Now Jared Goff's backup, Case Keenum has respect of teammatesAlden Gonzalez
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The word "excited" was used a combined 14 times late Tuesday afternoon, first by coach Jeff Fisher and then by quarterback Jared Goff. But this was outside, in organized media sessions, with the portable backdrop behind them and a handful of working cameras in front of them.
Within the Los Angeles Rams' locker room, what should've been a celebrated occasion -- the naming of Goff as the starter, the beginning of a new era -- was met with an undercurrent of sadness.
It was because of Case Keenum.
He worked so hard, fought so long, cared so much. He was thrust into an awkward, arduous situation and handled it with class. And though he exasperated an impatient new fan base that grew frustrated with the offense and clamored for Goff, the No. 1 overall pick, Keenum earned the respect of his teammates.
"It's rough to hear," Rams left guard Rodger Saffold said of Keenum being demoted to backup duties, "especially after a win."
Greg Zuerlein kicked three field goals Sunday as the Rams edged the New York Jets 9-6 on the road. Keenum completed 17 of 30 passes for 165 yards and no interceptions.
"He helped us win the game," Saffold said. "I mean, let's be honest. There's a couple of times where some things happened in the red zone and we couldn't convert them into touchdowns, but this isn't, at all, all his fault."
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