Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 7

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"The Green Bay Packers came close to reacquiring safety Anthony Smith on Friday but lost out to the Jacksonville Jaguars because of the National Football League waiver system. An executive in personnel for an AFC team confirmed what had been reported on nationalfootballpost.com, that Jacksonville was awarded Smith over a claim put in by Green Bay. The waiver system at this time of year is based on inverse order of the standings. At 3-4, the Jaguars had claiming priority over the Packers, 4-3. If Smith had been awarded to the Packers, they would have had to remove a player from the 53-man roster. A good guess is that the club would have released one of three backup safeties: Matt Giordano, ..."

In a down economy, NFL viewership is up

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November 6

Washington Post

"When this NFL season began with some franchises struggling to sell tickets, there were concerns about the impact that the uncertain U.S. economy would have on the nation's most prosperous sport. While those concerns have turned out to be justified in a few NFL cities and unfounded in others, there has been an unforeseen development: The NFL's television ratings are soaring this season, and some analysts say it appears to be the result of consumers cutting back on other, more costly leisure activities in favor of watching pro football on TV. "I think there's only one answer and that is the NFL and television are actually getting the so-called 'benefit' of the recession," said Neal Pilson, ..."

Tight ends shoulder the load for St. Louis Rams

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November 5

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Who would've guessed that at the midway point of the season, the Rams' touchdown leader would be Daniel Fells and fellow tight end Billy Bajema would have the team's highest yards-per-catch average? "I'll tell you who would've guessed that - the tight ends would've guessed that," Fells shot back in mock indignation. The 6-foot-4, 272-pound Fells has found the end zone three times, most recently on Sunday in the Rams' 17-10 victory in Detroit. Fells hustled 36 yards after taking a short pass from kicker Josh Brown on a fake field goal."

Marc Bulger takes criticism for slide in stride

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November 5

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Bulger-bashers everywhere received more ammunition Sunday when the Rams quarterback went into a slide to avoid contact on a third-down scramble in Detroit. In what was a 10-2 game in the Rams' favor at the time, Marc Bulger's slide ended a 5-yard gain to the St. Louis 46. Trouble was, the Rams needed 6 yards for a first down with 9 1/2 minutes to go in the third quarter. On Wednesday, in his first comments about the controversial slide, Bulger offered no apologies or mea culpas for the play. "I was close (to a first down)," Bulger said. "There's been times this year I've gone in head first and it's hurt me for a couple weeks. So I thought I had it, but I didn't." And then, cognizant of ..."

St. Louis Rams' Steve Spagnuolo takes stock of team

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November 4

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"At the halfway mark of the season, the Rams find themselves in last place in the NFC West, last in the NFL in scoring (77 points) and last in the league in points yielded (221). But they did hit the midway point - and their bye week - on the heels of their first win in more than a year, a 17-10 triumph Sunday in Detroit. So, coach Steve Spagnuolo's informal "State of the Team" address Tuesday was generally upbeat. "There were some struggles; there were some good things," he said. "But we've built something. We talked this morning about the foundation we wanted to build. There's some trust, there's mutual respect, there's unity on the team. I think more than anything, we take that away" ..."

Rams fans finally can appreciate Steven Jackson

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November 4

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"On Tuesday afternoon as he went rummaging through the bottom of his locker room stall to find his shoes and socks, Steven Jackson really didn't look any different from how the big Pro Bowl running back has for most of his six years as a Ram: same long, flowing dreadlocks, same toothy smile, same oversized middle linebacker's body that has been tenderizing defenses on a weekly basis since he became this team's go-to offensive weapon. But there was something different. At long last, Steven Jackson seems to be accepted. "I think (the public) has had a chance to get to know me and I have had a chance to get to know them," Jackson said. "Some of the things I may say now might not take them ..."

Rams look for boost from bye week

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November 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The bye week comes at an ideal time for the Rams - the halfway mark of the season for their new head coach, his new staff and a roster brimming with new players. Or, so it would seem ideal. "The conventional wisdom would say that," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "But I would throw this at you: In 2003 in Philadelphia, we had the bye after the second game. When we got that schedule, everybody was like, 'That's a terrible time to have the bye.' "But we were 0-2 and had all kinds of injuries after the first two games. So it came at a perfect time." After opening with losses to Tampa Bay and New England, the Eagles went 12-2 the rest of the way and won the NFC East. That's not saying something ..."

