Jeff Fisher

The Week 1 NFL preseason Hall of Fame game is still a few days away, but let's take a moment to look ahead to Week 1 of the regular season.  A handful of games deserve some more attention and present some potential value. 

Right now all we can go on is what things look like on paper and early reports from training camps, but it's never too early to be on the lookout for betting opportunities.

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants: DAL +3.5

At the moment this line sits at NY -3 or -3.5 depending on where you shop, but I find it hard to believe the hook will still be available come September, barring injuries.  Right now I have these teams side-by-side in my power rankings, but I expect the Cowboys to surpass them at some point in the season—if not right away. 

Trend-wise, defending Super Bowl champs are 10-2 ATS in Week 1 the following season, but the Giants aren't a team that inspires that kind of confidence for me.  I like what Dallas has done in the offseason—especially with their secondary.   Dallas +3.5 has value.

Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets: BUF +3.5

Can someone explain to me why the Bills are available at +3.5?   I'm sorry, but I fail to see where the Jets have enough of an advantage to warrant the hook.  Show me one category that the Jets have an advantage in. 

It's no surprise by now that Buffalo has gotten a lot of offseason love and with good reason.  The early money has agreed.  The line has already moved 2.5 points off the -6 opener.  I'd be shocked if it didn't move to -3.  Even then, I think Buffalo has value.  The Jets are one team I'll be looking to fade this year. 

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Minnesota Vikings: JAX +4.5

This is another point spread that baffles me. Ok so MJD and Blackmon aren't in camp and they drafted a punter in the third round, but does anyone remember how good their defense was last year?  And they could be even better this season.  There are mixed reports on what Gabbert has looked like in camp, but they acquired Chad Henne for a reason. 

For me, this is just as much to do with the lackluster prospects of the Vikings.  Ponder comes with his own set of question marks and red flags and won't have Jerome Simpson or a healthy Adrian Peterson in Week 1.  There's also no glaring indication that the O-line or pass defense will be markedly improved either.  Jacksonville +4.5 could be a strong play as long as Jacksonville gets their key guys into camp at some point.

St Louis Rams vs Detroit Lions: STL +9

I understand the Rams were bad in 2011, but by no means do I think they should be +8.5/+9 underdogs either.  The Lions were team that many expected (or expect) to take a big jump this year, but they didn't have the kind of offseason to inspire that kind of confidence. 

Meanwhile, the Rams not only got a lot healthier, but they also added some nice pieces via the draft and free agency.  Their biggest acquisition was landing Jeff Fisher as head coach.  I'm not sitting here saying that the Rams are going to win this game outright, but it wouldn't surprise me if they did. 

The big problem areas for Detroit last year were in their secondary and their defensive line wasn't nearly as dominant as people expected.  This could be the perfect opportunity for St Louis to get off to a competitive start to the year. 

The Rams should be able to get some pressure on Stafford and their secondary won't be as vulnerable as it was in 2011.  On paper, the true line should be around a touchdown. 

Atlanta Falcons vs Kansas City Chiefs: KC +1

In my opinion, the wrong team is favored in this matchup.  I'm high on KC this year and optimism will be high on opening weekend in Arrowhead. 

The Falcons have solid continuity in the key areas and they made positive changes on the coaching staff, but I'm not about to throw away and ignore their 1-5 record in tough games last year.  I saw them make similar big offseason moves before 2011 and they found out the hard way their O-line wasn't equipped for a downfield attacking offense. 

Will that change this year?  It could, but they will have their work cut out for them against a very strong KC defense.  I'd almost be willing to lay 2.5 points on KC in this game, but if the books want to give us +1 then I won't be complaining.  I expect the Chiefs to win this game straight up.

Summary 

It's still early August and a lot can change over the next month.  We've already seen a collection of injuries league-wide and we haven't even had a snap of preseason yet.  Monitor how these teams look over the first three weeks in the preseason.  There should be more than enough value once the dust settles, but don't leave it too late because the market isn't going to wait for us to get in on the action either.   

This entry is from the Free NFL Predictions blog. For the full article and free picks visit www.brooksbets.com. Follow Bobby Brooks on Twitter the entire football season for all things NFL betting.

Welcome to Tuesday's St. Louis Rams "News and Notes at Noon", the premiere destination for major Rams headlines and updates of interest with brief commentary and analysis. 

Once again, due to the heavy training camp schedule, the analysis and commentary offered will be minimal. 

