wv wrote:

Yeah, i imagine purty-much every QB who signed a contract three years-or-so ago is unhappy at this point. w v

QB contracts go up every year. Just how it works.

Gary Klein, May 21, 2024…from https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2024-05-21/rams-move-training-camp-loyola-marymount-matthew-stafford-contract

Will starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who wants his contract adjusted, be there when training camp opens in late July?

After watching Stafford go through the first workout of organized-team activities open to the media Tuesday, coach Sean McVay was asked if he was confident Stafford would be there for the start of training camp.

“I’m confident that he’s been out here leading the way,” McVay said.

If that sounds noncommittal, well, at least McVay is consistent.

Stafford, 36, is scheduled to earn $31 million this season and carry a salary-cap number of $49.5 million, according to Overthecap.com.

Stafford has two additional years left on the extension he signed in 2022 after leading the Rams to a Super Bowl title, but the salaries of $27 million and $26 million are not guaranteed, according to the website.

During the draft, McVay confirmed a report that Stafford wanted his contract adjusted to include guaranteed salary beyond this season. He also expressed confidence the Rams and Stafford would come to an agreement on his contract situation and that he would participate in OTAs.

“There’s nothing that’s more important than making sure that he feels appreciated,” McVay said at the time, “and he knows how much we love him and want him to lead the way and, you know, I think that the commitment that I think he wants to have can be reciprocated and we want to work toward figuring that out.”

In April, when the Rams opened their offseason workout program, Stafford was not among players made available to reporters. He was not made available to reporters Tuesday, and his availability during OTA workouts is to be determined, a team spokesman said.

Rams’ coach Sean McVay, right, gestures at quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during an organized team activity.

“He’s here and we appreciate that and he knows that,” McVay said. “I’ve had good conversations with him about football, and anything other than that really just going to keep it in house.”

Stafford appeared sharp during drills and 11-on-11 situations. The quarterback’s contract situation is not affecting his preparation or play, receiver Cooper Kupp said.

“There’s been no change in his attitude, the way he comes in and approaches things, the way he’s interacting with guys in meetings, coaches and with guys out here,” Kupp said. “He’s a pro’s pro. He’s going to be out here and be the best version of Matthew for the team.

“And so, whatever’s going on with that, he’s not letting it affect anything about what the goal is for the L.A. Rams this year.”

It seems unfathomable the Rams would not work out an agreement with Stafford before training camp.

The 15-year veteran bounced back from injuries in 2022 and a thumb injury early last season and keyed the Rams’ unexpected run to the playoffs.

Why Matthew Stafford holds the power in contract issue with Rams ahead of camp

Gary Klein

https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2024-06-11/matthew-stafford-contract-situation-rams-quarterback

The Rams were all smiles Tuesday as they completed offseason workouts on a beautiful final afternoon in Thousand Oaks.

Everyone connected with the organization appeared upbeat.

But make no mistake: A pall hangs over the Rams and their sunny disposition as they enter a break before reporting to training camp at Loyola Marymount on July 23.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford went through the voluntary offseason workout program at odds with the Rams over his contract. Coach Sean McVay gave no indication Tuesday that the team and the 16th-year pro are close to finding common ground.

Asked after the workout if there was progress with the Stafford situation, McVay demurred.

“If you had to guess,” he said, “what would you say my answer is going to be?”

Does he anticipate that Stafford will report for the start of training camp?

“That’s my expectation,” McVay said.

How will McVay’s summer go with the Stafford situation hanging over his head?

“I’m just going to think about this every second,” he said sarcastically, adding, “I think, like I said, we’ll keep things internally.

“I couldn’t be more impressed with the way that he’s handled it. The way he’s led — been here every single day doing his thing and that sure means a lot to me.”

But what does it mean for the Rams?

After unexpectedly making the playoffs last season, they are regarded as a potential Super Bowl contender. That projection only rings true, however, if Stafford is under center.

