Los Angeles Rams: Reactions to Greg Robinson trade concerning
The Los Angeles Rams reactions to the departure of left tackle bust Greg Robinson were unexpected
The Los Angeles Rams pulling the trigger on a Greg Robinson trade was not surprising. However, the Rams reactions to the trade were.
Both quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley — perhaps the two players most affected by Robinson’s struggles, were kind almost to a fault about their former teammate, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Here’s what the quarterback had to say about seeing Robinson be traded, per the LA Times:
"“When I woke up and saw that at first it was a little shocking,” Goff said Thursday night during an event sponsored by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission at the Coliseum. “But part of the business, man. It sucks.“But Greg was a good teammate, a good friend and wish him the best.”"
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By the time Goff became the Rams starter in Week 10 of the 2016 season, the former coaching staff had just about seen enough. The former No. 2 pick of the 2014 draft didn’t play in two of the team’s last six games.
Goff suffered 26 sacks in the seven weeks he started as a rookie. Gurley, the 2015 NFL Rookie of the Year, also languished behind the Robinson-anchored line. The running back’s 3.2 yards-per-carry average was worst among players with at least 150 carries in 2016.
This stat from an NFL.com report adds to the misery of Gurley’s 2016 season:
"No other running back since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger has played all of his team’s games and averaged as many carries per game as Gurley (17.4) without reaching 100 rushing yards at least once in a season, per NFL Research."
Yet, Gurley admitted to the LA Times that he had lost a close friend:
"“I’m going to miss my boy, G,” Gurley said. “Good dude and wish him the best of luck up there in Detroit.”"
The Rams reactions are puzzling in that they didn’t acknowledge that the group effort was dismal last season. Perhaps, that’s part of the reason for Robinson’s departure. First-year coach Sean McVay and his staff are trying to change a losing culture. McVay showed the team’s two highest-profile players that accepting mediocrity — or worse, in Robinson’s case — is unacceptable.
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Time will tell to see how much the players have learned their old ways behind. The Rams reactions indicate that ample room for learning still exists.