo said he enjoyed spending time with his wife, Maria, on Christmas. He wouldn’t say if he also spent time at Rams Park searching for answers, jokingly issuing his first no-comment of the season.

Hall was poised to ride Charlie Batch to the turf and poke the ball loose on the Steelers’ second snap of the game, but tried to tackle Batch high. The quarterback ducked just in time, then got free for a 35-yard pass to Mendenhall that put the ball on the St. Louis 37. Instead of third-and-long, the Steelers ended up with a field goal.

With his team down 3-0 midway through the second quarter, Spagnuolo called for a fake punt and pass on fourth-and-10 from the Steelers 44. Jones took off after deciding no one was open and was tackled 1 yard shy of the first down.

Even though the Steelers didn’t score on the ensuing possession, it was a crucial setback for an offense starving for points. The Rams have been shut out two of the last four games, also losing 26-0 at San Francisco in Week 12.

Spagnuolo gave Brown a pass on the 52-yard attempt that was wide left to end the first half, but not the 33-yarder early in the fourth quarter. If Brown makes those two, the Rams are down just 13-6 and the game is up for grabs.

Spagnuolo elected not to give Brown a third try at the end of the game when the Rams were at the Pittsburgh 23, allowing the final 30 seconds to run out. Instead of playing to the finish, Spagnuolo handed the Steelers a shutout.

“I mean, the game was over,” Spagnuolo said. “That did not cross my mind.”

One positive heading into the finale is the injury list isn’t as bad as in recent weeks, aside from the loss of yet another cornerback. Justin King, who has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, was ruled out for the finale and the team thinks he’ll need surgery.

The top four cornerbacks to open the season are out for the year, and a fifth potential heavy contributor, Jerome Murphy, was knocked out in the preseason. The Rams have compensated for all those losses by playing as many as four safeties at a time.

Spagnuolo said he hadn’t spoken with Bradford, who has insisted he wants to play whenever he’s able.

“We know we’re dealing with a competitive guy and all I can say is we’ll take it day by day and we’ll be smart with it,” Spagnuolo said.

What do you guys think about this.

Top pick down to Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis…

rapyalietle — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 06:27:53 +0000

Indianapolis and St. Louis are the last teams standing for the NFL draft’s top pick next April.

Minnesota eliminated itself Saturday by winning its third game, 33-26 at Washington. Because its schedule was stronger than either the Colts or the Rams played, the Vikings can’t select first even if all three teams finish 3-13.

The Colts remain the front-runner and if they lose at Jacksonville (4-11) next Sunday, they have the chance to choose Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, considered the top prospect in the draft. The Rams would get the No. 1 spot if Indy wins and they lose at home to San Francisco.

St. Louis selected quarterback Sam Bradford atop the draft in 2010, so if the Rams earn the top pick, they should get lots of offers for Luck, or they might choose a dangerous receiver — something the Rams have lacked since Bradford arrived.

The Colts have won two straight games, beating Tennessee and Houston, to place in doubt their hold on the top draft pick. With Peyton Manning out for the season with a neck injury, the Colts lost their first 13 games of the season, and most figure Luck will be their selection if they go first.

Beating the Jaguars, who fell 23-17 at Tennessee on Saturday, isn’t a stretch. Yes, the Jaguars won 17-3 at Indy in mid-November, but Curtis Painter was the quarterback then, not Dan Orlovsky. The Colts won in Orlovsky’s past two starts.

Plus, Jacksonville has dropped five of its past six since beating Indy.

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Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger Won’t…

zrqtuush — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:23:27 +0000

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger won’t
start tomorrow when his Pittsburgh Steelers host the St. Louis
Rams.

Charlie Batch, an 11-year National Football League veteran,
will start in his place, Steelers spokesman Nathan LoCascio said
today in an e-mail. Roethlisberger, 29, is listed as
questionable for the game.

A Pro Bowl selection in 2007, Roethlisberger is recovering
from a sprain to left ankle sustained two weeks ago. He didn’t
practice this week after throwing three interceptions in a 20-3
loss at the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 19.

The Steelers (10-4) have clinched a playoff spot and are
battling with the Baltimore Ravens (10-4) for first place in the
American Football Conference North division.

The Rams (2-12) are tied with two other teams for the
fewest wins in the NFL this season. Their starting quarterback.
Sam Bradford, is listed as doubtful for the game because of an
ankle injury.

Batch has thrown 60 touchdown passes and 47 interceptions
in 78 games with the Steelers and Detroit Lions. He hasn’t
completed either of his two passes this season.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Eben Novy-Williams in New York at
enovywilliam@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Michael Sillup at
msillup@bloomberg.net

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Ben Roethlisberger a Game-time Decision Against…

dfomiss — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 01:16:00 +0000

On Friday, Dec. 23, ESPN’s Adam Shefter reported that Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is a game-time decision for Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Rams. If Roethlisberger is unable to go, then backup Charlie Batch would likely get the start.

Some of my fellow Rams fans might think I’m crazy, but I hope Big Ben plays. The Rams pass rush has been one of the few bright spots on the team this season, and I can’t wait to see the unit go after the Steelers’ wounded offensive line.

The only chance the Rams have of winning this game is if they can force Roethlisberger into turning the ball over. The Rams will have defensive ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn going after Roethlisberger early and often, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team blitz even more than it has already this season.

I think the Steelers will be tempted to throw more if Roethlisberger plays. With Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown lining up opposite of the Rams’ makeshift secondary, I can see Roethlisberger standing in the pocket trying to get the ball downfield. That’s where the Rams have a chance to cause Pittsburgh some problems. It’s a risky strategy, but it’s the only hope the Rams have against the mighty Steelers.

