The Top 20 Players in the NFC West and their cap hits; Los Angeles Rams and NFL News; and a look a the HOF senior and coach contributor semifinalists; From LA Rams Up

Welcome to Rams up a Los Angeles Rams podcast. 

We are a proud member of the Pigskin podcast network. 

We cover other so Cal Sports News of interest, but we're mostly about your Los Angeles Rams. 

I'm your host, mark. 

Let's get to it. 

Second, welcome back Rams fans season 2 episode 26 of Rams Up Your Los Angeles Rams podcast. 

Two things we're bringing you here today. 

One is a look at the top 20 players in the NFC West and I'm going to focus on. 

The cap hit of each of these players. 

How teams in the NFC West are getting hit on their cap by their top players. 

A little bit of a different spin on that, and I'm also going to take a quick look at the Hall of Fame nominations. 

The semi finalists for the seniors and. 

A coach contributor, so I'm going to make my recommendations for the next cut down on that. 

If you missed it last week, we had a YouTube drop. I took a different take on who the best quarterback in the NFL is. 

The focus on who would you want as your quarterback? 

If you're trying to win a Super Bowl in the next few years on a randomly good NFL roster? 

So take a look at that if you want to and we have a couple. 

More in the pipeline right. 

I'm going to do a follow up to Cameron Dasilva grade article on what 7 Rams have something to prove. 

And then we'll have one on famous RAM duos. 

When you think of Deacon Jones, who else do you think of? 

That will be a lot of fun. 

And as we get closer to training camp, hey, it's only a couple weeks away. 

We will be focusing on that next week. 

We'll be talking about the big questions the Rams have to answer. 

What are our big concerns? 

One of the highlights of this roster. 

What do we like about it right now? 

What are we may be a little bit concerned about, and we'll take a hard look at. 

The Rams that are returning from injuries and how are they progressing? 

Hey, I wanted to briefly touch on this land. 

Stan Kronke is buying up in Woodland Hills. 

He bought the Promenade Mall and how he's bought the anthem Blue Cross building across the street. 

So he owns a significant piece of land there in Woodland Hills, bounded by bounded by Oxnard and Irwin and Topanga Canyon. 

Canoga pretty familiar with that area. 

It's right near the Warner Center. 

There's a Marriott Hotel across the street. 

My first full time job was in Woodland Hills. 

Nothing official yet, but it appears that this is going to be the future site of the Rams headquarters and a training facility. 

One of the advantages of this area is it's 20 miles. 

To Malibu over Las Virgenes Canyon there what a beautiful drive that is. 

That's actually where the TV show mash was filmed. 

And it's also a short drive to Calabasas, where a lot of players live 21 miles to the Thousand Oaks facility, although that will become overcome by events irrelevant at some point in 28 miles to so far. 

The one thing about Woodland Hills though. 

It is a very. 

Warm area, it heats up pretty good in the summer. 

That would be my only concern, but nice area and freeway closed that's for sure. Richie Incognito 2005 draft pick by the Rams third round 81st overall. 

As retired, he played five years with the Rams, had a somewhat troubled career, especially early on, was considered a dirty player. 

And his name dragged through that Jonathan Martin bullying scandal, but seemed to straighten up his act later on. 

Very good offensive lineman. 

He had some memorable moments of the rants. 

Not all of them good. 

Remember Steve Spagnuolo. 

Finally, just said we've had enough you, Richie, and they released him, but he got it together and had a nice career. 

So he is finished retiring as a Raider. 

A last weeks episode. 

We had a good segment on the Lakers, my special Assistant and Laker insider was on for about 20 minutes to discuss all things NBA and the Lakers. 

Someone commented on that. 

Hey, who cares about the Lakers? 

A reality check here. 

The Lakers are perhaps the third most popular sports franchise in the world behind Manchester United and the New York Yankees. 

So keep that in mind. 

Jimmy G. 

Trade forthcoming by the end of July. 

A lot of people are predicting we'll have to see. 

In a little spat between Lamar Jackson and Bernard Pollard. 

Pollard's safety that played for the Texans and Ravens among other teams, and Pollard was caught calling out Lamar's ability to make all the throws, and Lamar responded I had to Google you to figure out who the heck you were. 

You know I'm taking Team Lamar on this one. 

