Trent McDuffie bolstering the Los Angeles Rams secondary is one of the biggest positional upgrades for any team this NFL offseason. And the two-time All-Pro has taken to his new team quite quickly.
“It feels like home,” McDuffie said this week in an interview with the Rams’ social media team. “When I put that Rams helmet on, it was like a feeling that I should be here, a feeling of almost community. The fans, I’ve known them forever, I grew up here … they’ve welcomed me into this team and this culture with open arms.”
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It’s hard to ask for more from a blockbuster acquisition than what McDuffie has already given this Rams franchise. Obviously, he’s a stud of a player, whether that means he’s playing in the slot or on the boundary. But the fact that he wants to be a part of this organization and has already embraced it is a welcome addition, too.
Even with an interview segment that’s gone viral this week about being made about his trade away from the Kansas City Chiefs in the moment, McDuffie had previously admitted a desire to play for the Rams one day. Sometimes things work out exactly how they’re supposed to.
And if you’re one who likes to buy in on vibes, McDuffie’s aforementioned interview is only going to further sell you on this group.
“They’re so smart, and they just love ball,” McDuffie said, regarding his teammates. “Everybody’s out here working hard, no doubt, but they’re enjoying it, and that makes it a little bit more special when you come out here and enjoy playing football.”
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This is the time of year when everyone should be excited about their team. Training camp is the football equivalent of the old baseball axion that “hope springs eternal.” If you’re already feeling down about your situation, it’s probably not going to be a fun fall for your franchise.
But for a team that has a target on its back and one, singular goal in mind this season, it’s not nothing that things feel so positive right now. Sports culture in this country lauds the “businesslike mentality” a great deal, but threading the needle of intense focus and giddy excitement can only be a positive. There’s no downside to boosting morale.
How does all of that translate to the football field? The camaraderie, the energy, that positive feelings, that’s all coalescing with the best roster in football. And as played out as the phrase “iron sharpens iron” is, that’s something McDuffie and these Rasm are living by.
“I’m going against the two best receivers in the league with Davante [Adams] and Puka [Nacua],” McDuffie said. “Each day that they come out on this field, they’re ready to work and you know you have to be at your best. And that’s what I love. If I have to come out here every day and be at my best, one, we’re going to raise the standard, two, I’m going to get them better, three, they’re going to get me better.”
When a new team leader is bringing this kind of excitement and passion for the game, it’s hard not to buy all the way in.
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