Johnson’s tag line: ‘Excited to be back’
Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson on Monday signed a one-year franchise-tag tender worth nearly $17 million.
Johnson, 27, last week was tagged by the Rams for the second consecutive season. In 2016, he earned nearly $14 million.
After intercepting seven passes in 2015, Johnson missed two-plus games because of injuries and intercepted only one pass last season.
“I feel blessed, honored and really grateful to the organization for placing the tag on me for the second year,” Johnson, a third-round draft pick in 2012, said in a statement released by the Rams. The statement continued, “This is my third contract and I’m back with my brothers, my teammates again.
“I’m glad that I get to come back and play with these guys another season and I’m excited to be back.”
With Johnson signing the tender (he’ll be paid $16,742,400), and the salary cap set at $167 million, the Rams will enter free agency about $22 million under the cap. The 48-hour “legal tampering” period, when teams can negotiate with players’ agents, begins Tuesday. Free-agent players can begin signing contracts Thursday.
July 15 is the deadline for the Rams and Johnson to work out a long-term deal. Serious discussion is not expected to begin until new Coach Sean McVay and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips assess Johnson on the field during organized team activities.
Westbrooks arrested
Rams defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks was arrested Sunday in Sacramento on suspicion of felony domestic violence, police said.
Westbrooks, 26, was released from Sacramento County jail on Monday, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff ’s Dept. website.
“We are aware of the serious allegations involving Ethan Westbrooks,” the Rams said in a statement. “We are in contact with authorities and are gathering more information. Per team policy, we will continue to respect the legal process and have no further comment at this time.”
In a news release, the Sacramento Police Dept. said it received a call at 9:06 p.m. Sunday regarding a custody dispute of a juvenile child.
Officers arriving at the scene observed that a woman had sustained upper-body injuries, the release said. The officers investigated and determined that the woman had been injured during a domestic-violence incident involving the father of her child, the release said. Officers went to another residence, located Westbrooks and took him into custody, the release said.
Last season, Westbrooks played in 16 games — starting two — and made 24 tackles.