NFL combine a TV spectacle, moneymaker; value under scrutiny
The NFL combine is winding down and itโs clear the annual scouting event thatโs evolved into a made-for-TV spectacle continues to be a required stop on the road to a pro football career amid concerns it can be a demeaning process with diminishing value.
Baker cooks: Newcomer Mayfield rallies Rams past Vegas 17-16
Baker Mayfield threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson with 10 seconds to play to cap a 98-yard drive, and the Los Angeles Ramsโ brand-new quarterback led two TD drives late in the fourth quarter of a shocking 17-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
McCaffrey throws, catches, rushes for TDs, Niners rout Rams
Christian McCaffrey became the 11th player in NFL history with a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in one game, and the San Francisco 49ers extended their regular-season mastery over the Rams to four full years with a 31-14 victory over Los Angeles.
Defending Super Bowl champion Rams open season as underdogs
Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams will raise their Super Bowl banner Thursday night before kicking off the NFL season at home where they became the second straight team to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy in their own stadium.
Stafford throws 3 TD passes, Rams edge Goff's Lions 28-19
Matthew Stafford passed for 334 yards and three touchdowns against his former team, and Jalen Ramsey made an end zone interception on his 27th birthday with five minutes left in the Los Angeles Ramsโ 28-19 victory over Jared Goff and the winless Detroit Lions.
Rams sign speedy veteran WR DeSean Jackson for LA homecoming
Veteran receiver DeSean Jackson has signed with the Los Angeles Rams, returning to his native Southern California after 13 NFL seasons on the East Coast. The Rams announced the deal for Jackson on Sunday, March 21, 2021 adding him to the targets for new quarterback Matthew Stafford. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)LOS ANGELES โ Veteran receiver DeSean Jackson agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, returning to his native Southern California after 13 NFL seasons on the East Coast. โThe difficult part of the equation is finding those players who can actually threaten NFL defenders, because most players that come into this league are fast,โ Snead added. Weโd all love to identify those guys that can even threaten NFL defenders.โ___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Report: Rams sending veteran DT Michael Brockers to Lions
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Michael Brockers (90) celebrates after sacking New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis )LOS ANGELES โ A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press that the Los Angeles Rams are finalizing a trade sending veteran defensive tackle Michael Brockers to the Detroit Lions. Brockers has been a stalwart on the Rams' defensive line for the past nine seasons after they chose him with general manager Les Snead's first draft pick in St. Louis in 2012. Brockers teamed up with All-Pro Aaron Donald in 2015 and built a formidable tandem on the Rams' defensive line, and they were joined last year by Sebastian Joseph-Day in a breakout season. With the departure of long snapper Jake McQuaide to the Dallas Cowboys this week, Brockers and punter Johnny Hekker were the Rams' longest-tenured players. With running back Malcolm Brown's impending departure for Miami, Hekker, Donald and right tackle Rob Havenstein will be the only remaining St. Louis Rams on Los Angeles' roster.
AP sources: Lions trade Stafford to LA for Goff, draft picks
ESPN first reported the swap, which will include the Rams' first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 along with their third-round pick this year. 1 overall draft picks will provide a fresh start for two durable starting quarterbacks who probably need a change of scenery. Stafford asked to be traded shortly after the current season ended with the Lions' third straight campaign with at least 10 losses. Los Angeles likely had to pay a premium in draft picks to persuade the Lions to take on Goff's deal. Shortly after last season, Stafford asked to be traded and spared from another rebuilding project.
Chargers hire Rams DC Brandon Staley as head coach
The 37-year-old Staley's name is prominent in NFL circles this month as the league's less successful teams plot their next head coaching hire. (AP Photo/Doug Murray, File)COSTA MESA, Calif. โ Brandon Staley won't have to move that far for his first head coaching opportunity. Staley agreed to become the Los Angeles Chargers' coach on Sunday night after one season as the defensive coordinator for the crosstown Rams. โItโs not just that Brandon possesses a tremendous football mind that makes him the ideal head coach to lead our team forward,โ general manager Tom Telesco said in a statement. He is the third assistant under Rams coach Sean McVay to get an NFL head coaching job, joining Green Bay's Matt LaFleur and Cincinnati's Zac Taylor.
Rams' defense struggles with injury hindering Donald
Without Donald in peak form, the NFLโs top defense simply couldnโt slow down the leagueโs highest-scoring offense. The Green Bay Packers scored on their first five series and beat the Rams 32-18 in the NFC divisional playoffs. โI love Aaron Donald,โ Rams coach Sean McVay said. Yet this heavyweight matchup between the Packersโ offense and the Ramsโ defense was more like a mismatch for much of the day. You have to defend every inch as far as laterally.โThe Rams also had some uncharacteristic mistakes on defense to help Green Bay out.
Jared Goff to start for Rams in Green Bay; Wolford inactive
They're in complete accord this week, however: Goff is the best choice to lead the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs. Goff will start the Rams' postseason game at Green Bay on Saturday, while John Wolford will be inactive one week after incurring a neck injury, McVay announced Thursday. After Goff had surgery on his broken right thumb Dec. 28, Wolford got the Rams' last two starts โ even though Goff thought he was ready to play last week. McVay instead decided early in the week that Wolford would start, although he didn't announce his decision until shortly before kickoff. โI was extremely excited to have that chance in a big game up in Seattle,โ Wolford said.
Friends as playoff foes: Packers' LaFleur faces Rams' McVay
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur and Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay say their friendship and shared history shouldn't have much of an impact on their teamsโ upcoming NFC divisional playoff matchup. The top-seeded Packers (13-3) host the Rams (11-6) on Saturday with an NFC championship game berth at stake. San Franciscoโs head coach is Kyle Shanahan, who worked at Washington with Matt LaFleur and McVay from 2010-13. They reunited in 2017 when McVay became the Ramsโ head coach and hired LaFleur. One year later, he became the Packersโ head coach.
McVay: Rams expect Aaron Donald to play vs Packers
(AP Photo/Scott Eklund)LOS ANGELES โ All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald is expected to play for the Rams on Saturday in Green Bay after injuring his ribs in Los Angeles' playoff victory at Seattle. McVay said he doesn't expect to name a starting quarterback this week for the Rams' showdown with the top-seeded Packers (12-4), preferring to wait until game day for the second straight week. Donald left the game and went to the locker room, but eventually returned to watch the Rams' win from the sideline. โWe'll be smart with him throughout the week,โ McVay said. Rams left guard David Edwards also left with Achilles tendinitis.
Browns advance, Brees to meet Brady, Lama Jackson a winner
The Browns not only snapped a 17-game skid at Heinz Field, they manhandled the mistake-prone archrival Steelers 48-37 Sunday night. After two postseason flops, Jackson was his usual dynamic and decisive self in leading the Ravens to a 20-13 wild-card victory at Tennessee. Browns 48, Steelers 37In their first playoff road victory since 1969, the Browns (12-5) overcame all sorts of problems and history. Baker Mayfield threw for three touchdowns and the Browns got their first playoff win in 26 years. While leading his new team, the Buccaneers (12-5), to their first playoff win since Tampa Bay won the 2002 championship, Brady extended his record for playoff victories to 31.