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A22 sports
Saturday 1 September 2018

Aaron Donald ends holdout with record deal from Rams

By GREG BEACHAM maintain a civil relationship
AP Sports Writer with Donald throughout
LOS ANGELES (AP) — All- the two years of difficult ne-
Pro defensive tackle Aaron gotiations. Donald and his
Donald agreed to a mas- representatives were de-
sive new contract with the termined to make him one
Los Angeles Rams on Friday, of the NFL’s highest-paid
ending his second consec- players at any position,
utive preseason holdout as while the Rams wanted to
the highest-paid defensive reward Donald while keep-
player in NFL history. ing their overall salary struc-
The Rams announced a ture intact.
new six-year deal through Los Angeles demonstrated
2024 for Donald, the reign- its willingness to pay top
ing NFL Defensive Player of dollar for talent in recent
the Year. months while agreeing to
ESPN and the NFL Network lucrative long-term deals
reported the new deal is with NFL Offensive Player
worth $135 million over six of the Year Todd Gurley,
years, with a $40 million receiver Brandin Cooks
signing bonus and $87 mil- and right tackle Rob Ha-
lion guaranteed. Donald is venstein. With Donald in
already under contract this This Oct. 22, 2016, file photo shows Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald on stage camp, they’ve finally got
season for $6.89 million in during an NFL Fan Rally in London. their near-term roster set-
the final year of his rookie Associated Press tled while still maintaining
deal. under veteran coordina- regular season opener, destructive defensive line. significant room on their
Donald was chosen for tor Wade Phillips, the Rams forcing him to miss the Donald has yet to work payroll for 2019 — just in
the Pro Bowl after each of won their division for the first Rams’ first game. He still out alongside Suh after the time for quarterback Jared
his four NFL seasons. The time since 2003 and ended earned recognition as the five-time Pro Bowl selection Goff to reach the fourth
27-year-old Pitt product the franchise’s streaks of 13 NFL’s top defensive player joined the Rams as a free year of his rookie deal with
is the centerpiece of the consecutive non-winning despite playing in only 14 agent in March. the chance to negotiate a
Rams’ defense and one of seasons and 12 straight games, racking up 11 sacks Earlier this week, McVay long-term contract.
the NFL’s most dominant non-playoff seasons. and 41 tackles while forc- said Donald should be able A compact powerhouse
linemen, demonstrating But Donald also took a hard ing five fumbles for the NFC to play in the Rams’ Mon- with a ferocious work rate,
remarkable effectiveness line in negotiating his foot- West champions. He also day night regular-season the 6-foot-1 Donald has
against the run and the ball future. He skipped the led the NFL with 91 quarter- opener in Oakland on Sept. been uncommonly domi-
pass. past two training camps back pressures, according 10 if he reached a deal nant since joining the Rams
Donald was a key com- and preseasons while seek- to Pro Football Focus. with the Rams within the in St. Louis in 2014 as the 13th
ponent of Los Angeles’ ing a new contract, and he With his holdout ended, next few days. Donald has overall pick in the draft. He
extraordinary one-year also skipped the Rams’ en- Donald finally will be able been working out at home was the defensive rookie
turnaround under rookie tire offseason program this to team up with Rams in Pittsburgh during his hold- of the year, and he only
coach Sean McVay in year. newcomer Ndamukong out, and McVay checked sharpened his game while
2017. With Donald lead- He didn’t report last year Suh and veteran Michael in regularly with him. the Rams returned home to
ing their defensive efforts until the day before the Brockers on a potentially The Rams managed to Los Angeles in 2016.q

McCutchen ally helps us here and
now,” Boone said.
“And even when Aaron
Continued from Page 17 Yankees have a long- comes back, it’s another
standing policy banning really good player to give
“I saw him for the three facial hair. us options to match up
years that we made Sep- The 31-year-old McCutch- things how we want to.
tember, postseason push- en is hitting .255 with 15 It’s just another really
es, elevate his game to the home runs, 55 RBIs and 13 good player in the fold,
next level,” Walker said. stolen bases. but we believe Aaron will
“Not that he needed to His .357 on-base percent- absolutely be back.”
do that, but you saw him age trails only that of New York had the sec-
be the player that he’s ca- Judge (.398) and Aaron ond-best record in the
pable of being when the Hicks (.365) among quali- majors and was 8 1/2
spotlight’s on him. That’s fied Yankees. He was a games behind AL East-
fully what I expect when five-time All-Star with Pitts- leading Boston going
he steps in here.” burgh. into a game Friday night
Walker and McCutchen McCutchen has been the In this Aug. 18, 2018, file photo, San Francisco Giants’ Andrew against Detroit. The Yan-
McCutchen, center, is congratulated in the dugout after
spoke Friday morning. Giants’ regular right fielder scoring during the eighth inning of a baseball game against kees expect to activate
McCutchen’s dreadlocks since being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds, in Cincinnati. injured catcher Gary San-
have been gone for a few Pittsburgh last offseason. Associated Press chez (groin) on Saturday
years, but he was con- He will fill that spot for the in late July. but five weeks later, he’s and could also get short-
cerned about the beard Yankees, who have been New York originally yet to even grip a bat in a stop Didi Gregorius (heel
he’s worn for nearly his without Judge since his thought Judge could re- frustratingly slow recovery. bruise) off the disabled list
entire 10-year career. The wrist was broken by a pitch turn within three weeks, “This is something that re- this weekend.q