Conflicting Matthew Stafford rumors add unwanted confusion to LA Rams’ offseason

(3) - Latest 'rumors,' have air of Rams trying to squelch public chatter

For every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction. That is the third law established by the great scientist Isaac Newton, who laid the foundation of three laws of motion that have become cornerstones to exciting realms of scientific discovery. So what the heck are we doing talking about Newton's Laws of Motion when trying to decipher the true meaning of the Rams (lack of) success in sitting down with Matthew Stafford's agent to reestablish contractual terms that their quarterback will find acceptable?

For every 'leak,' that has gotten shared, there is another 'leak,' that seems to squelch the noise.

Once NFL rumors named Matthew Stafford as a player who could be obtained via a trade, NFL Insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler weighed in, citing sources close to the situation, and claiming that Stafford is likely to return to the Rams in 2025. So what compelled the typically tight-lipped team from leaking information about contract negotiations that are at the most optimistic only now getting underway?

A report from NFL Insider Peter Schrager, who has a solid track record of being plugged into the Rams' inner workings, had just shared that he could foresee Stafford wearing another uniform in 2025. So who leaked that knowledge?

Negotiations between the LA Rams and Matthew Stafford are incredibly difficult and tedious. Not because I'm just spitballing an adversarial relationship between the two sides. I'm not. But this contract has opposite goals for the two sides. Stafford, recognizing that this could be his last NFL contract, wants to squeeze out every drop of guaranteed salary compensation possible. So what's the problem?

The Rams face a player who is old enough, battered enough, and wealthy enough to step away from the game without blinking. Keep in mind that Matthew Stafford needed time to consider his NFL future. How far is that step from actually retiring? Yes, the Rams can shovel millions of guaranteed money to Matthew Stafford, but what are their guarantees? Do the Rams get offsets if Stafford is injured, or opts for retirement? Are their incentive clauses in the contract to ensure that the team is getting what it will be paying for?

(4) - Rams are committed to get the 'right' deal done

Therein lies the rub. What is the right amount of compensation for Matthew Stafford for 2025 and 2026, or even beyond? Both sides have every right to engage in tough negotiations to ensure that their interests are reflected in contract language. So why is this negotiation likely to be quite challenging? For Stafford, he is already under contract. So his only leverage right now is to sit out under a contract meets his expectations, or threaten retirement.

For the LA Rams, the team has painted itself into a corner. In terms of contract (re)negotiations, Stafford's contract is the giant redwood that must be addressed first. Then, and only then, the team will have a firm understanding of it's available salary cap space to spend in free agency. Had the team depth at the quarterback position, the mattew would not be as urgent.

Right now, out of respect for Matthew Stafford, the team only has backup quarterback Stetson Bennett under contract for 2025. That poses a problem for a Rams roster that currently offers no Plan B option if Stafford holds out. And that is why these negotiations have so much riding on them.

I don't believe that there is anything underhanded at work here. I believe that both sides want to get a deal done, and done quickly. That would put all of this to rest. But sometimes good intentions simply don't materialize. I know personally that sometimes couples who divorce may enter property settlements with friendly attitudes and optimistic outlooks, but the negotiations quickly prove to be very taxing.

I hope that both sides get this figured out quickly. Along the way, both sides will have options to take a different path. In the big picture, both sides best option is to find middle ground here. The Rams roster has more needs to be addressed, and they will need to await the team's resolution with Stafford.

In the meantime, we all wait, and NFL Insiders will leak dribs and drabs of information to keep the storyline atop the NFL headlines. I get it that many Rams fans just want it all to stop. But I don't see that happening until Stafford signs a re-worked contract, here or elsewhere.

As always, thanks for reading.

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