Rams coach praised for first NFL win

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November 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"A week ago, after his team had fallen to 0-7 with a 42-6 loss to Indianapolis, Steve Spagnuolo was asked if he received words of encouragement from friends or coaching counterparts. "When you're winning, you get a lot of phone calls," Spagnuolo joked. "When you're not, everybody's afraid to (call). But really, that's when you want 'em. That's when you need 'em." Spagnuolo was a winner Sunday for the first time as an NFL head coach, when his Rams edged Detroit 17-10 at Ford Field. But there's no champagne or parade planned for the bye week, and Kiener Plaza hasn't been booked for a celebratory rally. Mayor Francis G. Slay won't present Spagnuolo with a key to the city. The coach said he ..."

Rams' trick earns a treat

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November 2

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The last time Rams kicker Josh Brown launched a pass, he was playing eight-man football at tiny Foyil (Okla.) High. As of Sunday afternoon, Brown is one for one - with a perfect passer rating of 158.3 - as a pro. His short toss to tight end Daniel Fells on a fake field goal late in the first half resulted in a 36-yard touchdown and gave the Rams a 10-2 lead on their way to a 17-10 victory over the Detroit Lions. "I hadn't run a fake in seven years, in my time in the league," Brown said. "It worked to perfection." At first, the Rams lined up to go for a first down on fourth and 8 with 1 minute, 7 seconds left in the half. Quarterback Marc Bulger aborted the attempt by calling a timeout. ..."

Rams find daylight

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November 2

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"As with many things in the game of football, timing is everything when it comes to the celebratory Gatorade shower. "It's got to be perfect," defensive tackle Leger Douzable said. "It can't be too early, 'cause he'll see you. If it's too late, he might be already on the field." But like so many things this season for the woebegone Rams, it didn't come easy. When Douzable and safety James Butler - both former Giants who were with coach Steve Spagnuolo in New York - found the orange Gatorade bucket, it was ... empty. "So we had to put water in, get the ice," Butler said. "We had to do all that." But they did it, and so did the Rams. After 17 consecutive losses, over 378 days, St. Louis' ..."

Rams rise to challenge

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November 2

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Bryan Burwell

"Our local nightmare was at long last about to come to an end, only we didn't know it yet, and quite frankly, neither did Steven Jackson. He'd already endured 378 agonizing, disgusting, frustrating days and nights of winless football. And with less than 2 minutes to go Sunday afternoon in half-empty Ford Field, the rambunctious audience of 40,857 raw-lunged Lions fans were cranking up the noise and sensing that somehow, some way Jackson's woebegone Rams would figure out another excruciating way to extend a 17-game losing streak to one more luckless game. These Lions fans - connoisseurs of the unflattering art of NFL futility - thought they knew what a truly bad team looks like when it is on ..."

Jackson, Brown are stars for Rams

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November 2

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Steven Jackson's rushing heroics and kicker Josh Brown's touchdown pass were the attention grabbers in the Rams' 17-10 victory Sunday over Detroit, and rightfully so. Jackson's 25-yard touchdown run snapped a 10-10 tie in the fourth quarter, and Brown's 36-yard TD pass to Daniel Fells on a fake field goal in the second quarter accounted for the Rams' only other touchdown. But the Rams' defense did its part, limiting the Lions and play-caller Scott Linehan to 10 points and 289 yards offense. Both were the second-lowest totals yielded in those categories by the Rams this season. Linehan, the Lions' offensive coordinator and former Rams head coach, kept the visiting team off-balance early ..."

