“Free and Clear, for $0”: Matthew Stafford’s Future Put Under a Microscope Amid Swirling Trade Rumors

As the NFL season draws near, contract talks behind the scenes are starting to create ripples in the community. The star quarterback of the Rams, Matthew Stafford, recently became a subject of such discussions when reports claimed that he was unwilling to engage in contract restructuring with the team. A contract restructuring often occurs when a team needs to bring a bevy of players into the roster, with less money left in cap space. Tom Brady is hugely known for the same, as labeled ‘One of the least paid QB’ in order to strengthen the team.

It was Colin Cowherd who first reported on Stafford declining the rumored request, which has been the talk of the town for a while now, sparking numerous speculations about the team’s future. However, recently, the Chief Operating Officer himself shed light on the issue, revealing intricate details about the matter.

Matthew Stafford didn’t have a guaranteed contract left for this season

Sports media personality, Cowerd reported that the Rams were frustrated with their star QB after he declined to work on a newly constructed deal. However, the COO of the team, Kevin Demoff, scoffed the claims in an interview. According to an article by Detroit Sports Nation, he recently appeared on a podcast where he exposed the actual truth. Kevin added, “Those conversations frustrated me because I think it’s trying to inject narratives that aren’t there.”

Kevin further added how they were blatantly aggressive back in March to remake their roster, just like any other team in the league. And as the QB had left with no guaranteed money in his contract, the management would have lost $0 if they decided to let him go, commenting, “We could have walked away this year, free and clear, for 0$.” He also declined the claims about the $59 million rumor, which the team could only get away from with a trade.

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With all the facts out of the way, it’s safe to say that Stafford will remain the starting QB of the team. Nevertheless, the rumors and speculations were somewhat justified with the Super Bowl champ’s disastrous season last year.

The Rams had a huge uplift in its roster

The 2014 Pro Bowl still remains one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league, despite a disappointing season last year. His team had a lackluster 5-12 record, making it one of the worst performances by a defending champion. On top of that, concerns grew over his injuries as he could only participate in 9 games, scoring just 10 touchdowns. With notable names being traded or released, fans found it somewhat easier to accept the rumors of Stafford’s potential transfer.

The Rams are facing challenges with a significant team restructuring. However, Stafford still possesses a remarkable talent that might surprise the NFL community. It will be intriguing to see if the team can bounce back and make it to the playoffs this season.

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