Mile High Monday: Rams prove that going “all in” can pay off in the NFL

The Super Bowl was exactly what most football fans wanted – a good game. The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI over the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 23-20. It wasn’t the high-scoring affair that some wanted, but I think it was a good contest which featured good (and bad) play from all three phases of the game – offense, defense, and special teams – and not just from one side of the ball.

I like when the season comes down to one game. After building to this moment, how teams approach the biggest game in all of sports is fascinating to watch. Kudos to the Rams players and coaching staff for their triumph on Super Sunday.

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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All in FTW

To win it all, the Rams went “all in.” They did sort of an NBA move by making a super team for the 2021 season. Those trades and moves in free agency have now paid off with a world championship. It’s what teams dream of when they make “splashy” moves. Every front office thinks their moves are going to result in a championship run, but only a few get to realize that. Often times, teams end up falling short in any sort of “dream team” scenario in the NFL.

The Rams went “all in” with their biggest – and most expensive – move when they traded the Detroit Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford. During last offseason, Stafford was on the trading block and teams like the Denver Broncos were quite interested. The Rams outbid all takers when they sent quarterback Jared Goff, two first-round picks and a third-round pick to the Lions for Stafford. His play was the final piece of the puzzle, especially for a high-powered offense like the Rams.

It wasn’t only Stafford, and it certainly didn’t start with him. In 2019, the Rams sent two first-round picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Broncos fans will remember the trade of Von Miller, where the Rams sent a second and third-round pick to Denver for the veteran pass-rusher. Not long after that, the Rams were the team to convince free agent receiver (and former superstar before he joined the Cleveland Browns) Odell Beckham Jr.

The Rams went all in.

And won. pic.twitter.com/67xHAFUFoV

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 14, 2022

Now that a championship has been one, the legacy of the Rams – both coaches and players – is different. Now, head coach Sean McVay is the youngest coach (36) to win a Super Bowl. Now, Stafford could make an argument to be a Hall of Fame player with this title and not fall short in the “very good” category as some do. Now, Miller goes down as not just a great Broncos player but one of the best pass-rushers in NFL history. Now, Beckham gets to prove to the doubters that he’s always been about winning – with a little drama along the way.

The Rams set things up to win, and they followed through with a “W” in the big game. Now, they’ll deal with the offseason where they’re $14 million over the cap (as of this writing) and could be losing key free agents like Beckham and Miller. Perhaps the Rams are a one-and-done team, but they got it done this season.

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Kupp Runneth Over

We’ve never seen a wide receiver have a season like Cooper Kupp did in 2021. Kupp got what Al Michaels called the wide receiver “hat trick” during the 2021 season. As any fantasy football GM will tell you, Kupp led the league in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Against the Bengals on Sunday, Kupp won the Super Bowl MVP by catching eight passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns in the comeback win.

By winning Super Bowl MVP, along with his “hat trick” season, Kupp becomes only the second player to accomplish that feat in NFL history. The other player is the greatest wide receiver of all time, Jerry Rice. The main difference is that Kupp did all that in one year, and Rice was able to do that over his 20-year career.

It’s great to see from Kupp, an out-of-nowhere player who played on red turf at Eastern Washington in college. I saw him at the Senior Bowl in 2017, and I felt there was at least some Julian Edelman to his game as he was one of the most impressive players at that game (with small school film to back it up). The Rams selected him in the third round in 2017, and Kupp took some time to ramp up his game, starting just six games as a rookie. Now, and for the last few years, Kupp is starting every week and performing at a Pro Bowl level.

#Rams WR Cooper Kupp won the receiving triple crown, NFL Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP this season.

Jerry Rice is the only other WR to do all of those things in a CAREER.

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) February 14, 2022

With Kupp playing at such a high level, the Rams may look to extend his quarterback. Stafford will talk with the Rams this offseason about a contract extension, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Stafford will be entering the final year of his current contract in 2022, and after this Super Bowl win, I’m sure we’ll see the Rams offer him a new (and big money) deal.

