Rams say Miller, OBJ arrivals reflect team’s plan, culture
Odell Beckham Jr. arrived in Los Angeles on Friday by private jet and made his way north to the Rams’ training complex. Although he passed his physical and signed his contract, the receiver didn’t participate in his new team’s first practice.
Just eight games remain in the regular season for the Rams (7-2), but they don’t intend to rush their latest prizes into action. Los Angeles acquired Beckham and pass rusher Von Miller to help out for the next two months, but also in hopes of making the following month — the playoffs — even more special.
And none of it damages the Rams’ plan to compete for a Super Bowl berth again next year, according to the men making this team’s bold moves.
General manager Les Snead simply sees the door open for title contention this year, and he wants the Rams to have the best chance to barge through.
“It’s very important being aware of what window you’re in,” Snead said. “We’re very aware we’re 7-2 . ... We’re aware that we have a chance to still accomplish some things that we want to accomplish. But all we can control is today’s practice and the mission at hand, which is San Francisco (on Monday night). We’re aware, but every year is important.”
Snead and coach Sean McVay spent Friday gently pushing back at the widespread notion these Rams are in “Super Bowl Or Bust” mode, racking up bills that will cripple them later in a desperate bid to play at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13. The reality, they patiently say, is more nuanced and complicated than a tweet or a talk-radio sound byte.
Both Snead and McVay believe the loss of two high draft picks in the trade for Miller, or the possibility for drama created by adding Beckham to a tight group of receivers, are outweighed by the benefits of going for a title now — and moreover, by being a team that’s always aggressively trying to win.
The Rams’ fans and the entire city feel that vibe, Snead said. According to McVay, so do NFL players — even players on other teams watching the Rams’ swagger.
Browns’ Chubb out for Patriots game
Bill Belichick doesn’t have to worry about his New England defense containing Cleveland’s best offensive player.
Browns’ star running back Nick Chubb will miss Sunday’s game against the Patriots after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this week and then not passing protocols in time to be eligible to play.
Coach Kevin Stefanski ruled out Chubb along with rookie punt returner Demetric Felton following Friday’s practice.
The Browns (5-4) had held out hope that Chubb, who is third in the NFL with 721 yards despite missing two games with a calf injury, would be available to face the Patriots (54) after testing positive on Tuesday.
However, he needed to be symptom free and twice test negative. And the first negative test had to be no later than Friday because players must be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list by Saturday at 4 p.m. to be eligible.
A two-time Pro Bowler, and one of the NFL’s best backs, Chubb ran for 137 yards and scored two touchdowns, one a 70-yard run in which he clocked 21.1 mph breaking away from Cincinnati’s secondary, in a 41-16 rout last week.
Broncos OC Shurmur on COVID-19 list
The Denver Broncos are making backup play-calling plans after offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur tested positive for the coronavirus Friday and went on the reserve/COVID-19 list along with a fourth player infected this week.
“It’s a huge concern,” defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones said of the rash of cases. “I feel like plenty of guys are getting it left and right, getting popped with the COVID card.”
The team has stepped up its mitigation measures this week, having everyone wear masks indoors and moving meetings to bigger rooms where players are more spread out.
“It’s tough,” Jones said. “It feels like last year again.”