LA Rams owe DL Aaron Donald a Super Bowl victory

Life comes at you fast, and perhaps no faster than the speed that if flies at LA Rams All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald. Sometimes things happen at a slow and deliberate pace. And yet sometimes, the brakes come off, and suddenly events start flying past at seemingly 100 miles an hour. Right now, Donald is caught in the fast lane. And he will need help to change lanes.

Donald is so absolutely dedicated to his craft that it’s overwhelming. He is in the prime of his NFL career. He is at the peak of his playing days. And yet, he, along with the entire LA Rams organization, fell short once more. Four seasons under head coach Sean McVay. Three NFL Playoff appearances. And short once more. Donald is the best at his position. He may be the best of everyone in the NFL right now.

And yet, he is one man.  Eventually, one man cannot stand against so many for so long. And on that chilly evening in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the realization may have hit Donald once and for all. Perhaps this is as good as it gets? That would certainly lead to a very emotional moment. Was that the reason for tears on the sidelines?

Tears are a sign of emotion and passion. And having been raised at a different time, in a different era, it was discouraged for a man to show any emotions. But the worst sign for a man to show was to cry tears in public. But why? If we demand that NFL players show emotions, play with passion, get ‘fired up’, then we must equally embrace the spectrum of emotions that comes with it.

Just emotions

Emotions are a vital part of Aaron Donald’s game. It’s how he suddenly turns up the volume in big moments of the game. It’s how he continues to compete against two, three, or even four blockers who are working to deny him from getting to the quarterback. And it’s what frustrated him so when he wanted to do things in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs, but his ribs injury would not allow him to do so. Frustration became anger. Anger became sadness. Sadness became despair. And despair became the tears that streamed down his face at the end of the game.

The lyrics to the Bee Gees hit song Emotion include this very descriptive line:

"‘In the words of a broken heart, It’s just emotion that’s taken me over. Tied up in sorrow, lost in my soul’ – Lyrics to Emotion by the Bee Gees"

At that moment, it became obvious why Aaron Donald is so good at what he does. This matters to him. He is not just racking up stats nor showing up to get paid. He truly has personified the desire to be the best and to play for the best team in the NFL.  The chances to compete for the Lombardi Trophy are indeed few and far between.

Changing course

Would the outcome have been any different if Donald was not playing wounded? If he had his normal arsenal of moves, power, and agility?  While there is no way to know that answer, it certainly does tempt to wander. What if the Packers offense felt Donald’s pass rush? What if Donald had a sack on Rodgers early in the game? Would a dominating Aaron Donald have rallied the troops?  If Rodgers has less time to throw, do they have the same offensive rhythm?

The outcome cannot change, because the game has been decided. But it can fuel the Rams’ commitment to the future. Donald has given his all, dedicated himself completely, to bringing an NFL Championship to the LA Rams. It was heartbreaking to see the LA Rams play a wounded Donald, and despite the hopes for a teammate to step up, none did.

The Rams need to change course on the defensive line. Aaron Donald felt the sting of this one. The clock ticking is now buzzing in his ear. The Rams owe Donald a Super Bowl win or at a minimum a chance to compete for one that is not entirely dependent upon his play to get the Rams into that situation.

The Rams are already looking for a new defensive coordinator, their third in three years. Defensive back Jalen Ramsey is already lobbying hard for the Rams to hire cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant as the team’s new defensive coordinator. But for my take, it’s far more important for the LA Rams to listen to and heed the advice of All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald. After all, it’s quite clear that without Donald, the Rams are not getting anywhere. Better to keep Donald happy now, more than ever.