REMEMBER THE RAMS

JACK YOUNGBLOOD

2011-10-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

Jack Youngblood played 14 seasons for the L.A. Rams, and became one of the best defensive ends in the history of pro football. He was a first round draft pick in 1971, and played so well that the Rams were willing to trade Deacon Jones to make room for him. He played in 7 consecutive Pro Bowls, and during the Rams playoff run in 1979, he played with a broken leg in the NFC title game and Super Bowl. He was known for his determination and durability in setting a team record of 201 consecutive starts. He was selected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2001.

JEROME BETTIS

2011-07-08T15:00:00.001-07:00

Though he will be remembered more for his career as "The Bus" with the Pittsburgh Steelers, running back Jerome Bettis was drafted by the L.A. Rams in 1993. He ran for over 1,400 yards that year and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. Known as The Battering Ram, he quickly established himself as a hard runner with plenty of power. He was traded to the Steelers after the 1995 season and retired after winning the 2006 Super Bowl, finishing his career as the 5th leading rusher in NFL history.

OLLIE MATSON

2011-03-11T19:02:00.000-08:00

Ollie Matson was an outstanding NFL player during his 14 year career, and played for the L.A. Rams from 1959-1962. He was a running back known for his speed and agility. Selected to 6 Pro Bowls, he was described by one defensive coach as "the greatest athlete I've ever seen." Not only did he play pro football, he was also a silver and bronze medal winner as a sprinter in the 1952 Olympics. He was voted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1972. Matson passed away last month at the age of 80.

LES RICHTER

2011-02-11T15:50:00.000-08:00

Shortly after Les Richter was drafted out of college in 1952, the Los Angeles Rams traded 11 players - ELEVEN - to bring him to L.A. He played 9 seasons for the Rams at linebacker, and was selected to 8 straight Pro Bowls. This is another one of those guys that my dad used to praise for his hard-nosed style of play. In addition to his defensive skills, he was also a kicker for a couple of seasons, when he actually led the Rams in scoring! The only sad note to this story is that he passed away in June of last year at the age of 79, before being voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the class of 2011.

DICK HOERNER

2010-12-22T15:24:00.000-08:00

I don't want this blog to turn into a Rams obituary, but we lost another member of the Los Angeles Rams recently. Dick Hoerner, part of the legendary Bull Elephant Backfield with Deacon Dan Towler and Paul Tank Younger, passed away on December 11th. He played for the Rams from 1947 through 1951, including the NFL Championship game in which the Rams beat the Cleveland Browns, 24-17 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. My Dad used to rave about the Bull Elephant Backfield because of the toughness of those three backs.

KEN IMAN

2010-11-17T08:57:00.000-08:00

Ken Iman, a fixture on the Los Angeles Rams offensive line at center from 1965-1974, passed away on November 13th at the age of 71. He played in 140 consecutive games for the Rams after arriving in a trade with the Green Bay Packers, and was the Rams team MVP in 1972. Iman later served as offensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976-1986. Rest in peace, Ken.

JACK REYNOLDS

2010-10-03T22:43:00.000-07:00

Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds played middle linebacker for the Rams from 1970-1980. He didn't have the terrific speed or high-profile status of the NFL's premier linebackers, but this guy was so tough and was always around the ball, consistently one of the defense's top tacklers. He played with a lot of heart and I loved watching him play. The nickname "Hacksaw" was given to him in college when he sawed a vehicle in half (a Jeep?) after his Tennessee team lost a game. He finished his career with the 49ers.

ISAAC BRUCE

2010-07-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

Isaac Bruce played 14 seasons as a wide receiver for the Rams, and was the last remaining player in the league who played for the Los Angeles Rams. He spent his final two seasons with the 49ers, but was recently resigned by St. Louis so that he could announce his official retirement as a Ram. He set all of the Rams major receiving records, including catches, yards and touchdowns and is only one of six players in NFL history with more than 1,000 catches. Bruce was one of those dependable players who went out and did his job without complaining or drawing attention to himself. "I was taught to seek the praise of God and not the praise of men," Bruce said. "That's the approach I take." He was well-respected and will be remembered for his incredible talent and that great smile that lit up throughout his career. I watched him play for the L.A. Rams in their final season in Anaheim. The Rams will retire his #80 jersey in a ceremony during the upcoming season.

