13-1 Eagles lead the way with 8 players in Pro Bowl Games
The NFL-leading Philadelphia Eagles had a league-best eight players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, selected for the first Pro Bowl Games. He’s the first quarterback since Rich Gannon (1999) to earn his first Pro Bowl selection in Year 10 or later of his career. Aaron Donald became the first defensive lineman to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first nine seasons. Green as the only wide receivers to earn Pro Bowl honors in each of their first seven seasons. The third flag game will determine the overall winner of the Pro Bowl Games.
wftv.comThursday Night Football: What does the future look like for suddenly depleted Rams?
First off, whatever does happen with the Los Angeles Rams the next few years has all been worth it. Amazon Prime Video hoped to feature a star-filled Rams team against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night. Rams face a critical offseasonThere's a scenario in which the Rams have their run-it-back season next year. We all know the Rams will be aggressive in building around those core pieces as long as they're around. Even if the Rams' 2022 season is the first part of a multi-year decline, it doesn't have to last long.
wftv.comAaron Donald, Jaylen Brown part with Kanye West's Donda Sports after rapper's antisemitic remarks
Aaron Donald announced on Tuesday that he's parting Kanye West's Donda Sports in the aftermath of the rapper's antisemitic remarks. A minute later, Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown also announced his departure from Donda Sports, a day after he declared that he was sticking with West's sports agency. Donald cited West's "displays of hate and antisemitism" as the impetus for his decision. I have always, and will always, continue to stand strongly against any antisemitism, hate speech, misrepresentation, and oppressive rhetoric of any kind." Donald's and Brown's decision to part with Donda Sports followed the Adidas decision.
wftv.comJaylen Brown sticking with Kanye West's Donda Sports despite rapper's antisemitic remarks
Jaylen Brown is one of two prominent athletes to sign with Kanye West's Donda Sports agency. "The reason why I signed with Donda Sports, it represented education, it represented activism, disruption," Brown said. He hasn't publicly addressed his relationship with the company since West's remarks. Brown told the Globe that he doesn't condone hate speech. "Like I said, I don't condone any hurt, harm, or danger toward a group of people," Brown told the Globe.
wftv.comDefending Super Bowl champion Rams open season as underdogs
“Going to play the defending Super Bowl champs and watching them raise their banner, that’ll be an interesting feeling for sure,” Allen said. Understand the flow of the game and just try to put our best foot forward.”Under Sean McVay, the Rams are 5-0 in season openers. The AFC champion Bengals solidified their offensive line after losing to Donald and the Rams in the Super Bowl. PATRIOTS, 20-17Cleveland (plus 1 1/2) at CarolinaBaker Mayfield wins his Super Bowl in Week 1. The Jaguars will be a better team with a Super Bowl champion coach.
wftv.comDefending Super Bowl champion Rams open season as underdogs
Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams will raise their Super Bowl banner Thursday night before kicking off the NFL season at home where they became the second straight team to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy in their own stadium.
Von Miller settles in with Bills after leaving LA Rams
I know it doesn’t have the optics, but you will learn to love this place,‘” Miller said, referring to Bills coach Sean McDermott. Miller showed he hadn't lost a step after being traded by Denver to the Rams in November. After getting five sacks in eight regular-season games with L.A., Miller added four more in the playoffs, including two in the Rams' Super Bowl victory over Cincinnati. For all he's accomplished entering his 12th season, Miller is focused on the future, while acknowledging how “weird” it might be watching the Rams celebrate their — and his — Super Bowl title this week. “Even though it is a special moment, I don’t want that to be my determining moment in my career,” Miller said.
wftv.comAaron Donald on helmet swing: 'It was just a practice'
Aaron Donald downplayed swinging a helmet at Cincinnati Bengals players in a brawl at a joint practice between last season’s Super Bowl teams last Thursday. It was football," Donald said Wednesday in an interview for an upcoming episode of the AP Pro Football Podcast. "I don't really wanna go back to nothing negative that happened and talk about something that happened in a practice. Donald isn’t subject to punishment from the NFL because the incident occurred during practice and teams are responsible for disciplining their players. “Just trying to relive all that over again, trying to accomplish that, being a world champion all over again,” he said.
wftv.comAaron Donald swings helmet in brawl between Rams, Bengals
CINCINNATI — (AP) — A brawl between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams put an early end to their joint practice session Thursday, with the Rams' Aaron Donald repeatedly swinging a helmet at Bengals players before getting thrown to the ground. Players threw fists and helmets during scuffles leading up to a final free-for-all with Donald, a defensive lineman, getting thrown to the ground after swinging a helmet. On the next play, Collins scuffled with linebacker Leonard Floyd, ripping off the defender's helmet and tossing it. The Bengals and Rams, who played in the Super Bowl in February, face each other in the final preseason game on Saturday night in Cincinnati. In 2019, the Browns' Myles Garrett was suspended six games for using his helmet to smash Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph over the head during a regular-season game.
