Tag: rams contract

Coronavirus could delay big bonus payouts for Jared Goff, Todd Gurley

Jared Goff has the largest roster bonus in the NFL coming his way this week.

Just about every sporting event around the world has been either delayed or impacted in some way by the coronavirus outbreak, including the NCAA tournament and NBA season. It’s had minimal impact on the NFL compared to other leagues, but it could delay the start of the new league year this week.

It’s supposed to begin on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, which is also the official start of free agency, while the legal tampering period is set to open on Monday at 12 p.m. ET. It’s still possible for the NFL to postpone the start of the new league year, and if it does, a couple of Rams players could be impacted – and not the ones set to hit free agency.

Jared Goff and Todd Gurley will receive bonuses a few days after the start of the new league year, as will many other players across the NFL. Theirs rank among the biggest in the NFL, though, with Goff’s $21 million roster bonus being the highest of anyone.

Because these are tied to the start of the league year – Goff’s is paid on the second day of the new league year with Gurley’s coming on the third day – they could be delayed if Wednesday’s open is pushed back.

As of now, the NFL hasn’t decided whether it will remain on schedule this week, or if free agency will be pushed back. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration – traveling for required physicals and visiting facilities among the most important – which could put the start of the league year in jeopardy.

The NFL should announce a decision soon, especially with the legal tampering period beginning on Monday at noon.

Rams are ‘absolutely interested’ in re-signing Dante Fowler Jr.

Sean McVay said Fowler is “very important” for the Rams to keep.

The Los Angeles Rams have less than a month to lock up their own free agents before they hit the market and can begin fielding offers from other teams. There hasn’t been any reported movement on that front as of yet, but expect things to heat up in the near future.

If there’s one thing that’s certain, though, it’s that the Rams would like to keep their own free agents – particularly the five starters. Sean McVay was asked about two of them in an interview with Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network on Tuesday, and he made it clear the Rams want to retain Dante Fowler Jr. and Andrew Whitworth.

When asked about Fowler, McVay complimented him on the progress he’s made and praised outside linebackers coach Chris Shula for the job he did with Fowler.

“Fowler is very important,” McVay said. “You look at the production, I thought Chris Shula did a great job of continuing to help him take steps in the right direction. I think that’s the goal. Being able to get him the way we did a couple of years ago, and then you see the progression he’s made. We’ve been really pleased with Dante and absolutely interested in trying to get him back.”

Fowler had a career year in 2019, recording 11.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and 16 QB hits – all of which ranked second on the team. He became the dynamic edge rusher the Rams have been searching for, and while the timing of his breakout season is perfect for him, it puts the team in a tough spot financially.

As for Whitworth, McVay also expressed a clear desire to bring him back for another year, despite the fact that he’s 38 years old and nearing retirement.

“Yeah, he played at a high level,” McVay said. “When you look at it, it’s unbelievable the sustainability he’s had over the course of his career. He’s meant a lot to this locker room and that’s definitely something we have a lot of interest in getting the big fella back.”

The Rams don’t have a clear replacement on the roster if Whitworth leaves to play elsewhere, though there are candidates with Joseph Noteboom and possibly Bobby Evans. Whitworth has made it clear he wants to play for the Rams in 2020, and with McVay saying the team wants to retain him, it seems the two sides will come together on an agreement at some point.