Aaron Donald's two-year quest to become the NFL's highest-paid defensive player finally ended in success Friday morning.And just a
few minutes after signing his deal
Eric Dickerson Jersey , Donald was at work on the Los Angeles Rams' practice fields for the first time in months, determined to keep doing the same things
that made him so very wealthy.The All-Pro defensive tackle agreed to a six-year,
$135 million deal, ending his second consecutive preseason holdout with a
landmark commitment from the Rams."I feel good right now," Donald said. "To be
back out here playing football again, that's what it is all about. Long process
and a long wait. It was tough. Definitely it was tough for me, having a love for
the game, having to push that to the side and handle the business side."The
reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year is signed through 2024, and the Rams'
defense can rest solidly on its cornerstone as Los Angeles attempts to
capitalize on last season's success with a Super Bowl run.ESPN and the NFL
Network reported the new deal includes a $40 million signing bonus and $87
million guaranteed. Donald is already under contract this season for $6.89
million in the final year of his rookie deal."It's a blessing," Donald said of
his new deal, which surpasses Von Miller's contract in Denver as the new
benchmark for defenders. "Growing up thinking about playing in the
NFL
Marshall Faulk Jersey , you never think that big, or expect something like that. But my dad told me since Day One, hard work pays off. I'm going to continue to
work nonstop."After skipping the Rams' entire offseason program and training
camp, Donald started work right away, even showing up at the Rams' training
complex to sign his contract earlier than scheduled Friday morning. When he
joined practice later, the Rams finally got to see Donald alongside newcomer
Ndamukong Suh and veteran Michael Brockers on their potentially destructive
defensive line.Earlier this week, Rams coach Sean McVay said Donald should be
able to play in the Rams' Monday night regular-season opener in Oakland on Sept.
10 if he signed within the next few days. Donald has been working out at home in
Pittsburgh during his holdout, and McVay checked in regularly with him."I feel
good, but I've still got to get in football mode, as far as pass rushing moves
and just knocking the rust off a little bit," Donald said. "But that will come
in a couple of days."The Rams managed to maintain a civil relationship with
Donald throughout the two years of difficult negotiations. Donald and his
representatives were determined to make him one of the NFL's highest-paid
players at any position
Nolan Cromwell Jersey , but the Rams wanted to reward Donald while keeping their overall salary structure intact."I don't think you were ever miles apart," Rams
general manager Les Snead said. "Everybody with common sense knew Aaron Donald
was, at minimum, going to be the highest-paid defensive player in football. From
there, you had to figure it out."Since his rookie season in St. Louis as the
13th overall pick in the draft, the 27-year-old Pitt product has been one of the
NFL's most dominant linemen with remarkable effectiveness against the run and
the pass.The compact powerhouse was chosen for the Pro Bowl after each of his
four seasons, and he was a key component of Los Angeles' extraordinary one-year
turnaround under McVay in 2017. With Donald adapting quickly to new veteran
coordinator Wade Phillips despite missing training camp, the Rams won their
division for the first time since 2003 and ended the franchise's streaks of 13
consecutive non-winning seasons and 12 straight non-playoff seasons.Although
Donald has 39 sacks in four NFL seasons, traditional statistics don't reflect
the full measure of his disruptive play on the line. Phillips rhapsodizes about
Donald's ability to force opposing offenses into bad decisions by his ability to
wreck any blocking scheme with his low, ferocious charges through the line.But
Donald also took a hard line in negotiating his football future: Along with his
training camp holdouts, he also skipped the Rams' entire offseason program this
year. He didn't report last year until the day before the regular-season
opener
Kurt Warner Jersey , forcing him to miss the Rams' first game.He still was named the NFL's top defensive player despite playing in only 14 games, racking
up 11 sacks and 41 tackles while forcing five fumbles for the NFC West
champions. He also led the NFL with 91 quarterback pressures, according to Pro
Football Focus.Donald now must learn how to play alongside Suh after the
five-time Pro Bowl selection joined the Rams as a free agent in March. They'll
work together on a revamped defense that also includes new cornerbacks Marcus
Peters and Aqib Talib."It's interesting, 'cause it's always been on paper,
right?" Snead said. "Oh, Aaron Donald paired with Brockers and Suh and everyone
else and the DBs. But to see him on the practice field now beside (Brockers),
besides (Suh), with Aqib, you're like, 'OK, wait a minute. Here's what we set
out to do.' And now you just look forward to going and playing a game."With
Donald in camp
Joe Namath Jersey , the Rams finally have their near-term roster settled while still maintaining significant room on their payroll for 2019 — just in time for
quarterback Jared Goff to reach the fourth year of his rookie deal with the
chance to negotiate a long-term contract.Los Angeles demonstrated its
willingness to pay top dollar for talent in recent months by acquiring those
three defensive stars and agreeing to lucrative long-term deals with NFL
Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley, receiver Brandin Cooks and right
tackle Rob Havenstein.Yet those deals also were structured to make sure Donald
could get the contract he deserved."They all made some sort of sacrifice for
this moment," Snead said of Gurley, Cooks and Havenstein. "They didn't take less
money. They just may have delayed some gratification, because we always said,
'We have this room in the budget and we need to save it, and this is the goal.'"
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Austin Corbett moved around on Cleveland’s offensive line.
His next stop is Los Angeles.The Browns traded Corbett, who failed to live up to
high expectations after being selected with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2018
draft, to the Rams on Tuesday for a fifth-round draft pick in 2021.Corbett was
viewed as a potential long-term answer at left tackle when the Browns took him
with the first pick of the second round — two before they nabbed star running
back Nick Chubb. But Corbett hasn’t developed as quickly as the Browns had hoped
and general manager John Dorsey decided it was time to move him.The 6-foot-3,
306-pounder played in 11 games as a rookie
Cooper Kupp Jersey , making one start. Corbett appeared in three games this season.Corbett was given a shot to win the starting job at right guard at
training camp, but he was beaten out by Eric Kush. He’s been listed as
Cleveland’s backup center behind JC Tretter.Dorsey found a trade partner in the
Rams, who have been in the market for a starting left guard since Joe Noteboom
suffered a season-ending right knee injury during their loss to San Francisco on
Sunday.Los Angeles also needed to add some depth up front. Jamil Demby has been
the sole backup at both guard spots, and he hasn’t played particularly well in
his chances to fill in for Noteboom and Austin Blythe.The Rams’ line was a
durable strength of coach Sean McVay’s offense during his first two seasons, but
the entire group has taken a noticeable step back in 2019. Los Angeles elected
to part ways with two key veterans — left guard Rodger Saffold and center John
Sullivan — while replacing them with 2018 draftees Noteboom and center Brian
Allen, but neither newcomer has impressed.
