All that is happening is that the Rams are trying to put a positive spin on a difficult situation.
They aren't about to reveal the realities of what's going on, first because they are under no obligation to do so. This is a private matter between the team and a player. Second, there is nothing to be gained by letting all the nasty details filter out and much to lose simply because some fans are curious to know.
Frankly, the Rams have gone out of their way to be publicly respectful to a player and his agent who are behaving in a most unethical way.
Donald is still under contract. He's not been tagged.
For him to refuse to honor his contract is not ethical. The argument that some make that he is forced to get a smaller than merited amount because of the rookie salary scale negotiated by the union is bogus. It is how it works for all NFL players, and has for years; it was negotiated and agreed to by both sides. All he has to do is report, play out this year, and the entire situation changes. And frankly, I think that's what the Rams intend to have happen especially since he screwed himself by not showing up by Aug 8, and thus losing an accrued year towards UFA status.
Here's why. Since he will be an RFA after this year instead of a UFA, that means the Rams can match any offer Donald gets. There might be no better way to set his market value than that since the two sides are clearly not in agreement.
If Donald gets an offer that is more than the Rams wish to spend, then the Rams let him go and get a 1st round pick in return.
If Donald gets an offer that is within what the Rams wish to spend, then the Rams sign him for that offer number.
Frankly, I think the odds are long against Donald that he will get some stupendous $23 or $24 million dollar offer from a team who ALSO has to give up a first round pick.
But, from the Rams side, if that truly is the market, and the Rams decide they're willing to pay it, they can just go ahead suck it up and pay the money.
But even more, they can tag him and pay even less than market.
From the Ram's perspective, they hold all the cards. If Donald is so stubborn and self destructive as to simply refuse to play unless he makes the kind of bucks that he seems to be asking for, so be it. The Rams don't bear the cap cost for a player who refuses to honor his contract and play for the team. And the Rams cupboard at DT is hardly bare.
