How new veteran leaders are transforming Rams at training camp

The Rams didn’t just add star players this offseason. Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie and other veteran leaders are helping build one of the NFL’s smartest teams.

The Rams won the NFL offseason.

They traded for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. Signed cornerback Jaylen Watson. Traded for two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winner Myles Garrett and drafted their future franchise quarterback in Ty Simpson.

And that doesn’t even include re-signing their own free agents.

But the Rams didn’t just spend the offseason collecting Pro-Bowlers, they assembled veteran leaders that can also help teach the next generation of young players.

Trent McDuffie is pictured during the Rams’ training camp practice July 26. MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Sunday marked the Rams’ first day of training camp at Loyola Marymount University, an opportunity for the entire team to get together and practice what football is all about: 11-on-11, the best on offense going against the best on defense. And after that first day, one theme echoed through the noise: The Rams have a bevy of veteran leaders in all three facets of the game that can help teach the younger players.

Let’s start with two-time Super Bowl Champions McDuffie and Watson.

“They’re true pros,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said of his new cornerbacks. “They bring a great perspective to the room. Leadership is influence.”

The evidence of that was already unfolding on the practice field at LMU.

Young defensive backs peppered McDuffie and Watson with questions between sessions. Veterans shared ideas instead of holding them close to the chest. Conversations flowed as naturally as the breeze off the Pacific Ocean.

“Everybody is combining their knowledge to become the best defense possible,” Shula said.

McDuffie, fresh off four seasons with the Chiefs, could have walked into camp with his two Super Bowl rings. Instead, he left his résumé at the door.

Myles Garrett is pictured during the Rams’ training camp practice July 26. Getty Images

“I’m not trying to change the culture,” McDuffie said after practice. “It’s a clean slate. Let’s come in and build with each other. I don’t think there should be one guy up there that has to talk all the time. Everybody should have a voice.”

That philosophy already existed inside the Rams’ locker room where they had a handful of veteran leaders in quarterback and reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, safety Quentin Lake, linebacker Nate Landman, running back Kyren Williams, defensive end Kobie Turner, and punter Ethan Evans. All captains last season and players who coaches called “the glue” of the team and “coaches on the field.” You can now add McDuffie, Watson, and Garrett to that list.

Garrett’s arrival may be the biggest addition of them all. The seven-time Pro-Bowler and five-time All-Pro changes games with his mere presence. Last season with the Browns, Garrett set the NFL’s single-season sack record with 23 sacks, breaking the previous mark held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Now, his influence on his teammates could become just as valuable as his pass rush.

Jaylen Watson is pictured during the Rams’ practice June 2. Getty Images

“When he’s out there you can just feel his presence,” said McDuffie of Garrett. “Everybody talks about a player’s aura, and he definitely has one. He’s gigantic. He’s a monster.”

New Rams’ special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone, who coached Garrett in Cleveland, knows him better than anyone.

“When there was an opportunity to acquire him, people started asking me about his character and the kind of person he is,” said Ventrone. “Having coached him over the last three years, I can tell you he’s a great dude, a great teammate, and incredibly hard worker and just a complete freak of an athlete. Everyone is going to see it. He’s a special, special player.”

Jaylen Watson is pictured during the Rams’ practice June 2. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ventrone, who was hired in the offseason to revamp a miserable Rams’ special teams unit that was ranked among the worst in the league last season, brought on two veteran special teamers in Joe Cardona and Grant Stuard to help leadership and accountability to that unit.

“They’re two of my favorite players that I’ve ever coached,” said Ventrone of Cardona and Stuard’s NFL credibility. “They’re not only smart football players. They’re smart people. I’m grateful Les and Sean were able to bring them here.”

Snead and McVay didn’t just simply add talent this offseason, they surrounded one of the NFL’s youngest teams with veteran leaders, teachers, and extensions of the coaching staff.

If that investment pays off with another Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium next February, then they didn’t just assemble one of the most talented teams in NFL history. They may have assembled the smartest.

