St. Louis Rams: Chris Long says team should not believe the hype

The St. Louis Rams are receiving a lot of respect from national pundits and are everyone's "sexy" pick to surprise and make a splash this season.  Many are excited about the defense's potential with new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.  Many are excited to see what Sam Bradford can do with the running game the Rams found after he was injured last season. Many people do not completely understand why they are excited, but they are.

Chris Long, one of the longest tenured Rams that has survived throughout the many years of losing, told Nate Latsch of Gridiron Gateway that this team can not be complacent and needs to get to work because there still is a lot that needs to be earned.

“We can be a lot better than last year, we just have to keep grinding away at it.  At the same time we tell the guys don't believe the hype... It's good to have notoriety but it can be dangerous if guys buy into it."

Reaction and commentary:  Good for Chris Long.  He is certainly saying the right things and I hope his teammates are listening because despite some of the lofty pre-season predictions that have the Rams as in the top half of the NFL, this squad still finished fourth in the NFC West division last year.

Many fans were excited after last season and happy with a 7-9 record.  But maybe I am a pessimist, but last place is last place, correct?

I don't care if the NFC West if the best division in the history of the NFL (it's not), finishing in last place still means there are three teams better than you.

And after watching the Rams get physically man-handled and lose their cool in each of their road games near the end of last season against their division rivals, I will not be able to jump on the positive band-wagon just yet.

I'm glad to hear Long's comments because I believe there is still a lot of work to be done.  Hopefully his teammates are listening.

Thanks for reading, @CoreyRudd