St. Louis Rams Training Camp: Full Report and Top Performers From Day Two 

The intensity level seemed cranked up a notch as the Rams engaged in day two of training camp from the Continuity X Training Center.  

I was on hand and shared my observations from practice, including the day's top performers, reviews of position specific work, my thoughts on several impressive rookies, assessments of some exciting one on one work and various additional observations. 

Please click here for the the full report via missourisportsmag.com.

Sam Bradford Is Ready to Make You Remember 

St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell offered this feature on St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford and the potential he possesses to show everyone why he was the NFL's offensive rookie of the year in 2010 and why he can be so much better. 

According to Jeff Fisher via the above-linked column, Bradford is looking good:

His potential is extremely, extremely good.

The things that we're seeing from him right now. A really good understanding of the offense, not afraid to practice, not afraid to pull the trigger, (learning) from the mistakes, just taking charge. And that's what he's doing. He's done a great job, he's making some great throws. You're already seeing him develop a relationship with even the young receivers already. You saw today him throwing to (Brian) Quick all day. Those things are important. He's right on track.

Burwell's piece also offered some tremendous quotes from Bradford and some very interesting insight and commentary on the immensely talented quarterback, a column I would certainly urge you to read in full. 

Rams Owe it to Jackson to Become a Winner

According to Brian Feldman and this piece for kmov.com, the Rams owe it to three time Pro Bowl back Steven Jackson to become a winning team. 

Feldman suggests that, after years of great production on one subpar team after another, Jackson deserves some team success. 

Sticking with that process, here is a terrific link from fox2now sharing Jackson's thoughts on his goal of making the playoffs in 2012. 

Michael Brockers Is Ready For the Challenge 

In this piece available at stltoday.com, Dan O'Neill profiles the Rams first round pick from the 2012 NFL Draft, defensive tackle Michael Brockers. 

Among other things, Brockers talks about his adjustment to the NFL and his long, thick beard. 

In addition, O'Neill shared some thoughts from Jeff Fisher on Brockers, including these:

He's picking everything up mentally. He came (to training camp) in really good shape. His strength is good. ... It's just a matter of, wait until we get the pads on, get him in some preseason games and see how he can compete against starting offensive lines.

Rookie Corners Setting In

Stlouisrams.com senior writer Nick Wagoner shared a nice piece on Rams rookie corners Janoris Jenkins (round two) and Trumaine Johnson (round three.) 

According to Wagoner, both are coming along nicely and adjusting well to the pro game thus far. 

Both Jenkins and Johnson seem confident that they will continue to develop throughout training camp for St. Louis.

Jenkins, in particular, has looked good thus far.

Other Day Two Camp Reviews

Nick Wagoner, senior writer for stlouisrams.com, posted another blog update after day two of Rams camp. Among many other things, Wagoner details wide receiver Greg Salas and his move back to the outside after playing primarily in the slot last season. 

With slot man extraordinaire Danny Amendola in the fold, it is important that Salas can be effective on the outside in any set or on the inside, if called upon, in four receiver formations.

Former NFL executive Tony Softli asserted in this piece for 101sports.com that the intensity picked up in day two or Rams Camp, as I noted in my piece, linked above. 

Softil also suggested, among other things, that the men will be separated from the grown men on Thursday when the full roster puts pads on for the first time. 

Mike Sando of ESPN offered his take on the day two action from Earth City, Missouri in this submission for espn.com.  Sando, who I enjoyed speaking with briefly yesterday, keyed on Sam Bradford and James Laurinaitis in the above-linked article. 

Finally, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offered his impressions on the second day of camp practices and shared a detailed update on rookie offensive guard Rokevious Watkins, who reported out of shape but appears to be nearing his return to the practice field. 

More Training Camp Reports

Andrew Astleford of foxsportsmidwest.com shared this feature on the Rams first day of camp. Astleford, in the aforementioned piece, focuses on Jeff Fisher and the confidence he exudes on the field. 

He also took a close look at the impressive coaching staff the Rams have assembled.  

Zach McCrite of 101sports.com and the Zach and the Coach show offered these five impressions from camp thus far. 

Interviews Galore Including Sam Wyche of the NFL Network Saying Rams Will Be Better

In an interview with Bernie Miklasz for 101 ESPN aka 101sports.com, Sam Wyche of the NFL Network state, among other things, that St. Louis will be better this Fall. 

