Topline
Quarterback rumors swirled Sunday ahead of the Super Bowl between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals, as NFL teams shift their focus to the upcoming offseason.
Key Facts
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to “hammer out” a contract extension with the team after the Super Bowl before entering the final year of his deal, NFL Network reports, a move largely expected after Stafford led the Rams to a conference championship in his first year with the team.
Despite rumors that the team may move on from him, the Las Vegas Raiders and Derek Carr are expected to agree on an extension that would keep Carr on the Raiders well past the one year remaining on his deal, according to NFL Network.
Things aren’t so rosy for quarterbacks elsewhere: The Indianapolis Colts will “probably” release or trade Carson Wentz by March 18 when his salary becomes fully guaranteed, ESPN reports.
Tensions between the Arizona Cardinals and star quarterback Kyler Murray reached a fever pitch Sunday when ESPN reported the team views the young star as “self-centered” and a “finger pointer,” while Murray feels he’s “been framed as a scapegoat” for the teams’ playoff loss to the Rams.
What To Watch For
Whether the league’s reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers plays again for the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers famously demanded a trade during last offseason and remained noncommittal in whether he’d play for the Packers beyond 2021, though ESPN reported Sunday the Packers plan to woo Rodgers by committing to spending as much money as possible on improving the roster.
Tangent
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow may not be the subject of any rumors, but the 25-year-old is likely to translate his breakout postseason into big money: Burrow is now one of the five most desired NFL players for advertisers, Joe Favorito, a Columbia University lecturer in sports marketing, told Forbes this week.
Further Reading
Even Before The Game, Joe Burrow Looks Like The Super Bowl’s Biggest Winner (Forbes)
