Sometimes, NFL coaches and players just want to get their frustrations off their chests. They all know that the one thing you can't get away with is publicly ripping officials, but once in a while, the fine is worth it to vent.

Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes were critical of an instantly infamous offsides penalty on Kadarius Toney that wiped away a spectacular touchdown that would've give the Kansas City Chiefs a late lead on the Buffalo Bills. Then the bills came due, as expected.

The fines were for different violations, but both came back to public displays of blasting officials over the Toney call. Reid was fined $100,000 for criticizing the officials to the media after the game, and Mahomes was fined $50,000 for "abusive, threatening or insulting language to officials" and public criticism of officials

Mahomes was yelling at the officials while coming off the field after a turnover on downs late in the game, and he continued his tirade from the sideline. He also complained about the call after the game, even when he met Bills quarterback Josh Allen at midfield. He continued to question the call in his postgame media conference. Mahomes later apologized, particularly for how he handled the situation with Allen.

Reid said the officials should've given the Chiefs a warning before flagging Toney and said the officiating situation was "a bit embarrassing" for the league. All of it seemed a little funny when replays showed that Toney was clearly offsides, and Reid admitted Monday that Toney never checked with the official to see if he was lined up right.


Both Reid and Mahomes had to know they would be fined. The NFL certainly wasn't going to let either of them get away with blasting the officials, especially after they made the right call.

It sounds like McVay wanted Nacua a lot sooner in the draft than when Les took him in the 5th round. Then Rams got first round talent in an absolute steal in the 5th round. The moral of the story is talent is talent and can be found in all rounds.

Add in Avila, Young, and Turner with others showing legit promise and this was a huge draft.

Texans vs Titans

Oh boy.
The Titans got approval this year to wear their old Houston Oilers uniform again. This might not mean much for you younger folks since you don't remember the Dan Pastorini/Earl Campbell Oilers in the 70's and how beloved they were in Houston. I lived there in the late 70's and remember the fanaticism about the "Earlers" and Bum Phillips. It looks like the Titans organization is ripping open the wound again by playing the new team from Houston wearing their "Luve Ya Blue" colors again. The Oilers owner guaranteed that no other team in Houston could use the Oilers uniform again after it relocated to Tennessee. It didn't matter much back then because people were so pissed, but now Warren Moon and other old Oilers are excited to see the Titans resurrecting their old colors, even though it's gonna destroy their old fans in Houston.

As one sports announcer said, it's a good thing the game is in Nashville instead of Houston, or cutlery might be involved.

NFL Week 15 - Saturday, December 16, 2023

1:00 p.m ET
Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals: 1:00 p.m., NFL Network


4:30 p.m ET
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts: 4:30 p.m., NFL Network


8:15 p.m ET
Denver Broncos vs. Detroit Lions: 8:15 p.m., NFL Network

Guys..
I'm telling you, this coming offseason is going to be a wild one for the Rams.

This year was the salary cap, coaching staff.. and, most importantly, Sean Mcvay reset.

They have their new model set.. they can open up a ridiculous amount of money this offseason.. AND they have all of their draft picks, essentially.

There will not be a "slow build".. that's not realistic. You can't count on landing a QB like Stafford easily.. and he's very much a QB you can win another Super Bowl with.

This is LOS ANGELES... and Kroenke is all about big and bold. Look at the Lakers. Look at the Dodgers. Look at what the Rams did to win the Super Bowl.

Count on it.

Emphasis ‘currently’.

First thing is to make some important decisions at several key positions and each of these decisions will have ripple effects.

1. Do Rams like Wentz for future Stafford replacement and as current backup QB? And would Wentz be amenable and affordable in the meantime? OR will Rams opt to use a 1st for a QB that they really like from this draft class bumper crop? Or maybe trade up to get one? There is no higher value than acquiring a franchise QB and while Stafford is playing well right now the clock is always ticking on his Rams career. Yeah, choosing a QB is always risky but show me a playoff team that DOESN’T have a quality QB. I’ll wait…

2. Do Rams splurge on a top level FA Edge opposite Young or will they prefer to gamble on getting one high in the draft? Getting a good edge is a necessity, the only question is FA or the draft?

3. Will Snead similarly to go FA for a top CB or spend a high draft pick to get one? And is Witherspoon worth extending, as well?

4. This is reportedly a tremendous WR draft. Will Snead snag one or is he content with extending DeMarcus Robinson as a WR3? Or maybe he’ll do both?

