NFL News OT: Rams give Stafford 1-yr, $55M extension

[mgteich]

I'm pretty sure his 2026 season salary etc was already guaranteed before now - usually a few days after the start of the 2026 League Year in March.

I hope the guy stays healthy and gets paid next year, but he basically just agreed to give up free agency in return for a $5 million bonus. Now I do realize how old he is but just seems to me that something's off when the rookie backup has more guaranteed 2027 money than he does.

Free agency doesn't matter. Stafford wants to retire after playing for the rams. He collected $5M. Congrats to him.

 

[rkarp1]

I'm pretty sure his 2026 season salary etc was already guaranteed before now - usually a few days after the start of the 2026 League Year in March.

I hope the guy stays healthy and gets paid next year, but he basically just agreed to give up free agency in return for a $5 million bonus. Now I do realize how old he is but just seems to me that something's off when the rookie backup has more guaranteed 2027 money than he does.

yes it is
he signed an extension to cover next year, if he decides to play

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Free agency doesn't matter. Stafford wants to retire after playing for the rams. He collected $5M. Congrats to him.

A little perspective, right? We're not going to see him with a cup in his hand outside 7-11. Sounds like he's in "enough is enough" turf (even if the headline is he got $55M for a year. Now I have to click to see how 90% of it is either already-owed money or fake.)

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I guess you can get there using the logic on display here, although I'm not clear how. Maybe it's true that for $5 M additional, he agreed not to hit FA in what's probably a retire-in-LA deal. Probably. Unless avocado ice cream. However, the key word is additional. He's looking at $100M total for 2 years, according to the story at the link.

 

[Clonamery]

A little perspective, right? We're not going to see him with a cup in his hand outside 7-11. Sounds like he's in "enough is enough" turf (even if the headline is he got $55M for a year. Now I have to click to see how 90% of it is either already-owed money or fake.)

Are you saying that coffee at 7-11 is more than $5M a cup? And I thought Starbucks was expensive.

 

[Triumph]

How many corners can stop JSN?? Not everyone has a Gonzalez. In fact, he’s 1 of 1. Also, what does the way Stafford performed vs a division rival have to do with the way Maye performed given the circumstances provided in the previous post?

This thread is about Stafford deserving on 55 million extension.

Stafford faced Seattle for the 3rd time last NFCC. Still, he put up winning numbers in the 3rd game. The Rams defense did not hold up. McVay went out and signed up McDuffie who is the highest paid CB in the NFL. We shall see how trading for him affects JSN.

Maye faced Seattle for the 1st time in his career and he was abysmal. The Pats defense did stop Seattle from reaching the endzone. After 3 quarters the score was 12 - 0. All FGs. Blame the Pats RBs, OC, WRs, OL, TEs.

 

[Triumph]

Ahh, I see. I wasn’t aware.

Dingleberry is an imbecile.

I drove to Santa Clara without a SB ticket. 2000 miles one way well aware that the odds of acquiring a ticket were not in my favor since Seattle was so close and they travel. Tried all week to score a decent seat and wound up watching the game at the Connecticut Yankee sportsbar with all the other NE fans.

Yes, Im a Chiefs fan. Thats why I drove to and from Santa Clara plus all SB week with the Pats logo lit up in my back window. That was my 8th Pats Super Bowl. If you want to buy into short bus patrons like Dingleberry its certainly your choice.

 

[Wozzy]

To nobody in particular…

Matt Stafford played 12 years in Detroit, he made the playoffs three times and went 0-3. One season with the Rams he went 4-0 in the playoffs and won a Super Bowl. It’s a team sport, QB is a part of team, not apart from team… they’re not magic unicorns. Seattle was the best team in football last season, Stafford played really well against them… the Rams lost because it’s a team sport.

NFL players need or really want guaranteed money… people here all the time say things like Boutte is under contract for this year, so he should shut his mouth and play. If he breaks his neck and never plays again, he has nothing to show for it. This is why contracts get negotiated a year in advance, these guys don’t want to do the high wire act without a safety net. Understand this when you’re wondering why Boutte is not at OTA’s.

Stafford should be a HOF QB but 12 years Detroit hurt his chances. People wrongly count Pro Bowls and ignore the fact that many other players are Pro Bowls worthy in years they didn’t make it. The dynasty Patriots suffered from this, many deserving players didn’t get voted in because fan voters hated the franchise… they were still elite.

It’s a team game, Stafford couldn’t win in Detroit… no QB in history could have. That’s how football works.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Are you saying that coffee at 7-11 is more than $5M a cup? And I thought Starbucks was expensive.

"Y'awl need to call me 7-11"
"Oh, 'cause you open 24-7?"
"No, 'cause it's 5 million bucks if you even look in my direction"

I mean, it would sort of work if it were expensive...

