How NOT to handle an NFL quarterback

Nick Foles isn’t showing up for the Rams’ offseason workouts. Nobody should be surprised by this given the Rams talking up Case Keenum as their starter back in February and then trading away a bevy of draft picks to select Jared Goff. There’s another problem here that comes back to how head coach Jeff Fisher talks about his quarterbacks in the media and his never-ending quest to not ruin a franchise quarterback.

The Rams gave Foles a $24 million contract extension before he ever played a down for them. Three months later, Fisher benched him as part of his quest to break his perpetual 7-9 cycle. In the process, he promised that Foles would “eventually will be under center for us again.” He was talking up Keenum as their starter in February.

You’d think some team would trade for Foles -- the Rams reportedly shopped him during the draft -- but it’s going to be hard for any team to take on the terrible deal the Rams gave him, with an $8.7 million cap hit this year and a $13.2 million hit in 2017. Why trade when you can just wait for the Rams to cut him?

Obviously, a coach can’t trash his quarterbacks in the media, in part because they never know when they’ll have to rely on that guy again. At the same time, it feels just as irresponsible to talk a guy up in front of the world and then pull the rug out from under him. An overrated coach like Fisher makes for an easy heel, but he’s not the only one guilty of this.

Let’s stay in the world of middling to bad quarterbacks for a bit.

FITZ AND THE JETS: Adam Schefter says that Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets are not any closer to a deal. Might have to get used to Geno Smith there again.

PHILLY WON THE SANCHEZ TRADE: The Mark Sanchez trade got even better for the Eagles. That conditional seventh-round pick could easily turn into a sixth-rounder if Sanchez starts at least four games for the Broncos.

ARE THE 49ERS REALLY GOING WITH GABBERT? Do the Niners really prefer Blaine Gabbert over Colin Kaepernick? Really? Another NFL insider offers his take on what’s going on with the 49ers quarterback situation and it’s not going to make poor Niners fans feel much better about this season.

RAIDERS FIGHTS: Jack Del Rio is not happy that three fights broke out at Tuesday’s OTA session. It’s hot. The competition is intense. And, players really aren’t supposed to be making contact with each other, but stuff happens. The Raiders coach acknowledged the situation, but emphasized the importance of self-control. What would Al Davis think?

BECKHAM AND THE KARDASHIANS: Is Odell Beckham Jr. dating Khloe Kardashian? The more important question now is whether there’s a “Kardashian curse” for athletes.

GORDON STILL STRUGGLING: Chargers RB Melvin Gordon isn’t feeling too confident in his knee after surgery. Here’s some pretty startling footage of Melvin Gordon from Chargers OTAs this week. Caveat: it’s still early in Gordon’s return process. Give him time.

THE CHECK ISN’T IN THE MAIL: Broncos want to end deal with Sports Authority after missed payments. Paying your bills is important!

TOM BRADY HAS POWERFUL FRIENDS: The AFL-CIO, Kenneth Feinberg, Patriots and science professors filed amicus briefs in support of Tom Brady. These four filings could have a major impact on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and whether he can play at the start of 2016.

A NEW X-FACTOR: Ryan Shazier is the new Troy Polamalu. The Steelers’ third year linebacker, Ryan Shazier, is the defense’s new X-factor.

THURMOND CALLS IT QUITS: Safety Walter Thurmond reportedly set to retire at age 28. He started his career with the Seahawks; his last year in Seattle was with their Super Bowl winning team in 2013. Then he went to the Giants and later the Eagles, but injuries have dogged him the whole way.

WHAT IF? Peyton Manning almost signed with the Titans instead of the Broncos in 2012. Here’s what would have happened if he went to Tennessee.