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Lindsey ThiryESPN
THOUSAND OAKS, California – Sean McVay’s words came to an end, but not before the Los Angeles Rams coach answered a clear question about Rams’ status as Jared Goff.
“Yes, he’s our defender,” McVay said during a Zoom session with reporters, “right now.”
That was on Saturday, immediately after a 32-18 loss in the playoffs in the divisional round to the Green Bay Packers, which ended the Rams’ season.
On Sunday, during a final video conference with reporters, before the off-season break, McVay was asked to clarify his statement.
“Everything is evaluated,” McVay said. “I’m not prepared to make any statements about anyone – starting position or not, we will have a level of competition in everything we do.”
McVay has highlighted the roster competition throughout the four coaching seasons, but this is the first time the theme has obviously included the quarterback.
Four seasons remain in Goff’s $ 110 million guaranteed contract, but on Sunday McVay would not guarantee Goff’s place on the list.
“We’re in a situation where we’re in evaluation mode,” McVay said when asked if there’s a scenario where Goff won’t be on the list in 2021. “We’re moving forward, we’re looking forward to and I can’t answer any of these questions until I take a step back and evaluate everything that is in the interest of the Rams. “
Rams’ offense went inconsistently throughout a 10-6 season, and the frustration between McVay and Goff became apparent as the season progressed. Goff, who went 3,962 yards and 20 touchdowns with 17 turnovers, drew public criticism from McVay for the first time in all four seasons, following a 12-week loss to rival San Francisco 49ers. , when he had multiple turnovers in a 23-20 defeat.
“Our defender needs to take more care of football,” McVay said after the game.
With a division title in play in Week 16, a 20-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Goff went 234 yards with an interception that he said was one of the worst pieces of his five-year career. , but also earned merit for finishing the game after breaking his thumb late in the third quarter.
Goff was operated on a day later, hoping to return in time for the playoffs.
Backup John Wolford, a former raw agent, made his first NFL appearance in a week 17 start and helped the Rams win 18-7.
As the Rams prepare for a rematch against the Seahawks next week in a wild-card playoff, Goff told McVay that he is capable of playing, but McVay opted earlier this week to name the starting Wolford, while Goff kept coming back.
However, Wolford was forced out in the first quarter against the Seahawks in the wild-card round due to a neck injury, and Goff came in to pass 155 yards and a touchdown, leading the Rams to a 30-20 victory. .
After the game, Goff said it was difficult when McVay told him earlier in the week that Wolford would start.
“As a competitor, of course I wanted to be there and I wanted to play and I felt I could make a difference,” Goff said. “He’s the coach, he had to make a decision that he had to make at the beginning of the week to get out in front of things. I understand him. But, as a competitor, of course I wanted to play and I was ready to play.”
With Wolford ruled out before the divisional round against the Packers, Goff – less than three weeks removed from thumb surgery – started and completed 21 of 27 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown.
“My job is to win the game,” Goff said when asked after the game if he felt any sense of personal accomplishment with his performance. “There are absolutely no moral victories, especially in the playoffs.”
“You really saw a guy who stepped in. He did what he could, I thought he played a few games, I thought he saw the field well,” McVay said after the game. “He did a good job today.”