5. Will a starting LOT even be there in the 1st when Rams pick and, if so, will Snead pounce or does he think AJ can hold down the fort at LOT now that he’s healthy?

6. Extend Dotson and where is the ceiling that Rams are willing to pay him?

These are just a few of the decisions that Snead must make before he even contemplates FA and later the draft.

Here are my hopes for Snead’s decisions:

Sign Wentz for immediate backup QB and future starter. This frees up many options for the draft and solves a looming void that may arrive sooner than anybody wants. Hopefully, Wentz will be amenable and affordable.

I would move heaven and earth to sign best available Edge. What better way to invest cap dollars on Rams biggest need and at such a premium position? Would make life so much easier for Rams new DC (see what I did there?)

I would extend Witherspoon if at all reasonable. A bird in the hand thing and he’s earned it. But I would keep an eye out for best value as another starting CB to pair with him from either FA or the draft. We’re too unproven at CB to entertain a SB run just yet.

I would keep AJ at LOT. Might not be All Pro but more than adequate if healthy. Besides, an elite LOT won’t be falling to us at picks 15-20 anyway, which is where I think we’ll be.

I would extend DeMarcus Robinson at a reasonable price despite the tempting WR draft class. Rams can still draft a WR if they want to. Heck, Kupp was a 3rd and Puka was a 5th. Maybe Snead will do both?

Might be smart to extend Shelton, too. Not an All Pro, but he is effective and this OL is gelling nicely.

Keep drafting a RB every year. This should be Rams policy for foreseeable future. Doesn’t have to be a premium pick. KW was a 5th and Pacheco of the Chiefs was a 7th.

Keep drafting S where Snead sees value. Fuller is a goner and our S room is not there yet. I would love to see more ball hawk type Safeties with speed when they profile candidates.

Rams TE room could use some bolstering. Love Davis Allen’s upside but I think Higbee is trending downward and I have little faith in Hunter Long. Hopkins is a goner.

At this point it’s just a matter of Snead and his scouts finding gems at many positions with all picks not already traded to accomplish potential QB acquisition if they choose not to keep Wentz.

We’ll see a sprinkling of picks at the following positions and hopefully they will be halfway as successful as this 2023 crop:

RB
OL
TE
WR
DL
ILB
CB
S

I love our current assistant coaches with the exception of Blackburn. Unfortunately, I think we’ll have a few scooped up by other teams, but what’s new?

If Snead can pull off another stellar offseason, and he has the picks plus a healthy cap situation, I truly believe that Rams could be in the 2024 SB conversation.

Thoughts?

I found parts of this to bee pretty funny

Former Lions QB Erik Kramer blasts Wayne Fontes: "Did you even know where the practice field was?"​

http://www.facebook.com/sharer/shar...ocial&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=WXYTFM
https://twitter.com/share?text=Form...social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_term=WXYTFM

The last quarterback to win a playoff game for the Lions says they would have won a bunch more of 'em with a better coach.

"Had we had a coaching staff and an organization like Dallas, we probably could have won a couple Super Bowls," Erik Kramer said on 97.1 The Ticket. "That team in '91 really mirrored the current team in terms of talent and being young. What I see in this Detroit team that’s different is that the coaching staff actually does know what they’re doing and they seem to be all rowing in the same direction from the top down. That, I think, none of us have seen in Detroit, maybe ever."
Kramer -- on tour for his recently-released book 'The Ultimate Comeback: Surviving a Suicide Attempt, Conquering Depression, and Living with a Purpose' -- only played three seasons for the Lions and was the primary starter for just one of them. That was in 1991 when he replaced the injured Rodney Peete halfway through the year and guided a team led by Barry Sanders to a 6-2 finish, the division title and a first-round playoff win over the Cowboys at the Silverdome.

How much credit Kramer deserves for that can be debated. He threw eight touchdowns and eight picks in his eight regular season starts, though he was lights-out in the playoff win in maybe the best game of his career. He came back to earth the next week in the Lions' blowout loss to the Redskins in the NFC championship.

Kramer also took the reins late in the 1993 season and helped the Lions clinch another division title before they crashed out of the playoffs in a first-round loss to the Packers. Kramer, who threw one touchdown and two picks that day, moved on to the Bears the next season and the Lions haven't hosted a playoff game since.