Bernard Pollard. 

I have a little bone to pick with him. 

He's the. 

That had the dust up with Steven Jackson back in the day. 

Steven Jackson, one of my favorite players all time. 

And, ah, yeah Pollard, not a good look for you. 

Wasn't a good look when you took swings at Steven Jackson. 

It's not a good look. 

Now taking verbal swipes at a Baltimore Raven should be a beautiful week in Los Angeles for the All Star game at Dodger Stadium. 

Mookie Betts, trade Turner. 

Ohtani and Trout from angels. 

Both Eric Gosselin and Kershaw on that All Star staff and no Freddie Freeman crazy. 

I couldn't believe it when I saw that leads the league in hits. 

Last time I checked, 4th in average and he's been on a tear recently. 

Corey Seager will return to Dodger Stadium for that game. 

As an American League All Star representing the Rangers. 

All right, Derby has some good names. 

Albert Pujols and Juan Soto. 

I'll put my money on Kyle Schwarber expanded playoffs for Major League Baseball this year. 

I think that's a good idea. 

Right now, National League Dodgers and Mets would be watching while the Cardinals and Brewers playing each other. 

In the Braves and Padres played each other, Giants, Cardinals and Phillies all in the hunt, Cameron Smith wins British Open. 

That was fun to watch. 

Cameron Smith. 

On day three tried to hack it out of a bunker. 

The ball was waist high. 

He's standing in the bunker and the announcers are going. 

Don't do it. 

Don't try this. 

And sure enough, he shot it low and laughed into some shrubs and he bounced back. 

On Sunday, or did he ever kind of cool to see him win? 

And that brought up a golf pet peeve that I wanted to sneak in here, courtesy of my special assistant. 

These guys that yell right after a tee shot, especially get in the hole and various other things. 

I don't get it if I'm there. 

I'm just maybe a little bit of clapping a lot of these guys. 

Little cheer and scream as the ball fades right 20 yards out of bounds. 

Maybe wait a little bit before you cheer, huh? 

I don't know. 

Kind of ridiculous in my opinion. 

It's just become a tradition. Every tee shot 200 people screaming at the top of their lungs. I don't get it. 

One final thing, before we move on our Max Muncy watch, Max actually had a nice week in the Wednesday night Rally Dodgers down 6 nothing came back to beat the Cardinals. 

He had four walks on 34 pitches and had a sacrifice fly that tide the game so no official at bats for walks and an RBI and then Saturday night against the Angels had three run home. 

So Max now has nine home runs and has raised his average to 160 at the All-Star break back in a second. 

Welcome back RAM bands you know a popular topic for a lot of team specific podcasts is hey, let's rank our top ten top 15 players. 

That type of thing. 

What I wanted to do was rank the top 20 players in the NFC West. 

Now the order here is going to be somewhat. 

I try not to be biased towards the Rams and sometimes that results in the reverse happening. 

But I wanted to walk through these top 20 guys I came up with and again don't get spun up about the order. 

It's really difficult. Try this yourself and you'll see what I mean. First, I'm going to mention some honorable mentions that would be Jamal Adams of the Seahawks, making $9 million a year and also one of the things I want to focus on. 

Here is the salary of these guys. 

These numbers I'm giving you. 

By the way, are the cap hit for each? 

That's going to kind of be the end game here that I'm working towards. 

Tyler Lockett. 

Just missed the cut. 

He's making 10 million a year putting forward the defensive lineman for the Seahawks. 

10 million as well. Rodney Hudson, the Center for the Cardinals. 12 and a half million. And I have a Shawn Robinson in this group at nine and a half. $1,000,000 a year. 

So counting up from 20 to #1, this is what I came up with, number 20. But a Baker of the Cardinals. 

He's a cap hit of 15 million. 

Leonard Floyd of the Rams number 19. 

$8 million a year. DJ Humphries of the Cardinals offensive lineman, 19 million #17 our own Rob Havenstein Rhymes with Frankenstein. Just remember that nine and a half $1,000,000 cap hit. 

Underrated player. 

Makes me feel so much better about our offensive line. 

Andrew Whitworth. 

Stepping aside. 

Rob Havenstein, the new leader of that group. 

#16 JJ Watt or the Cardinals at $16 million a year. 

