Report: Rams focused on long-term extension for veteran acquisitions
As the Los Angeles Rams coaches and players focus on Sunday’s Super Bowl, the front office is already expressing interest in the future, according to The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue. The report suggests that the Rams have interest in longer-term extensions for veteran acquisitions Matthew Stafford, Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr, who have helped lead the Super Bowl run.
All three players were acquired over the past year – either through free agency or trades – with the idea of a Super Bowl run. After coming into Sunday with the opportunity to achieve that goal, the Rams hope to lock up their core for another season or more.
Matthew Stafford was the first to join the team, coming via trade this offseason. As the Rams looked forward at the trade deadline, it bolstered its defense with established pass rusher and Super Bowl champion Von Miller, then acquiring embattled wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr after a tumultuous split with the Cleveland Browns.
Alongside cornerstone franchise pieces like Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp and Jalen Ramsey, the newest Rams have helped head coach Sean McVay return to his second Super Bowl in his young coaching career. After putting up just three points in his first appearance, he hopes these three players and more can help create a more dynamic performance on Sunday.
Rams star could retire
Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald could retire after Super Bowl LVI, according to NBC’s Marvin Harrison. Following an exclusive prerecorded interview, Harrison shared that there is a “strong possibility” the star could walk away.
“He also told me this, if he wins a Super Bowl, there’s a strong possibility that he could walk away from the game and retire,” Harrison said during the NBC pregame show.
Co-host Jac Collingsworth, son of color commentator Cris Collingsworth, then pressed him for more details about why Aaron Donald is considering retirement at 30-years old.
“He just talked about wanting to spend more time with his family,” Harrison said. “And he talked about his body, he said he worked really hard on his body year-round and he’s achy.”
Over eight NFL seasons, Donald has won nearly every award available. He became an eight-time Pro Bowler, making it each season throughout his career, and joined the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2010s. Donald is also a seven-time First-Team All-Pro and won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2014.
His 441 career tackles and 98 sacks rank among the best in NFL history by a defensive tackle, and he adds 23 forced fumbles and 16 pass deflections to his tally.