Anyway, Wayne Fontes was the head coach of those teams, and remains the winningest head coach in Lions history -- even with a sub.-500 record of 66-67 in his nine years at the helm. While Kramer was watching the Bye Bye Barry documentary released last month, he took exception, just like fellow former Lions quarterback Scott Mitchell, to Fontes' telling Sanders at a recent homecoming game that the missing piece in Detroit was a star quarterback.

"Wayne comes back and he’s talking, ‘All we needed was a quarterback.' I’m like, all we needed was a frickin’ coach. Like, did you even know where the practice field was? That’s the thing. That dude, in particular, didn’t have any idea there was even a game going on. He would go like, 'Hey, let’s run that play again where Barry scores,'" Kramer said.

There is some irony here. In his conversation with Sanders, Fontes said he tried to acquire star quarterbacks Joe Montana and Warren Moon late in their careers to elevate the Lions' roster. And Kramer said one of his gripes with the Lions organization is that "back then in the NFC, there were basically three teams that would go hunt for whoever: the Packers, 49ers and Cowboys. And the opposite was true of Detroit." Except Fontes was apparently hunting Hall of Famers.

All that said, Kramer is highly supportive of where the Lions stand today and likes the team's chances to finally win another playoff game. He's attended homecoming games at Ford Field the last handful of years, including this season for the Lions' rout of the Raiders on Monday Night Football. Kramer said that night "was the closest I felt" to the playoff win at the Silverdome.



"It was electric," he said. "And the Silverdome back then, (the capacity) was closer to 80,000, everybody had a white something to shake. I’m just glad I didn’t play for Dallas that day, because it was deafening. And Ford Field on that Monday Night Football game was the closest thing I ever heard to that."

Kramer, 59, considers it a "miracle of life" that he survived a depression-induced suicide attempt in 2015, "because I did everything I could possibly do to ensure that I wouldn’t be here," he said. "Thankfully the doctors did what they did and the people around me just hung in there the entire time. Medically, there’s probably not a long list of folks that have put a gun to their head, pulled the trigger and then lived to tell about it."

Kramer has since made it his purpose to raise awareness around suicide prevention and to help anyone who might be in a place similar to the one he was in eight years ago. He said that after he gave a talk at a recent seminar, a woman approached him, clearly emotional, and explained that 10 months after her mother passed away, her sister committed suicide.

"And I said, 'What those of us who do that don’t realize and lose perspective on is that for us, it’s over. For those who are around us and love us, it’s just beginning,'" said Kramer. "Depression will knock your socks off and send you down a hole where you lose perspective on what life really is, so I’m thankful for the fact that I get a second chance."

I thought he was going to be a great Head Coach, he was a defensive coach that was a college quarterback, which I thought was a unique combination. Plus I liked his aggressiveness in his first year, going for the 1st down on 4th & short. However, after being an upper tier DC for the Rams, he could not fix that side of the ball for the Chargers. The defense that had talent, gave up big plays and last year in his first playoff game, which should have been an easy win resulted in a total collapse, which did not wear off in 2023.

Not sure where the Chargers go from here and I would not want Staley back as DC, if Morris leaves for whatever reason, promote DL Coach Eric Henderson, he has earned it.

Andrew Whitworth Explains What Sets Sean McVay Apart From Less Successful NFL Coaches​

https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/12/13/andrew-whitworth-explains-sean-mcvay-characteristic-rams

From the X link: Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/bykevinclark/status/1734967237314748440


The most impressive thing @AndrewWhitworth saw in the NFL? Sean McVay's first OTAs as a head coach where he only taught character. Great insight on McVay's success. "A lot of teams that suck right now it's because their head coaches are scared to challenge their players as men."

According to Colt McCoy and Underdog Fantasy Football, our beloved coach McVay should be in consideration for Coach of the Year.

"But he should have run the ball 13 times in a row!!!"

Enjoy the watch of "McVay`s Stars and Scrubs" scheme and decide for yourself:

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6g4Cw10fbc

1. Hip drop tackles - Tackler anchors his hips into the ground and will often twist the runner’s body at unnatural angles. I agree with this one, so does Sammy.
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/sHWLvPMsWQE?si=tU_q10-zMO0bJzyo


Kupp does as well:
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/SsH31VvNaAQ?si=oSldQ4c0iCXsefAF


2. Kickoffs - The League is looking to make changes to add excitement. To encourage more returns the NFL could tape respot the ball at the 20 to encourage more returns. Since many blocks have been made illegal, player safety has been increased.

