Odell Beckham Jr. Suffered Torn ACL In Super Bowl
When Odell Beckham Jr. exited the Super Bowl with an apparent knee injury, it may have been the last time in a while he gets seen on an NFL field. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, he suffered a torn ACL in the game (Twitter link). 
[Related: Rams Expect To Re-sign Beckham]
The ACL tear is in his left knee, the one that suffered the same fate in the middle of the 2020 season. It is devastating news, given the success he was having not only in the Super Bowl, but his time with the Rams as a whole. After a messy divorce from the Browns, Beckham seemed to have found a home in L.A. as a complimentary piece to the Rams’ passing attack.
After signing with the Rams in November, the 29-year-old posted five touchdowns in eight regular season games with his new franchise. Then, he settled in during the postseason, and seemed to be on his way to a big night on Sunday with two catches for 52 yards and one touchdown before halftime. Those numbers brought his yards per catch average up to 13.7 for the playoffs, which is nearly on par with his average during his heyday with the Giants.
In the days leading up to the big game, Beckham expressed a desire to stay with the Rams. For that to be possible, he would need to take a discount, as the team is already scheduled to be $14MM over the cap before signing new deals with the likes of Beckham or fellow mid-season acquisition and close friend Von Miller.
Much of what both sides do now may depend on the health of Robert Woods, who himself suffered a torn ACL this season. If both he and Beckham are able to fully recover, and the latter does indeed stay in L.A., they would form quite the receiving trio alongside Cooper Kupp. Today’s news, though, may cast doubt on the chances of that happening.
Updated 2022 NFL Draft Order
With Super Bowl LVI finished, the final two places in the 2022 Draft have been finalized. The Bengals’ top pick is locked into 31st, while the Rams will not have a selection until the third round. For the rest of the league, the focus has already shifted to free agency and the draft, of course, so now all eyes will be on the offseason maneuvering teams do to reshape their rosters.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2021 standings, plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. For playoff teams, the order is determined by their postseason outcome and regular season record.
Pending trades, here is the final first round order of the 2022 Draft:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-14
- Detroit Lions: 3-13-1
- Houston Texans: 4-13
- New York Jets: 4-13
- New York Giants: 4-13
- Carolina Panthers: 5-12
- New York Giants(via Bears)
- Atlanta Falcons: 7-10
- Denver Broncos: 7-10
- New York Jets (via Seahawks)
- Washington Football Team: 7-10
- Minnesota Vikings: 8-9
- Cleveland Browns: 8-9
- Baltimore Ravens: 8-9
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Dolphins)
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Colts)
- Los Angeles Chargers: 9-8
- New Orleans Saints: 9-8
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9-8
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7-1
- New England Patriots: 10-7
- Las Vegas Raiders: 10-7
- Arizona Cardinals: 11-6
- Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
- Buffalo Bills: 11-6
- Tennessee Titans: 12-5
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 13-4
- Green Bay Packers: 13-4
- Miami Dolphins (via 49ers)
- Kansas City Chiefs: 12-5
- Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
S Eric Weddle Re-Retiring
The Beard is hanging up the cleats…again. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Rams’ safety Eric Weddle told reporters after their Super Bowl LVI victory, that “yes, (he’s) re-retiring.” Weddle is making good on a promise he made shortly after the Rams’ NFC Championship victory over the 49ers. 
“It’s amazing to be able to understand that and know that I don’t have to save myself for next season, I don’t have to save myself for the offseason, I didn’t have to save myself for the Super Bowl last week knowing it wasn’t guaranteed, so I was throwing it in there, giving it everything I got,” Weddle had said. “After this Super Bowl, I move on and go back to my old life and there will be no comebacks.”
Weddle originally announced his retirement shortly following the conclusion of his 2019 NFL season with the Rams. In that lone year in Los Angeles, Weddle was a team captain and defensive-signal caller, a role he reprised tonight, wearing the green sticker for the Rams’ defense.
Weddle was coaxed out of retirement as a bandage for a Rams’ secondary that was without Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp at safety to start the playoffs. His impact over the four-game playoff run wasn’t flashy, but he provided impactful leadership and sure tackling en route to his first Super Bowl ring. A member of the All-Decade Team for the 2010s, the only thing missing in Weddle’s illustrious career was that elusive ring. He’ll get fitted for it now and be invited to the White House with the rest of the team.
In tonight’s Super Bowl LVI victory, Weddle appeared to injure himself early in the game while making a tackle. He left the game momentarily before coming back to finish out the victory continuing to make tackles along the way. He told reporters after the game that he suffered a torn pec and will require surgery soon. He’ll have a lifetime to recover with no rush.
