Tag: rams updates

Report: Rams, Andrew Whitworth confident deal will get done for 2020

“There is confidence” the Rams will re-sign Andrew Whitworth this offseason “without incident.”

Andrew Whitworth is the oldest offensive lineman in the NFL, and at 38 years of age, he plans to keep that title a little while longer. The Los Angeles Rams left tackle is set to become a free agent in March when his three-year contract expires, but there seems to be growing optimism that the two sides will work out a deal for 2020.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Whitworth won’t retire this offseason and plans to play next season. furthermore, Rapoport says “there is confidence” the Rams and Whitworth will get a deal done “without incident.”

Whitworth said after the season that he didn’t plan to hang up his cleats, indicating a return was on the horizon for 2020. He also said that playing for the Rams would be his top choice next season, allowing him to keep his family in Southern California, where they’ve been for the last three years.

Whitworth played all 16 games last season and while he committed 14 penalties, he only allowed one sack and earned an overall grade of 72.8 from Pro Football Focus.

He did undergo surgery on his right ankle this offseason, but Whitworth has been one of the most durable players in the NFL. He hasn’t missed a game due to injury since 2013 when he was with the Bengals.

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2020 NFL offseason calendar: Important dates for Los Angeles Rams

All of the important dates to know on the 2020 offseason calendar for the NFL.

The Los Angeles Rams have been in offseason mode for about a month now after missing the playoffs for the first time since Sean McVay was hired in 2017. That’s far different than the way things played out last year when their offseason didn’t start until early February after they went all the way to Super Bowl LIII.

The Senior Bowl is already in the rearview mirror and the NFL Scouting Combine is rapidly approaching, as is free agency. There are a lot of dates on the offseason calendar, so we’ve compiled all of the ones to know here, courtesy of the NFL Operations site.

Keep this list handy because it’ll be important to know when free agency begins, how long the Rams have to use the franchise tag and when minicamps can begin.

February

  • Feb. 3: Waiver system begins for 2020.
  • Feb. 11: Beginning at 12:00 noon, New York time, NFL clubs may begin to sign players whose 2020 CFL contracts have expired. Players under contract to a CFL club for the 2020 season or who have an option for the 2020 season are not eligible to be signed.
  • Feb. 24-March 2: NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
  • Feb. 25: First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March

  • March 10: Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
  • March 16-18: Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2019 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 18.
  • March 18
    • Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must exercise options for 2020 on all players who have option clauses in their 2019 contracts.
    • Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit qualifying offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
    • Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit a minimum salary tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2019 contracts who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.
    • Top 51 Rule begins. All clubs must be under the 2020 Salary Cap prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time.
    • All 2019 player contracts will expire at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
    • The 2020 league year and free agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
    • The first day of the 2020 league year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 18. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 18.
    • Trading period for 2020 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2019 contracts.
  • March 29-April 1: Annual League Meeting, Palm Beach, Florida.

April

  • April 6: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2019 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
  • April 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
  • April 20: Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
  • April 23-25: NFL Draft, Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • April 27: Beginning this date, NFL clubs may request permission to visit with, try out, or sign any player who was under contract to the XFL at the conclusion of the XFL season.

May

  • May 1-4: Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.
  • May 5: Deadline for prior club to send “May 5 Tender” to its unsigned Unrestricted Free Agents. If the player has not signed a player contract with a club by July 22 or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later, he may negotiate or sign a player contract from that date until the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, at 4:00 p.m., New York time, only with his prior club.
  • May 8-11: Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.
  • May 11: Rookie Football Development Programs begin.
  • May 14-17: NFLPA Rookie Premiere. Invited rookies (typically, first- and/or second-round selections) must be permitted by their respective clubs to attend. Such players are unavailable for offseason workouts, OTA days, and minicamps during this period.
  • May 19-20: Spring League Meeting, Marina Del Ray, California.