3. Touchbacks on fumbles - I don’t think there is anything wrong with awarding the defending team a touchback for fumbles that occur in their end zone or beyond. However, the NFL may wish to increase scoring. Stay tuned.

4. Tush Push - As a Rams fan I hate this play as it is difficult to spot, there is a huge advantage for the offense, and some player safety is involved. In the high school ranks, it is illegal for players to assist a runner. I wish the NFL would get revert back to the HS rules.

What do y’all think?

Thursday Night Football - December 14, 2023

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders: 8:15 p.m., Prime Video

RamsOnDemand Sportsbook:

We’ve got Saturday football this week!

Week 15 NFL schedule

Thursday, December 14, 2023
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders: 8:15 p.m., Prime Video

Saturday, December 16, 2023
Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals: 1:00 p.m., NFL Network
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts: 4:30 p.m., NFL Network
Denver Broncos vs. Detroit Lions: 8:15 p.m., NFL Network

Sunday, December 17, 2023

THE EARLY GAMES
Chicago Bears vs. Cleveland Browns: 1:00 p.m., Fox
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Green Bay Packers: 1:00 p.m., CBS
Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans: 1:00 p.m., CBS
New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins: 1:00 p.m., CBS
Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots: 1:00 p.m., Fox
New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints: 1:00 p.m., Fox
Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers: 1:00 p.m., Fox

THE LATE GAMES
Washington Commodes vs. Los Angeles Rams: 4:05 p.m., CBS
San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals: 4:05 p.m., CBS
Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills: 4:25 p.m., Fox

SNF
Baltimore Ravens vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock

Monday, December 18, 2023
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle Seahawks: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

2024 NFL Free Agent Rankings: Top 200 players set to enter free agency

We look at the 200 best players set to hit the free-agent market this offseason with free agency still months away.

www.pff.com

23. G KEVIN DOTSON, LOS ANGELES RAMS​

Dotson was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, and what first appeared like an odd fit should have instead been a signal that head coach Sean McVay was reinventing his offense to much success in 2023. McVay has pivoted from a wide-zone rushing attack to a heavy gap scheme, and Dotson has been a picture-perfect fit. He has always been a strong pass protector, which has carried over, as well.

Top free agent comparison: Larry Warford, 2017​

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract Projection: Four years, $69 million ($17.25 million per year), $41.25 million total guaranteed

I remember when I thought the fearsome foursome was a great name for the ram's defensive front. dreaded the Vikings purple people eaters. how about the hog's offensive front-line nickname. anyone remembers any nicknames from then and what about now? I wonder why not. the league could have some good ones. go rams.

National Football League clubs today voted to approve an increase in league-operated international game inventory from four (4) to up to eight (8) games a season beginning in 2025, as the league continues to emphasize global growth as a major strategic priority.

With this vote, beginning in 2025, the NFL will have the right to schedule up to eight regular season games per season internationally. New markets and host cities/stadiums for future seasons will be announced at later dates.

The vote on 2023 Resolution JC-7 was taken at the 2023 December League Meeting in Dallas.

"Becoming a global sport is a major strategic priority for the league and 32 teams," said Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner. "Increasing international game inventory allows us to grow our global presence and share our game with exciting new markets to connect with more fans around the world."

"As a league, we welcome the update to this resolution that will ultimately see us play more games internationally than ever before, helping us to expand our global footprint and connect our teams and athletes with new audiences," said Joel Glazer, chairman of the NFL's International Committee and owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "International games have been a huge success, and we are excited for the opportunity to share American football with more fans from around the world in the years ahead."

The NFL also announced it will play a regular season game in São Paulo, Brazil -- the first ever in South America -- in 2024. With the game in Brazil, the NFL will have played a game (preseason or regular season) in five of the seven continents around the world.

In addition to the game in São Paulo, the 2024 NFL International Games will see three games played in London: two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a third at Wembley Stadium, where the Jacksonville Jaguars will play a home game as part of a multi-year partnership. A fifth game will see the NFL back in Germany for a third consecutive year, returning to Allianz Arena in Munich.

The NFL started playing regular season games internationally in 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals hosted the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Since then, a total of 50 international regular season games have been played, with London (36), Toronto (6), Mexico City (5), Frankfurt (2) and Munich (1) -- all playing host to NFL teams.

As part of the updated resolution approved by NFL ownership, no club would be required to play more than one regular season game outside of North America unless they specifically choose to.

