Why ESPN’s Grade for the Rams’ Offseason Misses the Bigger Picture
Why ESPN’s Grade for the Rams’ Offseason Misses the Bigger Picture
The Rams took an aggressive all-in approach this offseason, landing Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie. Why ESPN’s C+ grade feels too harsh.Blaine Grisak|
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Los Angeles RamsThe Los Angeles Rams have made the most noise this offseason after executing two of the biggest moves in the NFL. Prior to the draft, the Rams traded for cornerback Trent McDuffie and then traded for arguably the best defensive player in the NFL in Myles Garrett.
Despite the Rams taking an ‘all-in’ approach and attempting to capitalize on the final years of quarterback Matthew Stafford, some haven’t been as high on their offseason. That is the case for ESPN’s Seth Walder.
Walder recently graded each team’s offseason and gave the Rams a C+. “It makes sense to prioritize the present as Super Bowl favorites with a waning quarterback window," said Walder. “But what kind of present value tariff is worth it? Selecting a player who won't play without a Stafford injury is the opposite of maximizing their current window. And it looks even stranger after the Garrett trade.”
Even if the media is lower on the Simpson pick and doesn’t agree with it, a C+ grade for the Rams’ offseason is incredibly low. Walder gave the Rams the same grade as the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers’ biggest move of the offseason was re-signing a washed up version of Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Is it truly accurate to say that a team that traded for Garrett and McDuffie had the same caliber of offseason as one who simply re-signed a 42-year old quarterback because they had no other option?
At bare minimum, the Rams’ offseason should garner a B+ or A- grade. It seems unfair for one move of drafting quarterback Ty Simpson to tank the entire grade.
Since the draft, the media has hyperfocused on how terrible the decision was for the Rams to draft Simpson. When the Rams traded for Garrett, drafting Simpson made less sense. After the Rams extended Matthew Stafford, drafting Simpson made even less sense. However, the media has consistently missed the bigger picture while using every opportunity to take an early victory lap.
That doesn’t mean that the pick can’t be criticized. It can certainly be debated. However, was the pick bad enough to tank everything else that the Rams did the rest of the offseason?
After falling just short in the NFC Championship Game, the Rams made two of the biggest moves of the offseason while also filling every hole that they had on the roster. As a team on the cusp of a Super Bowl, they took an ‘all-in’ approach with Matthew Stafford coming off an MVP season. What more were they expected to do? It’s hard to say that adding Makai Lemon changes the math or the overall picture of the Rams’ offseason that dramatically.
The Rams entered the offseason and the draft without many glaring needs. Any need that they did have, they filled with proven players with playoff experience. The downfall for the Rams last season was the secondary. They filled that need by trading for McDuffie and signing his teammate Jaylen Watson in free agency. The Rams also re-signed the core players from last season by bringing back Kam Curl. Their biggest losses were players such as Cobie Durant and Roger McCreary who were part of the problem in the secondary.
To give the Rams a C+ grade for their offseason feels like an overreaction and fixation on the Simpson pick. By trading for Garrett, the Rams expedited the development of Jared Verse, similar to when the Rams traded Jared Goff for Matthew Stafford. The Rams were in a unique position entering the draft in that they didn’t have any obvious needs. In an overall weaker draft class, they secured their future at the most important position.
As the Rams look to move to more 13 personnel, the value of the third wide receiver in the offense isn’t as high as it used to be. If the Rams lose in the postseason because of their WR3, they likely have bigger problems on the roster. Most rookies in this weaker draft class weren’t going to have an immediate impact on the current version of the Rams’ roster.
This offseason, the Rams had the flexibility to take an ‘all-in’ approach while also building to sustain their success in the future. That type of approach should be commended. However, it’s the same treatment the Rams got when they traded draft picks for Stafford. Teams that live in purgatory and make the popular move get rewarded over teams that take big swings.
Time will tell if the risks that the Rams took this offseason paid off or if Simpson was the right pick. However, based solely on their process, the Rams have set themselves up well to win during this Super Bowl window.
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Published 26 minutes ago
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BLAINE GRISAKBlaine Grisak is the Lead Publisher for Rams on SI covering the Los Angeles Rams. Prior to joining On Sports Illustrated, he covered the Rams for TurfShow Times, attending events such as the NFL Draft, NFL Combine, and Senior Bowl. A graduate of Northeastern University, Blaine grew up in Montana.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
