It’s not so much a “holdout,” but a “healthout.” The contract extension negotiations between defensive tackle Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams are evidently in the 11th hour and Donald, to no one’s surprise, is steering clear of any possible injury scenarios that could mess it up.
Rams general manager Les Snead confirmed as much when he told reporters that contract negotiations were at a “serious stage.” The contract in question is likely to the richest ever signed by an interior defensive lineman. Currently Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s contract pays him $19.1 million a season. Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox makes $17 million as does New York Jets DT Muhammad Wilkerson. Donald’s deal will probably eclipse all of them.
Rams DT Aaron Donald NOT at OTAs, which are voluntary. However, all indications from here is that it is contract related.
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) May 22, 2017
Donald is worth every penny. He’s made the Pro Bowl every year he’s been in the NFL and is a two-time All-Pro. He was the 2014 defensive rookie of the year. Last season Donald recorded 47 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles and five passes defended and it was his worst year as a pro. Let that sink in. His rookie year, he had 47 tackles and nine sacks. Last year he recorded 69 tackles and 11 sacks. The man is a beast and he’s about to be fed.
Donald is just 26 and still playing on his rookie contract. The Rams picked him out of Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft with the 13th pick.
Zimmer’s eye causing trouble again
Mike Zimmer missed a game last season with a serious problem in his right eye. Now, after offseason surgery, the eye is causing him problems again and the Minnesota Vikings head coach will miss the opening days of the team’s organized team activities.
“As the Vikings begin OTA practices, coach Zimmer will be taking time away from the team to dedicate to recovering from eye surgery and restoring his health,” general manager Rick Spielman said in a statement. “We all agree Mike’s health is the priority and we believe rest and recovery are in his best interest for the long term. We anticipate Mike back on the field in a few weeks.”
Statement from GM Rick Spielman on Head Coach Mike Zimmerhttps://t.co/F7Vh79Y4ZD pic.twitter.com/CKlqzLceCd
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 22, 2017
Zimmer isn’t hiding from the media while on his mandated rest. He called in on a Minnesota sports radio station Monday.
“The doctors all got together and we had a long meeting about what’s the best for my recuperation of this eye and they are saying I need to spend the next couple weeks working on my recovery,” Zimmer told KFAN-FM. “I just left the doctor’s office, had really good news — the redness looks great, the pressure in my eye is really good. At this point now, we just need to take it easy and make sure it continues in the right way. I’ll be back hopefully shortly. They felt like it would be better for me to get away for a little bit and just relax.”
It’s a tough time for Zimmer to relax. The Vikings had a pretty historic meltdown after a 5-0 start to the season in 2016. They would go on to lose eight of their last 11 games.
In his absence, defensive coordinator George Edwards will be handed the keys. The real work for Minnesota is on offense as Pat Shurmur gets a full offseason to implement his offensive ideas with quarterback Sam Bradford.
Smith’s time in New York comes to an abrupt end
The New York Jets cut wide receiver Devin Smith Monday on an injury designation after he tore his ACL early in offseason workouts. Smith was a second round pick in 2015 and has struggled with injuries since being drafted out of Ohio State two years ago.
Jets waive 2015 2nd round pick Devin Smith. 37th overall selection recovering from ACL tear.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) May 22, 2017
In all, Smith has appeared in a total of 14 games for the Jets over the last two seasons, with just three starts. He made it into only four games last season. He has 10 career catches for 135 yards and a touchdown.
There was a reason Smith had such lofty draft status and why, if healthy, he should land a shot with another team. His senior year with the Buckeyes with 33 catches for 931 yards, a 28.2 yard average, and 12 touchdowns. At the 2015 NFL combine , the 6-0, 196-pound wideout laid down a 4.42 40-yard dash.
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