Los Angeles Rams Weekly: Busy Week!

Andrew Whitworth among "Top 100 Players of 2016"
In 2016 Andrew Whitworth, who yesterday agreed to join the Rams, was recognized by his peers as one of the top players in the league while playing for the Cincinnati Bengals. The All-Pro offensive tackle came in at No. 67 in the 2016 edition of the "NFL Network’s Top 100," which is voted on by NFL players and revealed each year some time after the Draft.


You can watch Whitworth’s clip here and find out why players found him worthy of making the list. 

Rams Agree to Terms With DB Kayvon Webster
Rams Agree to Terms With DB Kayvon Webster
The Rams have added to their secondary, agreeing to terms with former Broncos cornerback Kayvon Websteron Monday.

Webster was a 2013 third-round pick out of USF for Denver and has been a major special teams contributor to the team over the last four years. According to Brandon Krisztal of KOA News Radio in Denver, Webster was looking elsewhere for a chance to play more at defensive back. He has 76 total tackles, 14 passes defensed, and one interception in his four-year career.

One advantage Webster may have in his desire to play more at corner is a familiarity with Los Angeles defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ scheme. Phillips, of course, held the same position with Denver from 2015-2016, winning Super Bowl 50 with the club.

Webster joins cornerbacks Trumaine Johnson, E.J. Gaines, Lamarcus Joyner, Mike Jordan, Blake Countess, and Troy Hill on Los Angeles’ roster.

Rams Agree to Terms with Connor Barwin
Rams Agree to Terms with LB Connor Barwin
The Rams have added another piece to their restructuring defense, agreeing to terms with outside linebacker Connor Barwin. 

Originally a 2009 second-round pick by the Texans, Barwin spent 2011-2012 with Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who held the same position with Houston at that time. Phillips helped coach Barwin to one of his best seasons in 2011, with Barwin racking up 11.5 sacks a year after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 1. 

Since his injury in 2010, Barwin has not missed a game, making 96 consecutive starts for the Texans and Eagles. Barwin signed with Philadelphia in 2013, putting up a career high 14.5 sacks in 2014 for the club. He finished 2016 with 5.0 sacks and one forced fumble before being released earlier this month. 

In all, Barwin has played 113 games with 50.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in his eight-year career. 

Rams Agree to Terms with K Greg Zuerlein
Los Angeles will have its kicker back, as Greg Zuerlein has agreed to terms on a three-year deal to keep him with the franchise.

Zuerlein had a strong bounce-back season in 2016, making 19 of his 22 field goals, including all 14 attempted from 39 yards or fewer. His longest field goal of the season was 54 yards. Additionally, Zuerlein made each of his 23 extra points attempted.

The Rams drafted Zuerlein in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft and he has been the franchise’s primary kicker ever since. He holds the franchise record for longest field goal with a converted 61-yard attempt in Nov. 2015 and is currently No. 8 in franchise history with 479 total points scored.

Rams Agree to Terms with RB Lance Dunbar
Los Angeles has bolstered its depth at running back, agreeing to terms with free agent Lance Dunbar on a 1-year deal. 

Dunbar has spent the first five years of his career with Dallas, where he’s primarily served as a change-of-pace back. He’s caught 58 passes for 646 yards and rushed for 422 yards on 94 carries. He came back from a season-ending knee injury in 2015 to play the 2016 season healthy, but was in a position group that also included star rookie Ezekiel Elliott, Alfred Morris, and Darren McFadden. 

Dunbar joins a position group on the Rams that currently includes 2015 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, and Aaron Green.
A satirical look at more than 75 years of Football's Rams history, combined with discussions of American Exceptionalism and almost 50 years of personal experience in the life of a Rams Fan. The history parallels and intertwines life to form a humorous, yet serious look at American HistoryWorld History, an American Football team, and Political Science.