A RAMS LEGEND PASSES AWAY

2010-03-12T15:21:00.000-08:00

It was very sad to hear the news that Merlin Olsen died yesterday. When I posted about him here last year, I didn't even know he had been ill. Steve Sabol of NFL Films, considers Olsen one of the three best defensive tackles ever to play the game, along with Mean Joe Greene and Bob Lilly. I was fortunate to watch him play during his 15 years with the Rams, including his final game. He was the epitome of professionalism and a real gentleman on and off the field. He was 69 years old.

DEFENSIVE GEM

2010-02-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon this video on YouTube from the game in 1979 where the L.A. Rams shutdown the Seattle Seahawks with an incredible defensive effort, limiting Seattle to -7 total yards on offense. That's correct. . .MINUS 7 yards! The bonus here is the announcing team. Check it out at the link here:
Rams vs. Seahawks

STEVEN JACKSON

2010-01-04T15:57:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know. Steven Jackson never played for the Los Angeles Rams. But this guy just goes out there every Sunday and runs like a bull. He's tough as nails and seems to give 100%, even when the rest of the team is not getting the job done around him. He's one of those guys that you want to see winning. He was a first round draft pick in 2004 and has run for over 1,000 yards for the each of the past 5 seasons. I hope we get to see him on a Super Bowl team someday. Hang in there, Steven!

CULLEN BRYANT

2009-10-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

We lost a member of the L.A. Rams family last week when Cullen Bryant died at the age of 58. Bryant was a 2nd round draft pick of the Rams in 1973 and played with the Rams for 11 seasons. He was one of those big, strong running backs who ran like a human bowling ball while knocking down defenders, whether it was carrying the ball or blocking for a teammate.

MERLIN OLSEN

2009-09-12T12:52:00.001-07:00

Merlin Olsen was one of the greatest defensive tackles in the history of pro football. It wasn't so much his strength and agility as it was his intelligence. He knew the game. His wisdom was greater than an opponent's power. And he just happened to be part of the Fearsome Foursome, the legendary defensive line of the Rams that included fellow Hall of Famer, Deacon Jones. He played for the L.A. Rams from 1962-1976, and was selected to the Pro Bowl for 14 consecutive seasons. I was fortunate to watch him play and was there at the Coliseum for the final game of his career, where he received a tremendous ovation after walking off the field for the last time.

WILLIE ELLISON

2009-08-12T22:03:00.000-07:00

Willie Ellison played for the Rams from 1967-1972. His first four seasons were spent in relative obscurity. Then he busted out in 1971 with his first and only 1000 yard season as a pro. What put him on the NFL map that year was his record-breaking game late in the season against the New Orleans Saints, when he rushed for a single-game record of 247 yards. The record was broken a few years later, and Ellison finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.

EDDIE MEADOR

2009-06-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

Another great story in today's Los Angeles Times by Jerry Crowe. Eddie Meador was a defensive back for the Rams in the 1960s who had a stellar career and still holds the franchise record for interceptions, but was not voted into the Hall of Fame. His statistics are comparable to other Hall of Fame defensive backs, and his family is making a push for his election. Check out the website for his nomination at edmeador.com
I would say that Meador's value to the 1960's Rams secondary was equal to the value of Jack Youngblood to the 1970's defensive line. Both durable, hard working and respected players with several Pro Bowl appearances. But Youngblood is in the Hall of Fame. It's time for Meador to be recognized and honored.

DEACON JONES

2009-05-02T16:54:00.000-07:00

This Hall of Fame defensive end was a 14th round draft pick of the Rams in 1961, and became one of the greatest pass rushers in the history of the NFL. He used a devastating head slap and blazing speed for a big man to wreak havoc on an opposing offense. As if he wasn't enough for teams to worry about, he was one part of the Rams famed Fearsome Foursome defensive line (with Merlin Olsen, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier) of the 1960s. There was a cool story about him in a recent column by Jerry Crowe of the L.A. Times. You can read it here.