In an interview with 101sports.com, quarterback Sam Bradford expressed that he feels that camp is certainly different this year. 

In yet another interview from 101sports.com, middle linebacker James Laurinaitis shared his impressions of camp to date and his thoughts on Chris Long's new contract and the prospects on himself receiving a contract extension soon. 

For even more interviews from the aforementioned website and radio station with the likes of Rams Chief Operating Officer Kevin Demoff, former NFL executive Tony Softl and Andrew Siciliano from the NFL Network, please click this. 

Finally, for a look at Jeff Fisher's recent celebrity charity softball game, please click here. 

Rams Locking Up Chris Long Bodes Well for Rams Future

Randy Karraker offers his opinions for 101sports.com and why he feels locking up the standout defensive end bodes well for the St. Louis future. 

It is certainly a piece I would suggest taking a few moments to read. 

Rams Turn Attention to Re-Signing James Laurinaitis

According to this piece from Jim Thomas for stltoday.com, the St. Louis front office is now turning their attention to extending the contract of James Laurinaitis following the announced four year extension of DE Chris Long. 

Thomas shared some great quotes on Laurinaitis and from Laurinaitis in the above-linked piece. 

Rams Sign Former Pro Bowl Fullback Ovie Mughelli

In this piece for stltoday.com by Dan O'Neill, new fullback Ovie Mughelli, a 2010 Pro Bowl player, is profiled and quoted extensively.

Mughelli, 32, looks to take over most of the run blocking duties for the Rams. It would not be surprising to see a fullback cut loose soon from the current St. Louis roster. 

Last season, Mughelli's year was cut short due to injury but looks to have a bounce back year.

Head coach Jeff Fisher, via O'Neill's column, appears to be very high on the big fullback: 

He's one of the better fullbacks to play in the modern era.

If he has another good year left in him, that type of blocking could pave the way for an enhanced running attack from Steven Jackson and rookie Isaiah Pead. 

Mughelli, for his part, feels he has three or four more good seasons left: 

I know I'm capable of playing three or four more years in the league at a high level.

Rams Fan Chat With Rams VP of Fooball Operations and COO Kevin Demoff

Finally, in a chat available at theramshuddle.com, Rams Chief Operating Officer and VP of Football Operations answered a plethora of questions, in great details, from various Rams fans. 

You will certainly want to check it out, as you can via this link. 

Have a great day, as always, STL Rams Nation. 

Follow @SGmosportsmag

Coach Jeff Fisher’s presence in St. Louis has revitalized the city about the Rams and that excitement carries over to the coach himself.

The Rams held their first full-squad practice of training camp on Sunday in front of more than 1,600 fans.

Fisher told reporters following Sunday’s practice that he’s very excited and every training camp feels like his first one. He deflected some of the praise for the fans that came out, instead saying that the fans likely showed up to see some of the recent signings. But, make no mistake, Fisher is an NFL rock star.

That was evident when he made his first public league appearance at the NFL Combine in February. Following his press conference, Fisher was surrounded by a horde of reporters from across the country trying to get in one more question as he walked back toward the tunnel. Before he could get back to watching workouts, he had to first stop to do an interview with NFL Sirius Radio and then TV interviews for NFL Network and ESPN. The reporters who were waiting patiently left with their questions unanswered. 

In St. Louis, Fisher has been more than gracious with the media and that’s a welcome change of pace from the close-to-the-vest and paranoid approach of the affable, yet ambiguous, Steve Spagnuolo.

The Rams have more than just Fisher to be excited about. What Fisher and new general manager Les Snead have done is build a 90-man training camp roster—deeper than it’s been in over five years.

The Rams brought in several free agents, including cornerback Cortland Finnegan, center Scott Wells, linebackers Mario Haggan and Jo-Lonn Dunbar and defensive tackle Kendall Langford. Rookie corners Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, receivers Brian Quick and Chris Givens, defensive tackle Michael Brockers and running back Isaiah Pead have added to the excited optimism.

With the signing of defensive end Chris Long to a contract extension and linebacker James Laurinaitis' likely soon to follow, the Rams have locked up two of their defensive leaders as the rebuild gets under way.

As the Rams move forward, retaining Long and Laurinaitis will be critical to the defense’s development. Long is coming off a career year with 13 sacks and Laurinaitis has led the team in tackles in each of his three years.

Fisher wants the two to be mainstays on the defense and assistant head coach Dave McGinnis called Laurinaitis a “perfect middle linebacker for this defense.”