June

  • June 1: Deadline for prior club to send “June 1 Tender” to its unsigned Restricted Free Agents who received a qualifying offer for a right of first refusal only in order for such player to be subject to the CBA’s “June 15 Tender” provision.
  • June 15: Deadline for club to withdraw qualifying offer to Restricted Free Agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting “June 15 Tender” of one-year contract at 110 percent of the player’s prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior-year contract carried forward unchanged).
  • Late June: Rookie Transition Program to be held at individual clubs.

July

  • July 15: At 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a oneyear contract with his prior club for the 2020 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.
  • Mid-July
    • Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies beginning seven days prior to the club’s earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for veteran players.
    • Veteran players (defined as a player with at least one pension-credited season) other than quarterbacks or “injured players” (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may report to a club’s preseason training camp no earlier than 15 days prior to the club’s first scheduled preseason game or July 15, whichever is later.
    • Veteran quarterbacks and injured players may be required to report to the club’s preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies and first-year players
    • A three-day acclimation period will apply to players who are on a club’s roster up to and including the mandatory veteran reporting date. Players who rejoin the roster after that date may practice (including wearing pads) and play immediately after passing a physical.
  • July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later.): Signing period ends for Unrestricted Free Agents to whom a “May 5 Tender” was made by prior club. After this date and until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
  • July 22: Signing period ends for Transition Players with outstanding tenders. After this date and until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.

August

  • August 6: Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio.
  • August 6-9: Hall of Fame Weekend, Canton, Ohio.
  • August 11
    • Deadline for players under contract to report to their clubs to earn an accrued season for free agency.
    • If a drafted rookie has not signed with his club by this date, he cannot be traded to any other club in 2020, and may sign a player contract only with the drafting club until the day of the Draft in the 2021 league year.

September

  • Sept. 5
    • Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List.
    • Simultaneously with the cut-down to 53, clubs that have players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/NonFootball Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List.
  • Sept. 6
    • Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at 12:00 noon, New York time.
    • Upon receipt of the Personnel Notice at approximately 1:00 p.m., New York time, clubs may establish a practice squad of 10 players (clubs participating in the International Player Development Program may sign one additional international player to a Practice Player Contract.) No club, including the player’s prior club, will be permitted to sign a player to a practice player contract until all clubs have received simultaneous notification via the above Personnel Notice that such player’s prior NFL player contract has been terminated via the waiver system.
  • Sept. 10: At 12:00 a.m., New York time, the Top 51 Rule expires for all NFL clubs.
  • Sept. 10, 13-14: Regular Season Week 1.

Cory Littleton makes PFF’s top 101 players of 2019

Cory Littleton was ranked as one of the best players in the NFL last season.

The Los Angeles Rams have brought in a lot of outside talent over the last few years, both in trades and by signing them in free agency. They’ve also developed a handful of quality homegrown players, namely Cooper Kupp, John Johnson and Cory Littleton.

Unlike Kupp and Johnson, though, Littleton wasn’t drafted. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Washington in 2016, spending the first two years of his career as a core special teams player and reserve linebacker.

In 2018, he became a full-time starter and last season, he blossomed into one of the best linebackers in football. His breakout year couldn’t have come at a better time, either. Littleton will be a free agent in March and is likely to join the top-paid players at his position.

Pro Football Focus views him as one of the best players in the NFL, ranking 90th on the site’s top 101 list.

One of the best coverage linebackers in the game, Cory Littleton makes the PFF Top 101 for the first time after his second consecutive excellent year in coverage. This season, his play in other facets of the game were better, and so his overall grade jumped to a career-best mark of 78.9. Littleton had two interceptions and seven pass breakups on the year, and he tallied 45 defensive stops across both coverage and the run game. He now gets to enter free agency coming off the best season of his career, with a proven track record in the most valuable area of linebacker play.

Littleton was one of three players this season with at least 100 tackles, two interceptions and three sacks, finishing the year with 134 tackles, two picks and 3.5 sacks. As PFF noted, Littleton was once again great in coverage, but where he really improved was against the run.

