Former Georgia RB Todd Gurley makes ESPN’s NFC West All-Decade Team

Former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley makes ESPN’s NFC West All-Decade Team from his time with the Los Angeles Rams.

ESPN recently compiled an all-decade team for each division in the NFL.

For its NFC West team, one former Georgia Bulldog made the squad, and that was Todd Gurley, who spent five years with the Los Angeles Rams, the team that drafted him 10th overall in 2010.

Gurley is one of two running backs on the team, with the other being Seattle Seahawks legend Marshawn Lynch.

From 2015-19, Gurley tallied 7,423 total yards and scored 70 total touchdowns.

Gurley’s accolades include:

  • 3x Pro Bowler
  • 2x First Team All-Pro
  • Second Team All-Pro
  • NFL Offensive Player of the Year
  • 2x NFL Rushing TD Leader
  • NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
  • PFWA All-Rookie Team

Gurley was released by the Los Angeles Rams this offseason and is now with the Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta Falcons RB Todd Gurley’s knee looking fine in these workout videos

Former Georgia football and Atlanta Falcons RB Todd Gurley is looking healthy in these latest workout videos.

The Atlanta Falcons signed 25 year old Todd Gurley to a one-year, $5.5 million contract this offseason after the Los Angeles Rams released the former NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

There have been plenty of concerns over Gurley’s knee, but nobody can really get to the bottom of just how severe the injury is. If there’s one thing that is certain, though, it’s that when healthy, Gurley is a top-three running back in the NFL.

If Gurley can prove that his knee injury is a thing of the past, the Falcons may be able to say they pulled off the ultimate NFL free agency steal this offseason.

In five NFL seasons, the former Georgia Bulldog superstar has amassed over 5,400 rushing yards and 58 touchdowns, adding another 2,091 receiving yards and 12 touchdown receptions.

The Atlanta Falcons posted two videos of their all-pro back working out his leg, and by the looks of it, he’s looking good to go.

 

Atlanta Falcons FB Keith Smith can’t wait to start blocking for Todd Gurley

Atlanta Falcons FB Keith Smith is excited to start blocking for UGA football great Todd Gurley this back in Georgia.

The Atlanta Falcons made a lot of people happy when they brought former UGA running back Todd Gurley back to Georgia this offseason.

The former NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Gurley is hoping for a fresh start in Atlanta following an incredible run in Los Angeles that was eventually halted by his hurt knee.

If Gurley is able to turn back the clock and play like he did just two seasons ago, the sky is the limit for the Falcons offense.

Playing for L.A., the Rams did not utilize a fullback in their offense, so how Gurley performs with a lead blocker in front of him in Atlanta will be interesting to see this season.

Falcons fullback Keith Smith, however, cannot wait to begin moving bodies out of Gurley’s way this year.

“I’m just excited for what he’s going to bring, because I know he’s got a ton of game left in him,” Smith told Ian Rapoport on his podcast “Rapsheet + Friends.”

“He’s smooth, man. If you watch Todd, he’s got great vision and he hits the hole and he goes. I just love that about him. I don’t think he had a fullback in Los Angeles, so it’s going to be dope to open up holes for him and see that part of his game open up for him.

“He’s not an easy guy to tackle, and you always love guys like that. You love blocking for a guy like that, because you know he’s going to make the first guy miss. Just knowing the type of player that he is, he’s going to help our team a lot and I’m excited about that, man.”

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Where will Todd Gurley go next: potential landing spots

Former Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley is now a free agent. Will he go to the Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, or Tampa Bay Bucs

The Los Angeles Rams have released running back Todd Gurley, a former Georgia Bulldog. Gurley is battling a knee ailment, which has contributed to his diminished workload in each of the past two seasons.

Gurley’s carries decreased significantly over the second half of the 2018 season when the Los Angeles Rams lost to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Last year, Gurley had a career low in carries (223), yards per reception (6.7), and total rushing yardage (857).

Of course, not all of the down season was on the shoulders of Todd Gurley. The Los Angeles Rams offensive line was not the same as it was in 2017 and 2018’s postseason runs. The Patriots and Saints developed blue-prints to slow down Sean McVay’s offense, which is largely based on play-action passing and an effective rushing attack.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapport outlined a couple of possible Todd Gurley destinations:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gurley is going to want to prove Los Angeles wrong and win on his own. He could join forces with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs don’t have much cap space, but they do need a better running back.

