2012 » of the name and logo is expected within a coup

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Case Keenum knows his statistics are unimpressive, and he sees the Los Angeles Rams record hovering below .500. He also realizes the raw economic imperatives faced by an NFL franchise that traded six draft picks to move up to get a quarterback with the No. 1 overall choice.The team captain still couldnt deny his hurt feelings when the Rams (4-5) promoted Jared Goff into his starting spot this week.Honestly, I wasnt happy, Keenum said Wednesday after his second practice as the backup to the 22-year-old rookie who will take his first NFL snap Sunday.I want to play, Keenum said. Thats why I play football, is to play football, is to be the quarterback, the guy with the ball in his hands. With that being said, I trust Coach (Jeff) Fisher. I trust the coaches and their decision.The Rams will get their first look at their future when the Miami Dolphins (5-4) visit the Coliseum. Goff sat behind Keenum for Los Angeles first nine games, but Goffs progress in practice and the Rams stagnant offensive performances for Keenum finally persuaded Fisher to make the change.The timing still surprised Keenum, who led the Rams in a 9-6 victory over the Jets last weekend to snap a four-game skid. Los Angeles is still well within contention for the franchises first playoff berth since 2004, and the defense has managed to win two games in which the offense couldnt score a touchdown.While fellow veteran quarterback Nick Foles asked to leave the Rams when Goff was drafted, Keenum embraced a mentoring role. That didnt make the inevitable move any easier to take.I guess it was going to happen at some point, said Keenum, who has completed 61 percent of his throws with 11 interceptions and nine TDs. But in my mind, it was my team. Thats the way I viewed it. It was my offense, and I took ownership of it.Fisher and offensive coordinator Rob Boras are aware theyre turning over the keys to an offense ranked 31st in the league in yardage and dead last with 15.4 points per game. The coaches are attempting to manage expectations even before Goff steps on the field, with Fisher already declaring that Sunday is not going to define his career.Im hoping that the game slows down for him, and I think it will, Fisher added. But theres going to be tough times in this game, because this is a good defense.Fisher made the decision to go with Goff, but Boras is charged with making it work while still keeping Keenum involved in game preparation. Boras plans to focus his play-calls on the passing schemes with which Goff has the most comfort.When we drafted Jared where we did, everybody knew what was going to happen, Boras said. It was just a question of when. Were all competitors, and Case is a competitive person. Hes not excited about this, but he also understands the situation. ... My heart goes out to Case. Case is a man. If he gets called on again, he will be ready, because thats who he is.Goffs arm strength, size and decisiveness are NFL-caliber, but the Rams acknowledge he had a longer learning curve than some passers because of coach Sonny Dykes offensive style at California, where the quarterback doesnt often take snaps under center or call plays on the field. Several teammates noted Goffs improved confidence in play-calling since his first weeks in LA.He isnt making as many hasty throws that can turn into interceptions, guard Rodger Saffold said. Hes better able to read the defenses in practice, and hes making the play calls. Hes been more fluid all around.Saffold acknowledged a little bit of surprise at the timing of the change. He realizes Goffs chances should be better in front of his home crowd, which chanted his name two weeks ago when the offense struggled mightily in a loss to Carolina.Well, you got what you wanted, Saffold said. So be out there in full force and support him, and know theres going to be some growing pains.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLAir Max 90 Sale Cheap .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. Wholesale Air Max 90 . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. http://www.discountairmax90.com/ . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. Cheap Air Max 90 Wholesale . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Cheap Air Max 90 . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead.LAS VEGAS -- NASCARs top circuit has been called the Winston Cup, Nextel Cup and Sprint Cup.Starting in 2017, the sport could have a Cup-less name, one of many changes expected as Monster Energy takes over as title sponsor with a desire to attract younger fans to a sagging sport.Young people set trends in fashion and then older people adapt, said Mark Hall, Monsters chief marketing officer. Fashion is set by a small group of influencers. The challenge is to make your product relevant to that group and then have them influence the others. If weve been successful in the past, weve followed that model.A decade ago, NASCAR was the cool sport, drawing record television ratings and numerous sponsors as it branched out from its Southeastern roots. The recession hit the sport hard, then the fans started to scatter and TV ratings dwindled. Sprint, which inherited the sponsorship of the sports top series when it merged with Nextel, announced in December 2014 it wouldnt renew.It took nearly two years to find a replacement, and its believed Monster is paying much less. But NASCAR hopes the relationship with the California-based maker of caffeine-filled energy drinks will reinvigorate an aging fan base.NASCAR Chairman Brian France kept saying fun and edgy in describing Monster at Thursdays news conference announcing the agreement.They get at a millennial audience in a different way than weve ever been associated wiith, France said.ddddddddddddThey know what theyre doing.France declined to say what the name of the circuit will be in 2017. NASCARs press release of the multiyear agreement referred to NASCARs premier series, hinting the Cup name will go away. An official announcement of the name and logo is expected within a couple weeks.Weve got some real good options on that, France said.NASCAR and Monster will have to move quickly. A marketing plan, signage and other sponsorship issues are pressing ahead of the Feb. 26 season-opening Daytona 500.Its a brand that can translate to the youth, said driver Kurt Busch, whose car has been sponsored by Monster since 2012. Yet its a brand thats respected in all of motorsports.The culture change from a cellular company as face of the sport to an energy drink targeted to millennials was apparent as models in form-fitting outfits flanked both ends of the stage at Thursdays announcement.We want to bring some good shows and entertainment for NASCAR fans so they can interact with our brand and understand what our culture is all about, said Mitch Covington, Monsters vice president of sports marketing. Of course, they will have met the fabulous Monster Energy girls. Were going to have a lot of fun at NASCAR, both in the parking lot and inside the oval. ' ' '