Ty Simpson Says He Didn't Notice Criticism Rams Received For Drafting Him

Matthew Stafford, nan reigning NFL astir valuable player, was successful a building astatine nan starting line.

Ty Simpson — nan 13th prime successful nan draught — and nan remainder of nan Rams rookie people were astatine nan finish.

The Rams coming and presumably heir-apparent backmost bookended Saturday’s WalkUnitedLA fundraising arena astatine Hollywood Park.

On Monday, they will beryllium successful nan aforesaid gathering room and connected nan section together for nan first clip arsenic nan Rams proceed their voluntary offseason workout programme successful Woodland Hills.

“So excited to beryllium here, not only successful a awesome metropolis for illustration Los Angeles, but a awesome statement for illustration nan Rams,” Simpson said successful an question and reply aft greeting and presenting medals to runners and walkers who completed a 5K. “There’s awesome group and awesome friends successful nan rookie class, conscionable excited to get started.”

Rams backmost Ty Simpson, right, poses pinch a instrumentality during a kindness arena successful L.A. connected Saturday.

(Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times)

Simpson was backmost successful Los Angeles for nan first clip since April 24, nan time aft nan seemingly Super Bowl-ready Rams amazed galore by passing up nan opportunity to prime a receiver to take an Alabama backmost pinch only 15 starts. Simpson said he was not alert of nan first guidance by immoderate fans.

“I conscionable cognize they called my sanction connected nan 13th prime — and, motion maine up, I was going to Los Angeles,” he said. “I don’t really get into each that. ... I conscionable person to make judge I do immoderate my process is, and make judge that I do immoderate nan squad needs maine to do.”

On nan nighttime nan Rams drafted Simpson, wide head Les Snead and coach Sean McVay were uncharacteristically subdued during a news conference. McVay later explained he was attempting to beryllium respectful of Stafford’s position arsenic nan squad leader, and that a individual business besides had affected his demeanor connected draught night.

Asked if he had watched nan news conference, Simpson said, “I didn’t really spot it.”

“I cognize 1 point though,” he said. “I cognize coach McVay has been successful interaction and he’s ace fired up. And I’m ace excited.

“I cognize that I couldn’t person asked for a amended situation, not only pinch nan champion subordinate successful nan convention successful beforehand of maine but nan champion coach successful nan convention astatine nan helm.”

After he was drafted, Simpson, 23, received a connection from Stafford’s wife, Kelly, welcoming him and offering assistance to him and his family. He said he besides received a matter from Stafford that he did not initially see.

“It was really cool too,” Simpson said, “because they didn’t person to do that.”

Stafford, 38, was nan No. 1 wide prime retired of Georgia successful 2009. His connection to Simpson?

“It was funny because, of course, he was like, ‘Welcome, man. I’m ace pumped,’” Simpson said. “He was like, ‘Loved watching you play, but you played for nan incorrect jersey,’ because he’s pumping up Georgia.”

Simpson chuckled.

“So erstwhile I spot him connected Monday, I’m going to springiness him heck astir that,” he said. “But it’s cool. I’m ace excited, particularly having him and [quarterback] Stetson [Bennett] successful there, Georgia guys, and me, an Alabama guy, truthful I’ve sewage to guidelines up for myself.”

Simpson spent nan past fewer weeks moving retired successful Tennessee. He requested a Rams playbook instantly aft he was drafted, but said that McVay, quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone and violative coordinator Nate Scheelhaase counseled that each of nan rookies would beryllium onboarded together.

He is eager to get started pinch nan first shape of his pro career.

His extremity for offseason workouts?

“Just get my feet underneath me,” he said. “Be nan champion feline I tin be. It’s going to beryllium specified a different vibe, immoderate you want to telephone it, from college.

“I conscionable want to spell successful there, soak up arsenic overmuch arsenic I tin from Matthew and nan guys and beryllium nan champion subordinate I tin be.”