In reality, I fully expect the Steelers to come out and run the ball at the Rams regardless of who starts at quarterback. It’s no secret that the Rams have the worst rush defense in the NFL. Even though Rashard Mendenhall has struggled at times this season, the Steelers should be able to open up some holes for him. In fact, if the Steelers are determined enough, I think Mendenhall could easily run for 150 yards on the Rams.

However, if Roethlisberger plays, I think the Steelers might be aggressive enough for the Rams to take advantage of the situation. I know it’s strange for me to say that, but if Roethlisberger is as immobile as he looked against the 49ers, then the Rams have enough talent on the defensive line to cause some problems. I know this is wishful thinking, but at this point in a 2-12 season, that’s all I have.

The smart thing for the Steelers to do would be to have Roethlisberger rest his sprained ankle, but who knows if that will happen. I guess I’ll find out on Saturday.

Derek Ciapala has been a Rams fan since he was a child and the team was in Los Angeles. His favorite Rams moments include Flipper Anderson’s 336-yard receiving night against the Saints in 1989, and their miracle 1999 run to their first Super Bowl victory. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala.

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SB Nation: NFL suspends Rams’ Pettis 4 games

FerinconiJell — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:40:05 +0000

By Joel Thorman

– NFL Editor

Rookie wide receiver Austin Pettis was suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing drugs.

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Dec 21, 2011 – The St. Louis Rams have had a season to forget and the same can apply to WR Austin Pettis. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Rams receiver has been suspended four games for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing drugs.

Pettis’ suspension will start now and he’ll miss the final two games of this season as well as the first two games of the 2012 season. As Brian McIntyre notes, Pettis will lose just over $100,000 in salary because of the suspension. There’s no word on what specifically caused the violation or whether Pettis plans to appeal.

Pettis was the Rams third round pick in April’s draft and has been active in 12 games notching 27 receptions for 265 yards.

The Rams, and now Pettis, probably feel as if they can’t get this season over with.

Visit SB Nation’s Turf Show Times for the latest updates on Pettis.

Read More: Austin Pettis (WR – STL), St. Louis Rams

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Rams Vs. Steelers Preview: St. Louis Looking For…

Molly.Grace — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:01 +0000

By Satchel Price

– Newsdesk contributor

The St. Louis Rams are hoping for a huge upset this week as they face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday afternoon.

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Dec 21, 2011 – The St. Louis Rams showed earlier this season that they’re capable of surprising a good team and pulling off an upset when they defeated the New Orleans Saints. But if they want to win again before the end of the season, they’ll need to do it again, as they’re facing the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers in their final two games to conclude the season.

With an ugly 2-12 record on the year, the Rams are one of the worst teams in the NFL. The Steelers, on the other hand, are 10-4 this season, clearly one of the best teams in the NFL. So there’s understandably a lack of optimism surrounding St. Louis this week, especially considering the health issues that quarterback Sam Bradford has had to deal with of late.

It may help that the Steelers are having some health issues of their own at the quarterback position these days, as Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger battles a high ankle injury similar to what Bradford dealt with this season. Roethlisberger managed to play the entire game against the San Francisco 49ers last week, but he looked noticeably hobbled and struggled with some throws all night long.

The Rams have lost five games in a row, with their last win coming on Nov. 13 against the Cleveland Browns. After ending last season looking pretty good, there’s a decent chance that St. Louis will end this season with seven straight defeats.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Rams be sure to visit Turf Show Times. For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, check out Behind the Steel Curtain. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Read More: Ben Roethlisberger (QB – PIT), Sam Bradford (QB – STL), Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams

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Sam Bradford Injury: Rams QB Not Out Yet

tolinadea — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:00:01 +0000

Read More: Kellen Clemens (QB – STL), A.J. Feeley (QB – STL), Sam Bradford (QB – STL), St. Louis Rams

Sam Bradford won’t let his ankle injury prematurely end his season, despite his St. Louis Rams having just two wins so far this season and no hope at making it into the NFL playoffs. The quarterback gets paid to play football and he plans to do his best to earn that paycheck as long as his injury allows.

Bradford missed Tuesday’s practice, but told the media afterward that he isn’t in any sort of hurry to hang it up for the rest of the season (via Turf Show Times):

“That’s my job,” he said. “That’s why I’m here. I’m here to play football. I’m not here to ride the (stationary) bike. I’m not here to sit on the sideline. No matter what happens, why wouldn’t I want to play?

“You put so much time in. You put so much work in. And then to just have it taken away and not to be able to go out there and do what you love to do. You know, it’s not easy. It (stinks) sitting on the sideline. I don’t like it. I think it’s miserable. There’s nothing fun about it. So as soon as I can get back out there playing, you’ll probably see me smile a little bit more.”

Bradford’s back-up, A.J. Feeley, remains sidelined with a fractured thumb so it’s likely that Kellen Clemens will get his second consecutive start is St. Louis if Bradford’s unable to play this weekend.

For more on Bradford and the Rams, be sure to visit Turf Show Times.

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Week 16 NFL Power Rankings: CBS Sports Leaves Rams…

Alikizipins — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:11:49 +0000

Read More: Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams

SB Nation St. Louis has been collecting NFL Power Rankings from around the web for Week 16, and Pete Prisco of CBS Sports is next up. It seems he is fairly confused about whether to move the St. Louis Rams below the Indianapolis Colts for the first time this season, because he left the Rams at No. 31 but still had this rather discordant blurb to add:

31. St. Louis Rams (2-12, LW: 31) They’ve been so bad the past month, I had to move them down below the Colts. It would be hard to imagine Steve Spagnuolo coming back.

As for the rest of the NFC West, the San Francsisco 49ers moved up three spots to No. 7, the Seattle Seahawks remained at No. 18 and the Arizona Cardinals jumped up two spots to No. 18 overall.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Rams be sure to visit Turf Show Times. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

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