Steven Jackson carries Rams to a 'W'

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November 2

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"After driving the defensive lineman in front of him to the ground, Rams center Jason Brown sneaked a peek downfield. And then he let out a whoop. "You look up and you see No. 39 getting smaller and smaller," Brown said, "and you say, 'Thank you ... thank you so much.'" The sight of running back Steven Jackson steaming toward the end zone in the final moments Sunday was a welcome - and long overdue - sight for the Rams. The last time they had walked off a field celebrating a win, Barack Obama was still the junior senator from Illinois. Jackson shed at least three would-be tacklers on his 25-yard burst off right tackle with 1 minute, 38 seconds remaining that gave him his first touchdown of ..."

Sorry Seven didn't get parity invitations

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November 2

Buffalo News

columnist Mark Gaughan

"The bottom is falling out of the NFL this season. Every year there is a handful of really bad teams at the bottom. This year, however, there aren't just two, three or four dregs in the NFL. There are seven. For the first time since 1970, there are two 0-7 teams and one 0-6 team. Only once in the last 40 years — in 1985 — had there been three 0-6 teams. The Sorry Seven right now comprises: St. Louis (0-7), Tampa Bay (0-7), Tennessee (0-6), Cleveland (1-6), Kansas City (1-6), Detroit (1-5) and Oakland (2-5). We'll have to see if any other teams spiral downward and join this group. The increasing number of blowouts is another sign of the bad getting worse. Last week six of 13 games were ..."

Drops sink Lions chances against Rams

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November 2

Detroit News

"It's becoming apparent that no Calvin Johnson equals no offense for the Lions. Without the superstar receiver in the lineup, the Lions have managed just 17 points over their last 10 quarters -- and the lone receiving touchdown was by Dennis Northcutt against the Steelers. With Johnson sidelined for a second straight game because of a right-knee injury, the Lions needed someone -- anyone -- to step up from Sunday against the Rams. And what they got was practically nothing in a 17-10 loss. Only two of quarterback Matthew Stafford's 14 completions came from the receiver position. Northcutt dropped three passes and Bryant Johnson two. The Lions dropped six in the game. "Obviously a big ..."

Lions unable to best NFL-worst Rams

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November 2

Detroit News

"Somebody had to win Sunday's game between the Lions and St. Louis Rams, two teams that entered a half-empty Ford Field with a combined two wins in 45 games since the start of the 2008 season. But did it have to be the Lions? Well, yes, quite frankly. The way they played in a 17-10 loss to the Rams, who snapped a 17-game skid with their first win since Oct. 19, 2008, this was no fluke. And while it wasn't the sheer volume of dropped passes, missed tackles and bad penalties that dropped the home team's record to 1-6 -- same as the visitors' -- the Lions proved once again that their timing is impeccably bad. Asked what it felt like to celebrate a victory -- rookie coach Steve Spagnuolo got ..."

It's scary, but Rams have a chance

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November 1

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Bryan Burwell

"Halloween weekend is a particularly troubling time of the year in this rugged and depressed industrial city. For more than 20 years, the good civic-minded citizens of the Motor City have hit the streets on foot and on roller skates, on bicycles and small organized car patrols in hopes of averting the rather disturbing local holiday tradition. Halloween arson fires. Under the cover of night, packs of scoundrels annually roam the city streets setting fire to abandoned buildings and cars. No one has ever been able to figure out any rhyme or reason as to why this twisted Halloween ritual (they call it "Devil's Night") was started, but it has become a major civic embarrassment for this ..."

Ram plan: Just win (one) baby

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November 1

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"It's the kind of matchup that doesn't come around all that often. The planets have to be aligned just right - and so do the losses. But it's here, Sunday at high noon (St. Louis time) at Ford Field in Detroit. The 0-7 Rams and the 1-5 Lions in a compelling battle of the beatens ... the Stupor Bowl! Last season, the Lions became the first team to go winless since the advent of the NFL's 16-game schedule in 1978. A loss Sunday puts the Rams at 0-8 and in the express lane towards duplicating that dubious feat. Since the start of the 2008 season, the Rams are 2-21. Since the start of '08, the Lions are 1-21. Detroit ended a 19-game losing streak in Week 3 of this season by defeating visiting ..."