 

[PatsFanInVa]

To nobody in particular…

Matt Stafford played 12 years in Detroit, he made the playoffs three times and went 0-3. One season with the Rams he went 4-0 in the playoffs and won a Super Bowl. It’s a team sport, QB is a part of team, not apart from team… they’re not magic unicorns. Seattle was the best team in football last season, Stafford played really well against them… the Rams lost because it’s a team sport.

NFL players need or really want guaranteed money… people here all the time say things like Boutte is under contract for this year, so he should shut his mouth and play. If he breaks his neck and never plays again, he has nothing to show for it. This is why contracts get negotiated a year in advance, these guys don’t want to do the high wire act without a safety net. Understand this when you’re wondering why Boutte is not at OTA’s.

Stafford should be a HOF QB but 12 years Detroit hurt his chances. People wrongly count Pro Bowls and ignore the fact that many other players are Pro Bowls worthy in years they didn’t make it. The dynasty Patriots suffered from this, many deserving players didn’t get voted in because fan voters hated the franchise… they were still elite.

It’s a team game, Stafford couldn’t win in Detroit… no QB in history could have. That’s how football works.

First off, Thomas Brady woulda won with Detroit


Secondly, okay, you could get hurt playing a violent game for a living, granted, and so long as it's not required in your contractual obligations, there's no law requiring you to do things like participate on OTAs. Okay, guys can choose to sit one out when it looks like they have to compete for their spots, and no harm no foul if the team isn't jumping out of their skin to sign you a year early. Other receivers (& your QB) aren't required to pretend you're awesome, and nobody's required to give you the exact job you want, when they perceive themselves as needing to do what it takes to get better (including doing better than they could if they tried to use you as the no. 1).

Yeah it's a business, and part of this particular business has to do with chance of injury (your example of breaking your neck in practice). I don't believe OTAs are full-contact, are they? If not, its sort of a stretch to worry about the risk of injury. But okay, hell, if you (the receiver) so desire you could refuse to watch a clip on your surface because of the possible effect on your retinas.

All I'm saying in response is that yes, it is a business. Yes, psychologically I empathize -- you want it to feel fun like throwing the ball around and running circles around kids from other colleges, but this isn't that, not anymore.

So, if you don't get the ball enough anymore, if it's less fun when another guy is brought in because he seems better than you, etc., then you absolutely can go this way, and nobody's allowed to fire you for it. But it might not endear you to management and fans.

For every asshat who just loves to say FAFO, there's someone smarter not saying it and still keeping all options viable.

I guess in this mad collection of analogies, that other guy is somehow Matt Stafford. I've actually lost track, but that would bring us back around to the thread plot.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

Well deserved and predictable. LA should be one of the top teams to beat for the next 1-2 years.

 

[oldrover]

REIGNING.

Okay, yeah, I’m that guy.

 

[Wozzy]

Secondly, okay, you could get hurt playing a violent game for a living, granted, and so long as it's not required in your contractual obligations, there's no law requiring you to do things like participate on OTAs. Okay, guys can choose to sit one out when it looks like they have to compete for their spots, and no harm no foul if the team isn't jumping out of their skin to sign you a year early. Other receivers (& your QB) aren't required to pretend you're awesome, and nobody's required to give you the exact job you want, when they perceive themselves as needing to do what it takes to get better (including doing better than they could if they tried to use you as the no. 1).

Yeah it's a business, and part of this particular business has to do with chance of injury (your example of breaking your neck in practice). I don't believe OTAs are full-contact, are they? If not, its sort of a stretch to worry about the risk of injury. But okay, hell, if you (the receiver) so desire you could refuse to watch a clip on your surface because of the possible effect on your retinas.

All I'm saying in response is that yes, it is a business. Yes, psychologically I empathize -- you want it to feel fun like throwing the ball around and running circles around kids from other colleges, but this isn't that, not anymore.

So, if you don't get the ball enough anymore, if it's less fun when another guy is brought in because he seems better than you, etc., then you absolutely can go this way, and nobody's allowed to fire you for it. But it might not endear you to management and fans.

For every asshat who just loves to say FAFO, there's someone smarter not saying it and still keeping all options viable.

I guess in this mad collection of analogies, that other guy is somehow Matt Stafford. I've actually lost track, but that would bring us back around to the thread plot.

You seem to think I’m making an impassioned argument for something. I didn’t create the NFL, the payment structure, collective bargaining or contracts… just pointing out how it is.

When it comes to contracts, I’m almost always on the side of the players to do what’s right for them. The NFL prints money and those contracts are only worth the guaranteed money written into them. I don’t necessarily think the Pats should pay Boutte but respect his decision to get as much as he can.

People are always brave when it’s someone else’s neck at risk of breaking and not their own.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

You seem to think I’m making an impassioned argument for something. I didn’t create the NFL, the payment structure, collective bargaining or contracts… just pointing out how it is.

When it comes to contracts, I’m almost always on the side of the players to do what’s right for them. The NFL prints money and those contracts are only worth the guaranteed money written into them. I don’t necessarily think the Pats should pay Boutte but respect his decision to get as much as he can.