That's his cap. Hit and #15. 

#15, Arik, Armstead and the 49ers top notch run Defender has really developed into a great player. 

#14, Bobby Wagner or the Rans get this two and a half $1,000,000 cap hit. How's that for value now? Obviously he would have been a top three guy. 

A few years ago 

Maybe I have him a little low but I have him locked in at #14 for better or worse. 

#13 Jimmy Ward of the 49ers $13 million hit #12 DK Metcalf of the Seahawks looking for that second contract. He's still making just $4.3 million a year. 

Seahawks getting some value there. #11 Kyler Murray of the Cardinals. 

$11 million cap hit and. 

You'll be making more down the road here, I think Cardinal's gonna have to do something for him. 

At #10 I have our own Matthew Stafford, the quarterback for the Rams 13 and a half $1,000,000 cap hit. 

10th best player in the division probably top three as far as most valuable. 

#9 Nick Bosa are the 49ers. Another guy that's about to get paid $11 million a year. 

Cap hit #8 another 40 niner Greg Kittle. The tight end. Hard to argue with that tight ends don't get the recognition they deserve but he's a great tight end top three for sure. 

And we run around of four straight 49ers here. #7 Fred Warner. 

$8 million cap hit. Now from what I have read, he did not have the best of years last year, so maybe he'll bounce back a little bit. 

Probably would have been top three or four the year before, but right now I have him at #7 and the 4th 40 niner and around #6 the left tackle Trent Williams $14 million a year cap it. 

#5 DeAndre Hopkins or the Cardinals $17 million cap it and then our own Cooper Kupp. I know, I know he should be #2 perhaps. 

You're going to get really mad when you hear I do have it #2 again, this is my. 

Reverse psychology working on me trying not to exhibit over favoritism towards the Rams. Cooper Cup #4 and $18 million a year. 

Cap it #3 Jalen Ramsey $23 million a year. Cap it and #2 and maybe I should flip him in cup. Deebo Samuel. 

But if you. 

Look at Samuels. The percentage of offense that he generates for the 49ers. That's why I have him so high. 

There's a better receiver. 

I'd rather have Cooper Kupp. 

But you gotta give Depot a nod here for the amount of offense he generates for his team. $5 million cap it. So here's another guy on a divisional rival that needs to get paid. 

And number one you guessed at Aaron Donald a $24 million a year. Cap it now. One of the things I wanted to talk about as. 

A follow on to that is. 

How much money? 

How much of a capital each of these teams is taken for their top players? 

We've heard all about the Rams being top heavy and it's true. They are of these top 20 players. Seven are Rams 7R 49ers, 5 are Cardinals and one is a Seahawk. So let's get the Seahawks off the table here. They got one guy. 

DK Metcalf. They're paying him $4.3 million a year. At least that's his cap it so push that aside, the Cardinals third top five guys. 

Capita of 78 million altogether. And that's before Kyler Murray gets paid. That's an average of 15.6 million. 

Per player cap hit wise for those five guys, the 49ers 7 players account for 69.5 million in cap hit. 

An average of just under 10 million a player and the Rams third seven accounting for 98.5 in cap hit total and average of just about 14 million of players. 

The Cardinals there. 

Five guys are actually pain at a higher rate per player. 

Getting hit on the cap. 

More per player than the Rams are Rams. 

Just have better players. 

But what's really interesting is the 49ers people kind of overlook the trouble they are in salary cap wise. 

Several players accounting for 69.5 million in cap it. But you know what? We're not counting one guy. We're not counting Jimmy G. He's a $27 million cap it. 

Which is why they need to trade him or just let him walk. 

Of course, when he does, that's when we'll see. 

Both are. 

And Samuel get paid. 

It'll probably add up close to what Jimmy is. 

Making, so it'll probably end up being seven players, making perhaps even more than that. 

69.5 'cause Jimmy is not in this top 20. Probably going to talk about seven players making closer to 80 or 90 as far as the. 

Cap it goes. 

49ers will be in a very similar top heavy situation that the Rams are. Problem is I don't think they draft nearly as well. 

They cannot fill out the bottom of the roster as well as the Rams have over recent years. 

So that's my top 20 again. 

Don't get stuck on the order here. 