Sep 29, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) runs for a first down against Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Lavonte David (54) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley: “I got fired on my day off”

Gurley was two years into a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees.

Following rumors of the Los Angeles Rams’ intention to trade tailback Todd Gurley, the organization decided to cut the former Georgia Bulldog standout the day before the team would’ve been contractually obligated to pay their 2014 first-round draft pick another $10.5 million.

L.A. will save $10.5 million against the cap. The Rams failed to find a trade destination; Gurley will now be free to sign with the team of his choosing for the first time in his NFL career.

Gurley was two years into a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees.

Gurley, now a free agent, is free to find his own best fit.

Gurley didn’t seem blindsided and took the news in stride.

Several former teammates and competitors (along with Bulldogs and Rams faithful) provided predictions as to how Gurley’s future could and should unfold in coming weeks.

Twitter reacts: former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley cut by Rams

Reporters, Gurley’s former teammates, former Georgia lettermen, and other Georgia fans took to twitter to make sense of the news.

Following rumors of the Los Angeles Rams’ intention to trade tailback Todd Gurley, the organization decided to cut the former Georgia Bulldog standout the day before the team would’ve been contractually obligated to pay their 2014 first-round draft pick another $10.5 million.

L.A. will save $10.5 million against the cap. The Rams failed to find a trade destination and now Gurley will be a free agent for the first time in his NFL career.

Gurley was two years into a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees.

Gurley, now a free agent, is free to sign with any NFL team of his choosing.

Reporters, Gurley’s former teammates, former foes, former Georgia lettermen, and other Georgia fans took to twitter to make sense of the news:

Los Angeles Rams release RB Todd Gurley

The Los Angeles Rams are releasing former Georgia Bulldog running back Todd Gurley. L.A. sought trades for Gurley, but couldn’t find one.

Todd Gurley is one the best running backs in the National Football League when healthy. Unfortunately for the Georgia Bulldog great, that pesky knee of Gurley’s has caused him issues, hindering his production and limiting his workload. In 2019, Gurley had career-lows in rushing yards (857) and attempts (223).

Now, the Los Angeles Rams are releasing Todd Gurley, their former first round pick. The official Rams Twitter account and ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced the news:

L.A. will save $10.5 million against the cap. The Rams failed to find a trade destination and now Gurley will be a free agent for the first time in his NFL career.

Gurley was two years into a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees. With reduced production and a substantial contract, it is not shocking that the Rams looked to trade RB Todd Gurley according to Michael Silver:

A year after making the Super Bowl, Los Angeles foundered to a 9-7 record. Head coach Sean McVay and the Rams are looking to improve, but they had to get creative since they have limited draft capital and cap room.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Gurley, since he’s been cut, will count for $20.15 million in dead money. The Rams are hampered for the future and were banking on Gurley. Hopefully, Gurley can return to form in time for the 2020 season.

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Report: Rams discussing trading RB Todd Gurley

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley may be on the trade block this off-season. Will the former Georgia Bulldog be traded?

Todd Gurley is one the best running backs in the National Football League when he’s 100% healthy. Unfortunately for the Georgia Bulldog great, that pesky knee of Gurley’s has caused him issues, hindering his production and limiting his workload. In 2019, Gurley had career-lows in rushing yards (857) and attempts (223).

Gurley is two years into a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees. With reduced production and a substantial contract, it is not shocking that Todd Gurley is frequently brought up in NFL trade talks according to Michael Silver:

A year after making the Super Bowl, Los Angeles floundered to a 9-7 record. Head coach Sean McVay and the Rams are looking to improve, but they must get creative since they have limited draft capital and around $20 million dollars in cap room.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Gurley, if cut right now, would count $20.15 million in dead money. So that’s no an option for L.A..

Los Angeles may have trouble finding a destination for Gurley. Stranger things have happened. Just ask Texans fans. Anything can happen in the NFL off-season (evidence below):

Running backs are still worth something to Houston coach/general manager Bill O’Brien.

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