He only missed five tackles, which was half as many as he missed in 2018. His missed tackle rate of 3.6% was the lowest of any defender with at least 100 tackles. That was a huge boost to the Rams defense and will only help his stock in free agency.

Littleton is finally going to get the contract he deserves, it just remains to be seen if the Rams will be willing to pay up.

Rams add edge rusher, O-line help in new 3-round mock draft

The Rams address two of their biggest needs in this three-round mock draft.

Free agency will dictate how the Los Angeles Rams approach the draft, depending on whether they’re able to retain players such as Dante Fowler Jr., Cory Littleton, Andrew Whitworth and Michael Brockers.

If not, the Rams will have some major holes to address in April’s draft – which will be difficult since they don’t have a first-round pick.

Most mock drafts have the Rams addressing the offensive line and pass rush or linebacker unit in the first three rounds, which is exactly what this latest projection from NFL.com’s Chad Reuter does.

In the second round, Reuter has the Rams adding a pass rusher at No. 52 overall, selecting Bradlee Anae out of Utah. He’s a fast riser at this point in the offseason, possessing a high motor and good explosiveness off the line of scrimmage.

He’d fit nicely as a potential replacement for Fowler if he leaves in free agency, joining a group of edge rushers that includes Clay Matthews and Samson Ebukam, among others. The Rams need all the help they can get at outside linebacker if Fowler doesn’t return, knowing how big of an impact a quality edge rusher can have with Aaron Donald on the interior.

In Round 3, the Rams bolster their offensive line, which might be the biggest issue on the team at the moment. Whitworth and Austin Blythe are both free agents, and neither Joseph Noteboom nor Brian Allen look like surefire starters in 2020. Reuter has the Rams taking Jonah Jackson out of Ohio State at No. 84 overall, who’s a polarizing prospect.

Some view him as one of the best guards in the draft, while others see him as a Day 2 or 3 pick. He’d help add depth to the interior of the offensive line, though, competing against Noteboom, David Edwards and Austin Corbett.

Pro Football Focus names Rams’ three biggest offseason needs

The Rams must address the offensive line, as well as their edge defenders and linebackers.

After missing the postseason and finishing with an unimpressive 9-7 record, the Los Angeles Rams have some work to do in order to get back to the playoffs in 2020. That won’t be easy with the defending NFC champion 49ers, the always-tough Seahawks and the resurgent Cardinals in their division, though.

Not to mention, they have several key players hitting free agency and a few holes to fill on the roster. Dante Fowler Jr., Cory Littleton and Andrew Whitworth are the Rams’ top free agents, and if all three leave, Los Angeles will be left with three starters to replace. Add in pending free agents Michael Brockers and Austin Blythe and that’s five starters who could be gone.

Heading into the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine and eventually free agency, the Rams have three primary needs. Pro Football Focus identified those, led by the offensive line. PFF says the team’s top priority has to be finding “offensive linemen that can get the Rams’ line back to its 2018 form.”

The Rams’ offensive line was one of the better units in the league in 2018, and their offense flourished behind it as a result. That all fell apart this past season, with injuries and personnel changes taking a toll on the group. They finished the season 31st in PFF’s offensive line rankings, and now, the most consistent player from the line — Andrew Whitworth — is set to be a free agent at 38 years old. There isn’t a position on the line that the Rams can’t look to improve on in 2020.

In addition to the offensive line, PFF named edge defender and linebacker as the Rams’ next-biggest needs this offseason, highlighting the team’s pending free agents that will dictate what the front office does this offseason. If Fowler leaves, the Rams still have Clay Matthews, Samson Ebukam and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo under contract, but none possess the potential that Fowler does.