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Packers Spin or The Truth or Both?

Over the weekend, Broncos fans were scrambling after more news about Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers came in. There are some fans who are clamoring for Rodgers to join the Broncos via trade this offseason – no matter the cost. There are some fans who would like Rodgers to join the Broncos but only for a fair price via trade. There are some fans who don’t want Rodgers for either political reasons or the fact that he’s only won one Super Bowl (the latter being the weirdest of the anti-Rodgers group).

Then, there are still others who don’t think the trade for Rodgers will happen. The news we got on Sunday morning had these people doing victory laps on social networking before the big game. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported via Twitter that the Packers were willing to go “all in” for Rodgers this offseason – meaning they’ll pay him what he wants to pay and accommodate him with other moves in any way they can. The relationship between Rodgers and the Packers has been contentious, but this news (and good will from the 2021 season) make things look like things are patched up.

Perhaps that’s the case – it certainly could be true, and Rodgers could be staying in Green Bay. However, the news could also be spin from the team. Every team in the NFL is in a PR battle, just like players are. Players speak through their agents, and teams can speak through the media. Now, Schefter is the best in the business, and I am in no way saying his information is false – quite the opposite. I’m looking at why he was told that information, knowing it came from the top of the front office.

We've been talking about this for at least a month on @1043TheFan and we all knew it would be put out there – Packers MUST go all in – or at least put that out there as their plan. If Rodgers stays, ALL IN worked. If Rodgers leaves, they can spin they went ALL IN to keep him. https://t.co/lUYroKYQoQ

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) February 13, 2022

I have a feeling that this is spin from the Packers. They must put on a front that they’re “all in” with Rodgers for 2022. If things are truly patched up and Rodgers stays, the team can say their move was successful. If Rodgers asks for a trade and gets sent to Denver, then the Packers can go to their fan base, hat in hand, and say they did everything to keep him. Either way, they win in the eye of the public.

We all need to remember that all this comes down to how Rodgers feels. If he wants to stay, then he will stay. If he wants to get traded, then he will get traded. It’s all up to Rodgers as I have said on Twitter (the ultimate echo chamber) multiple times. Who knows what will happen, but a decision from Rodgers should come within the next few weeks – at most.

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Can I Play with Madness?

I have been waiting for the next MCU blockbuster film, and we got a first glimpse of that movie on Sunday. The latest film, “Spider-man: No Way Home” was an epic journey that opened the multiverse in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These events are also going to tie in with the Disney-plus “Loki” show, but movie fans are now getting used to the idea that other timelines are out there. Before the Super Bowl, Marvel debuted the trailer for “Doctor Strange 2: The Multiverse of Madness” and I was hooked.

I know quite a bit of the spoilers in the movie, and I won’t spoil the details here. Some of the rumors were proven true in the trailer and get ready for the X-Men – or at least Professor X – in the MCU. You can clearly hear Professor X actor Patrick Stewart utter the line “Perhaps we should tell him the truth” in the trailer. There are dozens of other Easter eggs in the trailer, and this looks like a somewhat dark and thrilling ride coming up on May 6.

If the other rumors and spoilers I’ve heard come true on screen, I think this movie is going to become an instant fan favorite. It has the potential to be a true blockbuster and not a flop like “The Eternals” was for the MCU. They have not been perfect (Thor 2, Iron Man 2), but most Marvel movies have been very good. “Multiverse of Madness” could be better than very good, I think it can be great. I can’t wait to grab my bottle of water in the theater (no more buttery popcorn for me!) and watch the multiverse create chaos in the Marvel universe.

Enter a new dimension of Strange. Watch the official trailer for Marvel Studios' #DoctorStrange in the Multiverse of Madness. Only in theaters May 6. pic.twitter.com/FizGdQtoRv

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) February 13, 2022

What did you think of the trailer for “Multiverse of Madness” and are you looking forward to the next MCU film? Hit me up on social networking and let me know!

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