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YouTube Gold: Showtime In L.A.

During his playing days, Jerry West was devastated nearly every year when his Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics. He briefly coached, but given his high-strung nature, that really didn’t suit him in his post-player career.

He worked as a scout until 1982, when he took over as GM.

The Lakers had a nice base with Jamaal Wilkes, Norm Nixon, Michael Cooper, and the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but things changed enormously when L.A. drafted Magic Johnson, and Showtime was born.

Johnson was a 6-9 point guard who could play any position on the court. He had immense charisma, and his teams tended to win.

Los Angeles started to run, and while the main focus was winning, the Lakers introduced a level of entertainment that the basketball world had never seen.

When West took over as GM, he truly found his second career. He drafted James Worthy, but he was part of the decision, and he traded Norm Nixon for Byron Scott.

Later, he would draft A.C. Green, who also did very well.

The Lakers became a globally iconic franchise during the Showtime era, and a measuring stick for every team outside of the Celtics, who had their own identity.

Showtime started to wind down when Jabbar retired in 1989, and when Johnson abruptly retired in 1991, after being diagnosed with HIV, it ended.

It’s been 35 years since Showtime officially ended, and the NBA has still not found anything quite as much fun.

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

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Giants waive linebacker Cam Jones and defensive lineman C.J. Ravenell

The Giants opened up two spots on their 90-player roster ahead of training camp.

Linebacker Cam Jones and defensive lineman C.J. Ravenell were both waived.

Jones signed with the Giants in March but missed time during offseason workouts with what coach John Harbaugh described as an injury he suffered while moving boxes into his new home. Jones spent last season with the Jets, appearing in 10 games, and had played in all 17 games each of the two previous seasons with the Chiefs. He primarily plays on special teams.

Although there's no word on any box-moving injuries, Ravenell was waived with a Non-Football Injury designation. He previously played for Harbaugh on the Ravens in 2024, and spent 2025 on the Titans.

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Joe Flacco earns spot on the 2026 NFL All-Backup Team

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) drops back to throw in the second quarter of the NFL Week 11 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. The Steelers led 10-6 at halftime. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Bengals surprised us all when they traded for Joe Flacco in the middle of the season after Joe Burrow went down last year.

The Bengals were crumbling quickly early on last season, but Flacco brought a spark the team, the fanbase, and city desperately needed.

Despite a lack of wins, Flacco was incredibly productive in Zac Taylor’s offense thanks to the help of Ja’Marr Chase and is now officially backing up Joe Burrow going into 2026.

Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently shared his NFL All-Backup team going into the new season, and Flacco made the roster.

“Here’s the veteran in our quarterback room. Flacco, 41, has been effective while bouncing around the league over the past three years, posting a 45.5 QBR while winning games for the Browns, Colts and Bengals. He’s going to throw some truly painful interceptions, but Flacco still has a strong arm, does a solid job of avoiding sacks and can run the offense from under center. He’s a great short-term option for us,” Barnwell wrote.

Flacco is the most experienced QB that has been behind Burrow since he was drafted in 2020 and has now shown that he can win in the NFL and win with the offense in Cincinnati, if needed.

As hard as it is to say, it is now important to have someone like Flacco behind Burrow after he went down with his third significant injury as a Bengal last year.

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Patrick Mahomes will wear a brace on his knee, "I can still move and be myself with it"

As he returns to the practice field, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will wear a brace on his surgically repaired knee. But he says he isn't sure how long he'll wear it.

Mahomes, who tore his ACL on December 14, said he could keep wearing the brace going forward, or he could choose to take it off, depending on how he feels.

"There isn't really a plan for it," Mahomes said. "I'm going start off with it just because I've worn it before and I feel comfortable with it. So that that's kind of where we will start, but it's not like I've been told I have to wear it or how long I have to wear it. It's just going to be my comfortability how I feel. But I will start with it on just because I feel like I can still move and be myself with it. I played with it in college and then we'll just see where we go from there."