They should also look to add some new pieces defensively. Edge defender becomes an area of need with the impending free agency of Dante Fowler Jr., but even if the Rams retain him, they can look to improve the other starting edge slot over Clay Matthews (54.2 overall grade in 2019) and Samson Ebukam (66.7). At linebacker, the Rams should make every effort to re-sign Cory Littleton. Since 2018, his coverage grade of 90.1 trails only Lavonte David and Luke Kuechly among linebackers with 1,000 or more defensive snaps.

Considering how often the Rams have made blockbuster trades in recent years, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if they make a deal or two this offseason. There’s sure to be a lot of change coming in the next few months, both in free agency and the draft.

Jalen Ramsey’s hard hat has fans speculating about Rams’ new colors

Did the Rams just tease their new uniform colors in that new NFL 100 ad?

Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald made an appearance before Super Bowl LIV on Sunday, but not on the field in Miami. Rather, they were featured in an awesome new “NFL 100” commercial that aired just before kickoff.

Donald was seen pushing a bulldozer at SoFi Stadium with Joey Bosa, while Jalen Ramsey and Derwin James were supervising the construction site wearing hard hats.

A handful of fans noticed something very interesting about Ramsey’s construction helmet, though: the colors. They weren’t navy and white and the oft-used royal and yellow, but instead it looked more like the Chargers’ powder blue and yellow color scheme – though slightly darker.

Here’s the helmet in question:

Of course, this little snippet had fans speculating about whether it was a hint at what the Rams’ new colors will be when they unveil their new uniforms and helmet for 2020.

Our friends at Turf Show Times trolled everyone overanalyzing the helmet with this tweet, too.

To further add to the speculation, Donald’s shirt looked like it was a very similar color to Ramsey’s helmet – slightly darker than the Chargers’ powder blue, which was worn by Bosa in the clip.

This could all be nothing, or it could be the Rams hinting at their new colors. But it’s hard to imagine them going with a color scheme that’s so similar to the Chargers’, who will be sharing SoFi Stadium with the Rams.

We’ll just have to wait and see what happens with Los Angeles’ uniforms, which Kevin Demoff confirmed will be available by July.

Rams given same odds to win Super Bowl LV as Bears and Falcons

The Rams opened with the 10th-best odds to win the Super Bowl next year.

The 2019 season officially wrapped up on Sunday night with the Kansas City Chiefs beating the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV. It’s the second year in a row an NFC West team has lost in the Super Bowl, following the Rams’ loss to the Patriots last year.

Everyone is looking toward the 2020 season now, which includes Super Bowl LV odds. It’s never too early to think about which teams have the best chance to win it all next year, but the Rams aren’t among them.

According to Bovada, the Rams have the 10th-best odds (+2500) to raise the Lombardi Trophy next season, tied with the Bears, Falcons and Seahawks. Surprisingly, they have worse odds than their future roommates, the Los Angeles Chargers, who don’t know who their quarterback will be.

The Chiefs, Ravens and 49ers are predictably at the top of the heap, considering they were the best teams in 2019. The Saints and Patriots round out the top five. The Redskins have the worst odds at +15000.

The Rams are as talented as any team in the NFL, beginning with Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Todd Gurley and Jared Goff. They also have major questions to answer this offseason with Cory Littleton, Michael Brockers and Dante Fowler Jr. all being free agents. Andrew Whitworth will also be a free agent.

If they can get the offensive line fixed and play consistently on defense, the Rams should be back in the playoffs. But in a division that features the 49ers, Seahawks and Cardinals, nothing is given.

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Aaron Donald talks double-team frustration, doing anything to keep Brockers

Aaron Donald talks about getting frustrated by double-teams and what the Rams need to do to keep Michael Brockers.

Aaron Donald was the two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year entering 2019, and while he put together a tremendous season with 12.5 sacks to lead all defensive tackles and an NFL-high 20 tackles for loss, he came up just short. Stephon Gilmore took home the award, beating out Donald and T.J. Watt.

It was still a valiant effort from Donald, who was named to his sixth Pro Bowl and fifth All-Pro team. Ahead of Super Bowl LIV, we talked to Donald about the past season, the future with Brandon Staley taking over as defensive coordinator and the Rams’ pending free agents.