Long said he is “blessed and really lucky” to get the extension out of the way. He was entering the final year of his contract and now his focus can be completely on football.

“It just puts your mind like you know where you stand and I feel really good about obviously commitment to me and I’m committed to them regardless,” Long said Sunday. “I’m always going to play really hard. To feel like I’m gonna be a part of something turning around, and I know I will, I’m absolutely lucky and appreciative and really happy.”

 “I’ve been here along with some other guys for some years now and I’ve seen the downs. When it turns around I want to be a part of it. I don’t want to be watching it from somewhere else.”

Bradford said the first practice of training camp was “awesome” but there are still questions: How will his offensive line hold up? Will a receiver finally emerge as a true No. 1? Can tight end Lance Kendricks limit his drops? Will tight end Michael Hoomanawanui remain healthy all season?

Each of those questions will impact Bradford’s growth as a quarterback as he begins his third season and third offensive system in as many years.

Hoomanawanui reported to camp early to ensure that his knee, injured at Cleveland last year, is completely ready for camp. Fisher said the third-year tight end is moving well and he took part in every drill during the first two days of camp.

For the receivers, Quick and Givens continue to impress and will push some veterans for a spot. One vet who could be in trouble is the oft-injured Danario Alexander. The former Mizzou star has had five surgeries on his left knee over the last five years, but his latest ailment is a lingering hamstring problem that forced him to miss time last season. Alexander hasn't participated in the first two days of camp and could miss up to the first week. He will likely be held out of the team’s intra-squad scrimmage scheduled for Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome.

Alexander’s absence could mean good news for Brandon Gibson, who appeared to be the odd man out among the veterans. Gibson could be slated for that fifth spot. He’s looked good through two days, including a pretty toe tap catch in the back of the end zone on Monday.

The Rams also must find a left guard and there are health questions about both starting tackles. Jason Smith has had three concussions in as many years. The new coaching staff has shown faith in the second overall pick in the 2009 draft—now he has to reward their trust by playing in all 16 games for the first time over his young career.

Left tackle Rodger Saffold suffered a freak pectoral tear while weight lifting that sent him to IR. Saffold is still a bit limited, but could be clear for full contact when the Rams pad up on Wednesday.

Quinn Ojinnaka has been getting the early first-team reps at right guard, but Bryan Mattison and rookie fifth-rounder Rokevious Watkins should be in the mix as well. Center Robert Turner has been working with the first team while Wells recovers from a knee scope he received in May. Wells is still expected to be the starter, but if Turner plays well enough in Saturday’s scrimmage and preseason games, that starting job may not be a given. This is an opportunity for Turner, a five-year veteran who played in offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s system with the Jets, to prove that he can be a starter.

Wells and Alexander were the only two players held out of practice on Monday.

NFL Network’s Jeff Darlington will arrive in St. Louis on Thursday for an on-site report from Rams Park. The team’s next open practice is Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Central. It will likely be a light practice with limited contact because of Saturday's scrimmage.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand. 

A week ago, it looked like Janoris Jenkins might have been a holdout for the start of training camp.

A second-round pick out of North Alabama, Jenkins and his agent, Malik Shareef, weren’t happy that the St. Louis Rams weren’t going to give him the signing bonus and guaranteed money he was asking for.

Disaster was averted on Wednesday when Jenkins agreed to a four-year, $5 million contract with $3.1 million guaranteed. That is the highest increase of percentage of any second-rounder over the last two years since the rookie wage scale was put into place, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Jenkins contract also includes a signing bonus of $2.1 million that will be paid in installments.

The Rams also inked third-round pick Trumaine Johnson to a four-year deal on Wednesday.

Part of the hangup with Jenkins was also the fact that the Rams reportedly wanted the troubled  cornerback to meet with a sports management and financial advisor to get Jenkins’ child support and finances in order. That was something the NFLPA opposed.

Shareef didn’t want to talk about the contract negotiations and told the Post-Dispatch he was just happy the deal was done and that Jenkins was in camp. The Rams are, too.

Jenkins, who was kicked out of the University of Florida because of multiple arrests, would have been a first-round pick had it not been for his off-the-field troubles. The Rams gambled on him with the 39th overall pick and are hoping for a big payout.

So far, Jenkins has avoided any trouble—unlike some other players this offseason. That’s a good sign and re-affirms what Jenkins and coach Jeff Fisher have been saying all along—the player’s troubles are behind him.