wftv.comAll-Pro Aaron Donald returning to LA Rams with a big raise
LOS ANGELES — (AP) — All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald is getting a big raise to stay with the Los Angeles Rams under a reworked contract through 2024. The team didn't disclose terms of the new deal, but the NFL Network reported Donald is getting a $40 million raise that will make him the highest-paid defensive player in the league. The Rams realized Donald deserved a hefty raise, and he will get $65 million guaranteed in the next two seasons. Donald is widely considered the most dominant defensive player in the sport, and he demonstrated his power yet again last season. He is the three-time winner of the AP's Defensive Player of the Year award, claiming it in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
wftv.comAnalysis: Rams might pay steep price for winning all-in bet
When the Los Angeles Rams acquired Von Miller on Nov. 1, they tweeted, “We’re all in,” along with a GIF of John Malkovich splashing the poker pot. With Miller adding an emotional boost, a veteran's savvy and a physical presence that helped Aaron Donald go from all-time great to Super Bowl champion, the Rams rule the NFL for the first time since 2000, when they still played in team owner Stan Kroenke's native Missouri. Kroenke treats his NFL team the way he used to treat his NBA team: with a willingness bordering on an eagerness to mortgage the future for a shot at winning it all right now.
news.yahoo.comKupp's late TD lifts Rams over Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl
Rams Bengals Super Bowl Football Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) after the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Los Angeles Rams won 23-20. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Julio Cortez)INGLEWOOD, Calif. — (AP) — In a venue built for champions, the Los Angeles Rams carried off the crown jewel: a Super Bowl trophy. Kupp had four receptions for 39 yards, and a 7-yard run on fourth-and-1 from the Rams 30 on the championship drive. ____More AP Super Bowl coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comRams determined to turn Aaron Donald into a Super Bowl champ
49ers Rams Football Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald holds the George Halas trophy after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. “This is the only thing I've been chasing,” the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year said Monday while the Rams began Super Bowl week at home. But he is also mature enough to understand that any Super Bowl could be the last for any player, even arguably the greatest defensive player of his generation. “Selfishly, I want to be the guy that helped Aaron Donald get a Super Bowl,” Miller said. I feel so grateful to work with him.”___More AP Super Bowl coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comDefense, QBs shine in National's 20-10 Senior Bowl win
Senior Bowl Football American Team quarterback Malik Willis, of Liberty, throws a pass during the first half of the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (Butch Dill)MOBILE, Ala. — (AP) — The pass rushers did their best to steal the show from quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Kenny Pickett in the Senior Bowl. Cincinnati's Ridder threw two touchdown passes and the National team had eight sacks in a 20-10 victory over the American team Saturday. Winfrey wore a jersey signed by teammates and got to follow in the Senior Bowl footsteps of Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, a 2014 alum of the game. “I've been dreaming about being in the Senior Bowl since I was a little kid,” Winfrey said. “I saw Aaron Donald dominate the Senior Bowl and I wanted to be the next to do that.”Pickett and Liberty's Malik Willis were among the Senior Bowl passers vying with Mississippi's Matt Corral to be the first quarterback picked.
wftv.comDefense, QBs shine in National's 20-10 Senior Bowl win
The pass rushers did their best to steal the show from quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Kenny Pickett in the Senior Bowl. Cincinnati's Ridder threw two touchdown passes and the National team had eight sacks in a 20-10 victory over the American team Saturday. “We didn't come out here to lollygag through it," Minnesota defensive lineman Boye Mafe said.
news.yahoo.comRams' Donald: 'Only thing I am lacking is being a champion.'
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Mark J. Terrill)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Aaron Donald is firmly in conversations about the top pass rushers in NFL history. “This building wants to win for Aaron Donald to create more mystique to his legacy and what he’s done,” defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey noted that Donald reiterated the keys to the game and took on more of a willingness to lead verbally. Donald and the Rams will face their biggest challenge of the season in trying to end a six-game losing streak to the 49ers. Coincidentally, the Rams’ last victory over San Francisco was in 2018, the last time they advanced to the Super Bowl.
wftv.comStar-studded LA Rams host surging 49ers in NFC title game
The same goes for everybody in the Los Angeles Rams’ constellation of stars around him. After crying on the sideline last January when the Rams' season slipped away in Green Bay, Donald is desperate to take that penultimate step toward his last career goal. But if the Rams (14-5) don’t overcome the 49ers’ maddening mastery over them, all their big moves will end in checkmate. If the Rams fall again Sunday, the disappointment will be crushing, but Donald thinks they're ready to shoulder the weight. "This week, my mindset is there’s no way we’re going to lose this game.
wftv.comThe Latest: Rams off to good start despite losing Allen
The Los Angeles Rams are off to a solid start in their effort to end a three-game skid despite losing starting center Brian Allen to a knee injury on their first play from scrimmage. Jacksonville trimmed the lead to 10-7 early in the second quarter on Carlos Hyde’s 1-yard TD run, finished a drive abetted by Rams penalties. ___3:15 p.m.Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been benched in the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts. Jefferson has 72 receptions for 1,112 yards this season and 160 catches for 2,512 yards in his two-year career. For the Bengals, linebacker Logan Wilson (right shoulder) and Markus Bailey (left shoulder) also left the game.