LOS ANGELES STADIUM

2009-03-02T15:29:00.001-08:00

I'm not going to get too excited about it because we've been down this path before. But the City of Industry has approved a proposal to build a stadium near the intersection of the 57 & 60 freeways. Neighboring communities have already voiced their disapproval and will fight against a stadium being built in their backyard. If, by a longshot chance, everything falls into place for a new stadium, it means that there will be a new home for an existing NFL franchise willing to move to L.A. This is really the frustrating part, because the teams currently looking to move include the Vikings, Chargers, Bills and Raiders. Are you serious? Can a Rams fan imagine the Los Angeles Vikings??? There is NO WAY that I'd support them. The only possibility that would get us excited is the Return of the Rams!!! One blogger here brought up the idea in an earlier post (see adjeff8's comments). Well, the honeymoon is definitely over in St. Louis, and Georgia "That's the Madam" is gone, so who knows? In the meantime, here's a photo of the architect's model of the proposed L.A. Stadium, and you can click here for more details.
ADDENDUM: One reader referred me to a news story from St. Louis which appeared in May of last year. Apparently, the Rams were being shopped to potential buyers for up to $900 million. The team has a clause in their agreement at the Edward Jones Dome that creates an option out of the lease in 2015 if certain contingencies are not met for upgrades to that stadium. This certainly adds intrigue into the speculation of a Rams return to Los Angeles.

SUPER BOWL

2009-02-01T20:38:00.000-08:00

The 43rd Super Bowl was played today and the Steelers defeated the Cardinals in an exciting game. But as a Rams fan, I remember Super Bowl XIV in 1980. It was the Los Angeles Rams first and only trip to the Super Bowl and I was there to experience it in person at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The Steelers were the heavy favorites with one of the great teams in NFL history. But the scrappy Rams played with a lot of heart and determination, surprising everyone and actually leading after 3 quarters. Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo played a very respectable game, and defensive great (and future Hall of Famer) Jack Youngblood showed true grit by playing with a broken leg! In the end, Terry Bradshaw & Company proved to be too much for the underdog Rams and won 31-19. But it was a great game. If you ever get a chance to see NFL Films highlight reel of this game, definitely check it out.

KURT WARNER

2009-01-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

OK. . .Kurt Warner no longer plays for the Rams. And he was never a Los Angeles Ram. But if you've remained a Rams fan all these years, you've got to like this guy. Number one, he came out of nowhere and won a Super Bowl for the Rams in St. Louis. After injuring his hand and going through a couple of trades, he ends up in Arizona in what would most likely be a backup role and mentor to Matt Leinart. But he hangs in there and guides the Cards to the playoffs and upsets Atlanta and Carolina in the first two rounds, leading his team into the NFC title game next week at home against the Eagles. I'd love to see Warner and the Cards come through as the underdogs and win it all.

2/1/09 Postscript. Well they reached the Super Bowl, Warner came through in the clutch and the Cards took a late lead, but their defense couldn't finish the job. Congratulations Steelers.

DICKERSON RAN WILD

2009-01-05T08:10:00.000-08:00

I know that many people in Southern California couldn't care less about not having a pro football team in Los Angeles. There's always the argument that there are so many other things to do here that we don't need the NFL. While that may be true, for those of us who grew up rooting for the L.A. Rams, there's definitely a void. Especially for parents who are missing out on taking our own kids to a pro football game. At this time of year, the playoffs get underway and it's just not easy to show much interest in Eagles vs. Vikings. But I do have memories of playoff games here. It was on this date in 1986 that Eric Dickerson ran wild for 248 yards as the Rams defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Anaheim, 20-0. Dickerson out-gained the entire Cowboy offense that day in what turned out to be legendary Dallas Coach Tom Landry's final playoff game. Dickerson was one of the greatest runners I've ever seen. He had a gliding straight-up running style that combined speed and power, propelling him to a single-season NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards in 1984. After contract disputes and a falling-out with Coach John Robinson (Dickerson reportedly said, "You run 47-gap" to his coach), he was traded to the Colts in 1987. He played there for 4 years, then got bounced around a bit before retiring in 1993. He was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and is currently #6 on the list of all-time NFL rushing leaders.