Black sheep

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November 1

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"You know things aren't going well when an opponent's 1-5 record makes you an underdog. Such is life for the 0-7 Rams, who have lost 17 consecutive games over two seasons, who have won only five of their last 34, and who are redefining the term "futile franchise" for St. Louis. If the hapless Horns don't turn the tide at Detroit, they will be halfway to matching the Lions' unprecedented 0-16 record of last season and eight games shy of Tampa Bay's NFL record 26-game losing streak. Will this team be the NFL's "Biggest Loser?" Is it the worst team in the history of St. Louis sports? Time will tell. Keep in mind, this town is no stranger to piteous performance. When it comes to such dubious ..."

Antonio Gates charges up lucky student

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November 1

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"It was just after 8 a.m. on Tuesday when the black stretch limousine angled its way off Valley Parkway and through the twisting roads of a small apartment village. This place seemed forgotten. Patches of its grass had been worn to dirt. Barbecue grills and old bicycles rusted in patios framed by strings of pumpkin lights. Paper skeletons faded on a front door. A San Diego Chargers flag hung limply outside another. Nobody was outside when Chargers Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates stepped from the limo, climbed up the stairs to Unit 18, the apartment with the blue and gold lightning bolts and the illuminated "Chargers Country" sign in its living room window. Gates, wearing his dark blue ..."

New receiver Brandon Gibson appears ready to play

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October 31

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Erstwhile Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon terrorized the Washington Redskins on Monday night, returning an interception for a touchdown, collecting a team-high eight tackles, including a sack, and forcing a fumble in a 27-17 Philadelphia victory. The day before, wide receiver Brandon Gibson - the player the Eagles traded for Witherspoon - spent the afternoon in street clothes on the sideline at the Edward Jones Dome, watching Indianapolis cruise to a 42-6 win. The Rams' coaches decided that Gibson, a rookie out of Washington State drafted in the sixth round, wasn't up to speed on the offensive scheme - even though it's similar to what the Eagles run."

Rams are mixed over reunion with Scott Linehan

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October 31

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Old Rams coaches don't die, or even fade away. Instead, they go to Detroit to work as offensive coordinators. The last time the Rams played Detroit, in 2006, Mike Martz was the Lions' first-year offensive coordinator. Martz was fired as Rams head coach after the '05 season. On Sunday, the Rams renew their series with the Lions. This time, Scott Linehan will be calling plays as Detroit's first-year offensive coordinator, 13 months after being fired as Rams head coach. "Scott's awesome," Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters. "Our philosophies meshed right away. ... Our vision here is to be a big, physical team that can run the football and stop the ..."

Mercifully, few will see Rams-Lions telecast

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October 30

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Hey St. Louisans ... it's a game fit for your eyes only. On Sunday when the Rams, who are 2-21 since the start of last season, take on the Lions - 1-21 in that span - the only major market to be subjected to the tangle of the tinkerbells telecast is St. Louis. Detroit homes won't be receiving the feed because the game, which is being played there, isn't sold out. In addition to KTVI (Channel 2), Fox is sending the telecast to several small towns on the periphery of the St. Louis market - Columbia, Mo., Springfield, Mo, Quincy, Ill. and Paducah, Ky., as well as several minor markets in Michigan. Those locations make up a grand total of 2 percent of the nation's homes. Ron Pitts ..."

Martin eager to show he can play

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October 30

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Laurent Robinson's season-ending leg and ankle injury presented a golden opportunity for Ruvell Martin to fill the void at wide receiver. But just when the former Green Bay Packer was getting up to speed on the Rams' playbook, he suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games. "It's been a frustrating couple of weeks," Martin said. "But I just want to get out there." This could be the week. Signed as a street free agent one week into the regular season, Martin was on the pregame inactive list in Games 2-3 (Washington and Green Bay) as he learned the St. Louis offense. He made his Rams debut with spot duty in Game 4 (vs. San Francisco), but then came the hamstring injury in ..."

Is there a 'franchise' QB to be found in Rams future?

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October 30

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Marc Bulger's days as the Rams' starting quarterback appear to be numbered. The team, which hasn't posted a winning record since 2003, will lug a 17-game losing streak to Detroit on Sunday. And Bulger, 32, hasn't been able to reprise anywhere near the production of his Pro Bowl season in 2006. Barring an extraordinary Bulger rally, the Rams almost certainly will be in the market for a quarterback next year, and possibly very early in the draft. Unless their fortunes reverse dramatically, they'll be at or near the top of the selection list in a year in which the class of top-shelf QBs figures to be strong. The franchise hasn't used its first-round draft pick on a quarterback since 1964, ..."

