Woods sees Titans as best chance at back-to-back Super Bowls
NASHVILLE, TENN. » Robert Woods heard from Rams coach Sean McVay shortly after the reigning Super Bowl champs agreed to a deal with Allen Robinson. Given a chance to pick a new team, the receiver nicknamed “Bobby Trees” saw the Tennessee Titans as the best fit in more than one way.
“Winning the Super Bowl and not being able to play and then joining the organization that’s right there, could’ve been there last (season), my goal is to win it back to back,” Woods said Wednesday.
The Titans announced the trade Wednesday, acquiring
Woods for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft. The deal became final once Tennessee cleared space under the salary cap. They also announced they re-signed linebacker Dylan Cole to a one-year deal.
Woods became expendable despite signing a four-year, $65 million contract extension in September 2020. Rams general manager Les Snead said Tuesday that edge rusher Von Miller going to Buffalo freed up money to sign Robinson. That meant Los Angeles had to part ways with Woods, a beloved leader in the locker room and a popular player among fans, especially fellow native Angelenos.
“We wouldn’t have
had the success we’ve had since ‘17 without Rob,” Snead said. “There are variables involved when you move on from a pillar player like Rob. Cap situation is one, diversity of skill set being another.”
The receiver liked what he saw from the Titans’ roster, including 2020 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Derrick Henry, quarterback Ryan Tannehill and wide receiver A.J. Brown, a Pro Bowler in 2020. Woods is known as a strong blocker in the run game, and the Titans ranked fifth in rushing offense.
“Obviously want to be a physical team. They are that,” Woods said. “You have a physical running back, you have a physical receiver — two of them now — and being able to just set the tone throughout the game. It’s a long season.”
Woods is recovering from a torn left ACL, the first significant injury of his career. The 6-foot, 195-pound receiver says he had a clean tear on Nov. 12 in practice.
After spending four seasons in Buffalo, Woods became a two-time captain with the Rams. He was one of four key figures acquired by the Rams in a four-month period in early 2017 that become cornerstones of the team’s five straight winning seasons. Woods had 367 catches for 4,626 yards and 23
TDs in 68 games with the Rams.
Mayfield waits as Browns shop QB
CLEVELAND » Baker Mayfield was once the No. 1 overall draft pick. He’s not anyone’s choice at the moment.
He’s a quarterback without a team.
Cleveland’s starter the past four seasons, Mayfield lost his job last week when the Browns pulled off a trade that shook the NFL by acquiring Deshaun Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler in Houston accused of sexual assault by 22 women.
With Watson due to arrive any day to take over as Cleveland’s
franchise QB, Mayfield, who requested a trade last week after feeling betrayed by the Browns, is leaving. When and where he’s going is still to be determined.
The quarterback market has dried up this week, with several trades and free agent signings eliminating possible landing spots for Mayfield, who is looking to resurrect his career after a dreadful 2021 season.
It’s an astonishing fall for Mayfield, the top pick in 2018 who led the Browns to the playoffs in 2020 and seemed to have finally solved the franchise’s two-decade-long search for a franchise quarterback.
By The Associated Press