I think it's accurate enough for this purpose, demonstrating how top heavy each of these teams are. 

Excluding the Seattle Seahawks, of course, and how the Rams actually might be in better shape. 

Despite having so much money dedicated. 

To their top seven players. 

The action never ends at DraftKings Sports book, especially this summer. Right now, DraftKings Sports book is giving new customers a risk free bet for up to $1000. 

And looking for something to bet on? 

Look no further than the Dodgers in the month of July, they get the Cubs, Cardinals, angels and giants all coming up. 

Doesn't get much better than that. 

Download the DraftKings Sports Book app now use promo code tip, then make your first deposit and get a risk free bet up to $1000. That's promo code, TPN only at DraftKings. Sports book, minimum age and eligibility restrictions apply. 

See show notes for details. 

The Pro Football Hall of. 

Fame has announced their 25 senior semi finalists and their 29 coach contributor finalists and their 25 coach contributor finalists. So the next cut is July 27th. 

Just around the corner, they'll fit down to 12 in each category, then August 16th. 

They will select up to three seniors and August 23rd. 1 coach contributors. So right now I'm going to tell you who I think the 12 seniors should be in that first cut down. 

I'll go through the 25 here real quick. Ken Anderson, longtime quarterback for the Bengals 42nd all time in passing yards. 

I'm going to say no to that. 

Remember, maxibon? 

He was one of the guys included in that Washington Rams eight player trade at the time. 

One of the biggest trades in NFL history, draft picks included as well. 

He was a nine time pro bowler. 

I'm going to say yes to maxibon. 

Moving on Mark Clayton, the wide receiver with the Miami Dolphins, Clayton benefited from playing on some very good teams with Dan Marino. 

He had 18 TD's in 1984 but he ended up with 96 more yards than Ricky Proehl. 

So I'm going to say no to Mark Clayton. 

Roger Craig. 

I think he was a great player. 

Good in the passing game and the running game, but I think he just benefited from being on an extremely. 

Good team, several extremely good teams. 

Joe Montana. 

Jerry Rice. 

All those guys around him. 

I'm going to say no. 

Lavern dilweg no. 

You have never heard of Lavern Dilweg. 

He was named to the NFL all 1920s decade, team. He's only one of two players on that all decade team that is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame consensus all Pro 5 consecutive years. A four time unanimous all pro and this is a guy. 

Who had a. 

Rail job too. 

He would go straight from his law office to the football field. 

Three time champion with the Packers, and I know these old school guys. 

Most of us have no idea who they are, never got to see them play, but I'm going to say yes to Lavern Dilweg. 

Randy Gradishar, the great Bronco linebacker. 

And you know, he just misses the cut in my mind. 

He had various defensive player of the Year awards, but there were a lot of great linebackers in his time. 

You know, I. 

Couldn't be wrong on this one, but I'm saying no to Randy Gradishar Next up, Lester Hayes. 

Contributed to two Raiders. 

Super Bowl wins. 

One time all pro five time Pro bowler. 

I think he's acknowledged as being one of the better cornerbacks of his time. 

If not, well, he's probably a top two or three cornerback from his era. 

I'm going to say yes to Lester Hayes. 

Chris Hinton Great offensive lineman for the Colts. 

Two time first team all pro. 

This guy is going to turn towards three times second team all pro Seven time Pro bowler. 

I'm saying yes to Chris Hinton and we've got to remember is some of these guys that played on franchises that maybe weren't in the limelight during that time. 

I don't think we should Ding them for that. 

We shouldn't reward guys just for being on great teams. 

And that's why I said no to Mark Clayton and Roger Craig. 

And that's why I'm saying yes to Chris Hinton now. 

Chuck Howley, the next guy up Super Bowl champion with the Cowboys Super Bowl MVP Super Bowl 5. 

Five time first team all pro. 

Since gotta turn awards real ******** football player and yeah may seem like I'm contradicting myself, I'm saying yes to a cowboy, but this guy deserves it. 

Cecil Isbell, one of the better passers and are unhappy era back in the day, saying no to him. 

Joe Jacoby, one of the Hogs three time first team, all pro. 

Four time pro bowler. Three time Super Bowl champion on the 1980s. All decade team. I'm surprised he's not in already. 

