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: Todd Gurley trade talks picking up

Per a report, the Los Angeles Rams are in discussions about trading former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley.

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 a report from Pro Football Talk, those trade talks are picking up.

Given Gurley’s insane contract (good for him), cutting the former Georgia superstar is not really an option for LA.

Earlier this week, we wrote about possible destinations for Gurley if he were to be traded.

Potential destinations for Georgia great Todd Gurley if traded by Rams

Some potential destinations if the Los Angeles Rams trade former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley during NFL free agency.

Former Georgia running back Todd Gurley has reportedly had his name floated around in trade talks by the Los Angeles Rams recently.

Michael Silver was the first to report the news of the trade talks.

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.

Silver added to his report, noting the Rams are seeking a draft pick in return if they do trade the two-time All-Pro running back — the pick would be something in the range of the second to fourth round.

Then there’s the option to flat-out cut Gurley, but Silver mentioned how difficult that would be given his $20.15 million dead cap hit if he were to be released.

Gurley is meant for Los Angeles and it’s a shame his knee injury is holding him back from being the superstar running back he was early in his career.

However, Gurley, 25, still has plenty of gas left in the tank and continued to show flashes of brilliance last season on the Rams.

Cameron DaSilva at RamsWire took a look at where Gurley may end up if a trade is put in place.

RamsWire noted the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Bucs and Denver Broncos would seem to be potential trade partners for Gurley and the Rams.

DaSilva on why the Dolphins would be an ideal trade partner:

They’re in a complete rebuild and while it might seem counterproductive to trade for someone like Gurley, it would give them a player for fans to get excited about. They have $70.75 million in cap space right now and five picks in the first three rounds, so trade ammo isn’t a question.

There isn’t a team that makes more sense for Gurley than the Dolphins. They could part ways with their third- and fourth-round picks and still have plenty of assets for their rebuild.

For what it’s worth, Gurley already vacations in Miami often. Also, I cannot picture him anywhere other than a big-market team in a big-time city like Miami, New York or Los Angeles.

On the Broncos, DaSilva discussed Denver’s three third-round draft picks and how the team will likely be looking for a new running back via free agency or the draft. Would two third-round picks be enough to get Gurley to Denver?

Click here to see what DaSilva had to say about Gurley going to the Bucs.

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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Report: Rams to meet with former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley to discuss future

The LA Rams are reportedly set to meet with Georgia football great Todd Gurley to discuss the UGA product’s future.

Todd Gurley, when healthy, may be the best running back in the National Football League. Unfortunately, that knee of Gurley’s have caused him problems over the last year, hindering his production and touches greatly. Last season, Gurley had career-lows in rushing yards (857) and attempts (223).

Currently, Gurley is two years into a contract that that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, before the next set of contract guarantees lock in for Gurley, the Rams want to meet with the former Georgia running back to discuss the future.

“From what I am told, what the Rams want to do—and what coach Sean McVay specifically wants to do—is sit down with Gurley before any decision was made,” Rapoport said Thursday on “NFL NOW.” “So that’s probably going to happen before they decide how are they going to proceed with someone who at times has been the best running back in the NFL.

Obviously this is not a simple decision. Cutting him just to save cash would be something that, while theoretically possible, cap-wise would be extremely difficult, more than $10M in a salary-cap hit just for releasing him and if they did it before June 1 it would be astronomical.”

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Gurley, if cut outright right now, would count $20.15 million in dead money.

Then there’s the idea of a trade, which NFL.com outlined here:

Perhaps they could find a trade partner with excess cap space willing to take a flier on a great player who has dealt with injury issues (and the Rams would probably have to pay a pick to unload the deal). But, as Pelissero pointed out, any trade would likely need to be made before the March roster bonus kicks in.

What will likely happen is the Rams will hold onto their superstar running back. It’s on them to figure out how to use him better.