If that’s true, then Jenkins can possibly win a starting job this year. He may have been the most fluid athlete of all the cornerbacks during the minicamps and organized team activities. Once the players get the pads on next week, Jenkins can show how good he really is.

What’s good for both sides is that Jenkins won’t miss any practices. Any time missed during training camp can be detrimental to a rookie’s development. With Jenkins in town for the rookie workouts this week, he’ll be able to refresh himself with the defense prior to the veterans’ arrival on Saturday.

When that happens, look for Jenkins to be like a shadowy sponge around Cortland Finnegan. Talent-wise, they are probably the team’s two best corners. Bradley Fletcher has had two knee injuries, Jerome Murphy is coming off a broken ankle and Josh Gordy played well when pressed into a starting role (though he still got beat deep too often).

Those veterans know just how talented Jenkins is and his presence from the beginning of training camp will only make him—and the rest of the secondary—better.

Janoris Jenkins is in the news again.

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reported yesterday that Jenkins still hasn't signed with the Rams. Training camp opens in a week. Since it's a really, really good idea for rookies to report to camp on time, this should be a cause for concern in Rams Nation. I know it is starting to freak me out.

So today, I'm going to try to mediate this dispute with some unsolicited advice for Janoris Jenkins.

Janoris, the Rams drafted you, a top 10 talent, with the No. 39 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. You were still available because of your checkered past. The Rams drafted you with a plan to help you grow up, but since the draft, things haven't gone according to plan.

As Cole reported back on July 5, the Rams tried to pick a financial adviser for you, but you didn't like that idea. The Rams wanted you to use an adviser that head coach Jeff Fisher recommended, but you already had your own team in place.

According to Cole's report, you are relying on an entourage that includes your agent Malik Shareef, Army staff sergeant Sandy Cornelio and Merrill Lynch adviser Rich DeLuca. I don't know your relationship to any of these people, but that sure seems like a lot of people to keep on the payroll.

Since you are still unsigned, and being very reluctant to take any advice from the Rams, the team just wants some safeguards in the contract. Instead of paying the signing bonus in one lump sum, which is the norm, the Rams want to spread the bonus over four installments, This way, if you run into trouble again, and you are no longer with the team, they won't have to pay you.

If this sounds unusual, it's not. The Patriots did the same thing with Aaron Hernandez. Remember him? You guys were teammates at the University of Florida. Hernandez also had his own pre-draft issues. He accepted the deal, behaved himself, and in the end, made more money over the life of the deal.

The Rams are basically asking you to share the risk they took when they drafted you.

Let's cut the crap, Janoris. You need the money. You have four children by three different women, and according to Cole's latest report, now there is a fourth woman claiming that she is also your baby's momma. You took out a loan during the draft process to get caught up on your child support, so you are already in debt.

Here is the part that bothers me the most, and this is the part that should bother you the most: according to Cole's report, your agent "is concerned about how he will be viewed by other potential clients for taking such a deal."

So your agent is looking out for himself, and his own future, instead of trying to do what's best for you. Janoris, you're going to make more money over the life of this contract if you take the deal, and more importantly, you're going to report to camp on time.

Jeff Fisher has gone on record to say you're going to be "really good, really soon."

If you become really good, really soon, that would have to mean that your career got off to a good start. That would mean that you reported to camp on time and won the starting job at corner. If you do that, and you play as well as I hope you do, you are really going to get paid.

Have you seen how much Darrell Revis makes?

Trust me. You need to tell your agent, "take the deal." Report to camp on time. Win the starting job. Become a star. Then you'll really get paid.

The San Francisco 49ers are the class of the NFC West. After finishing the season at 13-3 last season, and returning virtually their entire team, not to mention some very strong offseason additions, everybody in this division is chasing the Niners.

That seems like a good enough place to start our discussion.

If you believe everything you read or hear, then the Niners "came out of nowhere" last year. People who actually watch football know otherwise. The Niners were building something pretty special as early as 2008 or 2009, but injuries, coaching changes, and inconsistent quarterback play were holding that team back.

In 2009, the Niners finished the season 8-8. They lost six of those games by a touchdown or less, four by four points or less. They had the second best defense in the NFC, only allowing 281 points. Their offense was above average, scoring 330 points on the season.