Yes to Joe Jacoby and this next guy is kind of special to me. 

Billy White shoes Johnson. 

Now when you talk about great kick returners in the history of the NFL. 

Everybody is going to mention Billy White Shoes Johnson, and for that reason alone he belongs in the Hall of Fame. 

Mike Kenn played his entire 17 year career with the Falcons. 

Started every one of the 251 NFL games he played in Falcons franchise. Record for games started and games played first team all NFL player in 1983 three time. 

First team all NFL player three time. 

First team all pro saying yes to Mike Ken another guy played on a franchise that didn't do much during his tenure, but he deserves it if he was on the Cowboys, he'd be in the Hall of Fame already. 

Another one that was really a tough call here. Joe Klecko NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1981. 

A great pass rusher. 

I'm going to say no though, and I'm also going to say no to another guy that was. 

Right on the cusp. 

Bob cushion Berg. 

The Dolphins two time Super Bowl champion saying no to Kuching Berg and it falls in that Randy Gradishar category great linebacker. 

But there were so many of them. 

George Kunz, one of the premier offensive lineman of the late 60s, early 70s. I'm saying no to him. Jim Marshall, one of the purple people leaders on the Vikings. Same number of sacks, 130.5 as remember the old RAM coy bacon. 

We're not talking about coy bacon getting into the Hall of Fame Marshall benefited from playing alongside Carl Eller and Alan Page. 

He was the third of four COGS in that Vikings defensive line, but I'm saying no to Jim. 

Marshall Clay Matthews junior very good linebacker, but again there were plenty of them. 

I'm saying no Eddie meter the old Rams cornerback two time. 

First team all Pro 3 time second team all pro. 

On the 1960s, all decade team one of the best cornerbacks for a long time. Yes, to Eddie meter Stanley Morgan. 

The old patriot wide receiver. 

Consistent and productive, but not special enough in my mind for the Hall of Fame. 

Tommy nobis all decade team in the 1960s. Tommy nobis is. 

The guy that. 

If you read about him and watch film on him, if you can find it or listen to some interviews from some of his teammates, this is. 

A pure old school football player. 

He was the leader of that Falcons team from the linebacker position. 

I'm saying yes to Tommy nobis. 

Can rally special quarterback for the Bengals, but not special enough in my mind. 

I'm saying no sterling Sharpe. 

You know he had a short career, but man, it was crazy productive. 

Three time first team all pro and I'm saying yes yes to Sterling Sharpe. 

I'm saying no to dis Taylor. 

Nice Career explosive player but 134th on the all time receiving charts noticed. 

Better yet, some walls. 

He's a guy that you know you might be tempted to say. 

Oh, he was on the Cowboys. 

That's the only reason we know about him, but he was the three time NFL interception leader. 57 career receptions tide for 13. Thought it would be higher, but. 

Great quarterback, I'm saying yes to Everson Walls, so there are my 12 seniors and onto the coach contributors. 

I'll tell you who the 12 guys that should move on real quick. 

No arguments, just a list. 

But Adams run Arledge, Don Coryell, Mike Holmgren, Robert Kraft, Art Modell, Dan Reeves, Art Rooney, Junior, Jerry Seeman, the referee, Mike Shanahan, Amy Trask breaking the glass ceiling there, and Jim Tunney, another referee. 

I'm going to tell you there's one guy in this group that better get in, and I know a lot of people are already arguing for this. 

He should have been in years ago, and that's Don Coryell. 

They're going to end up picking one guy from this group. 

Dang it better be Don Coryell. 

He's got some competition there on the field, his contribution, his legacy is amazing. 

All the guys that followed after him that basically took his book and expanded on it, Don Coryell Air Coryell needs to be. 

In the Hall of Fame. 

We'll revisit this after a nuclear selections and see how we did. 

That's going to do it for this episode. Remember you can reach us at Rams up podcast@gmail.com. 

You can visit our website at ramsup.com. You'll find links to all of our episodes and a link to our YouTube channel and you can also. 

Give us some voicemail from our website. 

Don't forget to subscribe and give us a five star rating. 

It's really appreciated. 

And remember, keep the horns up, stay safe and have fun out there. 

Music courtesy of bensound.com and the YouTube royalty free Music audio library. Crimson fly by Hama Hama.