Rams rivalry with the 49ers gets better as they lock-up Garoppolo

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo /
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The Los Angeles Rams rivalry with the 49ers gets better as San Francisco signs Garoppolo to five year deal.

A Los Angeles Rams NFC West rival took another monster leap forward, as the San Francisco 49ers have locked up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a five-year, $137.5 million dollar deal.

That’s “million” with an M, and likely worth every penny.

San Francisco, who ran off five straight wins to end their 2017 NFL campaign, finally has the long-term fix to their starting quarterback conundrum since Colin Kaepernick went belly-up.

For Garoppolo, he must feel relieved knowing he’s out of the brewing cauldron of dysfunction that is becoming the New England Patriots. Now, without having to wait in line for the ageless wonder that is Tom Brady to retire, he has his team AND a contract for the foreseeable future.

As for Los Angeles, the rivalry takes a turn for the better, especially for Rams fans who know a win against their division foe to the North is never an easy one.

Last season in Week 3, LA barely escaped with a 41-39 win on the road, but lost in the finale 34-13, a game head coach and NFL Coach of the Year Sean McVay had rested many starters. As a matter of record, the Rams are only 1-3 against the Niners since moving back to LA.

San Francisco could be looking to replicate the success story the Rams saw this past year. Los Angeles flipped a 2016 4-12 record to a division best 11-5 in 2017. With Jimmy G. clearly a significant better option for Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers, the NFC West gets significantly better too.

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It could be an interesting race next season between the Rams and Niners. With the Seattle Seahawks looking to retool and the Arizona Cardinals needing to rebuild, the division could be a two horse race.

Meaning the rivalry between Los Angeles and San Francisco could be one of the best for a few years to come.