L. A. Rams’ Suh: Aaron Donald “deserves more than what I got”

IRVINE, Calif. — Four months after signing with the Rams and two days into training camp, Ndamukong Suh is still waiting for his first chance to practice alongside Aaron Donald.

Suh knows all about the perils of contract negotiations, and he hopes Donald can get a deal soon to unite them on Los Angeles’ potentially fearsome defensive line.

“Ultimately, I wish him all the best,” Suh said Friday after practice at UC Irvine. “He deserves more than what I got, so I’ll kind of leave it at that.”

The 31-year-old Suh got a one-year, $14 million deal to join the Rams as a free agent after eight seasons as one of the NFL’s best defensive linemen. Donald is scheduled to make nearly $6.9 million this season in the final year of his rookie contract, but is widely believed to be seeking a record-setting deal that will make him one of the league’s highest-paid players.

Donald skipped the Rams’ offseason activities after Suh’s signing, and he is holding out of training camp for the second consecutive year. Suh and Donald spoke briefly after Suh signed, but they still don’t know much about each other.

Suh hopes that will change soon, but he’s staying out of any talks between Donald and the Rams. “Always has any position. They can want to play all of them.” have an opportunity Donald also plays just about anywhere, and his to practice absence ultimately might with Aaron,” not have much effect on Suh said. “He’s his performance. He was a guy that I’ve watched the NFL’s defensive player from afar, and (I’ll) hopefully of the year last season despite have an opportunity missing all of training sometime soon to get on camp and the season the same field and be on opener due to his first the same side of the ball.” holdout.

Suh was free to sign Suh isn’t sure how his with the Rams after the partnership with Donald Miami Dolphins dropped will work, but he is confident him three seasons into in the strength of the a six-year, $114 million defense being built by Phillips. deal. That mammoth contract Cornerbacks Marcus was structured in a Peters and Aqib Talib also way that made it almost joined Los Angeles in the impossible for Suh to be offseason, adding an influx allowed to play out its entire of veteran talent to an already length, and Suh ended solid unit. up making $60 million for Suh has enjoyed getting three years of work. to know his new teammates

When he looked for a at UC Irvine while new challenge, Suh decided staying in the dorms — to team up with Donald something he hadn’t done and Michael Brockers since college at Nebraska. on defensive coordinator Although he has a reputation Wade Phillips’ front line. for headstrong play Suh primarily will be a at times, Suh is mostly relaxed nose tackle in Los Angeles and jovial around the for the first time in his career, Rams. but he has ample experience Suh is also getting along at every possible well with coach Sean McVay, position on a defensive who grinningly declined line. to disclose the nature

“The biggest thing I’m of a bet that he lost excited about positionwise to Suh earlier in the week is being able to play — after Suh jumped into the nose, the tackle and the his news conference to ask 5-technique (lining up outside him about it. the offensive tackle), “He’s been fun to be being able to play all of around,” McVay said. “I them and being able to use think once we actually put me in every single facet,” the pads on, when you’re Suh said. “The one thing really playing real football, that I’ve learned when we’ll get a really good feel. I’ve been a part of an elite But you certainly feel his defense, no particular guy presence.”