“That was a fun night,” McVay recalled Thursday, with a tinge of sarcasm. “A real fun night to take away from a good night.”
Stafford’s state of affairs was not resolved till late July, when the Rams bent to his calls for just a few hours in spite of everything different gamers reported to coaching camp.
On Thursday, with Stafford’s and receiver Cooper Kupp’s futures unsure, McVay indicated that addressing Stafford’s state of affairs would be the first order of enterprise when he and Rams executives meet subsequent week to debate the roster and plans for subsequent season.
McVay doesn’t desire a repeat of final season.
“We don’t want to have that go on again,” McVay mentioned throughout a video convention with reporters. “I don’t think that’s good for anybody. I think sooner than later. Being able to get that clarity…
“There’s a lot of love coming from our part, and I think there’s a lot of appreciation coming from his part as well, and I think a lot sooner than later is an ideal scenario.”
After Sunday’s NFC divisional-round defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, Stafford mentioned he would “take some time to think about” his future. “But I feel like I was playing some pretty good ball,” he mentioned.
Stafford, who will flip 37 on Feb. 7, is because of earn $23 million subsequent season, although solely $4 million is assured, in line with Overthecap.com. He’s scheduled to hold a salary-cap variety of $49.7 million, in line with the web site.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford is flanked by receiver Cooper Kupp, left, and coach Sean McVay at observe, a mixture the Rams would possibly prefer to have once more subsequent season.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
Stafford’s compensation, negotiated when he signed an extension in 2022, is now under marketplace for the highest quarterbacks within the NFL. If Stafford doesn’t retire, he and his representatives are anticipated to demand one other adjustment to his contract, which runs by the 2026 season.
Stafford handed for 20 touchdowns, with eight interceptions, this season and as soon as once more performed by accidents — although he was not listed on the harm report after struggling a rib harm late within the season.
The harm got here to gentle this week after Stafford’s spouse, Kelly, talked about it throughout her podcast.
On Thursday, McVay mentioned Stafford “banged up” his ribs throughout a Dec. 12 victory over the San Francisco 49ers however “nothing showed up” on imaging checks and that the situation didn’t have an effect on Stafford’s capacity to observe or play.
An MRI that was taken earlier than the Rams’ NFC wild-card sport in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings “showed some stress reactions,” McVay mentioned, however Stafford practiced after which performed with out showing on the harm report.
When requested if he might say definitively that Stafford could be with the Rams subsequent season, McVay initially sounded as if he was giving an appreciation speech for an worker leaving the corporate.
“I’m sure proud of the body of work, really proud of the way he’s played,” McVay mentioned. “I think the coolest thing you can say about Matthew is he shines the brightest on the biggest stages. When you look at the seven playoff games he’s played in since he’s been a Ram, he certainly gives you a chance every time you step out on the field, and for that I’m sure appreciative.”
Later within the convention, McVay mentioned he had spoken with Stafford.
“He knows how important he is to me and to our football team,” McVay mentioned. “I thought it was a great dialogue.”
McVay additionally has shut ties to Kupp, who was a part of McVay’s first draft class in 2017.
The Rams contemplated buying and selling Kupp after they began this season 1-4, and the 2021 NFL offensive participant of the yr and Tremendous Bowl LVI Most worthy participant acknowledged this week that he didn’t have readability on his future with the Rams.
So Kupp’s state of affairs additionally shall be among the many first orders of dialogue, McVay indicated.
“One of the things I’ve learned from him as much as anybody is there’s no good way to go about hard conversations other than just straight to the point,” McVay mentioned. “And if you really love somebody enough, then you’re able to be honest and direct with them. And he’s always done that to me. That’s what I’ve done with him, and we’ll be able to figure out what is the best way to navigate that moving forward.”
McVay mentioned an extension for operating again Kyren Williams, who’s getting into the ultimate yr of his rookie contract, was “certainly something that will be discussed as well.”
And so on.
Verse and defensive lineman Braden Fiske are finalists for Related Press NFL defensive participant of the yr, which shall be introduced at NFL Honors earlier than the Tremendous Bowl. Fiske is scheduled to have “minor” surgical procedure for a knee harm suffered in opposition to the Eagles, McVay mentioned. … Defensive backs coach Aubrey Nice will interview with the Chicago Bears for his or her defensive coordinator job, McVay mentioned. John Streicher, who served as sport administration coordinator for one season, is leaving to affix Mike Vrabel’s New England Patriots employees, McVay mentioned. McVay acknowledged experiences that tight ends coach Nick Caley might be a candidate to turn into the New York Jets offensive coordinator, however added the Rams had not acquired a request to interview Caley.
