Rams say potential NFL title hangover not a consideration
Rams star defensive lineman Aaron Donald hoists the Lombardi trophy at the team’s championship celebration Feb. 16.
NEWPORT BEACH » Rams coach Sean McVay briefly joked about his Super Bowl ring being too nice to wear before uttering a quick transition to officially starting training camp for the 2022 season.
“Let’s turn the page,” McVay said.
Two days after receiving their Super Bowl rings, the Rams reported to training camp Saturday morning to begin their quest for backto-back championships, something no team has done since the 2004-2005 New England Patriots.
The quest of ending that drought is one of many reasons the Rams aren’t concerned about a Super Bowl hangover. Motivation isn’t an issue, players said as they trickled into the team hotel in Newport Beach.
“You get to that point where you’ve celebrated enough,” Rams center Brian Allen said. “I know we just had the ring ceremony the other night, but we’re ready to keep building. … We want to win a Super Bowl this year. I think that’s the standard here and that’s the goal.”
What makes turning the page difficult for the Rams is the short turnaround from defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13 to needing to be mentally and physically prepared for training camp 160 days later.
Defensive end A’Shawn Robinson, who entered his seventh NFL season, flashed a smile when asked if he noticed a difference in his body after a Super Bowl run compared to shorter seasons.
“You feel a little bit of wear and tear,” Robinson said. “That’s fine.” feeling and then obviously the doctors giving him a full clearance.”
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who didn’t throw a pass during the offseason program, is expected to be ready for the first training camp practice today at UC Irvine. Stafford received an injection in his right elbow after the Super Bowl.
“He is going to be ready to go, but we will be smart with what that workload looks like within our fourand three-day work week increments,” McVay said.
Stafford doesn’t need many reps as a 14-year veteran, but his presence would help the offensive line find early chemistry with Joe Noteboom taking over at left tackle after Andrew Whitworth’s retirement and with the opening at right guard.
The Rams, with plenty of depth and star power across the roster, don’t have many starting positions to fill, making them Super Bowl contenders again. But McVay understands plenty needs to go right, including health, to repeat as champions.
The organization is making sure McVay is around to deliver more than two Super Bowls.
McVay revealed that he and general manager Les Snead are close on agreeing to contract extensions, adding that it’s likely both deals get done before the regular season.
“I wouldn’t want to put a timetable on it, but I’d say more than likely,” McVay said. “But again, these things can kind of drag on as we all know. But I do feel really good about the direction and all the conversations that have been had as it relates to myself and Les.”
Money and motivation aren’t issues as the Rams turn the page to 2022.