All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald is not attending the Los Angeles Rams' mandatory minicamp while he continues his lengthy quest for a
lucrative new contract.
Donald wasn't on the field with his teammates for the Rams' first minicamp workout Tuesday
Kyle Connor Jersey , and he wasn't at their training complex for their off-field commitments Monday, either. The NFL Defensive Player of the Year also
skipped the Rams' voluntary workout program over the previous two months.
"He's in a good place," Rams coach Sean McVay said Tuesday. "Would we want him to be here? Yeah, we'd love to have Aaron here. But it's kind of the same
where it's been. We're just focusing on the guys that are here, but we're always
in constant dialogue with Aaron and his group, and would like to come to a
solution. When that's going to happen, it's hard to say."
Donald is home in Pittsburgh during the Rams' offseason work for the second straight year, but he reported to last season's mandatory minicamp to avoid a
potential fine. This year, Donald doesn't appear to be concerned about losing
money by missing minicamp while he strives to become one of the NFL's
highest-paid players.
The defending NFC West champion Rams haven't indicated whether they intend to fine Donald for missing the camp
Henrik Lundqvist Jersey Kids , but his absence wasn't a surprise. The team could fine him more than $84,000 for missing this camp, but it waived much
larger fines incurred by Donald last year when he skipped the entirety of
training camp.
"When I spoke with him last week, I said, 'If there's not a solution to this by next week, will you be here?'" McVay said. "He said, 'I'm going to stay back
at home, continue training.'"
Donald is due to make nearly $6.9 million this season in the fifth year of his rookie contract. The team agrees he deserves a raise after turning in four
dominant seasons as the cornerstone of the Rams' defense, yet the Rams and
Donald's representatives still haven't made a deal after many months of
talking.
The 27-year-old Donald doesn't have extensive leverage in the negotiation because the Rams theoretically could keep him for another three seasons through
2021 under a franchise tag. Neither side has disclosed their contract
proposals
Jamie Benn Jersey , but Donald is widely thought to be seeking a contract big enough to make him one of the top-paid players at any position, with a
salary comparable to the wages of the NFL's better quarterbacks.
The Rams have managed to maintain a positive relationship with Donald even after he skipped training camp and the entire preseason schedule last summer. He
reported to the team shortly before the regular season began, missing the first
game.
The four-time Pro Bowl selection also skipped most of the Rams' offseason program and organized team activities last year. Although he showed up for last
season's mandatory minicamp, he didn't participate in the team drills, instead
doing individual work and staying on the sidelines.
Donald is expected to be the foundation of a standout defensive line alongside Rams newcomer Ndamukong Suh, who agreed to a one-year, $14 million
deal in the offseason.
Donald is missing several weeks of work with the Rams' revamped defense, which also added star cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters while losing
three veteran leaders: Trumaine Johnson, Robert Quinn and captain Alec
Ogletree.
The new Rams don't seem worried about missing these chances to build chemistry while establishing new leaders in the locker room.
"He's the MVP
Tuukka Rask Jersey , so we know what he's going to do when he gets here," Talib said. "Everybody is just going to be themselves. If you're a leader, it's
going to happen naturally. Nobody has to go out of their way to be a leader, go
out of their way to hoorah and just yell stuff out. Everybody will just be
themselves."
NOTES: Donald is the only player unaccounted for at minicamp, McVay confirmed. ... McVay is canceling Thursday's scheduled practice and taking his
team on a tour of the franchise's under-construction stadium in Inglewood,
California. The Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers will open the
multibillion-dollar Hollywood Park stadium complex in 2020.
The NBA has asked the Toronto Raptors to tell rapper Drake to avoid a repeat of his verbal
exchanges with Cleveland’s Kendrick Perkins during Game 1 of Toronto’s
second-round series against the Cavaliers.
Drake, who has been Toronto’s global ambassador since 2013, occasionally sits in a courtside seat adjacent to Toronto’s bench and trades barbs with visiting
players.
Perkins took exception to Drake’s comments as the teams were leaving the court at the end of the first half Tuesday. The pair traded angry words again
following Cleveland’s 113-112 overtime win.
According to the NBA’s Fan Code of Conduct, the league is ”committed to creating a safe
Jesper Bratt Jersey Kids , comfortable, and enjoyable sports & entertainment experience.”
The Raptors hosted Game 2 on Thursday. A day earlier, Toronto coach Dwane Casey said he had no issue with Drake’s antics, saying he wished all Raptors
fans had the same passion as the three-time Grammy winner.
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