Lions coordinator Scott Linehan takes on team that fired him

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October 30

Detroit News

"Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said Sunday's game against St. Louis is very important in that the 1-5 Lions desperately need a win. That is the extent of its importance, Linehan insists, despite the fact that it's the first time he'll face the organization that fired him as its head coach four games into last season. "I really don't have anything emotionally toward this game other than the fact that we really need a win," Linehan said. "We have a 10-game season (remaining) and this is game one of that 10-game season and it's important for us to go out and get started right." Linehan seems to be settling into his role as Lions offensive coordinator after three tumultuous ..."

Lions will be blitz happy against Rams

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October 29

Michigan Live

"Gunther Cunningham, the Detroit Lions' colorful defensive coordinator, apparently is a believer in the theory that if some is good, more is better. Two weeks ago, the Lions had 40 blitzes in their defensive package. Today, after the recent bye week, they've installed more than 65. "Yeah, a few things have been added,'' said outside linebacker Julian Peterson, who leads the team in sacks with 3 1/2. The 1-5 Lions host the 0-7 St. Louis Rams at Ford Field at 1 p.m. Sunday, and Rams quarterback Marc Bulger could see a different Detroit defense than the one he has seen on film. "We have at least 65 blitzes in -- we've up-tempo'd a little bit,'' Cunningham said. "The blitz defense is really ..."

Linebacker David Vobora is happy to return to Rams

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October 29

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"David Vobora kept himself busy during his league-mandated four-game suspension. When he wasn't working out three times a day, the Rams linebacker took the time to add another tattoo to his, uh, collection. "My mom doesn't know about it yet, so don't say anything," Vobora said. Too late now. The latest tattoo, wrapped around his ribs, reads: Greatness is not made in a day. But greatness is made daily. So, apparently, are tattoos. "Two of the worst hours that you could ever imagine," Vobora said. "Rib tattoos are not so nice on you." Neither are four-game suspensions. Vobora, the Rams' second-year linebacker from Idaho, returned to practice Wednesday following his suspension for violating ..."

About all the Rams have left is their composure

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October 28

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Jeff Gordon

"So far, anyway, the Rams have handled relentless adversity in a professional manner. They don't have their star running back spewing insults via Twitter and barking homophobic taunts at media types, as the Chiefs have. They haven't rendered their head coach a lame duck and forced him to surrender play-calling responsibilities, as the Redskins have. They haven't had the head coach accused of assaulting one of his assistant coaches, as the Raiders have. They haven't had the wife of a deposed general manager insulting current management on local radio shows, as the Titans have. All in all, the Rams have maintained their composure through their 0-7 start. But that doesn't mean the players are ..."

Schedule has been against the Rams

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October 28

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"No matter how the schedule was configured, the Rams weren't expected to win many games this season. Not with a new coaching staff, new front office and, most important, not much talent on the roster. But as the Rams approach the midpoint of the season, it has become painfully obvious that their schedule has been downright brutal: — St. Louis is one of only five NFL teams this season that will face teams coming off byes in back-to-back weeks. They'll reach that dubious double Sunday against the Detroit Lions,who are fit and rested after their bye week. — The Rams are one of only four NFL teams that played four of their first six games on the road (without the benefit of a bye mixed in). — ..."

Rams' coach: Team's intensity waned

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October 27

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"He chose his words carefully, but first-year Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo made it clear after Sunday's 42-6 loss to Indianapolis that he felt his team suffered a letdown in the fourth quarter. That was a significant departure for Spagnuolo, who had stressed all season that the Rams always had fought to the finish despite the mounting losses. After Monday's film review of the game, Spagnuolo modified his opinion. "I felt that ... maybe it was a whole quarter that we (lacked) intensity," he said. "But when I went back and looked at it, that's not the case. It was probably three minutes of not quite the intensity that we had had.""

