LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-6)
OPEN CAMP: July 26
Billy Price Bengals Jersey , UC Irvine, Irvine, California
LAST YEAR: Coach Sean McVay led one of most remarkable single-season transformations in recent NFL history. Rams ended their streaks of 12
consecutive non-playoff seasons and 13 straight non-winning seasons with rampage
to first NFC West title since 2003. Franchise with NFL’s worst offense in 2016
became league’s highest-scoring team, racking up 478 points after scoring 224 in
previous year. Quarterback Jared Goff emerged as solid starter in second season,
and running back Todd Gurley was NFL’s top offensive player with relentless
year. Coordinator Wade Phillips’ defense also took quantum leap, with NFL
Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald leading makeover into versatile,
hard-nosed group. Despite tepid home playoff loss to Atlanta, Rams captured
city’s attention in second year back in LA, shrugging off competition from
relocated Chargers.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Marcus Peters, CB Aqib Talib, WR Brandin Cooks.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: LB Robert Quinn, CB Trumaine Johnson, LB Alec Ogletree, WR Sammy Watkins, WR Tavon Austin, LB Connor Barwin
Cheap Jimmy Garoppolo Jersey , offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur.
CAMP NEEDS: Donald skipped all of last season’s training camp, and is likely to hold out again while he attempts to land one of biggest contracts in NFL
history. His absence didn’t hurt much last season, but every day he waits to
begin partnership with Suh is missed opportunity. Rams acquired four elite
veteran talents in offseason, and they all must connect with teammates quickly.
Defense must adjust to styles of Talib and Peters, its two new aggressive
cornerbacks. New starting middle linebacker must be chosen after Ogletree’s
cap-related departure, with Cory Littleton likely to get first shot. Goff and
Cooks must build chemistry to keep McVay’s high-octane passing game in top
form.
EXPECTATIONS: Rams all-in on pursuit of first Super Bowl berth since the 2001 season, and have talent to get there. They’ve brought back almost every
important part of last season’s excellent offense, and added three game-breaking
stars to defense. Even if they still haven’t written gargantuan check necessary
to make Donald happy, Rams intend to contend for championships for next several
years, starting now.
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SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-7)
OPEN CAMP: July 26, Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Renton, Washington
LAST YEAR: Seattle missed postseason for first time since 2011 and injuries and depth issues caught up with aging core. Once-vaunted defense took
significant step back and offense that had been best at running was downright
dreadful. Seattle had one rushing TD last year by running back and QB Russell
Wilson again spent large portions running for his safety. That Seattle won nine
games and was in playoff conversation into late December was remarkable.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Rookie RB Rashaad Penny, WR Brandon Marshall, WR Jaron Brown, TE Ed Dickson, OL D.J. Fluker
Ronald Jones II Youth Jersey , DT Tom Johnson, DT Shamar Stephen, rookie DE Rasheem Green, LB Barkevious Mingo, rookie LB/DB Shaquem Griffin, K Sebastian
Janikowski, K Jason Myers, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, offensive
line coach Mike Solari, defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: RB Eddie Lacy, WR Paul Richardson, TE Jimmy Graham, OL Luke Joeckel, DE Cliff Avril, DE Michael Bennett, SS Kam Chancellor, CB Richard
Sherman
Hayden Hurst Ravens Jersey , offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, offensive line coach Tom Cable, defensive coordinator Kris Richard.
CAMP NEEDS: Happy Earl Thomas is good place to start. Thomas held out from offseason activities and has said he will not take part in team functions until
contract situation is addressed. Thomas’ deal expires after season. Who will be
Seattle’s No. 2 wide receiver? Tyler Lockett, now fully healthy after broken leg
suffered late in 2016? Veteran Brandon Marshall after injury-filled 2017?
Seattle must also find pass rush after departures of Bennett and Avril. Frank
Clark can’t do it alone.
EXPECTATIONS: Different than they’ve been since first couple years of Pete Carroll’s tenure. Seattle clearly decided to refresh locker room this offseason.
Gone are big personalities of Sherman and Bennett. Also gone: lots of talent, a
void that may not be filled immediately. There is optimism about Seattle’s
rookie class, but for first time since 2013 Seahawks don’t go into season as one
of favorite.
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ARIZONA CARDINALS (8-8)
OPEN CAMP: July 27, Glendale, Arizona
LAST YEAR: Cardinals dealt with myriad injuries but managed to pull out win in Seattle in finale to finish 8-8 in coach Bruce Arians’ final game. He
announced retirement next day. Arians finished with franchise-record 50 wins,
but his teams failed to make playoffs in last two years. QB Carson Palmer, after
another season shortened by injury, also announced retirement. 8-8 record came
despite loss of standout running back David Johnson when he dislocated wrist in
opener. It was another standout year for Larry Fitzgerald: In 14th NFL season,
he finished second in league in receptions with 102. Outside linebacker Chandler
Jones led NFL with 16 sacks.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Coach Steve Wilks, QB Sam Bradford, QB Josh Rosen, QB Mike Glennon, RT Andre Smith, RG Justin Pugh
Shaquem Griffin Jersey , WR Brice Butler, WR Christian Kirk, CB Jamar Taylor, RB Chase Edmonds.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: Arians, Palmer, S Tyrann Mathieu, WR John Brown, WR Jaron Brown, QB Drew Stanton, OT Jared Veldheer, CB Justin Bethel, OG Alex Boone, DT
Frostee Rucker, ILB Karlos Dansby, DT Josh Mauro, TE Troy Niklas, OT Earl
Watford.
CAMP NEEDS: With new coach and new systems on offense
A.J. Green Youth Jersey , defense and special teams, plen Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown is doubtful for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against
the Philadelphia 76ers with a strained right hamstring, coach Brad Stevens said,
while adding that he could return later in the series.
Stevens said Brown still had some soreness on Sunday, a day after the Celtics eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks and a day before the second-round opener. Brown
had said he was going to have an MRI, and Stevens said tests were negative.
”It looks like it could be something that allows him to play as the series goes on,” Stevens said.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Brown averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season. He left Saturday night’s clincher against the
Bucks in the first quarter; the team announced that he was available to return,
but Stevens decided to play it safe.
Brown said afterward he was told it was a Grade 1 injury – the least severe kind. He was put on anti-inflammatory medication.
”Whatever it takes, I wouldn’t miss this series for the world,” Brown said Saturday night.
The Celtics are already without stars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, as well as Daniel Theis.
”We don’t think about what’s happened throughout the season,” center Aron Baynes said. ”We have that `next man up’ mentality. We’ll miss Jaylen; he’s
definitely hard to make up for. It’s just all being able to collectively do
it.”
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