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SPORTS Friday 20 March 2020

In this Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019 file photo, Los Angeles Rams run-
ning back Todd Gurley II carries against the San Francisco 49ers
during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif.
Associated Press
Los Angeles Rams

release running

back Todd Gurley In this Jan. 11, 2020, file photo, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead, left, and defen-

sive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) react to a play against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half
of an NFL divisional playoff football game in Santa Clara, Calif.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The his effectiveness down the Associated Press
Los Angeles Rams have re- stretch in 2018, and those
leased Todd Gurley, their problems carried over to 49ers do best to keep NFC
superstar running back with last season.
a massive contract and a He rushed for a career-low
The Rams made the move playing sparingly, although title winning roster intact
troubling injury history.
857 yards last year while
Thursday, several minutes McVay never acknowl-
before $10.5 million in the edged it was because of By JOSH DUBOW lead in the fourth quarter of He has been extremely
three-time Pro Bowl selec- Gurley's knee issue. Gurley AP Pro Football Writer the Super Bowl last month durable, missing only one
tion's contract became claimed ignorance about After coming within one before losing 31-20 to Kan- game in four seasons and
fully guaranteed. the reasons for his lack of quarter of winning the Su- sas City. having the third-most de-
The Rams also cut veteran action, including a career- per Bowl, the task for the The team's biggest moves fensive snaps among line-
linebacker Clay Matthews low 223 carries and just 31 San Francisco 49ers in free came in succession just af- men since 2016. His 143
after just one season with receptions, his lowest total agency was more about ter the start of open nego- quarterback pressures are
his hometown club. Mat- since his rookie year. keeping pieces in place tiating window on Monday the fifth-most among all in-
thews was due a $2 million So the Rams are cutting ties rather than finding up- when the Niners locked up terior linemen over the past
roster bonus, among other with one of the most effec- grades. Armstead with a five-year four years, according to
guarantees. tive running backs of the They kept starting defen- contract worth up to $85 NFL NextGen stats.
Gurley will consume a NFL's last half-decade. sive lineman Arik Armstead million and then almost im- Buckner had a career-
whopping $20.15 million Gurley is tops in the NFL and safety Jimmie Ward off mediately traded Buckner high 12 sacks in 2018 and
in dead salary cap space with 58 rushing touchdowns the open market with long- to the Colts for a premium then had 7 1/2 last sea-
this season for the Rams, since he joined the league term deals and brought draft pick. son as part of perhaps the
who signed the 2015 first- in 2015. His 5,404 yards rush- back key reserves like de- Buckner, who was entering league's top defensive line
round pick to a four-year, ing are second most in the fensive lineman Ronald the final year of his con- with Armstead and edge
$60 million contract with league over the past half- Blair and offensive linemen tract, then agreed to an rushers Nick Bosa and
$45 million guaranteed in decade, barely behind Ben Garland and Shon $84 million, four-year con- Dee Ford. Armstead had
June 2018. Gurley was cut Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott (5,405). Coleman. tract with the Colts, a price a breakthrough season in
before even playing the The Rams attempted to Those moves all came at a the Niners weren't willing to 2019, leading to his new
first year of that extension, find trade partners to take price as the Niners traded pay for the player voted contract. He was a first-
which made him the high- Gurley, but his exorbitant star defensive tackle De- MVP of the team coaching round pick by San Francis-
est-paid running back in contract apparently made Forest Buckner to Indianap- staff this past season. co in 2015, but didn't make
the NFL at the time. it impossible. Instead of olis for the No. 13 overall Coach Kyle Shanahan and a big impact in his first four
Gurley had phenomenal keeping one of their big- pick and might not have general manager John seasons in the NFL as he
seasons during his first two gest stars as they move into enough salary cap room to Lynch ultimately decided dealt with injuries that lim-
years in coach Sean Mc- new SoFi Stadium this sea- keep free agent receiver that keeping Armstead ited his playing time in 2016
Vay's offense, rushing for son, the Rams let Gurley Emmanuel Sanders. and getting the first-round and 2017 and tried to find
1,305 yards in 2017 and go. But with almost every other pick was preferable then the right fit for his skills.
1,251 in 2018 as those Rams The Rams are just begin- starter from last season's doing a long-term deal It all came together last
reached the Super Bowl. ning to get the bills for their NFC champions still under with Buckner. season under a simpler
He was voted the AP's Of- spending spree over the contract, the 49ers are Whether that proves to be scheme put in place by
fensive Player of the Year in past two years while trying hoping to avoid the plight the right decision remains new defensive line coach
2017 after racking up 2,093 to win now under McVay. of many Super Bowl runners to be seen. Buckner has Kris Kocurek. Armstead led
yards from scrimmage and Los Angeles went 9-7 last up who struggled even to been the team's most con- the Niners with 10 sacks
19 touchdowns. season but missed the play- make it back to the play- sistent player since being after getting only nine in
But Gurley had a persistent offs after winning the previ- offs the following season. drafted seventh overall in 46 games over his first four
left knee injury that limited ous two NFC West titles.q The Niners blew a 10-point 2016. seasons. q