L.A. RAMS FINAL GAME

2008-12-24T11:17:00.000-08:00

It was 14 years ago today that the Rams played their final game as the Los Angeles Rams. It was Christmas Eve 1994 in a losing effort to the Washington Redskins at Anaheim Stadium. I had the opportunity to photograph the game from the field, but chose instead to sit with my Dad in our season seats for one last time together. My Dad was a true fan, having supported the team since their days in Cleveland before they moved to L.A. in 1946. He had jokingly said that if the Rams ever left L.A., he'd die. Fighting off flu-like symptoms, he watched his beloved Rams in the dreary dampness of that December afternoon. The photo above is of me and my Dad in our Rams jackets and Santa Claus hats at that final game. A couple of months later, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away in October 1995. He and the Rams have been missed ever since.
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

COY BACON

2008-12-23T09:20:00.000-08:00

A former member of the L.A. Rams has passed away. Coy Bacon, a fierce defensive lineman who played for the Rams from 1968-1972, died in his home in Ironton, Ohio yesterday at the age of 66. After starting his career at right tackle in 1968, he moved to defensive end in 1970, replacing Fearsome Foursome member Lamar Lundy, who retired. Although official statistics for quarterback sacks were not established until 1982, unofficially Bacon had 130 career sacks with an astonishing 26 during the 1976 season with the Cincinnati Bengals. During his 14 years in the NFL, he was selected to the Pro Bowl three times.

ROMAN GABRIEL

2008-12-16T13:59:00.000-08:00

My first sports idol as a young fan was Roman Gabriel. He was a big, tough quarterback for the Rams from 1962 until 1972. I remember his MVP year of 1969 when he led the Rams to an 11-0 start, and into the playoffs against the Vikings. They played at old Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, MN and it was an icy cold December day. The Rams played a good, solid game and after the Vikings sacked Gabriel for a safety and a 23-20 lead, the Rams began to march down the field in the final few minutes. But the Viking defense tipped a pass and intercepted, then ran out the clock to seal the victory. I vividly remember a black & white L.A. Times photograph of Gabriel walking off the field after the game, his head down as the snow fell around him. The caption read, "The Fall of Roman's Empire". To this day, I hate the Vikings!

RAMS REUNION

2008-12-05T14:50:00.001-08:00

Two summers ago, there was a private event at the L.A. Coliseum celebrating the 70th anniversary of Rams football. There were many former players and coaches in attendance, but the stadium was empty except for the area in use at the peristyle end. I think that the organizers completely dropped the ball by not opening this event up to the public - maybe for an admission fee of about $20. It would have made a great charity fund raiser and allowed Rams fans to not only enjoy a nostalgic visit to the Coliseum, but also let the players know that they were appreciated here.

TEXT MESSAGES FROM PRESS ROW. .

2008-12-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles Times has been a daily part of our family routine for longer than I can remember. One of the cool sections of the Sports "Morning Briefing" is Jerry Crowe's Text messages from press row. . . This morning, Jerry gives this new L.A. Rams blog a shout. Check it out here.

OLD SCHOOL

2008-11-27T15:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Thoughts are turned to all the reasons to be grateful today. And then to growing up in the L.A. area, playing football in the mud as a kid on Thanksgiving Day and watching the traditional Dallas vs. Detroit game on TV. My dad took me to see the Rams play at the Coliseum when I was nine years old and I was hooked. It would have been impossible to be a fan of any other team, because my dad had been a Rams fan since before they moved to L.A. from Cleveland in 1946. As the photo of Bob Waterfield above shows, there were no face masks in those days. That’s old school!