He admitted to getting frustrated by always getting double- and triple-teamed, adding that the Rams need to “find any way they can” to bring back Michael Brockers.

Here’s our conversation with Donald.

How important is it for the Rams to keep Brockers?

He’s a big key to our defense, definitely in the run game. He’s a guy that does a lot of things in the run game, just from how we line him up and where we put him to do what he does. I’ve played with him all six years, so we’ve got a chemistry together. I think we play well together. I think he’s a big key to this defense and helping us win, so the Rams need to find any way they can to bring that guy back and make him happy.

Are you going to be in the Rams’ ear telling them to re-sign Brockers?

A hundred percent.

What have you seen from Cory Littleton, who’s also a free agent?

He’s always around the ball, always swarming to the ball. He’s fast, he’s just got a knack for the ball. That’s how linebackers are supposed to be. He’s got that ideline-to-sideline speed. He can run anybody down and get them. He’s a playmaker, he makes those big plays and helps us have success. Every year he’s been there, I’ve seen him get better and better and I think he’ll continue to get better and have a lot of success.

Do you ever get frustrated by all the double-teams?

Yeah, for sure. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t. You want to have the one-on-one, but if they want to focus on one guy to give other guys around you the chance to make plays and have success, as long as someone is out there making plays and having success, I’m fine with it. It’s the part where you’re getting double- and triple-teamed and nobody’s getting there, you get a little more frustrated, but it comes with the territory.

What was your favorite thing about playing for Wade Phillips?

He’s a great coach. You learned a lot from him, he’s been coaching for a long time and having success. Having an opportunity to play for him was great, we’re going to miss the swagger and the confidence he brought to the defense. He gave us a lot of opportunities to do a lot of different things and to be a successful defense, so definitely going to miss him.

What’s it like to hear him call you a surefire Hall of Famer?

He’s one of the best defensive coordinators to do it. And like you said, he coached a lot of great players, so to hear that from him, that means a lot. It just motivates you to keep working and try to live up to it.

Have you talked to Brandon Staley and how do you expect to be used next season?

I talked to him a little, not that much yet. I talked to McVay a little bit about it. I’m excited from just talking to him to see what he’s going to bring to the defense and the things he’s going to do to free certain guys up to go out there and try to have success so we can win games. Part of this league is change and I’m just excited to see what he brings and what he can do.

Were you thinking about three-peating as Defensive Player of the Year or what you needed to do to win it?

I just play ball. I really don’t worry about all that. I just go out there and try to make as many plays as I can and win. That’s what it’s about, winning games. When you try to think about trying to win awards and things like that, you tend not to have the success you want to have. I really don’t think about it, I just play and try to do my part.

 

Is there a player you looked up to growing up?

I watched a lot of players, it wasn’t just defensive linemen. I’m a Pittsburgh guy, so guys like (Troy) Polamalu, (Jerome) Bettis, Hines Ward. Guys like that that were doing it at a high level. Guys I grew up watching, was just a fan of, guys like Ray Lewis. Not always just defensive linemen. It’s guys out there making plays and having success that motivate you.

Was there anyone you tried to emulate when you came into the NFL or were you trying to be your own player?

Just being myself, but you’re watching guys like Geno Atkins, Gerald McCoy who were doing it at a high level. Just watch those guys, respect them from afar and do your part to have your own little success and make a name for yourself.

Are you rooting for the 49ers to win for the NFC West or are you hoping they lose?

I’m just going to watch. I don’t really care who wins. I’m not there, so I really don’t care about winning and losing. I just think it’s going to be a good game. It’s two solid teams, from the defensive side of the ball to the offensive side of the ball. So I’m just going to tune in and see but I don’t really care who wins or loses.

Do you feel like being at camp helped you start faster this season?

