Los Angeles – A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press that the Los Angeles Rams are finalizing a trade that is legendary defensively for the Detroit Lions tackle Michael Brokers.
The man spoke Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the deal was not completed.
The Brokers have been a tight action forward on the Ram’s defensive line for the past nine seasons, when they selected him in 2012 with the first draft pick of General Manager Les Snead in St. Louis. The Brokers produced a terrific build-up with All-Pro Ariel Donald in 2015. Ram’s tandem on the defensive line and he was joined in a breakout season by Sebastian Joseph-Day last year.
Now the Brokers are headed to Detroit to rejoin quarterback Jared Goff, who will formally leave this week when the Ram’s trade for Matthew Stafford could be completed.
Brokers had 51 tackles and five sacks in 15 matches for the Rams last season. Specializing in dirty work and run-stop assignments, he made 28 series sacks as a starter in nine seasons.
The broker was also the locker-room leader for Ram. Snead and coach Sean McVay repeatedly praised the veteran’s smart and attitude as an example of his younger players.
“The energy, charisma, presence and leadership he provides is so important,” McVeigh said in January after the Brookers returned from a bout with COVID-19.
“And it’s not just production,” McVay said. “Let me tell you what you really feel: You appreciate him because he’s got this warm, charming personality, but he locks on the field. People look up to him, ‘All right, How does it look like how do you have meetings with a supporter of a supporter, how do you practice? ‘ I think he has the right balance of urgency and joy. “
Brokers left Ram nearly a year ago, but their free-agent deal with the Baltimore Ravens was scratched when the team did not get a satisfactory physical exam during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic . The Brokers later re-signed with Ram to a three-year deal.
Ram has been pushed to the salary cap limit after his offshoot machine to acquire Stampard. But the deal does not relate to that requirement: Several hours earlier on Tuesday, the team announced that it had already managed to get under the cap for the new league year.
With the departure of the Brokers and safety John Johnson, who is signing a lucrative free-agent deal with Cleveland, the Ram’s No. 1-ranked defense has lost two of its most important leaders – and linebacker Samson with three starts Ebookam, which is going to San Francisco.
With the departure of long snapper Jake McCuid for the Dallas Cowboys this week, Brokers and puncher Johnny Hecker was Ram’s longest-lived player. Miami, with the imminent departure of Malcolm Brown for Hecker, Donald, and tackle Rob Havenstein, will be the only remaining St. Louis Ram on the Los Angeles roster.
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