Official 2008 SLOP Manifesto

[AvengerRam]

The 2008 Manifesto of the
Scott Linehan Opposition Party

WHEREAS the organization known as the Scott Linehan Opposition Party (hereafter "SLOP") maintains its dissatisfation with the progress of the St. Louis Rams under the Scott Linehan regime; and

WHEREAS, not withstanding this dissastisfaction, SLOP strongly supports the Rams and wishes to see the team succeed in 2008;

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:

1. SLOP supports the efforts of Scott Linehan during the offseason, and intends to extend this support into the commencement of the season;

2. SLOP recognizes the difficulties that may arise from the Rams' schedule during the first half of the season, and views that schedule as a contingency that must be considered in evaluating Scott Linehan's progress.

3. Given the hiring of Al Saunders, SLOP pledges to refrain from charging Scott Linehan with responsibility for poor situational playcalling, should it occur this season. However, consistently effective playcalling by Coach Saunders may be viewed as validation of past criticism of Coach Linehan's playcalling.

4. SLOP categorically opposes mid-season coaching changes, absent the presence of one of the following circumstances or reasons: (i) complete loss of team support for the head coach, or (ii) late-season (i.e. within final four games) change designed to evaluate assistant viewed as likely successor. Thus, criticism of Scott Linehan during the year should not include, nor should it be deemed as implying, a call for a mid-season coaching change.

5. In the event that the Rams reach the playoffs, SLOP will suspend all operations and provide a vote of confidence to Scott Linehan for the 2009 season.

and

6. In the event that the Rams fail to win a minimum of eight (8) games in 2008, SLOP will operate pursuant to a rebuttable presumption that Scott Linehan should not be retained for the 2009 season.

SO RESOLVED, on this 6th day of July, 2008

AvengerRam
AvengerRam
President and Founder
Scott Linehan Opposition Party

[MoonJoe]

Excellent work as always AV. One question, what is the official process for becoming a member of S.L.O.P. ?

Joe

[Curly Horns]

Before and after reading your post I am thinking of football season.

My thoughts turn to a tv commercial and one word comes to mind....


DUDE

[bigredman]

You AvengerRam, you are my favorite barrister


But for someone who's sworn to uphold the laws of this land, you can't be timid like a bunny...


After all, this country was built on standing one's ground. Remember the Alamo?


So to now support the person you once wanted to place upon a rail and run out of town, frankly appears to be a....


Your manifesto is frankly for the birds...


I mean, even Judge Ito is chuckling!


I challenge you, stay true to your original convictions...


Even though you are cute as one, you are not a teddy bear


You are the baddest advocate there ever was. No matter who criticizes you, no matter the hateful responses...you are SLOP master!

[ramsanddodgers]

after all, BRG, it IS about "free will"?

[itsguud]

Soooo... my question as a current SLOP member is do we continue to just target Linehan? Or are we going to give any blame to the FO?

[TekeRam]

Depends on who you want to blame in the FO. At least the FO finally realized that it had no idea how to run a draft and since they brought in an actual football guy, I've been rather happy with the decisions made in both free agency and the draft. That said, I would have pursued one of the offensive tackles that lingered on the market, and there were some linebackers I'd have gone after as well, but in terms of actual signings? I'm happy enough.

As for the Manifesto, Av, I'm right there behind you, flip flopper or not!

[AvengerRam]

There is no flip-floppery (Is that a word...? Well, it is now!) going on here.

As a Rams fan, I want the team to succeed. In fact, I want the Rams to do so well that Scott Linehan will be the unanimous choice for NFL Coach of the Year.

Do I expect that to happen? No.

But if I go into the season HOPING for Linehan's departure, would that not be tantamount to hoping the team fails? That is something I would never do.

So, for now, SLOP supports Scott Linehan because doing so is a necessary extension of SLOP's support for the St. Louis Rams.

But, make no mistake... if the team underperforms, SLOP will push hard for a coaching change.

[AvengerRam]

Excellent work as always AV. One question, what is the official process for becoming a member of S.L.O.P. ?

Joe

Send a check for $1,000 to the Coalition for AvengerRam's Summer Home ("CASH") to SLOP, c/o AvengerRam, P.O. Box 147, Cayman Islands.

Or... just say you want in and you're in!

[r8rh8rmike]

I must admit, the 2008 SLOP Manisfesto sounds completely reasonable to me.

But if I go into the season HOPING for Linehan's departure, would that not be tantamount to hoping the team fails? That is something I would never do.

Great point. Why would anyone who wants the Rams to succeed want their Head Coach to fail? It goes against all logic IMO.

[MoonJoe]

Dang, can't find the checkbook! Oh well, I declare myself a member of S.L.O.P.!

I really thought we should have cut our losses (based on our losses) last year and fire Mr. Linehan. What I don't think anyone realized at the time was Madam Ram was not doing well at all and that was the least of anyone's problems. So they just weren't going to deal with it, and now we will based on this season.

With that, it makes total sense for me to support the leadership of this team, as long as we move forward. However, I reserve the right to blame all things bad on SL.

[denverram]

As always Av the loyal members of SLOP follow your lead and agree with you guiding principals.

[Nick]

Seems kind of vague in spots to me, but what do I know?

[AvengerRam]

Seems kind of vague in spots to me, but what do I know?

SLOP is an organization of principles, not laws. Thus, its Manifesto must be dynamic and allow for a certain degree of discretion as the season unfolds.

Join us, Nick...

[laram0]

After reading your manifesto, (which has alot of big words in it) there is no way I'm whipping out the dictionary to figure out what it all means.


SLAP