Each club designated to play in an international regular season game will be permitted to select two of their regular season opponents that will not be eligible to be scheduled as their opponent in an international game. International games may not be scheduled after Week 14 of the NFL season.

My first mock of the season back in September had us taking an elite Edge & CB during 2024's Free Agency period, this remains the same today as it did back then. I spend big with our free agency money for Edge Brian Burns & CB Jaylon Johnson or their very NEAR EQUIVALENT.
.

Current Rams UFA players to extend/re-sign are (if the price is right) :

QB - Carson Wentz
OG - Kevin Dotson
S - John Johnson
WR - Demarcus Robinson

Our RFA's & ERFA's are all likely to return :

DL - Jonah Williams
OLB/DE - Mike Hoecht
OL - Alaric Jackson
ILB - Christian Rozeboom
RB - Ronnie Rivers
DE - Earnest Brown



Current 2024 Rams Mock Draft :

1 - DT) Jer'Zhan Newton, Il.
2 - LT) Patrick Paul, Hou.
3a) C/OG - Powers-Johnson, Or.
3b) ILB - Junior Colson, Mi.
4) TE - Cade Stover, Oh.St.
5) RB - MarShawn Lloyd, USC
6a) WR - J. Michael Sturdivant, UCLA
6b) S - Cole Bishop, Ut.
6c) DT - Fabien Lovett, Fl.St.
7a) K - Joshua Karty, Stan.
7b) Edge - Shemar Turner, A&M


53 Roster :

Offense (26)

QB - Stafford
QB - Wentz
QB - Bennett

RB - Williams
RB - Freeman
RB - Lloyd*
RB - Evans or Rivers

WR - Kupp
WR - Nacua
WR - Atwell
WR - Robinson
WR - Sturdivant*
WR - Tramell

LT - Paul*
LG - Avila
C - Powers-Johnson*
RG - Dotson
RT - A. Jackson
OL - Bruss
OL - McClendon
OG - Z. Thomas
C - Shelton

TE - Higbee
TE - Allen
TE - Long
TE - Stover*

Defense (24)

DL - Donald
DL - Turner
DL - Brown
DL - Newton*
DL - Johnson

Edge OLB - Brian Burns** or free agent equivalent
Edge OLB - Young
Edge OLB - Mathis
Edge OLB - K. Thomas or Shemar Turner*
Edge OLB/DE - Hoecht

ILB - Jones
ILB - Colson*
ILB - Hampton
ILB - Rozeboom

CB - Jaylon Johnson** or free agent equivalent
CB - Kendrick
CB - Durant
CB - Tomlinson
CB - Ojemudia or Jolly

S - Johnson
S - Lake
S - Yeast
S - Bishop*
S - Taylor

Special Teams (3) :

P - Evans
LS - Ward
K - Karty*


* depicts newly drafted player
** depicts new free agent

I know I can't be the only one who notices this.

We are horrible on check downs - we give a lot of RAC and have many missed tackles.

It seems like our guys will back up and let the offensive player "come to them" a lot in these situations and give up easy yards and 1st downs.

I don't know if this is just not having confident tacklers at those positions or something that's strategic.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/andre-braugher-brooklyn-nine-nine-actor-dead-61

RIP, really enjoyed his acting.

According to Rams website Alex Ward was placed on the injured reserved and Carson Tinker was Signed to the active roster.

Could you imagine if Matthew Stafford and the Rams travelled to Ford Field in February to face Jared Goff and the NFC North Champions Detroit Lions?

It would be exciting and gut wrenching for some here. Matthew Stafford, returning to his longtime home in Detroit with all of his Detroit fans who rooted for him and the Rams in Super Bowl 56 and who took a measure of pride in his success that year, now wanting to kick his ass. LA fans who rooted for Jared Goff since his rookie year out of Cal and who followed his progress from afar in Detroit, now are faced with him being an obstacle. Matthew Stafford conquered the Stats Padford nickname and the " he could never win it all" label in Detroit.. Jared is facing a similar question as to whether he has what it takes to elevate a forlorn Lion's club over the Rams and to a Super Bowl title. Sean McVay ultimately decided that Goff couldn't get it done in Los Angeles causing Snead to make a deal with Brad Holmes in Detroit to swap #1 picks in order to change the calculus. So far, McVay has been right about the blockbuster trade for Stafford and now it's Jared' turn.

Wooo boy.

He was 8 catches for 115 (I think) and really only 90% from my view and just in time for this playoff push.

IT WAS GREAT TO SEE!!!