Weddle had a well-known tradition after winning football games. Upon returning home, Weddle and his family would enjoy a victory-bowl of ice cream. While in Baltimore, Weddle once agreed he would host an ice cream party at M&T Bank Stadium if they won the big game. While he may not have the same plans for SoFi Stadium, I hope Weddle and his family get to enjoy a “super bowl” of ice cream that fits the entire carton.
Rams Expect To Re-Sign WR Beckham
Earlier today before Super LVI began, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported that the Rams are extremely optimistic about bringing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. back on a new deal next season. If the Rams pull out a Super Bowl victory tonight, Beckham will max out the $3MM incentives attached to his current contract, but Los Angeles is adamant that it won’t be his last check from them.
Beckham was brought in on a one-year free agent deal after a bit of a forced release from the Browns. The Rams were happy to have Odell come in to fill the gap left on the depth chart by a season-ending injury to Robert Woods. Since joining the Rams, Beckham has seen a resurgence to his career as his five regular season touchdowns in eight games with Los Angeles are the most in a season for him since he played for the Giants.
Sean McVay and team brass see him as an ideal fit. Alongside 2021 Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp and big-play receiver Van Jefferson, Beckham offers impact, explosiveness, and plenty of touchdowns. Once Woods rejoins the corps, opposing defensive backs will have their work cut out for them.
As of the writing of this post, Beckham is currently sitting on the sideline with an injury, watching the Rams try to make a comeback and win the Lombardi Trophy. The three-time Pro Bowler exited the game after a non-contact injury left him clutching his left knee, the same knee in which he tore his ACL in 2020.
The hope is that this injury will have no effect on today’s report. Hopefully, whatever has befallen Beckham tonight allows him to return to the field next season, and his marriage to the Rams can remain on schedule.
Latest On QB Cousins And Vikings
The expected addition of Rams’ offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell as head coach of the Vikings will reportedly keep quarterback Kirk Cousins in Minnesota for another year, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports. 
The idea of new leadership is viewed as a positive for Cousins, who is interested in letting his contract year play out under the new head coach. However, it won’t be enough of a positive for Cousins to give his club a deal and rework his contract this offseason. Cousins is set for a fully-guaranteed salary of $35MM for the 2022 season and will hold a cap number of $45MM.
Rostering Cousins is becoming more and more expensive for the Vikings. In addition to having to shell out for the last year of his backloaded current contract, a franchise tag in 2023 for Cousins would end up costing the Vikings $64.8MM since he was tagged twice before in Washington.
Minnesota is starting to see the cost of the NFL’s first ever fully guaranteed contract and, if he performs at a high level in his contract year, Cousins will continue to hold all the cards in what could end up being quite an expensive extension to hold on to the tenth-year veteran.
Rams’ Von Miller To Explore Free Agency
Von Miller would like to stay with the Rams, but he still intends to explore his options in free agency, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (Twitter link). So, while the Rams may explore early extensions with other stars, Miller will see what else is out there.
[RELATED: OBJ Wants To Stay, Willing To Take Less?]
Miller is in the final year of the six-year, $114MM deal he signed with the Broncos back in 2016. Between that and his rookie pact, the veteran edge rusher has never explored the open market. This time, he intends to take full advantage. According to Garafolo, Miller believes that he has multiple years of quality football to offer teams as he looks ahead to his 33rd birthday on March 26.
The Rams would surely like to keep Miller, though their cap situation will be tough to navigate. As it stands, they’re projected to be $14MM+ over the cap for 2022. That’s without counting the expiring contracts of Miller or Odell Beckham Jr. . Meanwhile, they also plan to chat with Matthew Stafford about an extension that would take him beyond 2022, as noted by the NFL Network trio of Garafolo, Ian Rapoport, and Tom Pelissero. Of course, that doesn’t mean that Miller will be leaving Los Angeles, and he’s already gone on record to say that he’d like to stay with the NFC champs.
Between his seven regular season games with the Broncos and eight Rams contests, Miller tallied 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and 50 total stops in 2021. His presence has been felt in the playoffs too, with 12 tackles, one forced (and recovered) fumble, and a dozen tackles. Now, he’ll try to add to those totals in the Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, OBJ has indicated that he’d be willing to take a hometown discount from the Rams, rather than chasing the biggest payday possible.
