Rams notes, 10/19

* That was an award-worthy performance by the Rams over San Diego Sunday. Proof? Steven Jackson is up for FedEx Ground Player of the Week, and Danario Alexander is up for Pepsi Rookie of the Week.

As they say in Chicago, vote early and vote often.

* Did somebody say the player(s) who had to step up for the San Diego game were Chris Long and the defensive line? Just checking.

* As I guessed during RamView, the official's interpretation on the helmet-to-helmet hit by Kevin Burnett on Sam Bradford was that Bradford had become a runner and was fair game. Bull. Shit. Why does the league make it legal for the QB to slide for safety and also make it legal to clock him in the head? Needless to say, the league's doing a lot of answering this week for letting all of these downfield blows to the head go unpenalized. One thing TMQ got right this week was to include the hit on Bradford on the list of this weekend's notorious blows to the head, the only national outlet or column I've seen or heard do so.

* Wacky 2010 statistic #1: 33-year-old James Hall is in the top 5 in the NFL in sacks with 6. He's on a pace for 16. His high sack season for the Rams was 6.5 in 2008.

* Wacky 2010 statistic #2: the Rams have won as many games this season as they did the last two seasons combined. (Randy Karraker, 101 ESPN)

* Wacky 2010 statistic #3: the Rams are out of first place in the NFC by one game. Note I didn't say NFC West. Nobody in the whole conference is above 4-2. Home field advantage for the playoffs!

* Jackson is 32 yards from passing Eric Dickerson to become the leading rusher in team history.

* Injury update: Bartender! A round of hamstrings for everyone. Minor hamstring injuries for Mardy Gilyard, Brit Miller and Jerome Murphy. Significant hamstring injuries for Darian Stewart and Justin King, who are expected to miss Sunday's game in Tampa because of them.

Anybody on this freaking team ever heard of stretching?

Ron Bartell has an injured left wrist and a bruised thigh but should be able to go against the Bucs, and Chris Chamberlain returns to practice this week. Jacob Bell is fine and played Sunday. Same for Jason Smith. Na'il Diggs is day-to-day due to a sprained knee. David Vobora (ANOTHER hamstring) was on the active roster Sunday but didn't play. Cliff Ryan was inactive again and is out indefinitely, or infinitely, even, due to migraines. DarellDorell Scott was also inactive due to a high ankle sprain and should be out another 2 to 4 weeks.

Danario Alexander's got some soreness in his knee but it was expected. He'll probably be practiced lightly this week.

* Transactions: Reports are that the Rams have waived Chauncey Washington from the active roster, but no corresponding transaction has been announced. Mortty Ivy is listed on the active roster on the Rams' website right now, but with Washington still on it, too, that's a 54-man roster, not quite legal. They do list only 7 on the practice squad. I'm surprised they'd cut Washington - our depth at RB hasn't gotten any better, you know - and more surprised that they'd replace him with an LB, if they are, given all the injuries at DB right now.

Calling Quincy Butler!

* Buc the odds: Tampa opened in Vegas as a 3-point favorite, which is already being bet down. Over/under is 38. I think there's plenty of reason to bet the Rams, but let's try to keep the jinx on my 1-3-1 Rams betting record and pick pewter power.