Goff defends Gurley from 'unfair' criticisms
Jared Goff is sick and tired of the "unfair" questions surrounding his backfield partner.
When asked Tuesday about his excitement to see Todd Gurley potentially become "Todd Gurley once again" on SiriusXM NFL Radio, the Los Angeles Rams quarterback hit back at the notion that the star running back has something to prove.
"Todd is Todd. He doesn't need to become anything," said Goff. "He's done everything that we've asked of him and more in the past few years. I think there's a narrative around him right now that's pretty unfair.
"If you think about it, we didn't play him in the last two games (of the regular season) ... the playoff game he rushed for 100-something yards and a touchdown. The New Orleans (Saints) game we didn't rush for many yards at all. And then in the Super Bowl, we scored three points."
Gurley has come under intense scrutiny after struggling with a knee injury late last season.
The All-Pro racked up 1,251 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns in 14 games in 2018 before sitting out the season's final two contests to rest his ailing left knee, which his trainer revealed in June has an "arthritic component" due to an ACL injury in college.
But despite the time off, the Rams opted to split carries between Gurley and free-agent pickup C.J. Anderson in their run to the Super Bowl. Anderson ultimately finished the postseason with 16 more rushing attempts than the 2017 Offensive Player of the Year.
In the spring, Gurley's health continued to be arguably the team's top storyline as he was kept on the sidelines for all of L.A.'s offseason workouts. The veteran tailback returned for training camp but isn't expected to play in any preseason games.
While Goff said he was proud of Gurley for not reacting to the criticisms, the two-time Pro Bowl pivot had no qualms in standing up for his teammate.
"He's handled everything great and I'll be here to stand up for him and say the stuff he probably doesn't want to stay," said Goff. "He doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. Two years ago he was arguably the MVP and last year he rushed for another 20 touchdowns, I believe."
The Rams are reportedly expected to lighten Gurley's workload after he averaged 308 touches per season during the first four years of his career.
Copyright (C) 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.