Ramsey gets 5-year, $105 million extension from Rams
THOUSAND OAKS » Jalen Ramsey will become the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history after agreeing to a five-year, $105 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams.
The extension announced Wednesday includes $71.2 million, the most guaranteed money ever given to a defensive back, according to Ramsey’s agent, David Mulugheta.
Ramsey will average $21 million per season, another record for a cornerback or safety, through 2025. Ramsey will make $13.7 million this season in the final year of his rookie contract.
The deal is another massive commitment by the Rams, who have handed out the largest contracts in NFL history at the time for a quarterback (Jared Goff), a running back (Todd Gurley), any defensive player (Aaron Donald) and a defensive back in a major spending spree since July 2018. The Rams made the Super Bowl for the 2018 season but lost to New England.
Los Angeles acquired Ramsey in a trade with Jacksonville midway through last season, giving up two first-round draft picks to secure one of the NFL’s elite cornerbacks. Ramsey had one interception and four pass deflections in nine games with the Rams while earning his third straight Pro Bowl selection.
Steelers’ Shazier retires
PITTSBURGH » Ryan Shazier wants to make something clear. His comeback from a spinal injury suffered nearly three years ago remains very much on course.
For all the progress he’s made since that frightening night in Cincinnati in December 2017 — when Shazier’s ever-churning legs went lifeless following a routine tackle on Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone — standing in the huddle is no longer an option.
Just don’t mistake the retirement Shazier announced Wednesday as succumbing to the inevitable.
The two-time Pro Bowler insists he’s not angry at how things turned out. He’s not upset a play that began so innocently ended up requiring him to undergo spine stabilization surgery. That procedure forced him to the physically unable to perform list in 2018 and 2019 even as his rehabilitation became an inspirational touchstone.
In addition to beginning ac podcast, Shazier plans to devote more time to the Shalieve Fight Foundation, which is dedicated to assisting people with spinal cord injuries.
Vikings put Hunter on IR
MINNEAPOLIS » The Minnesota Vikings placed defensive end Danielle Hunter on injured reserve, taking one of their most vital players out of action for the season opener and at least two more games after that.
Hunter has not practiced with the team since training camp activities were first opened to reporters on Aug. 14. Coach Mike Zimmer has only described the unspecified injury as a “tweak,” and because Hunter was placed on injured reserve the Vikings didn’t have to list the two-time Pro Bowl pick on their initial injury report.