More injuries hobble Rams

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October 27

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The injuries are piling up almost as quickly as the losses this season at Rams Park. As expected, long-snapper Chris Massey is headed to the injured-reserve list because of anterior cruciate ligament damage to his left knee. Massey will have company on the IR list because the news was worse than expected on rookie cornerback Bradley Fletcher. Fletcher left Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts with what was originally described as a hyperextended knee. However, additional testing Monday revealed a much more serious injury. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Fletcher has lateral meniscus cartilage damage in the knee as well as ACL damage. "It's a pretty severe knee injury," Spagnuolo said. ..."

Colts defense dominating by playing 'loose'

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October 27

Indianapolis Star

"The secret to the high level of play by the Indianapolis Colts' defense during the team's 6-0 start is no secret at all, according to one of the new components. Vibe. "We're joking, laughing, just staying loose as a defense," rookie cornerback Jerraud Powers said Monday. "We're not worried about all the negative things that might be out there. "We've got a good vibe as a defense." While it's impossible to quantify the impact "vibe" has had, there's no question the unit is playing with a purpose. It ranks No. 9 in the league in total yards allowed and No. 2 in points allowed on the heels of Sunday's 42-6 road whipping of the St. Louis Rams. "The thing I'm really pleased about, overall, is ..."

Lions' next opponents know all about futility

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October 27

Detroit News

"For the first time since the 2008 season opener, the Lions likely will be installed as favorites by Las Vegas oddsmakers this week as they host the winless St. Louis Rams at Ford Field. A 42-6 loss at home to the Colts on Sunday was the 17th in a row for the Rams (0-7), a streak that's only two shy of the Lions' 19-game skid -- the second-longest in NFL history -- that ended last month with a win over the Redskins. St. Louis, under first-year coach Steve Spagnuolo, ranks last in the NFL in scoring offense (8.6 points per game), last in the NFC in total defense and has been outscored 211-60. By contrast, Detroit was outscored, 212-114, in its first seven games en route to last seasons ..."

Fletcher, Massey out for season for Rams; long snappers work out

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October 26

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Cornerback Bradley Fletcher will join long snapper Chris Massey on the St. Louis Rams' injured reserve list because of a knee injury suffered Sunday against Indianapolis. Team sources told the Post-Dispatch that Fletcher will need a two-stage surgery to repair a hyper-extended knee. Fletcher, a third-round draft pick last season, had started the last three games."

St. Louis Rams suffer 17th loss in a row

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October 26

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"After being knocked to the canvas by a couple of Peyton Manning lightning bolts, the Rams picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and hung in there - kind of - for nearly three quarters. But then Marc Bulger threw what looked like a late sideline pass toward Keenan Burton. Indianapolis rookie cornerback Jacob Lacey guessed right, jumped the route, and made his first NFL interception a memorable one. Lacey raced 35 yards for a touchdown, giving Indianapolis a 28-6 lead with one minute to play in the third quarter. You could almost hear a collective sigh from the St. Louis bench after that one. MORE RAMS SOUND OFF: Rams Talk forum 2009 SCHEDULE: Team by team BLOG: Around The Horns ..."

Rams notebook: Steven Jackson simmers as Rams stumble

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October 26

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"To put it in perspective, Hollis Thomas has scored more points than Steven Jackson, almost midway through the 2009 season. Yes, Hollis Thomas, the defensive tackle and one-time Ram, picked up two points Sunday with a safety for his new team, Carolina. Jackson, meanwhile, has gone seven games this season without a touchdown. Seven games without a single rolling of the dice, Jackson's signature TD celebration. And if you think he's OK with that, think again. When asked about the frustration of rushing for a season-high 134 yards but not reaching the end zone, Jackson went into a slow boil after Sunday's 42-6 loss to Indianapolis."

