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Aaron Donald hinted he could wind up retiring if the worth is not proper for a contract extension.
Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay eased some considerations Wednesday, telling reporters “issues are trending in the suitable course” in negotiations.
McVay added that Donald’s feedback, which got here on the I Am Athlete podcast, had been no shock to the Rams.
“Me speaking about retirement, that was occurring means earlier than we received a Tremendous Bowl,” Donald stated. “I have been saying that since I acquired into the league that I used to be going to play eight years and be achieved. That is simply what I have been saying. It simply got here out after which everyone suppose that, ‘Oh, he stated if he wins a Tremendous Bowl he’ll retire.’ Nah, I acquired teammates, coaches, my household who find out about this. I stated I’ll play eight years, and I’ll in all probability be achieved enjoying soccer.
“However profitable a Tremendous Bowl, you get form of somewhat hooked on it. I ain’t going to lie. I wish to really feel that once more. That have is like none different. If I used to be to play, it is simply to win one other Tremendous Bowl, however on the finish of the day, it is nonetheless a enterprise and it acquired to make sense to me and my household.”
Donald has three years and $55 million remaining on his contract, however none of that cash is assured. The Rams already paid him a $5 million roster bonus as a result of he was on the roster after March 17.
Regardless of signing his contract almost 4 years in the past, Donald stays the NFL’s highest-paid inside lineman however will not be paid on the identical degree as elite edge-rushers. Pittsburgh Steelers outdoors linebacker T.J. Watt earns a mean annual wage of $28 million, which often is the quantity Donald strives to succeed in in negotiations.
There isn’t any query Donald stays the game’s most dominant inside drive. He recorded a career-high 84 tackles and 12.5 sacks final season, making his seventh consecutive All-Professional workforce and ending third in Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting. The 31-year-old has completed no decrease than fifth in DPOY voting in any of the final seven seasons.
If negotiations had been to interrupt down and Donald retires, he could be an unquestioned first-ballot Corridor of Famer and be remembered because the premier defensive participant of his era. That stated, the aggressive hearth in Donald clearly has him desirous to return this season and push for a Lombardi Trophy repeat.
As long as the worth is true.
