Los Angeles Rumors Will be 800-Pound Gorilla at Rams Training Camp
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Los Angeles Rumors Will be 800-Pound Gorilla at Rams Training Camp
Posted by: Brandt Dolce in National Football League July 24, 2015
The 2015 St. Louis Rams initiate full squad Training Camp on Friday, July 31st in Earth City, MO.
While training camp typically produces discussion about position and roster battles, the 800 pound gorilla at Rams Park will continue to be the
Rams’ owner Stan Kroenke publicly continues to lobby efforts to move the team into his proposed palace in Inglewood, CA.
Kroenke has been accused of trolling tactics by scheduling his team to practice against the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard, CA, on August 17th and 18th. A third practice involving only the Rams will take place the following day on August 19th.
Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones predictably inserted himself into the story by telling Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News last month that he understood the relationship of the fans of the Los Angeles area to the current NFL team in St. Louis.
“With the initial focus groups and the initial [look-sees], the Rams are a very popular team in Southern California. And so, one of the reasons that it was attractive to us to work against them is because they have that good flavor.”
“It is certainly not a reach at all to say that fans remember the Los Angeles Rams, and that is not a reach. So that makes them a good partner to practice with in the Los Angeles area.” Jones said.
While Oxnard’s proximity to Inglewood isn’t a coincidence to Rams’ fans fearing the team is leaving, head coach Jeff Fisher, says it’s nothing more than a coincidence.
On the final day of OTA’s in St. Louis, Fisher emphasized it was one of those things that just happened to work out that the Cowboys needed a dance partner for practice.
“The two are not related. The Cowboys have practiced against somebody just about every year there. The facility is such that it welcomes another team. So we talked to a number of teams besides the Cowboys about working together with them, and Cowboys is really the only one that worked out.” Fisher said.
“I think big picture it will help us. We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t think it was going to be beneficial. Depending on the play time for the starters in the first preseason game, this creates another opportunity for them to compete and get better aside from preseason games. You have a full padded practice against another opponent.” Fisher added.
The positive aspects of practicing against another team during the preseason certainly has merit, but the motives in this case are certainly up for debate.
Fisher will no doubt field questions about the unusual mitigating circumstances again, most likely after the first Training Camp session.
He’ll predictably deflect to happenstance, and be eager to field questions about his players and the upcoming season that kicks off at the Edward Jones Dome on September 13th against the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks.
Without question, the fans would love to hear about the roster and the updates to the rookies and what players are to be cut or who the resident camp leg is going to be.
Unfortunately, fans’ attention won’t likely stray from the relocation question until the franchise secures (or fails to secure) a long-term future with the city.
Fisher doesn’t want to talk about it, and the fans certainly don’t want to hear it, but neither party has a choice in the matter.
Until Kroenke or the National Football League clears up the situation, either for the good or bad for St. Louis, Rams fans in St. Louis will find themselves consumed with the uncertainty.
That’s life for local Rams fans. Unwavering support for a team despite an owner that isn’t committed to the market is expected. Although the city and its fans have supported the franchise well beyond the production on the field, both are expected to continue in that fashion until the powers that be finally make a decision.
The NFL is in an untenable situation.
Kroenke and Jones have made their intentions clear by their actions and their voices. St. Louis Rams fans have been just as demonstrative and talkative.
The League can either placate the owners or the fans. It most likely will do neither. The NFL isn’t a billion-dollar company by accident. This decision will be based on money. It always is.
Los Angeles Rumors Will be 800-Pound Gorilla at Rams Training Camp
Posted by: Brandt Dolce in National Football League July 24, 2015
The 2015 St. Louis Rams initiate full squad Training Camp on Friday, July 31st in Earth City, MO.
While training camp typically produces discussion about position and roster battles, the 800 pound gorilla at Rams Park will continue to be the
Rams’ owner Stan Kroenke publicly continues to lobby efforts to move the team into his proposed palace in Inglewood, CA.
Kroenke has been accused of trolling tactics by scheduling his team to practice against the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard, CA, on August 17th and 18th. A third practice involving only the Rams will take place the following day on August 19th.
Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones predictably inserted himself into the story by telling Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News last month that he understood the relationship of the fans of the Los Angeles area to the current NFL team in St. Louis.
“With the initial focus groups and the initial [look-sees], the Rams are a very popular team in Southern California. And so, one of the reasons that it was attractive to us to work against them is because they have that good flavor.”
“It is certainly not a reach at all to say that fans remember the Los Angeles Rams, and that is not a reach. So that makes them a good partner to practice with in the Los Angeles area.” Jones said.
While Oxnard’s proximity to Inglewood isn’t a coincidence to Rams’ fans fearing the team is leaving, head coach Jeff Fisher, says it’s nothing more than a coincidence.
On the final day of OTA’s in St. Louis, Fisher emphasized it was one of those things that just happened to work out that the Cowboys needed a dance partner for practice.
“The two are not related. The Cowboys have practiced against somebody just about every year there. The facility is such that it welcomes another team. So we talked to a number of teams besides the Cowboys about working together with them, and Cowboys is really the only one that worked out.” Fisher said.
“I think big picture it will help us. We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t think it was going to be beneficial. Depending on the play time for the starters in the first preseason game, this creates another opportunity for them to compete and get better aside from preseason games. You have a full padded practice against another opponent.” Fisher added.
The positive aspects of practicing against another team during the preseason certainly has merit, but the motives in this case are certainly up for debate.
Fisher will no doubt field questions about the unusual mitigating circumstances again, most likely after the first Training Camp session.
He’ll predictably deflect to happenstance, and be eager to field questions about his players and the upcoming season that kicks off at the Edward Jones Dome on September 13th against the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks.
Without question, the fans would love to hear about the roster and the updates to the rookies and what players are to be cut or who the resident camp leg is going to be.
Unfortunately, fans’ attention won’t likely stray from the relocation question until the franchise secures (or fails to secure) a long-term future with the city.
Fisher doesn’t want to talk about it, and the fans certainly don’t want to hear it, but neither party has a choice in the matter.
Until Kroenke or the National Football League clears up the situation, either for the good or bad for St. Louis, Rams fans in St. Louis will find themselves consumed with the uncertainty.
That’s life for local Rams fans. Unwavering support for a team despite an owner that isn’t committed to the market is expected. Although the city and its fans have supported the franchise well beyond the production on the field, both are expected to continue in that fashion until the powers that be finally make a decision.
The NFL is in an untenable situation.
Kroenke and Jones have made their intentions clear by their actions and their voices. St. Louis Rams fans have been just as demonstrative and talkative.
The League can either placate the owners or the fans. It most likely will do neither. The NFL isn’t a billion-dollar company by accident. This decision will be based on money. It always is.
