The one NFC West team with which the Los Angeles Rams have held an advantage just made things tougher for L.A.
The Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday announced the signing of Green Bay Packers free-agent running back Eddie Lacy to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million and $3 million fully guaranteed, according to ESPN.com.
The 26-year-old Lacy, who played collegiately at Alabama, had back-to-back 1,100-yard rushing seasons with the Packers in 2013 and 2014 to go along with 23 touchdowns.
In 2015, Lacy had only 758 yards and five TDs (three rushing, two receiving) as the Packers coaching staff called him out as carrying too much weight.
Lacy clearly took a step backward in 2016, dealing with more injuries even after shedding weight. He had just 360 yards on 71 carries.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told ESPN Radio in Seattle that he doesn’t mind Lacy carrying extra weight as long as he’s in proper condition, ESPN.com added.
“He’s a big back. He’s a big guy. Ain’t nothing wrong with that,” Carroll told The John Clayton Show on 710 ESPN Seattle. “But there will be a real concerted effort to make sure he’s at his very best. This is a hard time for him because he’s working some rehab right now, but he is well-aware of what our expectations and the standards that we’re setting. We would not have done this if we didn’t have a really clear understanding of how we’re going to go forward.”
The Rams have won three of their last four against the Seahawks. In those games, Seattle rushed for 124, 59, 67 and 72 yards and did not score a rushing touchdown.
Los Angeles still is looking for depth on its front seven, and Lacy’s signing gives the Rams extra incentive to shore up their run defense. They recently tried to keep DeMarcus Ware from retiring but to no avail.
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