Aaron Donald’s return to the Los Angeles Rams has the possibility to be particular.
The three-time NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months is not shying away from expectations. With two phrases on Sunday, Donald addressed these expectations head on.
Commercial
Shortly after the information broke that Donald was returning to the Rams on a one-year, $20 million contract, the Rams shared a letter from Donald to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asserting his return. The physique of Donald’s letter was concise:
“I am again,” Donald wrote.
That was it.
Whereas effectively getting the purpose throughout, Donald’s message is a not-so-veiled homage to the best athlete comeback in sports activities historical past.
In 1995, Michael Jordan despatched a fax to media by his agent, David Stern asserting his comeback to the Chicago Bulls following a 17-month hiatus from basketball to pursue skilled baseball.
Commercial
Like Donald’s on Sunday, the physique of Jordan’s message learn, merely: “I am again.”
Again, Jordan was.
Jordan went on to play three-plus extra seasons with the Bulls. These seasons produced the second championship three-peat of Jordan’s profession and cemented his spot as the best basketball of participant of all time and arguably the best athlete in U.S. historical past.
That is a excessive bar, even for a participant of Donald’s caliber. Nothing that Donald does this season or in any subsequent would place him alongside Jordan within the pantheon of sports activities.
However the message is evident. Donald is returning to to play alongside Myles Garrett for the Rams in pursuit of additional greatness. His return, in truth, units greatness as the one acceptable final result in Los Angeles. A Rams group that was favored to win the Tremendous Bowl with out him is now about as large of a preseason favourite as a group will be.
It units up an infinite quantity of stress in Los Angeles. For a participant of Donald’s caliber, going through that stress head on is the one approach.
