LOS ANGELES _ The Rams said goodbye to running back Todd Gurley.
Gurley, a three-time Pro Bowl player who less than two years ago signed one of the largest contracts for a running back in NFL history, was cut Thursday, ending his five-year tenure with the team that drafted him in St. Louis and brought him to Los Angeles to become a star.
It was an unceremonious end for a player who was the NFL's 2015 offensive rookie of the year, the 2017 offensive player of the year, and a key component for a Rams team that made it to the playoffs in coach Sean McVay's first season in 2017 and the Super Bowl in 2018.
Gurley, 25, signed a $60 million contract before the 2018 season that included $45 million in guarantees. He had a salary-cap number of $17.3 million for the upcoming season and was due about $10.5-million in injury guarantees Friday, according to overthecap.com.
Gurley was once regarded as a marquee player for a franchise that returned to Los Angeles from St. Louis with intentions of making Gurley one of the top draws at new SoFi Stadium.
Now, he might play there with a visiting team.
During the run-up to and the after the start of the NFL's new league year on Wednesday, the Rams had tried to trade Gurley. But they apparently found no takers for a player whose huge contract, waning performance and balky left knee caused possible suitors to shy away.
Gurley carried a salary-cap number of $17.25 million in 2020, $13.2 million in 2021, $14.2 million in 2022 and $11.4 million in 2023, according to overthecap.com.
By releasing Gurley before June 1, the Rams will have $20.15-million dead-cap hit, according to overthecap.com. But the Rams will save about $10 million over the next two years with him not on the roster.
Gurley's was one of several massive contracts that have pinched the Rams. Defensive lineman Aaron Donald, receiver Brandin Cooks and quarterback Jared Goff all have megadeals and cornerback Jalen Ramsey is in line for another.
Gurley, the 10th pick in the 2015 draft, has rushed for 5,404 yards and 58 touchdowns. He also has caught 12 touchdown passes. He had his best season rushing in 2017, when he ran for a career-best 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns. In 2018, he rushed for 1,253 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Last season, he rushed for only 857 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Gurley, who underwent major reconstructive surgery on the knee in 2014 while in college at Georgia, was sidelined or slowed because of knee issue late in the 2018, a condition that caused him to sit out the final two games of the regular season and slowed him in the NFC championship game and the Rams' 13-3 Super Bowl defeat by the New England Patriots.
In 2019, McVay attempted to manage Gurley's workload by utilizing Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson. The strategy, combined with injuries suffered by the offensive line, did not work. A year after playing in the Super Bowl, the Rams finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs for the first time in McVay's three seasons.
Now the Rams will attempt to get back to the playoffs with one of the players they considered a cornerstone only two years ago.
