Notably Fowler didn't quote anyone or produce any evidence for what he said. All he wrote is "it's my understanding" this is how it is. How he came to that understanding, he doesn't say.
I find the idea that AD won't play below a "certain number" to be suspicious when he spent the last four seasons playing below whatever that number supposedly is.
I'm hoping that is the case. Not that it's crossing the line for him to have a number, but if that number is too much what is going to happen is the Rams will move him to an AFC team close to his hometown of Pittsburgh and then go get an edge rusher to compensate. That's the end result of losing an elite 3T. You then need to find those pressures where they normally are, which is on that blindside edge where we currently have a rather large hole on the roster.
Problem for now is that rosters are mostly slotted for the season. So moving him now would hurt the Rams defense during the early schedule and they would need a trade deadline deal for that edge to have a chance in the playoffs.
He's one of the greatest players ever. He's value to the team goes beyond the limiting title you're giving him. He deserves his money. There's no ring without AD, and we don't stand a chance of repeating without him.
Nobody gets a blank check. This is a business. When a player--even a great one like AD--prices himself out of a location the end result is a trade.
I hate it btw. I don't like discussing the potential loss of AD. Just observing that this might be more serious than the media realizes if he's got some mandate and the team isn't sure they can meet it. None of us have to like it but the business side is a truth we cannot overlook.
