Alden Gonzalez
New Rams coach Sean McVay said his hope and expectation is that his entire roster will be present at next week's mandatory minicamp. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Trumaine Johnson, the Los Angeles Rams' franchise cornerback, returned to practice Monday after missing organized team activities last week. But defensive tackle Aaron Donald remained absent, while hoping for a restructured contract. Right tackle Greg Robinson and outside linebacker Connor Barwin also were not present, but Rams coach Sean McVay said they had excused absences and both are expected back shortly.
OTAs are voluntary, and only Donald's absence seems to have a real motivation behind it.
But with the Rams having an entirely new coaching staff that is implementing an entirely new system on both sides of the ball, it is notable that key players have been missing throughout OTAs. The three-day, mandatory minicamp takes place next week, running from Tuesday to Thursday, and McVay is hoping everybody is accounted for.
"You always hope for it," McVay said. "Each day, you're kind of ready to take on new challenges and things come up. That's our hope, that's our expectation, and I guess we'll find out next week."
Johnson will play the 2017 season under a $16.74 million franchise tag unless he and the Rams agree to an extension by July 15. The Rams, though, have stated that they want to first see if Johnson can be a fit under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips' system. Johnson doesn't believe that will be an issue.
"I can play man, I can play off, I can play zone, I can play waterboy," he said. "I can play anything y'all want to play, man."
His absence, however, was "not at all" contract related, he said.
"I had a personal situation I needed to handle," Johnson said. "That's about it."
Johnson missed the second week. Robinson was joined by outside linebacker Connor Barwin and outside corner E.J. Gaines in missing the start of the third week. Donald, by far the game's best interior pass-rusher, has missed OTAs in their entirety. And it is no certainty that he will show up next week, though Donald would face about a $75,000 fine for missing the three-day minicamp.
"Real tough," Johnson said of being without Donald. "There's a business side of football too, but we'd love to have him back."
McVay's hope during this voluntary period is simply that "there is clear and open communication." Johnson failed to communicate the first time he was absent on Tuesday, but said he reached out to McVay and his teammates the following day.
"As a coach, you're always going to want the guys here," McVay said. "But you also understand the framework of the way this stuff is set up in the offseason program."
[www.espn.com]
New Rams coach Sean McVay said his hope and expectation is that his entire roster will be present at next week's mandatory minicamp. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Trumaine Johnson, the Los Angeles Rams' franchise cornerback, returned to practice Monday after missing organized team activities last week. But defensive tackle Aaron Donald remained absent, while hoping for a restructured contract. Right tackle Greg Robinson and outside linebacker Connor Barwin also were not present, but Rams coach Sean McVay said they had excused absences and both are expected back shortly.
OTAs are voluntary, and only Donald's absence seems to have a real motivation behind it.
But with the Rams having an entirely new coaching staff that is implementing an entirely new system on both sides of the ball, it is notable that key players have been missing throughout OTAs. The three-day, mandatory minicamp takes place next week, running from Tuesday to Thursday, and McVay is hoping everybody is accounted for.
"You always hope for it," McVay said. "Each day, you're kind of ready to take on new challenges and things come up. That's our hope, that's our expectation, and I guess we'll find out next week."
Johnson will play the 2017 season under a $16.74 million franchise tag unless he and the Rams agree to an extension by July 15. The Rams, though, have stated that they want to first see if Johnson can be a fit under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips' system. Johnson doesn't believe that will be an issue.
"I can play man, I can play off, I can play zone, I can play waterboy," he said. "I can play anything y'all want to play, man."
His absence, however, was "not at all" contract related, he said.
"I had a personal situation I needed to handle," Johnson said. "That's about it."
Johnson missed the second week. Robinson was joined by outside linebacker Connor Barwin and outside corner E.J. Gaines in missing the start of the third week. Donald, by far the game's best interior pass-rusher, has missed OTAs in their entirety. And it is no certainty that he will show up next week, though Donald would face about a $75,000 fine for missing the three-day minicamp.
"Real tough," Johnson said of being without Donald. "There's a business side of football too, but we'd love to have him back."
McVay's hope during this voluntary period is simply that "there is clear and open communication." Johnson failed to communicate the first time he was absent on Tuesday, but said he reached out to McVay and his teammates the following day.
"As a coach, you're always going to want the guys here," McVay said. "But you also understand the framework of the way this stuff is set up in the offseason program."
[www.espn.com]
