Highs, lows and constant movement: An eventful 2016 for the L.A. Rams

Highs, lows and constant movement: An eventful 2016 for the L.A. Rams

By Alden Gonzalez

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- John Fassel had to compose himself while reflecting on 2016. Too much has happened. Too much will change. In the media workroom of the Los Angeles Rams' facility at Cal Lutheran University on Monday afternoon, the interim coach was asked about feeling nostalgic toward this calendar year and suddenly thought back to all of it.

"Great question," Fassel said, concluding a 296-word answer in which he nearly shed tears. "But I wish you didn't ask it."

The year ends at midnight on Saturday and the Rams conclude their season -- their first in Southern California since 1994 -- the following afternoon at home against the Arizona Cardinals. It will signal the end of a year marked by constant movement and persistent drama, not to mention extreme highs and lows.

There were four relocations -- from St. Louis, to Oxnard, California, to Irvine, to Thousand Oaks.

They traded for the No. 1 overall pick in April, moving up a record 14 spots in the process, and fired their fifth-year head coach in December.

They won three of their first four games, then lost 10 of their next 11.


Fans in Los Angeles were excited about the Rams moving back but less than giddy about the team's tepid offense. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
Rams senior director of communications Artis Twyman, winding down his 14th season with the organization, expected a larger scope in the nation's second-largest market. But he was still shocked by the media presence for the mid-January news conference at The Forum, which celebrated the approval of an NFL franchise in L.A. He was equally surprised at the Rams' early March meeting at a Manhattan Beach hotel, at the first organized team activities, at the groundbreaking ceremony of a new stadium.

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