Los Angeles – Sean McVay says he never seriously thought that his association with Matthew Stafford would come to an end this month after four seasons along with the Los Angeles Rams.
The chief coach still recognized on Monday that he has “been sleeping better in the last days” since the Rams and Stafford finished their very publicized negotiations by Agree a restructured contract That gives a substantial increase to the winning field of the Super Bowl.
“That was never something that felt close, and it was never something that allowed my mind to be,” McVay said about the possibility of a break with Stafford, whose agent was allowed to speak with other teams about the potential value of the field marshal in an exchange.
The Rams reached an agreement with the 37 -year -old Stafford, whose return keeps them among the NFL Super Bowl contenders by 2025.
Los Angeles has reached the playoffs three times in the four seasons of Stafford, and the NFC West Rams champion gave the strongest challenge in the newly completed postseason to the eventual champion of Philadelphia Eagles, which only by little won the meeting of the division snowfall of the teams.
The Rams have not revealed the size of Stafford’s salary increase, but McVay said the field marshal did not add additional years to his contract. It is still signed during the 2026 season under the original four -year extension he accepted after the triumph of the Super Bowl of the Rams in February 2022.
“I always understood that I would not play under the number I had to defeat next year,” McVay said. “When he felt good with the way the season ended, and obviously we were all ecstatic because he wanted to continue playing, now he is only discovering the semantics … there is no way to put a real value in what he means, but what does it seem to be able to be able to be able to) the landscape of our football team, and what we go, and what seems for the short and long term?
Stafford also renegotiated his contract a year ago to obtain more guaranteed money. McVay has found a positive side in this annual chapter of low season drama, which has included innumerable media debates and reports on the interest of other teams in Stafford.
“Last year (negotiations) took about seven months,” McVay said. “This year, about three weeks. Then, maybe they are about two, three days next year if we have to do this. ”
Stafford was strong for the Rams last season, passing for 3,762 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 65.8% of its releases. His return provides continuity and veteran leadership in McVay’s offensive, which also Alaric Jackson’s retained left Tackle In a three -year agreement and $ 57 million last week that kept him out of free agency.
McVay said the Rams are anxious to sign Jimmy Garoppolo again as a staffing, but they realize that Garoppolo could get offers for more play time.
McVay did not definitely close the door to the possibility of maintaining the 56 MVP receiver of the Super Bowl Cooper Kupp, but he spoke repeatedly about KUPP’s departure as a high probability. McVay said the Rams have not discussed the possibility of restructuring the KUPP contract.
KUPP announced last month that the Rams are trying to change it instead of maintaining their great salary on their payroll by 2025.
McVay and Kupp have been together throughout their lives in eight years with the Rams. McVay said that the decision to separate from KUPP is over “all the puzzle” and the salary cap that will be released by the departure of the receiver.
“Whatever happens, his legacy is cemented as a ram of all time,” McVay said. “The most important thing, I am a better human for having had his eight years with him.”
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