LA Rams OT Andrew Whitworth changed history in 2017

Leadership, anxiety, and personal choice

Whitworth talks about the late flight and the anxiety that accompanies an NFL player during the switch from one team to another. (on or about the 2:40 mark of the Jim Rome podcast). NFL Free Agency is brought to the table of reality and personal experience, painting a realistic description of what it took to move from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Los Angeles Rams.

Los Angeles Rams

Big Whit’s return from injury in 2020 was a test of his commitment to leadership for the team. He showed exactly why he is so important to the team and his teammates. He sets the pace for younger players to look up to. He sets the standard of professionalism for veteran teammates. He is the first to put out the welcome mat for newcomers to the team, and to organize team workouts even when the LA Rams facilities are closed to players for any number of reasons.

Whitworth has been a leader on the field and leads the team even as he has rehabbed. He views adversity as an opportunity to be held to a high standard for the benefit of others. He recognizes that his veteran status with the team affords him the opportunity to avoid overtaxing his body in training camp, and he pays the organization back for those special privileges by working incredibly hard to recover after injury.

But no player has been more gracious and cooperative to work with the team through the LA Rams struggles with the salary cap. Whitworth re-signed to return to the team on a team-friendly contract in 2020. He then renegotiated with the team in 2021 and accepted a pay cut to get the team under the greatly reduced cap.  That’s the type of player who truly is a team player.