Frank Gore averaged 4.9 yards per carry. Alex Smith completed over 60 percent of his passes, when he was healthy—he missed six games due to injury. Vernon Davis caught 78 passes for 965 yards, and he looked every bit like a young stud at tight end. Patrick Willis was leading a ferocious young defense.

The Niners were this close to being a powerhouse.

Then 2010 rolled around. Alex Smith got hurt again, Frank Gore got hurt, the defense fell apart, and Mike Singletary couldn't get the team pointed in the right direction. The Niners flat out underachieved, allowing the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks to tie for the division lead with a 7-9 record.

So where am I going with this history lesson?

The Niners had talent, but for several reasons (health, coaching, too many young players,) they couldn't put all of the pieces together. That's the way things generally work in the NFL. Sometimes you are one year away, one draft away, one free agent class away, one coaching change away, or just one piece away from being a really good football team.

Once again, the Niners are the class of the NFC West. Where does that leave the rest of the teams in this division? Here is how I see it.

1. San Francisco 49ers - After finishing 13-3 last season, the Niners added Randy Moss, Brandon Jacobs, LaMichael James, and A.J. Jenkins on offense. So the team with the best defense in the NFL gets a lot more explosive on offense. More importantly, they are probably the deepest team in the NFC West, meaning they will be able to better absorb the inevitable injuries that every NFL team has to deal with. Prediction: The Niners will fall just short of last year's win total, finishing 12-4. They are one of a handful of teams in the NFL with a real shot at winning the Super Bowl.

2. St. Louis Rams - Looking at our history lesson, the Rams have a very similar background to the Niners. They have a young QB that was the No. 1 overall pick who is already playing for his third head coach. They have a talented young defense. They've slowly added pieces on offense, and have an offensive line that has undeniable talent, but hasn't put it all together yet. Bottom line, no team in the division added more talent this offseason than the Rams - through the draft, free agency, and getting their own players healthy. Like the Niners, they were a team on the verge two years ago, only to take a step back last year. Expect Jeff Fisher's philosophy to take full advantage of the personnel on this roster. Prediction: The Rams could go as high as 10-6, but I'm going to dial the expectations back a little bit and call for a 9-7 finish. The Rams, behind a terrific secondary and the best pass rush in the division, will be knocking on the door for a wild card playoff spot.

3. Seattle Seahawks - The Seahawks finished 7-9 last year, and had four losses of four points or less. Their defense ranked seventh in the NFL in points allowed. Their offense was the weak spot on this team, and they brought in Matt Flynn as the new starting QB to fix that. With arguably the best secondary in the division, I think this team has a lot of potential. However, I think the reaches in the draft will finally catch up to this team. So many luxury picks will leave this team exposed to injury. They are a talented team, but they're also an injury or two away from playing street free agents in some positions. Prediction: The Seahawks, winners of the division in five of the last eight seasons, will finish 6-10, give or take a game. This is basically the same spot they've finished in for the last three or four years.

4. Arizona Cardinals - After finishing 8-8 last season, this team could honestly go either way. On one hand, they lost four games by four points or less last season, they didn't have their best running back all season, and their starting QB missed six games. So it wouldn't shock me at all if they finished 9-7 or 10-6. However, their 17th ranked scoring defense looks very average on paper, and they have the worst offensive line in the division. Prediction: The Cardinals look like a team stuck in neutral, and with the rest of the division getting better, I'm predicting a 5-11 finish, and one very hot seat for head coach Ken Wisenhunt.

Welcome to Monday's St. Louis Rams "News and Notes at Noon", the go to source for all major Rams headlines and updates with brief commentary and analysis, a place where we rack up more hits than Rams' Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones.  

NFL.COM Ranks New 2012 Head Coaches 

Marc Sessler of nfl.com recently ranked the NFL's new group of head coaches in this piece.  Seven head coaching changes have taken place heading into the 2012 season, including, of course, the Rams and their addition of veteran head coach Jeff Fisher. 

Mike Mularkey of the Jacksonville Jaguars checked in at No. 7.  The Kansas City Chiefs' Romeo Crennel came in strong at No. 2.

Where, however, did the head man in St. Louis rank?

Not surprisingly, Fisher headed the list, locking down the top spot. Sessler shared these thoughts regarding the Rams head honcho: 

"Fisher isn't just the best of this bunch; he's among the league's finest coaches. As bad as the Rams have been, Fisher understands how to build a consistent, winning program. This was a franchise-altering hire."

I could not agree more with Sessler's assessment of Fisher and his potential impact on St. Louis. 

