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Lindsey ThiryESPN
Defender Jared Goff says he’s ready to go after a successful deal that took him from the Los Angeles Rams to the Detroit Lions.
“As a defender, as a guy who is probably the most important position on the field, if you’re in a place where you’re not wanted and they want to move away from you, the feeling is mutual,” Goff told the Los Angeles Times. “You don’t want to be in the wrong place. It’s become increasingly clear that this is the case.”
On Saturday, the Rams traded Goff, along with two first-round picks and a third-round pick, to the Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Goff, choice no. 1 of the 2016 project, told the Los Angeles Times that he is not sure when the Rams decided he will not be part of their future.
“Is this the difficult part of this moment, trying to figure out when that happened?” Goff said. “All these are conversations that I may or may not have and they are trying to figure it out for me. This is the conversation to wear. ”
After a loss to the Green Bay Packers in a playoff game, Rams coach Sean McVay was asked if Goff is the defender. “Yes, he’s our defender right now,” McVay said.
Ten days later, Rams general manager Les Snead would not commit to Goff’s long-term future with the team during a video conference, telling reporters, “Jared Goff is a Ram right now. So what’s the date? January 26 ”.
Neither the Rams nor the Lions can comment publicly on the deal until it is officially at the start of the league’s new year, on March 17.
After McVay’s arrival in 2017, Goff led the Rams to consecutive division titles, an NFC championship and a Super Bowl LIII appearance, twice winning Pro Bowl recognition.
Prior to the 2019 season, Goff signed a four-year extension of $ 134 million, which guarantees $ 110 million.
However, the offense regressed in 2019 and continued its downward turn last season, despite a 10-6 score and a playoff victory. Goff finished his last season in Los Angeles, going for 3,952 yards and 20 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.
In four seasons with McVay, Goff has 42 wins, tied with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, and second only this time with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
But since 2019, Goff ranks second in the NFL with 38 turnovers.
Following the transaction, Goff said he overcame an initial sense of disappointment and grew excited after connecting with Lions staff, which includes CEO Brad Holmes, the former Rams College research director, who had a voice. in Goff’s elaboration.
“You start to feel, I don’t mean ‘relief’ is the word, but you start to feel happy, grateful, ready for a new opportunity,” Goff said. “This is the greatest feeling I overcame that night and even in the days to come.”
After playing five seasons in Los Angeles, Goff said he would not let a disappointing ending tarnish his lasting memories.
“Obviously, the ending wasn’t favorable and it wasn’t fun,” Goff said. “But they drafted my number 1 in general and brought me to a city that hasn’t had a football team in a long time, being a part of this reconstruction after 2016, being able to help bring LA football back highlighting things I am extremely proud of. It’s something I’ll always remember. “