With deal done, Donald '100% committed' to Rams' title chase

 LOS ANGELES -Aaron Donald was on the practice field Sunday after coming out of retirement, but Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said the team has not determined when the star defensive tackle will play in a game.

Donald initially retired in March 2024 after 10 NFL seasons. On Sunday, he agreed to a one-year, $20 million deal with playoff incentives that can raise the total value of the deal to $30 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

McVay said the Rams are still determining whether Donald will play in the season opener and will take it "one day at a time" as they determine "whether or not we think it's best to be able to play him in Australia." The Rams open the season against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, in Week 1.

Donald called the decision to come out of retirement "a long process," one that began 13 to 14 weeks ago. During training camp, McVay said the Rams' trade for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in June spurred conversation about Donald's possible return.

"Obviously, seeing what was being done with this team, pieces that was getting brought here. It's like, 'OK, that's a complete team,'" Donald said Sunday evening. "And then you see other moves they make and it's like, 'OK, I wish I was still out there playing right about now.'"

Donald said his training preparation was "13, 14 weeks of just nonstop grinding" to get to this point.

"It really wasn't an easy decision," Donald said. "It took a lot of hard work, a lot of long conversations with a lot of different people but felt good enough to make the decision to come back and do this."

Donald said though he was "on and off for a while" regarding whether he was going to come back, he has known for about two weeks that he wanted to return. But the defensive tackle said he didn't want to rush.

"Just wanted to take my time and make the right decision because once you choose to come back, you all the way back in," Donald said. "Can't be halfway in, got to be all the way in it. So, had to get to that point where I felt like I will feel like I'm 100% committed to playing football again because the last two years been amazing."

McVay said the first question he asked Donald when discussing his availability for Week 1 is whether he wants to play.

"If the answer is yes, then what does that ramp-up look like?" McVay said. "What does it look like for you to even ... he did some individual stuff, but what does it look like to get you into team settings, taking on double-teams, doing the things that are required of you playing this game that there's a physicality and there's an understanding that he has that's way more nuanced than I do. But it'll be something that we'll kind of feel out one day at a time, and I think that'll give us clarity as we just truly just stay in the moment and see what that looks like."

Donald is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, an eight-time first-team All-Pro, a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and the 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year. The 35-year-old has 111 sacks, the second most among primary defensive tackles in a career (behind John Randle's 137.5) since individual sacks became an official statistic in 1982. He holds the Rams' franchise record for career sacks.

Even before Donald's return, the Rams were the favorite to win Super Bowl LXI, according to DraftKings. Los Angeles is the only team to enter the season with multiple players who won multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, according to ESPN Research.

When Donald appears in a game, he will join Deion Sanders as the only players in NFL history to be a five-time first-team All-Pro, have a 750-day layoff and return to the NFL, according to ESPN Research.

Donald has spent his entire NFL career with the Rams, who drafted him with the No. 13 pick in 2014.

Keys to Barcelona's victory vs Elche in LaLiga 26-27, Matchday 2

 Barcelona started their LaLiga campaign with a resounding away win against Elche, with Raphinha and Fermín each scoring twice.

Barcelona made a winning start to their LaLiga campaign with a 5-0 away victory against Elche , despite not having their star squad or all their new signings available.

From the first half, victory was on track thanks to a brilliant Raphinha who converted a penalty he had been awarded, and later assisted Adeyemi so that the German could make his official debut with the team.

In the second half, the Barcelona party erupted when Raphinha scored a brace, which Fermín López then matched, sealing a resounding victory that sends a clear message from the champion: once again, they are the top favorites to take the title.

Key points of Elche vs Barcelona

1. A big difference. Although they are clearly not yet at their best at the start of the competition, Barcelona's quality is infinitely superior to that of Elche, who will try to be a worthy competitor with Martín Anselmi at the helm.

2. Seriousness. It is well known that Hansi Flick does not allow relaxation or half measures, so from the start the demand on his players was maximum and this was reflected on the field to achieve the victory.

3. Adeyemi and Gordon respond. From the first LaLiga match, two of Barça's new signings showed they can be a great asset.

Adeyemi had a great game and scored after starting, and Anthony Gordon came on as a substitute and in a matter of minutes provided two assists for Raphinha and Fermín López's goals.

The heroes: Raphinha and Fermín López

The Brazilian debuted the captain's armband at Barça and did so in great fashion, with a brace and an assist to lead them to their first victory of the season.

Meanwhile, the academy graduate, who suffered a painful injury at the end of last season that prevented him from attending the World Cup with Spain, returned in great form with a brace. He tapped in a pass from Gordon and then made a great individual effort to score the fifth goal.

The villain: Lamine Yamal

A lackluster performance from the Barça starlet, who looked out of sorts and lacked his usual flair. He had one clear scoring opportunity which he squandered, and after that, he offered little else until being substituted in the 65th minute.

Elche vs Barcelona lineups

Elche: Matías Dituro, Germán Valera, Federico Redondo, David Affenbruger, Víctor Chust, Buba Sangaré, Marc Aguado, Gonzalo Villar, Morente, Fer Niño and Ali Houary.

Barcelona: Joan García, Eric García, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martín, Marc Bernal, Xavi Espart, Fermín López, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Karim Adeyemi and Raphinha.

What's next for Elche?

Next Friday, August 28th, they visit Racing de Santander in Matchday 3 of LaLiga.

What's next for Barcelona?

Next Thursday, August 27, they host Athletic Club and on Monday the 31st they play at home again, this time against Rayo Vallecano.

Former boxer Colon dies a decade after suffering brain injury

 

Former junior middleweight contender Prichard Colon with father Richard, sister Natalie and mother Nieves in their home in Winter Park, Florida, in 2017. William Weinbaum

Retired professional boxer Prichard Colon died Thursday at age 33, his father, Richard Colon, confirmed on social media.

Colon, of Puerto Rico, suffered a traumatic brain injury during a welterweight fight against Terrel Williams in October 2015 in Fairfax, Virginia, during which he repeatedly complained about -- and was knocked down once by -- blows to the back of the head. The injuries resulted in Colon being left in a persistent vegetative state and under family care, as documented in this "Outside the Lines" report.

"Good morning, my people," Richard Colon wrote on Facebook in Spanish. "I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from his earthly world. He is now in a better place. I did everything possible to fulfill his wish, his dream of bringing him on vacation to Puerto Rico as he so deeply wanted, but it could not be done."

Colon was 23 when he sustained his life-altering injuries. He was considered a bright prospect at the time, having amassed a professional record of 16-0 with 13 knockouts.

In a statement posted to X on Thursday, World Boxing Organization president Gustavo Olivieri lauded Colon for his "courage, perseverance, and an extraordinary fighting spirit" in the wake of his injuries.

Both the World Boxing Council and the World Boxing Association called Colon "a true warrior" in respective statements on X following his death.

An investigative report released in 2016 by the state of Virginia found that "while Colon's medical condition following the contest against Williams is tragic, there is not one action so apparent and/or egregious to justify laying blame on one person."

Colon's parents filed a $50 million lawsuit in 2017 against the ringside doctor and promoters connected with the fateful fight, but a verdict or settlement in the matter has never been publicly announced.