Colts overwhelm the St. Louis Rams 42-6

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October 26

Indianapolis Star

"The Indianapolis Colts were too good Sunday for Peyton Manning to tie the NFL record with his sixth straight 300-yard game. It wouldn't have been appropriate for Manning to try for the mark the way his unbeaten team was beating up on the woeful St. Louis Rams. Manning still threw for three touchdowns in a 42-6 victory. "He functions pretty well within the system," coach Jim Caldwell said. "He does a great job leading our team and being a field general. I don't think he reached 300 yards, but nevertheless he was very effective." Manning was 23 for 34 for 235 yards, and the defense got its first score of the year on rookie Jacob Lacey's 35-yard interception return. Looking fresh coming off ..."

Ryan learned how to be a pro

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October 25

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The weekend of April 28-29, 2007, was bittersweet for Michigan State's Clifton Ryan. He was pleased to be drafted, naturally. But he wasn't happy that 15 other defensive tackles were selected before the Rams took him in the fifth round with the 154th overall pick. "That's been my motivation since I've been in this league," Ryan said. "A lot of guys that were picked before me aren't in the league anymore. A lot of them are on practice squads. I wanted to prove to people that they looked beyond me as a player, and most of all as a person." As the Rams prepare for the unbeaten Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome, Ryan is coming off one of his best games. He collected seven ..."

Tall task ahead for Rams

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October 25

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Email thisShare thisPrint thisComments () Digg Yahoo! Del.icio.us Facebook Reddit Drudge Google Fark Stumble It! Tall task ahead for RamsBY JIM THOMASST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH10/25/2009 Despite a blurry-eyed week of film study figuring out how to slow Peyton Manning and Indianapolis, Rams defensive coordinator Ken Flajole insists he's sleeping like a baby. "And that means I get up every two hours and cry," Flajole quipped. Can you blame him? Manning is playing as good as ever. The unbeaten Colts are ranked third in the NFL in total offense and - no surprise - first in passing offense. They have one of the league's top wide receivers in Reggie Wayne and one of its top tight ends in ..."

Classic mismatch is all-time worst

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October 25

Indianapolis Star

"What are the odds a sellout crowd at St. Louis' Edward Jones Dome will see something truly special this afternoon? It's guaranteed as teams streaking in opposite directions collide. Consider: The Indianapolis Colts are 5-0 and own the league's longest active regular-season winning streak at a club-record 14 games. The Rams sit at 0-6 and have lost 16 straight, the NFL's longest active losing streak. Since the 1970 merger, 8,766 regular-season games have been played. Not once have teams with such disparate streaks met. Sit back and enjoy what appears to be a mismatch of epic proportions. The Colts insist they aren't taking anything for granted, least of all a Rams bunch that went on the ..."

St. Louis Rams prepare for tough Indianapolis Colts D

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October 24

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Understandably, much of the pregame buildup for Sunday's home game against Indianapolis has focused on Peyton Manning and the Colts' precision offense. But that's only half the problem for the winless Rams, because Indy's defense presents its own set of problems. In what falls into the category of well-kept secrets, the Colts come to town with the NFL's seventh-ranked defense. That's a higher rating than any of the Rams' previous opponents this season except for No. 5 Washington. "They're a fast defense," Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. "We just got done playing a big physical style (Jacksonville), and this is the flip side of the coin. Very fast. Very explosive. They really ..."

James Butler is ready for Indianapolis Colts

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October 24

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"James Butler has gone against Peyton Manning and the high-powered Indianapolis offense just once in his career. It's a game he'd like to forget. The Colts prevailed 26-21 on Sept. 10, 2006, in East Rutherford, N.J., and Butler - a second-year pro in a reserve safety's role for the New York Giants - dropped what should've been an interception. On Sunday, Manning and the Colts visit the Edward Jones Dome. Butler will be in the lineup after missing three games because of a knee injury. But if the matchup carries any special meaning for him, Butler isn't tipping his hand. "It's the NFL; every offense is good," Butler said. "I'm just glad to have the opportunity, and I'm ready to get back." ..."

Colts' Bob Sanders gets green light

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October 24

Indianapolis Star

"It has been the better part of 10 months since Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders uncoiled and collided with someone on a football field. "I'm sure he's got a lot of pent-up energy," defensive end Dwight Freeney said Friday afternoon. "I'm sure he's going to give somebody a lick." The opportunity comes on Sunday, at long last. That's when Sanders, the NFL's 2007 Defensive Player of the Year, will return to his normal spot in the starting lineup when the Colts meet the St. Louis Rams in the Edward Jones Dome. He missed the first five games while completing his rehabilitation from offseason knee surgery. "I'm excited, just getting ready, gearing up," Sanders said. "It's been a long time." ..."