Sean McVay, Zac Taylor In Line For Extensions; Latest On Rams’ Coaching Staff
Rams HC Sean McVay and Bengals HC Zac Taylor, who will be squaring off in Super Bowl LVI tonight, will be in line for contract extensions this offseason, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
We had already heard that Cincinnati was planning a new deal for Taylor, who has only one year left on his contract. Schefter does, however, remind us that Taylor — the former McVay disciple — is presently the lowest-paid head coach in the NFL, with a $3.75MM annual salary (Twitter link). Obviously, that will change soon.
McVay, meanwhile, was recently the subject of some idle speculation that he was contemplating leaving the coaching ranks, but he has put those rumors to bed. He is under contract through 2023 as a result of the extension he signed in 2019, a deal that elevated him from one of the league’s lowest-paid head coaches to a salary that, per Joe Rivera of the Sporting News, is believed to be in the $8.5MM ballpark. Another extension might mean an eight-figure annual income for McVay.
The 36-year-old head coach has compiled a 55-26 regular season record, three NFC West titles, and two NFC championships during his five-year run. The success that he and his clubs have enjoyed have made other teams anxious to poach his staffers, and that has happened again in 2022, with OC Kevin O’Connell set to become head coach of the Vikings and secondary coach/passing game coordinator Ejiro Evero heading to Denver to become the Broncos’ defensive coordinator.
As Schefter reports in a full-length piece, O’Connell is likely to bring Rams tight ends coach/passing game coordinator Wes Phillips with him to Minnesota to serve as the Vikes’ offensive coordinator or passing game coordinator. Schefter names Kentucky OC Liam Coen — a Rams staffer from 2018-20 — as a “prime candidate” to replace O’Connell, though RB coach Thomas Brown could also garner consideration for the soon-to-be-vacant OC job. Yet another candidate is Greg Olson, who spent the last four seasons as the Raiders’ OC but who was the Rams’ QB coach in 2017, McVay’s first season as HC.
Whether it’s to become Los Angeles’ new OC or to reprise his role as QB coach, Olson is expected to rejoin McVay’s staff in 2022.
Sean McVay Plans To Coach In 2022
In the run-up to Super Bowl LVI, media pundits have attempted to add steam to a long-running rumor: that Rams’ head coach Sean McVay has been considering working as a television analyst, leaving coaching in the rearview. After comments made by McVay in the team’s final media availability yesterday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN wrote an article tying those comments to the rumor. 
McVay answered a media question saying that he “won’t make it” if he’s coaching until he’s 60. When asked to elaborate, McVay expounded on the idea, speaking on things he hopes to focus on in life.
“I’m gonna be married this summer, I want to have a family and I think being able to find that balance but also be able to give the time necessary. I have always had a dream about being able to be a father and I can’t predict the future, you know,” McVay postulated.
He continued, “I don’t really know. I know I love football and I’m so invested in this thing and I’m in the moment right now. But, at some point, too, if you said what do you want to be able to do? I want to be able to have a family and I want to be able to spend time with them.”
McVay went on about the lessons he’s learned from watching his father and grandfather. McVay’s grandfather, John, was an NFL head coach in the 1970s for the Giants. He served as an executive in the 49ers’ front office for two decades, starting in 1980 and eventually became San Francisco’s general manager in 1998. Sean claimed his father, Tim, would have been an “unbelievable coach,” but, seeing the time his own father had missed due to the rigorous schedule of an NFL club leader, he decided he would rather spend that time with his family.
“So, I always remember that and, at some point, I want to be able to have a family,” McVay went on. “So, that’s why I say that. But…you’ll probably be talking to me when I’m 61 doing this stuff. Who knows?”
Somehow, these sentiments have led to speculation that McVay may hang up the whistle at the ripe old age of 36. McVay quickly put these rumors to bed, texting NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport to ensure that he is “committed to this team and coaching.” Rapoport reports that McVay intends to coach the Rams “in the 2022 season and beyond.”
One day, McVay’s main focus, like his father’s, will switch to his family and to being a dad. It appears that this will not be the case for several more seasons to come, but if McVay’s comments to Rapoport are true, it certainly won’t be the case come Monday, regardless of the result of tomorrow’s game.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/12/22
Here are the league’s minor transactions leading up to Super Bowl LVI:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: DT Mike Daniels, WR Trent Taylor
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: S Eric Weddle, S Blake Countess
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 2/12/22
Here are the league’s practice squad transactions leading up to Super Bowl LVI:
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: K Ryan Santoso, LS Carson Tinker
- Placed on practice squad injured list: LB Anthony Hines III, WR Warren Jackson