Nate Atkins

I wrote about this one in the story coming tomorrow. A situation I’ve been up close with the past couple years.

Lots of lower-cost options out there but it does take some digging. Hence how I spent my morning!

Just wrote close to 2,000 words previewing the Rams at the trade deadline for @theathletic.com. They've made one move and it'll be interesting to see if there's more to come.

What (realistic) players would you guys like to see them go after?

The Saints have made a switch at QB, inserting Tyler Shough over Spencer Rattler, according to multiple reports.

So a shift in approach for the Rams defense this week coming out of the bye.

For big games, absolutely. I’m still not used to trying to catch Cavs and Guardians games at 4 p.m. Not sure if I will ever get there to be honest. But the sleep is nice.

These people paid up for a World Series ticket and got to see two games.

The Rams placed WR Tutu Atwell on injured reserve. Tough loss in some ways that are hard to see, but he’s key to their spacing and efficient when he gets the ball.

We’ll get some clarity on this come Wednesday.

Darious Williams suffered a shoulder and lat strain. He spent the bye rehabbing, but it's unclear if he can play this week vs. the Saints.

So, we could see some Roger McCreary action early. Williams has played at least 60% of the snaps in each game without Ahkello Witherspoon.

Titans deal CB Roger McCreary to Rams for 2026 fifth- and sixth-round draft picks The Titans will acquire a conditional fifth-round pick and give up their conditional sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Some quick analysis on the Rams' trade for Roger McCreary and how he fits their defense and contention window:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

Ahkello Witherspoon has been active and around the team, including on the trip to London.

Nothing has changed in his recovery timeline but the Rams expect him back. The initial timeframe was 12 weeks. We’re about halfway through.

Roger McCreary’s versatility factored in here.

Rams WR Puka Nacua and RT Rob Havenstein are set to practice and play this week against the Saints, per Sean McVay.

Sean McVay said the Rams needed some depth in the DB room on the whole, and new CB Roger McCreary answers that in a couple ways.

He mentioned letting Quentin Lake "wear a bunch of different hats."

On McCreary: "He can play inside or outside... I like him for his versatility."

Should Rams trade for a cornerback? Quentin Lake extension coming? Mailbag We answer questions about the Rams' cornerback situation, the offense's success in different personnel packages and more.

Here’s the full bye week mailbag: www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

From five days ago 👀

🚨 The Rams have traded for a cornerback 🚨

Los Angeles lands Roger McCreary from the Titans by sending a conditional 2026 5th-round pick for McCreary and a conditional 2026 6th-round pick.

A reference inspired by this quote I got a few years ago:

www.indystar.com/story/sports...

a football player wearing a purple jersey with the number 84 on it ALT: a football player wearing a purple jersey with the number 84 on it

Michael Pittman Jr. on that last drive:

Again, who ranked LSU at No. 20 last week and for what reason?

Five sacks for Myles Garrett in a game his team is losing 30-7.

He is football’s Tungsten Arm O’Doyle.

I’m not sure it’s criminal but it is hypocritical. The leagues got in bed with the gambling sites and just hoped that all of the participants would be noble enough to resist the way they shove it down our throats every second. Which isn’t how the human response to addictive substances always work.

Some will compare it to fantasy sports, and I play plenty of those. But the cost is mostly my time. I run a pretty involved dynasty baseball league and at worst you’re $60 in but get to share the experience with a bunch of friends.

Placing sports bets at home just feels isolating. And costly.

My perspective is kinda unique. I’m an addictive personality and also grew up with sports on TV as a family who didn’t have money for much else. I never wanted to put much of a price on it. So I found a job that gets me to the games.

But I wonder how many people really enjoy losing money this way.

I’ll place some bets when I go to a sports book, about once a year. All on games that day so I can watch, have a little fun and accept that I’m losing money for entertainment.

They hassle you like none other to get the app tho. And I always say I can’t because then I won’t gamble responsibly.

Also, while I’m good with some process for gambling, I think it was overall healthier to the masses when you had to put in real effort to place a bet. Swiping from a couch is nasty work. It has created addicts out of people who otherwise could be locked into a game back when that’s what they had.

Should Rams trade for a cornerback? Quentin Lake extension coming? Mailbag

After Sunday’s 5-touchdown outburst, is it time for the Rams to embrace 12- and 13-personnel even when Puka Nacua comes back?

And how does Terrance Ferguson factor in now?

Mailbag:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Nah. I’m talking about the culture here. Sports are just inundated with ads, commentary and analysis through the lens of betting now.

We used to make it all about the games on the networks and in the analysis. We used to be a country 😂

Should Rams trade for a cornerback? Quentin Lake extension coming? Mailbag

From the latest Rams mailbag:

Fans are going to clamor for a trade for Denzel Ward or Sauce Gardner, but I don’t think those as realistic.

But I see two cornerbacks in contract years who can be: www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Should Rams trade for a cornerback? Quentin Lake extension coming? Mailbag

Your Rams mail is here 📬

✉️ Will they trade for a cornerback? Who’s on the market?
✉️ More 12 and 13 personnel even when Puka Nacua is back?
✉️ Quentin Lake extension on the horizon?
✉️ Will the bye week heal Rob Havenstein?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Nah. I’m just mostly tired of commentary and analysis about sports through the lens of betting. We used to just make it about the games.

I’ll take just pre-online betting days. So just a few years ago.