Stafford, 36, has three years remaining on the extension he signed in 2022 after leading the Rams to a Super Bowl title. He is due to carry a salary-cap number of $49.5 million this season, but does not have guaranteed salary in 2025 and 2026, according to Overthecap.com.

During the NFL draft, NFL Network reported that Stafford wanted his contract adjusted to include guaranteed salary beyond this season. McVay acknowledged the report the next day, though not the specifics of what Stafford desires.

“There’s nothing that’s more important than making sure that he feels appreciated,” McVay said at the time, “and he knows how much we love him and want him to lead the way and, you know, I think that the commitment that I think he wants to have can be reciprocated and we want to work toward figuring that out.”

Still, it is not clear exactly what Stafford wants. An adjusted contract? A massive raise like the one recently retired defensive lineman Aaron Donald received after the Super Bowl victory? A new deal?

Stafford has not addressed reporters who cover the Rams since their playoff defeat at Detroit in January. Unlike teammates, Stafford was not made available to the media during the offseason program.

Coaches and players said Stafford operated as usual and showed no sign that he was affected by the contract situation.

The quarterback market has continued to rise since Stafford signed his deal 14 months after the Rams acquired him in a 2021 trade that sent quarterback Jared Goff, two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Stafford.

It’s worth noting that in May — four months after he helped the Lions defeat the Rams in the NFC wild-card game that doubled as Stafford’s homecoming — the Lions awarded Goff with an extension that includes $170 million in guarantees.

Stafford has given no indication that he will not report to training camp but he seemingly has leverage if he opted for that route.

New back-up Jimmy Garoppolo is a proven veteran, but he is suspended for the first two games against the Lions and Arizona Cardinals for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy while he was playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Stetson Bennett is essentially a rookie after sitting out last season to deal with what he has acknowledged were issues that fell under the umbrella of mental health.

McVay on Tuesday praised Garoppolo and Bennett for their progress during the offseason program. Both will be at training camp, McVay said.

Do the Rams really want to go to Detroit with Bennett conceivably making his first NFL start?

McVay and the Rams have experience with a star player holding out because of a contract dispute. In 2017 and 2018, Donald did not report to camp and the Rams managed just fine. The future Hall of Famer’s absence enabled then-defensive coordinator Wade Phillips to experiment with other combinations before Donald showed up.

A missing starting quarterback would be entirely different. It would be a disaster.

So the Rams cannot relax until the Stafford situation is resolved.

• This reply was modified 5 months ago by zn.

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2024/06/13/rams-matthew-stafford-contract-issue-details/?taid=666d7437f46e9a0001ad9811&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network shed some light on the matter, saying once again that it’s about guaranteed money beyond the 2024 season and assurances in the final two years of his deal in 2025 and 2026.

“The issue here from my understanding is guaranteed money,” he said. “Matthew Stafford has his salary for this year guaranteed. After that, $32 million, $31 million, but none guaranteed. This is a guy that did have an elbow issue a year ago. I think a lot of people were wondering, ‘Is this the end for Matthew Stafford? Are the Rams going to draft a quarterback?’ There was a lot of that going on, then he went out and had a year where he looked like the old Matthew Stafford: 4,000 yards, 24 touchdowns. Really put a really young team on his back.”

One of the big things that Stafford wants is assurances that he’ll remain the Rams’ quarterback in the coming years. With no guaranteed money left, he likely doesn’t feel his roster spot is safe, which is why he wants the Rams to add some guarantees to the final two years of his deal in order to make it more difficult for them to move on.

“It sounds to me like (he) just wants to know that he is going to be back. Wants to know that his spot on the roster is secure and he is appreciated,” he continued.

Rapoport confirmed what McVay said this week, saying that Stafford is not going to hold out into training camp, which is “good for the team.”

“But there is still a contractual issue that does need to be solved for a guy who has won a Super Bowl with the Rams and has been unbelievably important to their resurgence.”