You’re in football shape and you’re out there practicing and working on your moves and your timing. But I wouldn’t say it was a faster start, but you felt a little bit better going into the season.

What was your first big purchase with your new contract?

First thing I did was call my mom and dad and retired those guys. That was the first thing I did. As soon as I got the call that things were finalized, I called my mom, called my dad and told them they don’t have to work no more and retired them.

They helped mold me, they put a lot of time to help me be who I am and get to where I am today. I feel like doing that, it still isn’t enough, but it’s a small token of me saying thank you and trying to do my part.

Would you ever want to get snaps at FB or RB?

I’ve been trying for six years. I’ve been trying for six years, but they just won’t allow it. Hopefully one day they’ll give me that ball and let my little league days back out.

We got a glimpse of that when you scooped up the fumble against the Seahawks and returned it for a nice gain.

Yeah, you see how I was moving? Showed a little something.

What’s it like working with Pizza Hut for the second year?

I’m here with Pizza Hut. They’re the official sponsor of the NFL, Working with them the last two years. Sundays on the Super Bowl, everybody knows what they need to get, pizza and wings. Love working with Pizza Hut, and it’s just a great opportunity.

Cooper Kupp received one vote for Comeback Player of the Year

Cooper Kupp only got one vote for Comeback Player of the Year, which Ryan Tannehill won.

Cooper Kupp’s second NFL season was cut short when he suffered a torn ACL, limiting him to only eight games in 2018. He was on a great pace before getting hurt, likely in line to go over 1,000 yards receiving.

He bounced back from the injury this past season by playing all 16 games, catching 94 passes for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was the only player in the NFL to catch at least 90 passes for 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns, and that was with him having a very quiet second half of the season.

It was an impressive turnaround after a devastating injury less than a year prior, but it wasn’t enough to earn him Comeback Player of the Year honors. That award went to Ryan Tannehill, who went from being a backup to leading the Titans to the AFC Championship Game after unseating Marcus Mariota as the starter.

Kupp did get some recognition for the award, receiving one vote along with four other players. Tannehill received 16 votes, barely beating out Jimmy Garoppolo (15).

In most other years, Kupp would’ve been one of the top candidates for this award. But there was some stiff competition, led by two quarterbacks who shined in 2019.

Only receiving one vote shouldn’t take away from the remarkable season Kupp had in Year 3 with the Rams. He was Jared Goff’s go-to receiver for most of the year, with the peak coming in Week 8 when he caught seven passes for 220 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals.

If 2019 proved anything, it’s that Kupp is one of the better receivers in the league, and a key playmaker for the Rams.

After years of waiting, Isaac Bruce made Hall of Fame president wait, too

Isaac Bruce made Hall of Fame president David Baker knock twice, just to keep him waiting a little.

Isaac Bruce was one of the unsung heroes of the Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf era, oftentimes getting overlooked as one of the best receivers in the NFL. He got his due on Saturday night, though, when he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2020.

It was his fourth year as a finalist and sixth year of eligibility for the hall, Bruce finally made it to Canton, where he will be enshrined this summer. It was an understandably agonizing wait for Bruce to finally get recognized as a Hall of Famer, and after all that waiting and wondering, he paid back the Hall of Fame by making them wait, too.

After being inducted, Bruce told the story of how he made president David Baker wait after he knocked on his door to congratulate him – which is how players are notified of whether they made it to Canton.

“For me, my knock experience was – I wanted Mr. Baker to wait a little while. I wanted him to knock two rounds of knocks, just to let him feel what I’ve been feeling the last couple years,” Bruce said with a smile. “I wanted to keep my power and my control, so after the first knock, I went and told my family this is the knock, so gather round and let’s answer the door and shook his hand. It was a great handshake.”

Bruce is the Rams’ all-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdown catches, and at the time of his retirement, he was second in NFL history in receiving yards – only behind the great Jerry Rice.

He may have only made the Pro Bowl four times, but he was certainly deserving of a spot in Canton.