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Saturday 25 May 2019
Staying sharp: Sack artist Donald fueled by Super Bowl loss

By PAT GRAHAM Over the offseason, he
AP Sports Writer again used the fake knives
To stay a cut above the to help him improve his agil-
competition, Aaron Donald ity. His trainer would lunge
again trained this offseason at him with a blade in each
by dodging knives. hand and Donald knocked
Fake blades, of course. But it away — just like he would
the results from the reac- the arms of an opposing of-
tion exercises have certain- fensive lineman.
ly been real. "Trying to work on my hand
The two-time reigning AP speed and reaction," Don-
defensive player of the ald said. "I go through dif-
year for the Los Angeles ferent things in my training
Rams is always searching to think outside the box.
for out-of-the-box ways to Think of things that can
take his game to another help me. Just trying to out-
level. The sting of a 13-3 Su- work myself every year to
per Bowl loss to Tom Brady be better."
and the New England Pa- Next up, distance running.
triots in February helps him Well, maybe.
stay sharp, too. That's one Although his training is built
reason the defensive tackle In this Feb. 3, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Rams Aaron Donald (99) rushes against the New Eng- around short distances,
attended organized team land Patriots during NFL Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta. he's contemplating a 5-kilo-
activities this spring for the meter (3.1 mile) race down
first time since 2016, even York Giants standout Mi- but in the mix of doing your usual measurements for the road, especially after
as other veterans passed chael Strahan's 22½-sack job and helping your team a dominating inside pres- meeting a group of kids as
on the workouts. season in 2001, which is the win you play at a high level. ence. part of Girls on the Run, an
Anything to earn that ring. NFL record since it became So all that's going to come And yet dominating is what organization that teaches
"The main goal is to be an official stat in 1982. about on its own. Because he's been against the run young girls life skills through
the No. 1 team standing And no, he doesn't chase the more you think about it, and chasing QBs. With his running activities. Donald
and call yourself a cham- after it. the less success you have. speed, strength and athlet- surprised them at a DICK'S
pion," said Donald, who "If you would've asked me "Go out there and play and icism, he's become the NFL Sporting Goods store in
skipped workouts the last five years ago if I would let the game come to you, prototype. the Los Angeles area and
two springs while dealing have an opportunity to and good things come "You open up doors for the helped them line up new
with contract negotiations have 23 sacks in one sea- from that. It's worked for me next guy, who opens up running gear.
before signing a $135 mil- son, I would've laughed so far." doors for the next," Donald Donald even went for a
lion, six-year extension last at you and said, 'That's im- All he's done is become a explained. "You do your little jog with the kids.
August. "So I'm just working, possible,'" Donald said in nightmare assignment in job and do it at a high level "Just trying to keep up with
trying to get myself better a phone interview as the the middle since the Rams and keep working and do the girls," said Donald, who
and continue to improve player known for his quick drafted him with a first- what you're supposed to recently made a seven-
my game." Donald is com- bursts to the QB embraces round pick in 2014 out of do, everybody has an op- figure donation to the Uni-
ing off a season in which he National Runners' Month the University of Pittsburgh. portunity to do great things. versity of Pittsburgh's Foot-
recorded 20½ sacks. at DICK'S Sporting Goods. Donald, who turned 28 on Just got to have that mind- ball Championship Fund.
So yes, Donald has given "You would like to accom- Thursday, is listed at 6-foot- set and that will to want to "I have 10-yard bursts in
thoughts to former New plish something like that, 1, 280 pounds — not the do it." me.q

Judge axes 3 of 4 lawyers in NFL concussion case

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The She has named New York rule. fight on behalf of former 65 years. The awards in the
federal judge overseeing lawyer Christopher Seeger "This court has been told, players and their families first two years of payouts
the $1 billion NFL concus- as the only attorney left many times, in motions and to ensure that they receive alone reached $500 million
sion settlement has termi- who can handle issues on in camera (chambers), every benefit they deserve this month, while anoth-
nated three of four lawyers behalf of the 20,000-mem- factual arguments from under the settlement." er $160 million in awards
serving as class counsel. ber class. the NFL that have been ex- Lawyers involved in the have been approved but
The surprise order Friday af- Outgoing class counsel aggerated and intended long-running case are not yet paid. The plan of-
ternoon comes just weeks Gene Locks tells The As- to limit their obligations to meanwhile splitting more fers retired players baseline
after a hearing to air com- sociated Press the order the players," Locks said. than $112 million in fees, testing and compensation
plaints about new rules Friday "extinguishes any re- He said the order Friday is with the lion's share going of up to $5 million for the
that limit the doctors who maining hope" that clients in keeping with Brody's de- to Seeger's firm. He was not most serious illnesses linked
can evaluate retired play- will be protected as they nial of repeated motions one of the first to bring suit to football concussions, in-
ers for dementia and other move through the conten- filed by anyone other than against the NFL, but be- cluding Alzheimer's, Parkin-
brain injuries. tious medical testing and Seeger. came a lead lawyer in the son's, amyotrophic lateral
Senior U.S. District Judge award process. "At this point, (it) extinguish- secret negotiations that sclerosis and deaths involv-
Anita Brody says she im- He told Brody at a hearing es any remaining hope led to a surprise 2013 settle- ing chronic traumatic en-
posed the 150-miles-from- this month that there aren't that the individual interests ment. The players' lawsuits cephalopathy, or CTE.
home rule to thwart doc- enough qualified neurolo- of the class members will had alleged the NFL long Of the 872 awards paid to
tor shopping and potential gists, neuropsychologists be adequately protect- hid what it knew about the date, the average is just
fraud alleged by the NFL as and subspecialists tak- ed," Locks told the AP. neurological risks of play- under $575,000, according
the more than $1 billion set- ing part in the program to Seeger, in a statement, ing after concussions. to a claims administrator's
tlement fund is disbursed. meet the close-to-home vowed to "continue to The fund is meant to last for report this month.q