Odell Beckham Jr. on LA Rams: “They didn’t offer me…. ANYthing!”

Rams run it back, or not?

The euphoria for the LA Rams after winning it all was both infectious and surreal. After climbing to the top of the NFL mountain and rightfully claiming to be the best team in the NFL, there was a sense of near invulnerability. This team had brought back the NFL Championship

The Rams Super Bowl-winning team was not perfect by any means. In 2021, the team’s rushing offense was subpar. The team’s defense was just enough. But it all came together at just the right time of the season when the Rams needed it to. In the celebratory aftermath, the front office, the coaches, and the players all pledged to run it back in 2022.

Well, that isn’t what happened, is it? The off-season strategy for the Rams focused on extending outside linebacker Von Miller, and after his knee healed, to re-signing Odell Beckham Jr.

Time spent unwisely

The Rams gave Miller all the time in the world to make his decision. In the end, he opted to sign for more guaranteed money with the Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, the LA Rams, like almost all NFL teams, have remained on the sidelines when it comes to signing free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

The reasons for doing so make sense, albeit purely from the team’s perspective. NFL teams have limited turns for activating a player from an Injured reserve designation during the year and would be unwise to sign any player who would immediately be sent to that injured reserve list until medically cleared to do so.

Secondly, compensation is a huge component of that decision. The longer the Rams wait to sign a player, the less that salary will impact their 2022 salary cap, as the contract will undoubtedly be prorated for the part of the season remaining this year. In short, a $17 million contract at the beginning of the season falls to a $1 million contract for the final game of the year.