Sam Bradford

0 Ravens starters who played against the Rams. 1 Series for Rams rookie quarterback Sam Bradford. 11 Days until the Ravens' season opener vs. the Jets. 54 Yards of field goal by Rams' Josh Brown. 57 Yards Dannell Ellerbe returned interception for TD.

The moment when Robert Griffin III stepped to the podium Saturday night to receive the Heisman Trophy, greeted by a contingent of past winners, the Baylor quarterback automatically became eligible for membership in another sort of club. Not that he wants to join it. No player does. It is the society of Heisman flops. Scroll down the long and prominent list — Pat Sullivan, Jason White, Eric Crouch, et al. — of men who stood on college football's highest pedestal only to crash and burn as pros.

Prior to this season, Lardarius Webb had just two interceptions in his career. The cornerback matched that mark with his second pick in as many games this season. After intercepting St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford in last Sunday's 37-7 shellacking, Webb stepped in front of a floater from New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and returned it 73 yards for the touchdown in the third quarter. It was Webb's first interception return for a score since his junior year at Division I-AA Nicholls State in 2007.

Prior to this season, Lardarius Webb had just two interceptions in his career. The cornerback matched that mark with his second pick in as many games this season. After intercepting St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford in last Sunday's 37-7 shellacking, Webb stepped in front of a floater from New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and returned it 73 yards for the touchdown in the third quarter. It was Webb's first interception return for a score since his junior year at Division I-AA Nicholls State in 2007.

Sam Bradford may only be in his second year as a professional, but the St. Louis Rams quarterback has caught the attention of several members of the Ravens defense, who have the task of spoiling Bradford's party Sunday. “I tell you what, I like the things that he does as a young kid,” 12-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker Ray Lewis said. “He's very athletic. He's more athletic than people think he is. He can really run around with the ball. But he's very accurate with his ball and where he wants to place the ball.

Time could be on the Ravens' side when they visit the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. Having dropped a 28-16 decision to the New York Giants on Monday night, the Rams have had one fewer day to prepare for the game than the Ravens. Quarterback Joe Flacco said a full week of practice, meetings and film study should benefit the Ravens. “It is nice to get them on a short week,” Flacco said. “Anytime you get a team on a short week, I think it definitely is a little bit of an advantage in the NFL, when you can get beat up week to week.

Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate has turned some heads here, at least after Sunday's performance in the 40-yard dash. Tate ran a 4.36 and a 4.37 in his two attempts, which might convince someone to take a chance on him in the first round. Even Tate predicted in his interview he would probably run somewhere in the neighborhood of 4.5. He didn't do quite as well in the pass catching drills -- dropping several balls -- but most teams seem comfortable with his hands. Percy Harvin , one of the players Tate thinks he compares favorably with, ran a 4.40 at the combine and a 4.32 at his pro day. Tate was a running back in high school, but made the transition to wide receiver fairly quickly.

A chance to be special Chris Dufresne Los Angeles Times Just got done watching snippets of former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton's media workout. This just in: Newton is really good. What's hilarious about the NFL is it prods, pokes and measures its quarterback prospects and still drafts Ryan Leaf in the top five and Tom Brady in the sixth round. The NFL gets so caught up on analysis, it sometimes turns into paralysis. I don't need a stopwatch or combine to tell me Newton will make it in the NFL. Sometimes you just need to watch a guy. It's true Newton, like Alex Smith, Vince Young and Tim Tebow, must adjust from the spread-style offense to the pro game.

Raiders poised Ken Murray Baltimore Sun Five new teams made the playoffs this season — down from six the year before — and there is no shortage of candidates for 2011, if there is a 2011 season. Perennials such as the Cowboys, Giants and Chargers will contend. Several other teams just need a competent quarterback to get back, including the Dolphins, Titans, Cardinals and Vikings. But the teams that intrigue me most are the Bucs, Rams, Texans and Raiders.

In his first comments since his dropped backwards pass resulted in a New York Giants touchdown, running back Cadillac Williams made no excuses. "It was just a bonehead move by me, just knowing whenever it's a lateral like that, you've got to be aware and get on the ball," Williams said Thursday. "Just a bonehead move by me. " On third-and-8 from the New York 25, quarterback Sam Bradford attempted to throw a quick screen to Williams near the left sideline. But because of pressure from the edge by the Giants' defense, Bradford had to throw the pass backwards to reach Williams.

