[rams74]

Tru is gtting paid 3x what he's worth, of course he's showing up
Which of course is preventing the Rams for paying Donald what he is worth. Offer Donald 3x what his value is and he'd be there with bells on

Tru wanted a long-term contract, didn't he? He didn't get it. He didn't hold out. Was it Tru's idea to tag him? No. Most players don't like the tag. I don't remember hearing Tru complain about it. He just showed up and played. And it's the same this year. Yes, he's getting paid a ton -- more than he's worth. But he didn't get what he wanted. And unless he blows the doors off this year, he won't next year, either. And then he'll be gone. Again, not what he wanted. But he just shows up and plays, anyway.

[dieterbrock]

Tru wanted a long-term contract, didn't he? He didn't get it. He didn't hold out. Was it Tru's idea to tag him? No. Most players don't like the tag. I don't remember hearing Tru complain about it. He just showed up and played. And it's the same this year. Yes, he's getting paid a ton -- more than he's worth. But he didn't get what he wanted. And unless he blows the doors off this year, he won't next year, either. And then he'll be gone. Again, not what he wanted. But he just shows up and plays, anyway.

Tru wanted a long term deal? He signed the Franchise tag immediately. He wanted the guaranteed money. There was no negotiation. And *allegedly* when there was a trade offer made he didnt even want t discuss a contract.
He's been paid more the last 2 years than he deserved on a 4 year deal

[Elvis]

I'm pretty sure if AD could get a fully guaranteed one year deal right now at FT money that made him a FA next year, he'd take it...

[Zen_Ronin]

That top tweet is where I'm starting to think the problem lies. AD wants his money NOW, not next year, and we just don't have the money this year. I think the Rams want to pay him next year and the one or two years after, when they have the money, and to lessen the cap hit. It's the inability to pay THIS year that, to me anyway, seem to be the big issue. Complete speculation of course.

To be clear, this post wasn't me blaming Donald. It's more just stating how I perceive things. I absolutely think AD deserves to be the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. But reality seems to say the Rams can't do that right now even though they want to.

Does it suck Donald won't report? Yes. Does it suck Snead/Demoff/Whoever mismanaged wages so badly that there is no wiggle room for your best player? Yes. But technically AD shouldn't even be renegotiating until after his 3rd season (correct me if I'm wrong), which is this year, and I think the Rams probably thought that was when this talk was going to happen. Jumping the gun by a season has them behind the 8 ball without a cue.

I don't blame anyone, and I blame everyone. I think the whole thing is BS and I think both sides need to share the blame. The Rams mismanaged cap, AD is demanding early and is refusing to budge when his is the only side that has maneuverability this year.

Unstoppable Force meet Immovable Object.

[dieterbrock]

But technically AD shouldn't even be renegotiating until after his 3rd season (correct me if I'm wrong), which is this year, and I think the Rams probably thought that was when this talk was going to happen. Jumping the gun by a season has them behind the 8 ball without a cue.
.

He's played 3 seasons (3 Pro bowls). This is his 4th season coming up.
He didnt jump the gun, he is fully abiding by the guidelines of the contract

[rams74]

I'm pretty sure if AD could get a fully guaranteed one year deal right now at FT money that made him a FA next year, he'd take it...

Well, that's because of the collectively bargained rookie salary scale, right? AD can't be tagged because he's still in the first 5 years of his contract. So he doesn't have the same rules apply to him as Tru does. They have different situations. My point is that Tru didn't create this mess. The Rams didn't have to tag him. They chose to. They didn't have to let Jenkins walk instead of Tru. They chose to. You want to blame Tru for Donald? Have at it.

How about comparing somebody who is in the same situation as AD? Beckham could hold out. But he's playing. Not Mr. Donald.

[/zn/]

But reality seems to say the Rams can't do that right now even though they want to.

Sure they can.

It just depends on how it's structured.

As VB said, there's multiple ways around putting a big hit in the 2017 cap. Those depend on using 2018 cap space. You can structure a deal that does that.

If they structure it right, Suh+ level money is not an issue.

....

[Elvis]

Well, that's because of the collectively bargained rookie salary scale, right? AD can't be tagged because he's still in the first 5 years of his contract. So he doesn't have the same rules apply to him as Tru does. They have different situations. My point is that Tru didn't create this mess. The Rams didn't have to tag him. They chose to. They didn't have to let Jenkins walk instead of Tru. They chose to. You want to blame Tru for Donald? Have at it.

How about comparing somebody who is in the same situation as AD? Beckham could hold out. But he's playing. Not Mr. Donald.

I'm not blaming anybody. I don't know the details or what the sticking point is so it's hard for me to have a strong opinion one way or the other.

But in general, i think Donald is smart not to risk a guaranteed $70 million payday (give or take) by possibly getting hurt while playing on a $2 million contract. I wouldn't blame anyone making that move.

And i think the Rams are smart not to want to blow too much of their cap on one player.

Both sides make sense to me but i think they're going to work it out. We'll see...

[dieterbrock]

Well, that's because of the collectively bargained rookie salary scale, right? AD can't be tagged because he's still in the first 5 years of his contract. So he doesn't have the same rules apply to him as Tru does. They have different situations. My point is that Tru didn't create this mess. The Rams didn't have to tag him. They chose to. They didn't have to let Jenkins walk instead of Tru. They chose to. You want to blame Tru for Donald? Have at it.

How about comparing somebody who is in the same situation as AD? Beckham could hold out. But he's playing. Not Mr. Donald.

Beckham is also making 10 mill in endorsements because he's playing in NY and the Giants made it clear they werent going to renegotiate his deal

[BuiltRamTough]

Well, that's because of the collectively bargained rookie salary scale, right? AD can't be tagged because he's still in the first 5 years of his contract. So he doesn't have the same rules apply to him as Tru does. They have different situations. My point is that Tru didn't create this mess. The Rams didn't have to tag him. They chose to. They didn't have to let Jenkins walk instead of Tru. They chose to. You want to blame Tru for Donald? Have at it.

How about comparing somebody who is in the same situation as AD? Beckham could hold out. But he's playing. Not Mr. Donald.

Kalil Mack as well.