Boller has Manning down cold in practice

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October 23

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Every day at Rams practice, the job of the scout team quarterback is to run the plays of the opposing team's offense. Obviously, the idea is to help the Rams' first-team defense prepare for that week's game. Well, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts are coming to town this week. And Kyle Boller is giving the Rams' defense more than its money's worth as scout team QB. He's got the pointing, the gestures, the foot stomp - all trademarks of Manning at the line of scrimmage. And you wouldn't believe some of the things Boller is barking out before the ball is snapped. "Other than some of the names he's yelling out - 'Ice cream! Boller! Boller!' - and all those type of things, he's ..."

Running backs don't mind sharing carries

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October 23

Indianapolis Star

"Steven Jackson is the quintessential feature back. The St. Louis Rams veteran has 120 carries through the team's 0-6 start. The rest of the Rams' running backs share 15 attempts. The Indianapolis Colts used to lean on Edgerrin James in a similar fashion, but no more. Since the departure of their career rushing leader before the 2006 season, they've taken a tandem approach with their running backs. Sunday in the Edward Jones Dome, the Rams must deal with Joseph Addai and rookie Donald Brown. "I'm cool with that," Addai said. "I've been rotating since college. That's what I do." Addai has rushed 704 times during his four-year, 48-game career. He has handled at least 20 attempts 12 times but ..."

Front office of Rams shows it's willing to keep fighting

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October 23

Indianapolis Star

"As Tuesday began to unfold and the clock kept ticking toward the NFL's 4 p.m. trading deadline, the surprise of all surprises was that the winless St. Louis Rams still were deep in the swirl of all the best rumors. And as the gossip ensued, the biggest intrigue was whether the team would play the role of buyer or seller. Or in more cold and concise language, would they pull out the white flag of surrender, admitting after an 0-6 start -- and with a losing streak that has grown to a hideous 16 -- that this season was already beyond redemption? The most obvious sign of capitulation would be a desperate fire sale, a sell-off of anyone of value, hocked for a pittance. All weekend, we heard the ..."

Gibson joins merry-go-round

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October 22

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Brandon Gibson knows little about St. Louis - he'd never even been here until now. But he is aware of the Rams' lowly position in the NFL standings. "We don't have a win," Gibson said Wednesday. "I'm ready to go get one." Just 24 hours earlier, Gibson was ready to go get a dust pan and an ironing board in Philadelphia. He was on his way to the local Wal-Mart when he got the call from the Eagles, informing him he had been traded to St. Louis. "I was running errands, getting stuff for my apartment," Gibson said. "I get a call from a random 215 (area code) number, saying, 'We've got to make a trade and your name came up.' " Gibson wasn't able to finish his shopping. "I had to pack up and get ..."

Rams' linebacker Paris Lenon gets another shot

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October 22

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The last time he took on the Indianapolis Colts, linebacker Paris Lenon turned in arguably the most productive game of his eight-year NFL career. Playing for the Detroit Lions, Lenon piled up 17 tackles in a 31-21 Indy victory that wasn't secured until the final moments. Now, Lenon is primed for another shot at Peyton Manning"

Bob Sanders goes through a full practice, seems ready to play Sunday at St. Louis

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October 22

Indianapolis Star

"Will he or won't he? For the first time this season, strong safety Bob Sanders participated in all drills Wednesday as the Indianapolis Colts practiced for their Sunday game at St. Louis. The 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year offered no guarantees, but he was bullish. "Definitely," he said. "I feel better than I've felt for a long time. I definitely feel excited about it and hopefully I'll be able to get in there and get some plays." Sanders has been rehabilitating since offseason surgery on his right knee. He has not played this season and began practicing on a limited basis two weeks ago. Pro Bowl end Dwight Freeney sounded like he fully expects his teammate to be on the field at the ..."

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