Sam Bradford may only be in his second year as a professional, but the St. Louis Rams quarterback has caught the attention of several members of the Ravens defense, who have the task of spoiling Bradford's party Sunday. “I tell you what, I like the things that he does as a young kid,” 12-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker Ray Lewis said. “He's very athletic. He's more athletic than people think he is. He can really run around with the ball. But he's very accurate with his ball and where he wants to place the ball.

Time could be on the Ravens' side when they visit the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. Having dropped a 28-16 decision to the New York Giants on Monday night, the Rams have had one fewer day to prepare for the game than the Ravens. Quarterback Joe Flacco said a full week of practice, meetings and film study should benefit the Ravens. “It is nice to get them on a short week,” Flacco said. “Anytime you get a team on a short week, I think it definitely is a little bit of an advantage in the NFL, when you can get beat up week to week.

In his first comments since his dropped backwards pass resulted in a New York Giants touchdown, running back Cadillac Williams made no excuses. "It was just a bonehead move by me, just knowing whenever it's a lateral like that, you've got to be aware and get on the ball," Williams said Thursday. "Just a bonehead move by me. " On third-and-8 from the New York 25, quarterback Sam Bradford attempted to throw a quick screen to Williams near the left sideline. But because of pressure from the edge by the Giants' defense, Bradford had to throw the pass backwards to reach Williams.

During a normal practice week, the Rams don't do their red zone work until Friday. But this isn't a normal week. Not after misfiring three times in the red zone Monday against the New York Giants and four times in five trips inside the 20 this season. So on Wednesday, the Rams' did their "Ram-ball" drill in the red zone, instead of in the middle of the field. Ram-ball, coach Steve Spagnuolo explained, "is basically the Rams' offense vs. the Rams' defense. It's usually about eight plays.

A chance to be special Chris Dufresne Los Angeles Times Just got done watching snippets of former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton's media workout. This just in: Newton is really good. What's hilarious about the NFL is it prods, pokes and measures its quarterback prospects and still drafts Ryan Leaf in the top five and Tom Brady in the sixth round. The NFL gets so caught up on analysis, it sometimes turns into paralysis. I don't need a stopwatch or combine to tell me Newton will make it in the NFL. Sometimes you just need to watch a guy. It's true Newton, like Alex Smith, Vince Young and Tim Tebow, must adjust from the spread-style offense to the pro game.

Raiders poised Ken Murray Baltimore Sun Five new teams made the playoffs this season — down from six the year before — and there is no shortage of candidates for 2011, if there is a 2011 season. Perennials such as the Cowboys, Giants and Chargers will contend. Several other teams just need a competent quarterback to get back, including the Dolphins, Titans, Cardinals and Vikings. But the teams that intrigue me most are the Bucs, Rams, Texans and Raiders.

The moment when Robert Griffin III stepped to the podium Saturday night to receive the Heisman Trophy, greeted by a contingent of past winners, the Baylor quarterback automatically became eligible for membership in another sort of club. Not that he wants to join it. No player does. It is the society of Heisman flops. Scroll down the long and prominent list — Pat Sullivan, Jason White, Eric Crouch, et al. — of men who stood on college football's highest pedestal only to crash and burn as pros.

During a normal practice week, the Rams don't do their red zone work until Friday. But this isn't a normal week. Not after misfiring three times in the red zone Monday against the New York Giants and four times in five trips inside the 20 this season. So on Wednesday, the Rams' did their "Ram-ball" drill in the red zone, instead of in the middle of the field. Ram-ball, coach Steve Spagnuolo explained, "is basically the Rams' offense vs. the Rams' defense. It's usually about eight plays.

0 Ravens starters who played against the Rams. 1 Series for Rams rookie quarterback Sam Bradford. 11 Days until the Ravens' season opener vs. the Jets. 54 Yards of field goal by Rams' Josh Brown. 57 Yards Dannell Ellerbe returned interception for TD.

1. St. Louis Rams -- Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, quarterback Drafting a quarterback with the first pick is always seen as a gamble, but no more so than drafting a defensive tackle and handing him $50 million. Even the best defensive tackle in the league doesn't affect the game the way a great quarterback does, and Bradford has the potential to be a great quarterback. Mark Sanchez, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are prime examples of how a young quarterback can help turn your franchise around quickly.