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Rams move to LA … for practice with Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, left, and St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke talk during a joint NFL football training camp, Monday, August 17, 2015, in Oxnard, Calif.

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The St. Louis Rams were greeted by a huge contingent of jersey-wearing, flag-waving fans chanting “L.A. Rams!” as they took the practice fields Monday in Oxnard, an hour west of Los Angeles.

Rams receiver Daniel Rodriguez stands only 5 foot 8 and weighs only 180 pounds, but he can claim the title of the toughest player on either team.

But they’re also providing a tantalizing appetizer for fans who know the franchise is weighing a return to Los Angeles, its home for 49 years until 1995.

“This is a unique opportunity for Rams fans to show their support”, Batement said.

Head coach Jeff Fisher has said the sessions in many ways serve as a chance to practice against a fifth opponent before the start of the season. It’s a great area, and … they miss their pro team. While his brothers gave up on the team after its move to the Midwest, the Lompoc native stayed faithful to the franchise.

“I think it enhances it because it creates more excitement, more fan involvement and that will be a plus for the interest in the Cowboys being out here, too”, Jones said. Being [there] with those guys was pretty surreal for me but had no idea he was in camp and so it’s pretty special when you think of the big picture of where he came from, where he’s at and you never know who you’re going to meet and the impression you’re going to make. He has purchased land in Inglewood and partnered with developers to build a palatial football stadium capable of housing two NFL teams – but done it all without explicitly saying he intends to move the Rams.

Inglewood Mayor James Butts also was at the joint practice and said the status of which stadium project is coming to Southern California is squarely in the owners’ hands. Kroenke already has spent many millions on his Hollywood Park site, and stadium construction already may have begun. First of all, the Rams are the team that most of us as children grew up with.

“I love St. Louis”, Butts said. Roman Gabriel. Jack Snow. There were problems associated with the crowds last year when the Oakland Raiders came to Oxnard to practice against the Cowboys. They planned to wrap up each day with food, drinks and partying at a nearby restaurant.

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“The defensive style they play, it’s an attacking, downhill style”, Witten said.

Rams move to LA ... for practice with Cowboys