Sean McVay says he is better at having tough converstaions with his players. That’s an advantage
On the most recent episode of Fitz and Whit, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth ask Sean McVay how challenging, but required conversations have gone with Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford as either player could be departing the Los Angeles Rams.
McVay knows that for the most successful relationships to work they demand difficult discussions, and he doesn’t shy away from it. He expressed in his responses throughout the episode that he continues to evolve as a person, and as an NFL head coach.
He also credits his prior experience with Jared Goff as a turning point when it comes to having what can be uncomfortable dialogues.
Starting with Kupp
The head coach summarized the talks with Kupp have been important, but he doesn’t say they’ve been easy.
“We’ve had to have some honest conversations…there’s no good way to deliver some tough information other than with some empathy, being direct, and open and honest…”
McVay’s regrets with Jared Goff
McVay’s admitted before he should’ve handled the trade of Jared Goff differently, and the offensive guru’s regrets with Goff, may be fueling him to have “better” conversations with Kupp and Stafford.
“When I look back on it, the Jared Goff situation could’ve been handled better on my part…you sit there and you say, ‘Man, I definitely…I had some growing up to do’, coulda done a better job for Jared, there’s a lot more respect…etiquette that he deserved in the way that that was handled on my end…that was poor on my part and you want to make sure…to apply your learning lessons from your mistakes. that you’re at least trying to communicate with clarity. And it doesn’t mean that they’re easy, but like I said earlier I think people just don’t like being caught off guard, and this is something that you have a lot of sleepless nights trying to figure out what is best for the short and the long term.”
How are talks between McVay and Stafford?
When Fitzmagic asks L.A.’s head coach about Stafford, McVay seems to think that whatever happens, Stafford should not feel the same surprise that Goff once did when he was traded to the Detroit Lions, but the outcome is yet to be determined.
“When we had these conversations prior to the Super Bowl, I think the important thing is let’s be clear, open and honest…don’t want to have to anything in secret, want to make sure that we’re all abreast of the situation. Even though, the first goal in mind is to have you come back here as the quarterback, but that’s where we’re really trying to measure all those things…he and I have had dialogue throughout this process, and know where we want it to be able to end up, but these decisions aren’t made in a vacuum and that’s kinda the challenging part about it.”
Last year, McVay was a big reason that Stafford stayed. Could McVay help make that happen again?
Fitzpatrick praises McVay’s transparency, and says that most of all players want that, transparency, despite how awkward or inconvenient those talks can be.
McVay continuing to improve in personal and personnel aspects of the job is an edge for the Rams
The already Super Bowl winning head coach improving his game further is a scary thought for the rest of the league, and a badge of pride for the Rams’ organization and its fans.
McVay reflects during the episode that he can always learn from situations as they arise, he’s not perfect, but he is outwardly expressing a willingness to admit error and adapt.
That admission by McVay is huge for the Rams if they wish to reconcile with Kupp and or Stafford. Regardless of any outside chatter, McVay is keeping doors open for the team through the way he is managing with L.A.’s players. That’s an advantage.