wftv.comWilson cleared to return to football activities for Seattle
RENTON, Wash. — (AP) — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was cleared Monday to return to football activities barely a month after undergoing surgery on the middle finger of his throwing hand. Wilson underwent surgery the next day in Los Angeles and has been diligent about his rehab while still being present around the team. Seattle went 1-2 in Wilson's absence with Geno Smith as the starting quarterback. Wilson was placed on injured reserve by the Seahawks to open a roster spot, but he is eligible to return this week when Seattle travels to Green Bay on Sunday. Wilson posted a video on social media Monday with the title "It's Time."
wftv.comAP source: Broncos trade star linebacker Von Miller to Rams
Ravens Broncos Football Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) battles against Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Patrick Mekari (65) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (David Zalubowski)ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — (AP) — A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the Denver Broncos are trading star linebacker Von Miller, the franchise's career sacks leader and Super Bowl 50 MVP, to the Los Angeles Rams for two 2022 draft picks. Speaking on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn't announced the trade, the person confirmed the deal first reported by ESPN. The Rams are sending the Broncos a second- and third-round pick in the 2022 draft for the eight-time Pro Bowler, who led Denver to a 24-10 win in Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season, Peyton Manning's last. He only had a half sack in October, but was still seen as a major gem for contending teams.
wftv.comStafford throws 3 TD passes, Rams edge Goff's Lions 28-19
The Rams led 25-19 when Goff drove the Lions to the Los Angeles 12 in the waning minutes while converting four third downs on an excellent drive. Cooper Kupp had 10 catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns for the Rams, including the go-ahead score with 13:59 to play. Van Jefferson also caught a scoring pass from Stafford, who has 19 TD throws in his first seven games on the West Coast. Goff read a blitz and threw a short screen pass to Swift, who scampered through the Rams' secondary for his TD. OLD FRIENDSGoff spent his first five NFL seasons with the Rams, while Stafford played his first 12 seasons with the Lions.
wftv.comStafford throws 3 TD passes, Rams edge Goff's Lions 28-19
Matthew Stafford passed for 334 yards and three touchdowns against his former team, and Jalen Ramsey made an end zone interception on his 27th birthday with five minutes left in the Los Angeles Rams’ 28-19 victory over Jared Goff and the winless Detroit Lions.
Aaron Donald turns 30, closes in on more records for Rams
(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File) (Kyusung Gong)THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — (AP) — No matter how many sacks Aaron Donald racks up, he doesn't stop thinking about the quarterbacks who got away. Donald’s first game in his 30s last Sunday looked like most of his performances from his 20s for the Los Angeles Rams. Donald essentially ended the Rams’ blowout win by sacking Andy Dalton on fourth down with 2:18 to play. “I feel good. If anything, I feel a little smarter out there, as far as understanding certain things to play a little faster.
wftv.comRodgers wins 3rd MVP, Donald gets 3rd top defensive player
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers earned his third Associated Press Most Valuable Player award, while Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald took his third top defensive player prize at NFL Honors. Titans 2,000-yard rusher Derrick Henry won Offensive Player of the Year, and the offensive rookie honor went to Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. Cleveland's Kevin Stefanski was the Coach of the Year, and Buffalo offensive coordinator Brian Daboll earned assistant coach honors. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his work in the community. Rodgers had perhaps the best season of his 16-year career, leading Green Bay to a 13-3 regular season, the NFC’s best mark.
Ready Nutrition sports drinks launch in stores, backed by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Aaron Donald
Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on January 09, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. Products from Ready Nutrition, which makes protein-infused sports drinks, protein powder and snacks, are now available in select grocery stores, including Giant Eagle. "We've got a goal, and it's above what launching sports drinks would normally set," Cavanaugh said. "We're the new kid on the block as far as sports drinks," Cavanaugh added. "And if they don't pull it fast enough, then that window, especially these days, can close up quickly."
cnbc.comLos Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald takes an ownership stake in Ready Nutrition sports drink company
Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams walks off the field following the Rams' 17-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 10, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald is expanding his playbook off the field, taking an ownership stake in Ready Nutrition a Pennsylvania-based startup that makes protein-infused sports drinks, protein powder and snacks. According to Ready Nutrition, products are available in over 8,000 outlets across the country, including Sam's Club, online via Amazon and at athletic teams at more than 200 universities. Ready Nutrition is also the "official sports nutrition brand" of four NCAA division 1 conferences: Atlantic 10, Big Sky, Conference USA, and Southland Conference. Ready Nutrition is trying to attract even younger athletes, "which we define as high school and down," Cavanaugh said.
cnbc.comDrew Brees having surgery on injured right hand
She's spending the day, or much of it, with her husband Drew at a Los Angeles hospital, where the New Orleans Saints quarterback is having surgery on his injured thumb. Saints head coach Sean Payton said Wednesday morning that the team doesn't plan to put the future Hall of Famer on the injured reserve list. Only two players on the injured reserve list who are designated to return can be brought back during the season, but only after eight weeks. Russell Wilson, the starting quarterback for the Seahawks, tweeted a video at Brees. Brees has been the team's starting quarterback since 2006 and led them to their only Super Bowl title in 2010.