Mahomes wore a brace in 2015 at Texas Tech, after he suffered a knee injury in a game against TCU, and played well with it. If he plays well with it through training camp he'll keep it on, but if he decides to ditch the brace, he's medically cleared to play without it.

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Kentucky Wildcats News: LeBron James joins Tyrese Maxey and Justin Edwards with the 76ers

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 07: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers hugs Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on December 07, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Los Angeles Lakers won 112-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning, BBN!

It finally happened: LeBron James has decided where he wants to play next, and he’s pairing up with former Wildcats Tyrese Maxey and Justin Edwards with the Philadelphia 76ers.

If you’re a LeBron fan, like me, you have to be on cloud 9. 

If you’re not, but you’re a Kentucky fan, you should still be very excited. The last time LeBron teamed up with a former Cat, it resulted in a championship. LeBron and AD were unstoppable when they first teamed up with the Los Angeles Lakers; I wish we could’ve seen them healthier together. 

Nonetheless, it looks like this will be LeBron’s last stop before retirement, and what better way to finish it than with Maxey, Edwards, V.J. Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid. 

If this doesn’t make them the favorite in the East past the defending champion Knicks, it certainly makes them 2nd. 

It should be an absolutely wild 2026-27 NBA season, and I, for one, can’t wait. Bring all the madness, and please, everyone, stay healthy! 

Are you excited about LeBron heading to Philly?

Tweet of the Day

Wonderful day and wedding for the big guy! Congratulations to Aaliyah and @Oscartshiebwe34 , what a fantastic journey…just getting started!!! pic.twitter.com/gR8P81nbuO

— KentuckyCards (@KentuckyCards) July 25, 2026

Congrats to Oscar Tshiebwe, who also just signed with the Houston Rockets!!!

Headlines

As Summer Practice Nears End, Pope ‘Excited’ About Cats – UK Athletics

After all of the controversy we’ve seen, it has been a pretty good summer.

Craig Skinner to be Inducted into Delaware County (IN) Athletic Hall of Fame – UK Athletics

Very well-deserved.

Lance Heard, Willie Rodriguez Earn Preseason Media Days All-SEC Honors – UK Athletics

Excited for these two.

LeBron picks 76ers as ‘last decision,’ to sign 2-year, $8M deal – ESPN

Love that he took less money to pursue a championship.

Michael Kim shoots 59 at the 2026 3M Open, joins historic group on PGA Tour with 16th sub-60 round – CBS Sports

Insane round.

Andy Reid: Patrick Mahomes has been cleared to fully participate – NBC Sports

Wow.

Dribble Handoff: Which new college basketball coach will have the most successful long-term career? – CBS Sports

Love Mike Malone with North Carolina.

Bryson DeChambeau: I could have fought for Open win without penalty – ESPN

Sure, Bryson, sure.

Ranking NFL contenders by backup QB situations: Mac Jones, Davis Mills headline best insurance policies – CBS Sports

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Rams unveil their two new alternate uniforms

The Nikefication of the NFL continues.

For some teams, it's becoming impossible to keep up with the various helmet, jersey, and pants combinations. For the Rams, who unveiled new base uniforms in April (the drain plug was thankfully pulled on the dirty dishwater option), two alternate uniforms were added on Thursday.

They include a look dubbed "Classic Sol," consisting of a yellow jersey and white pants. The uniform honors the team's 1951 NFL Championship team.

The other alternate uniform is called "Fearsome White," a nod to the "Fearsome Foursome" of Rosey Grier, Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy, and Merlin Olsen. The jersey is white, the pants are white, and the helmet logo is white.

Then there's the "Midnight Mode" uniform added last year as part of the largely nonsensical "Rivalries" line, a semi-plausible strategy for giving fans another jersey to buy.

When Nike assumed the apparel contract in 2012 from Reebook, some (including me) feared that NFL teams eventually would look like Oregon, with a different uniform every week. I'm now starting to wonder when Nike will talk the league into one-upping the Ducks by letting a team change uniforms at halftime.

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