I'll have a go at this.
I believe that Aaron Donald is retiring.
Here's my tin-foil hat rationale for my completely unfounded belief:
1) Donald flirted with retirement at the end of last season - especially once the team was unable to resign Von Miller and wasn't able to acquire any other talent on the DL. The team told him that they'd try to get help at the trade deadline and a skeptical Donald agreed to come back - provided they restructure his contract as a hedge.
2) This is why I suspect that this is a retirement as opposed to a trade as I'm unsure who would part with more than a 1st round pick for someone who's already openly talking retirement.
3) One of the reasons some NFL players (even those who still have gas left in the tank) stay too long is that they miss all of the off-the-field stuff that's associated with GameDay (e.g. roar of the crowd, prepping with teammates, etc.).
Once the team was unable to secure an effective edge at the trade deadline and the playoffs became a pipe-dream, I think AD informed the team that he was thinking of retiring. But before he made a final decision, he wanted to make sure that he wouldn't miss that GameDay experience too much. So he sought permission to stay away from the sideline during games. He knows he can do it.
4) This info has been weighing on McVay since AD informed him of his desire, which (in addition to the other problems he experienced with the team this year) caused his meltdown and own recent talk of retirement. He (McVay) knows that his offense has struggled recently (even when healthy) and has relied upon a defense spearheaded by Donald to save his bacon.
5) According to Jordan Rodrigue's reporting, EVERYTHING that the Rams do defensively (ranging from contracts...to FA...coaches...to drafting...to philosophy) is centered on Donald's presence and performance. How else do you think a team could get away with Troy Reeder being its starting LB?
Further reporting by Rodrigue suggests that EVERYTHING in that regard would change once AD decided to leave.
This is why I found Jalen Ramsey's own cyrptic tweet this past week so interesting. The team may have already given him a courtesy "heads up" on the situation and that he could be traded as the team begins to execute its post-AD plan.
Well, how did I do? Could I sell this on InfoWars?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2023 12:58PM by ramBRO.
