As Andrew Whitworth retires, Rams ready to give punter Johnny Hekker the boot

He stood at a lectern and surveyed the room as his spouse and 4 kids, coaches, teammates and members of neighborhood organizations flanked reporters Tuesday on the Rams’ facility in Thousand Oaks.

After which Andrew Whitworth, the Rams’ left sort out for the final 5 seasons and a pillar of the Tremendous Bowl championship crew, choked up a number of occasions as he appeared again on an NFL profession that spanned 16 seasons and defined why he was retiring.

“The warrior needs to go once more, however the physique simply doesn’t,” he mentioned, including, “It’s simply time.”

Whitworth, 40, loved a seemingly timeless profession.

He was a four-time Professional Bowl choice and two-time first-team All-Professional. He’s one among solely 5 NFL offensive linemen to play into their 40s and the oldest to start out at left sort out.

Whitworth performed 11 seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals earlier than signing with the Rams as a free agent in March 2017, two months after the Rams made Sean McVay, then 30 years previous, the youngest coach in NFL historical past.

“He modified the trajectory of this group when he obtained right here,” McVay mentioned. “There’s no one that has had a much bigger affect than Andrew Whitworth on establishing the muse, the tradition of ‘We Not Me,’ being part of one thing larger than your self.”

Mentioned Rams proprietor Stan Kroenke in an announcement: “Andrew Whitworth epitomizes one of the best of individuals. His exhausting work to carry out on the highest ranges on the sector is barely surpassed by his dedication to creating his communities higher. Andrew is on the coronary heart of our success in Los Angeles these previous 5 years, each for the way he wraps his arms round this area and the way he lifts up our complete group.”

Whitworth is just not the one veteran leaving the Rams.

The crew plans to launch punter Johnny Hekker, a four-time first-team All-Professional who was the longest-tenured Rams participant, an individual with information of the state of affairs mentioned Tuesday. Hekker’s launch will come after the beginning of the NFL’s new league yr, mentioned the one that requested anonymity as a result of the transfer won’t turn out to be official till Wednesday.

Whitworth was attributable to carry a wage cap variety of $17.6 million within the last yr of a contract that included $12 million in ensures and profitable incentives, in accordance with overthecap.com. Hekker, a 10-year veteran, was attributable to carry a cap variety of $3.2 million.

The 6-foot-7, 330-pound Whitworth completed his profession in February by serving to the Rams defeat the Bengals in Tremendous Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. A number of days earlier than the sport, he was named the winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the 12 months Award, introduced yearly to a participant for his excellent achievement on the sector and in the neighborhood.

Whitworth, a Louisiana native, performed at Louisiana State earlier than the Bengals chosen him within the second spherical of the 2006 NFL draft with the fifty fifth general decide.

“I gave my coronary heart and soul to that place,” he mentioned of Cincinnati. “I do know we made a variety of distinction in that neighborhood. I do know we created a tradition that was about profitable.

“We might not have discovered a approach to win a playoff sport or win a championship, however we received a variety of freakin’ video games.”

After signing with the Rams, Whitworth mentioned his purpose was to assist change the tradition. He was captain for groups that went to the playoffs 4 occasions in 5 seasons and completed with a Tremendous Bowl victory.

“Successful is necessary — I believe tradition’s necessary,” he mentioned, combating again tears. “However I believe crucial factor that I might hope guys bear in mind me could be that they consider in themselves. And that that I consider in them.

“And that nothin’, completely nothin’, is just not attainable in the event that they chase it, and so they need it, and so they consider in it.”

Whitworth mentioned he would miss the routine of learning move rushers and defenses and speaking with teammates about what it takes to win.

“I’m primarily going to overlook the locker room, and the coaches and trainers and the help employees,” he mentioned, “Simply the every day residing lifetime of chasing these goals.”

Now it’s time to chase different issues, he mentioned.

“I really feel like I’m at a time in my life the place perhaps chasing one of the best dad I could be, one of the best husband, greatest buddy, are issues to me which might be necessary,” he mentioned. “After which discovering a approach to … fall in love with soccer another time.”

Whitworth mentioned he and his household had been wanting ahead to persevering with their neighborhood work, and what comes subsequent.

“All the things goes to be into consideration for me and my future,” he mentioned, including, “I don’t need to put limitations on something.”

And so on.

Outdoors linebacker Obo Okoronkwo, a Ram since 2018, agreed to phrases with the Houston Texans, in accordance with NFL.com. … The Rams obtained 5 compensatory picks for shedding 4 free brokers and Brad Holmes, who turned the Detroit Lions’ basic supervisor, after the 2020 season. The picks: third spherical, No. 104 general; fourth spherical (No. 142); sixth spherical (Nos. 211, 212 and 218).