After hiring two first-time head coaches in Scott Linehan and Steve Spagnuolo, the Rams made the right choice in going with proven winner Jeff Fisher.  Fisher and his veteran coaching staff are, unquestionably, a significant upgrade over the two aforementioned regimes.  

For more of my thoughts on Fisher, feel free to check this recent piece. 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Sends Memo to Teams Regarding Potential L.A. Relocation

Several media sources have revealed details of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's memo to NFL teams regarding potential relocation to Los Angeles, California. 

In this piece, nfl.com cites this from Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times as the first to reveal details regarding the aforementioned memo. 

Several items from the memo are notable; however, one thing that many reports focused on was the fact that the NFL, not individual teams, will control the relocation process. 

ESPN also shared a report on Goodell's explanation, an explanation of a detailed process that went to each of the NFL's 32 teams. 

Other things that stood out include the fact that any team wishing to relocate in 2013 would have to do so between January 1 and February 15 of next year. The San Diego Chargers would be the only team in position to apply for a move in 2013 due to their year to year lease situation, which will put them in the position of being free to move during that aforementioned time frame. 

The relocation-obsessed Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who clearly realizes that fear sells, shared his take on possible league relocation next year here. 

For any team to even begin pursuing a move, they would have to prove that they have exhausted all attempts at finding a stadium solution in their own home market area and consult with the league on each of those prospective sites.  

In St. Louis' case specifically, that would obviously include the Edward Jones Dome and then sites north of the EJD, across the river in Illinois (who got involved in the Cardinals stadium process) and possible suburban sites such as Fenton (who threw their hat in the ring), Chesterfield, or even Earth City (where the Rams headquarters stand.) 

A team would also need approval of 24 NFL owners, among other things, before any move could occur. 

Locally, there have been several published pieces responding to the league's view of potential future relocation and/or expansion. 

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch shared a very interesting column here in regard to Goodell's memo. 

Burwell suggested in the above-linked submission that the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission should view this memo as a wake-up call and a reassurance that L.A. could indeed be a viable option for the Rams (or any team) at some point in the future, and thus, Burwell insists, the CVC should look to secure the Rams sooner rather than later. 

According to the above-linked Burwell piece, he says he is told the following in regard to St. Louis and the CVC and ongoing lease negotiations with the Rams, a process that is currently in arbitration: 

I keep being told by people that everyone on the city's side of the table wants to keep the Rams and understands the value in regarding pro and amateur sports as a viable industry. I keep hearing that they understand how to get this deal done. I keep being told that intelligent people with vision are running the show.

Ryan Van Bibber of Turf Show Times has had a very balanced approach towards lease negotiations throughout the process, often acknowledging that L.A. could indeed become an option, at least theoretically at some point, for the Rams. 

In this piece, Van Bibber analyzes the situation and rightfully points out that the city and CVC could take this into 2014, right to the brink, just as the folks in Minnesota recently did.  

Van Bibber also accurately states that the Chargers (year to year lease) and Raiders (out of lease after 2013 season) could move before the Rams could have a chance (if so inclined.)  

I might add, as many of you know, that the Buffalo Bills will go to the highest bidder at the point that Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson passes.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a strong lease but could move if they show three years of losses. There is also a buyout clause in there for new owner Shahid Khan that would be in effect if the Jaguars were to move before 2017.

Van Bibber writes that he was convinced recently, during the Rams recent trip to Joplin to help build three homes in the tornado ravaged city, that the Rams have made roots here.  

He acknowledges, of course, that a move is possible, but he, along with others including myself, have heard enough to feel very confident that the franchise is not looking for an out but instead desires and fully intends to remain in the Gateway City. 

Finally, Mike Sando of ESPN summed up the situation in this piece. Sando succinctly pointed out that the Commissioner's memo does not directly impact the Rams in any manner, short term. 

At the very least, the Rams, as Sando points out, are bound to the STL area until at least March of 2015.

Depending on the outcome of arbitration (which is binding for the Rams), the organization could begin playing at the EJD on a year to year lease in 2015 if an agreement is not reached in relation to arbritration, move to another location within the region or potentially exit the region for another city, such as L.A., at that time. 

Where Do the St. Louis Rams Cornerbacks Rank? 

Ryan Van Bibber of TST posted a piece at sbnation.com ranking the Rams' and all 32 NFL teams' cornerback situations.

