Setting the emotions aside, I just don't see the Rams resigning Donald. As the article says, they have him this year on the cheap, and 2 more years Franchise. Who cares if he's unhappy about it? This isn't the happiness business, it's the football business.
Forget the flashy cap space next year and the year after; the Rams have a number of stars to sign. And the cost for middle tier players will keep rising as well.
It's not that I don't want Donald to be a Ram for life. I'm not even upset with him for his demands (many say he's the best D player in the league).
As the Godfather says....it's just business, it's not personal.
But as the article says, he wants to reset....meaning to redefine....the market for non-QBs. Not just a raise; a reset. And, considering who his agents are, it is clear that money is going to be the #1 issue and they are not going to settle for less than their demands.
Considering after 3 more seasons that he'll be nearing 31 years old (which isn't "old", but he'll have played an awful lot of football by then), and considering his demands that to this point the Rams are not willing to pay, I just don't see it happening at all. He'll be a Ram through the '20 season and then gone on to greener pastures (pun intended).
The Rams just need to look to Seattle and see what happens when you go outside the box to sign players to giant contracts. And with the Donald situation, his contract WILL restrict other players the Rams might otherwise keep. Better to keep several really good players than to lose one great HOF player....IF that player is a non-QB.
Yes, it will be acrimonious when the Rams Tag him.....twice. But since money is clearly #1 to him, he's not about to sit out a season or retire on the Rams. Because the money will never be made up.
Rams hold ALL the cards on this for the next 3 years and his only play is to withhold his services. Which doesn't help him.
As the article says, he's already in danger of losing his FA status next year if he doesn't report by Aug. 7 (assuming the article is correct).
So Rams fans.....enjoy him for 3 more years. That'll be it.
