Rams uncertain whether Aaron Donald will report

Rams uncertain whether Aaron Donald will report for start of training camp

By RICH HAMMOND

link: http://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/27/rams-uncertain-whether-aaron-donald-will-report-for-start-of-training-camp/

IRVINE — By Friday evening, Rams players will be safely tucked in their training-camp beds, but will Aaron Donald be among them?

General Manager Les Snead and Coach Sean McVay said Thursday that they didn’t know whether Donald would report Friday for the start of camp or be on the field for Saturday afternoon’s first camp practice. McVay said he is “optimistic” about Donald’s attendance, but Snead wouldn’t go that far.

“I think we’re working to find the resolution,” Snead said at a pre-camp news conference Thursday at UC Irvine. “I don’t want to get into ‘optimistic or pessimistic,’ because it’s a complicated situation. We respect Aaron and his group and we’re working to try to find a win-win.”

Donald’s status with the team has been in question since the summer, when he started contract negotiations with the Rams. Donald risks a $40,000 daily fine if he doesn’t report by Saturday, and if he doesn’t report by Aug. 8, he will not accrue an official NFL season, which is critical for free agency.

Donald, a star defensive tackle and one of the NFL’s most dominant players, remains under contract through the 2018 season. Technically, the Rams could extend that to 2020 by tagging Donald as their “franchise player” after the 2018 and 2019 seasons, but they’d prefer to work out a new contract.

Some established players, such as quarterback Jared Goff, already have checked into camp, but Donald apparently has not informed the Rams of his plans, either way.

Asked last month, at a football camp in Santa Monica, whether he would report for the start of camp, Donald was noncommittal and referred to his situation as “a serious business.”

“We’re optimistic that Aaron will be here and be a part of what we’re trying to do this coming year,” McVay said, “but I think the defensive line is a spot we feel good about, and we’ll be ready to adjust accordingly if that’s something that does come up.”

Donald missed part of the Rams’ optional offseason workouts while his agent negotiated with the Rams, and on Thursday, Snead declined to go into specifics about how those talks are progressing.

Donald is a huge part of the Rams’ plans. A Pro Bowl selection in each of his first three NFL seasons, Donald has 28 sacks in 48 NFL games.

The Rams privately remain optimistic that they can get a deal done with Donald before the start of this season. Last year, they signed receiver Tavon Austin to an extension in late August.

“These are delicate situations,” Snead said. “I think you have to respect Aaron and his side, in that business move. It’s really all about respect. Yes, we’d love for him to be here. Hope he’s here. It would help if he were here. But if he decides not to, then it’s a thing you have to respect.”

There are no more discussions to be had with cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who will make almost $17 million in 2017 as the Rams’ franchise player. But the July 17 deadline for a new contract passed, so the Rams can’t negotiate with Johnson again until the end of the season. Johnson would become an unrestricted free agent next March.

“It’s a little bit of a juggling situation, how you budget and how you strategize,” Snead said. “In his situation, under the franchise tag he is paid well, so I think that takes a little bit of the stress off getting something done long term.”