Rams know being at the top of the LA market means taking risks

In a lot of ways, the Los Angeles Rams are reshaping the football market in LA. In the process, they have also made fans all but forget about the Chargers.

The reason why the Los Angeles Rams have blown away the Los Angeles Chargers so far this offseason is by recognizing what plays in LA, and what doesn’t.

In other words, being relevant in Los Angeles means you win, and you make news on the way to winning. If you think that’s an overstatement, look at what the Rams have done via free agency and what the Chargers have not.

Also think NFL Star Power.

It’s no knock on the Bolts, but don’t tell me that outside of the niche fans of the former team from San Diego, that anyone has even noticed them this March.

Maybe that changes, especially after the draft, or maybe it doesn’t. But the Chargers owning the sleepy hamlet of San Diego is a world of difference than being in the media and celebrity driven cauldron that is LA. They are finding out, if they haven’t already, that anonymity in the City of Angels can also be the kiss of death.

Meanwhile, the Rams have taken a wholeheartedly different approach.

General Manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay have been bold and dominated the NFL headlines with acquisitions like Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, and most recently Ndamukong Suh. They have even had their name tied to super diva Odell Beckham Jr.

That’s winning the NFL tabloid wars in a city where that plays.

LA has turned it up several notches in the city and their division. The Rams have recognized that being a spectator doesn’t help winning, much less winning a Super Bowl, so they’ve rolled the dice knowing a window like this doesn’t open often, or stay open long.

The Chargers on the other hand, seem content on the slow and steady race.

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If the Rams can manage to see this through to a Super Sunday or get real close in the process, like an NFC Championship Game appearance, it will validate that “going for it” can be part of building a franchise, thus forsaking the slow-growth of building over time.

Los Angeles has gone all in for 2018, meaning chances are relatively high that this time next year, the Rams will either be reloading or regrouping.

That could be a high price too.