People are always brave when it’s someone else’s neck at risk of breaking and not their own.

Oh, I think I get you, and I'm in pretty much the same camp -- I don't have false consciousness about who is paying and who is trying to get paid. If it's between the multimillionaire and the billionaire, I'm with the "little guy" every time. But I really don't think this is a "risk a broken neck" situation. I get that argument in general, but it pertains much more when you're talking about contact. Am I wrong -- was one of the Boutte stories about skipping out on some activity with contact? I thought it was about not being active in voluntary team activities before anybody is in pads. Seriously, it is possible I'm just misremembering. I know another story was about whining that they don't get him the ball enough, which isn't a "non participation" story, it's more like a "needs of the one/needs of the many" story (or individual vs. The Man, if you prefer.)

Anyway, no impassioned argument here either. I hope for the best for the team, and if that's in alignment with what is best for Keshon Boutte -- even better, if the team's needs and Boutte's align -- so much the better. I'm just a Patriots fan, and he's (necessarily) a Keshon Boutte fan.

 

[Wozzy]

Oh, I think I get you, and I'm in pretty much the same camp -- I don't have false consciousness about who is paying and who is trying to get paid. If it's between the multimillionaire and the billionaire, I'm with the "little guy" every time. But I really don't think this is a "risk a broken neck" situation. I get that argument in general, but it pertains much more when you're talking about contact. Am I wrong -- was one of the Boutte stories about skipping out on some activity with contact? I thought it was about not being active in voluntary team activities before anybody is in pads. Seriously, it is possible I'm just misremembering. I know another story was about whining that they don't get him the ball enough, which isn't a "non participation" story, it's more like a "needs of the one/needs of the many" story (or individual vs. The Man, if you prefer.)

If a team is asking Boutte or any player for that matter to play out the last year of their rookie contract and that player has been a real contributor, it's asking them to play with no insurance. Broken neck was an extreme example, if Boutte tears his ACL he's still screwed.

He was a 6th round pick, he's made 2.9 million... which in Massachusetts and after agent fees he made roughly half. Good money for the average Joe, not so much for an NFL player who has a chance to earn a lot more on his first non-rookie contract. WR contracts nowadays are absurd.

Anyway, no impassioned argument here either. I hope for the best for the team, and if that's in alignment with what is best for Keshon Boutte -- even better, if the team's needs and Boutte's align -- so much the better. I'm just a Patriots fan, and he's (necessarily) a Keshon Boutte fan.

I like the guy, he's a nice little possession receiver. But by playing a just okay guy, you're taking snaps and targets away from someone better... and they have the potential to be much better at the WR position this season.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

If a team is asking Boutte or any player for that matter to play out the last year of their rookie contract and that player has been a real contributor, it's asking them to play with no insurance. Broken neck was an extreme example, if Boutte tears his ACL he's still screwed.

He was a 6th round pick, he's made 2.9 million... which in Massachusetts and after agent fees he made roughly half. Good money for the average Joe, not so much for an NFL player who has a chance to earn a lot more on his first non-rookie contract. WR contracts nowadays are absurd.

I like the guy, he's a nice little possession receiver. But by playing a just okay guy, you're taking snaps and targets away from someone better... and they have the potential to be much better at the WR position this season.

Yeah, then we’re about in the same place. The only part not covered by how risky it is to honor your contract is that the risk-reward calculus is the same for every role player, and ihaving to play in year 4 is inherent when you sign your “average Joe” rookie deal. I guess inflation is a *****, I wasn’t grossing a million a year when I first got out of college…

It is sort of annoying that this read of his situation makes scorched earth the “natural” reaction. Wahh, the team got better. The sky is falling.

It is eating at me that the team can only do what’s needed with the depth it could have if the replaceable but beloved Boutte were not on the head case WR warning track.

if rumors are true, the team is giving up on him as a sort of favor. You’re under contract to play a violent game, play it. Jeez.

But if the team feels like coddling is the way to resolve it, by all means they should follow their bliss. They’re the smaht guys.

And yeah, from his point of view, there’s less risk if he doesn’t go to work. I mean, it is just a few million bucks left, tops. He can forego it if he’s third at an outside receiver spot. Conceptually, all we lose is depth… unless of course Boutte can already see something in Kyle W. He can’t compete with, making Boutte our 4th outside option.

Anyway - sure, trade away. It’s like 2:30 in the a.m. effin insomnia.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

He was a 6th round pick, he's made 2.9 million... which in Massachusetts and after agent fees he made roughly half.

Agent fees on NFL contracts are capped at 3%.

And the tax rate on the first $1M is much lower than the rate on income above that number. [Plus the state taxes are weird; IIRC he only pays MA taxes on the games he played *in* MA, NY taxes for the Bills game, etc.]

Your overall point is valid, but it's not quite as bad for young day 3 rookies.