The Jets secondary, led by Darrell Revis, checked in at the top of the mountain. The Baltimore Ravens came in just behind the Jets at No. 2.  

The Rams, by all accounts, should have a much improved stable of corners after adding free agent acquisition Cortland Finnegan of the Tennessee Titans, Janoris Jenkins in round two of the 2012 NFL Draft and Trumaine Johnson in round three.

Furthermore, they are returning a solid starter in Bradley Fletcher and a guy who could fit in very well in this defense: the tough, hard-hitting Jerome Murphy.  St. Louis also returns a surprisingly strong performer from last season, Josh Gordy. 

After enduring a season where ten corners were lost for the year to injury, better health alone would equate to a much improved secondary. However, when you also consider that St. Louis has both added and are returning a terrific group of talented players (as mentioned above), the position should be much improved over last year. 

How improved does Van Bibber expect the St. Louis cornerback position to be this Fall? You will need to click the above-linked piece for the answer to that. 

NFL Easing Blackout Rules 

According to this report from the Wall Street Journal, the NFL will be easing its' blackout policy this year while simultaneously looking to provide more incentive to get people into the seats around the league, as league-wide attendance, in recent years, has dropped by 4.5 percent. 

The article above details the changes the NFL will be implementing, including hopes of adding wireless internet at venues across the league, more extensive use of video replays and the allowance for public address announcers to solicit fan response before an opponent faces a big third down. 

The report also mentions that, someday, in-game fans could be able to hear conversations between referees during disputed calls that go to the replay booth.  

The report also points to diminished season ticket demands around much of the league, including Indianapolis after the departure of legend Peyton Manning and a rough 2011 season. 

As for the backed-off blackout rules, the league owners have passed a resolution allowing games to air in local markets when as few as 85 percent of seats are sold. 

A report from Kevin Noble of thephininsider.com shares that the Dolphins were only at 81 percent capacity in 2011, and that Florida saw plenty of blackouts with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jagaurs fans both enduring blackouts. 

The Rams themselves were only at 85.4 percent capacity during the disaster that was last season's 2-14 season. 

Terrific Profile of Rookie Cornerback Trumaine Johnson 

Douglas M. shared a very detailed profile at turfshowtimes.com on former University of Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson, a third round pick of the Rams. 

Johnson brings great size to the position, at 6'2' and 204 pounds, and could eventually be a candidate to switch to safety, although the plan is to keep him at defensive back, at least for now. 

Rather than breaking down the outstanding and lengthy piece, I would urge each of you to check it out via the link above. 

As touched on previously in this column, the Rams should have some exceptional depth at DB in 2012, and Johnson figures prominently into that mix, most likely in a backup role. 

Johnson played with Jeff Fisher's son, by the way, at Montana. Fisher's son is on staff with St. Louis as an assistant in the secondary.

Will Brian Schottenheimer Succeed in St. Louis? 

My friend, Tevin Broner of Turf Show Times, shared a nice look at offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and his prospects for success as the orchestrator of the St. Louis offense. 

Broner was not a huge fan of the Schottenheimer hire and points to reasons why in the above-linked piece. He does, however, admit that things could be better than he expects with the OC under the tutelage of Jeff Fisher. 

Several Rams players, including Steven Jackson and Sam Bradford, have pointed to similarities in this offense and towards the offense directed by Pat Shurmur in 2010.  

I look for Schottenheimer to do well in his run with St. Louis. He was hand-picked by Fisher and should be able to implement the offense in a way that is desired by the head coach. 

Ranking the 50 Best Defensive Players in the League 

For a nice look and analysis from Adam Lazarus of Bleacher Report regarding his slotting of the best defensive players in the National Football League, please click here. 

I do not agree with all of the rankings; however, there is some solid commentary regarding the ranked players.  

Chris Long of St. Louis made an appearance in the rankings, although I would have ranked him a little bit higher than Lazarus did. 

First of Four Media Misconceptions About the St. Louis Rams: St. Louis Is a Baseball Town 

Finally, I posted the first of four reports regarding major media misconceptions regarding St. Louis and the Rams. 

In the above-linked first piece, I take a look at the support the Rams have received in the Gateway City, the faulty view that some have of St. Louis being merely a baseball town, and the head to head Rams and Cardinals television ratings and attendance figures for the Rams dating back to 1995, among many other things.

I hope many of you find the report to be interesting and informative. 

Have a great day, as always, STL Rams Nation. 

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