Eddie Meador, a former NFL player, died at the age of 86.
Meador was a 6-time Pro Bowler and a 2-time All-Pro.
Eddie Meador, a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro pick for the Los Angeles Rams, died on Tuesday, the organization confirmed. He was 86.
In a statement, the Rams acknowledged Meador’s death. Eddie Meador’s son, Dave Meador, first told Talk of Fame’s Clark Judge about his father’s death.
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“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of an NFL great, Eddie Meador, who was a standout leader for our organization and the Los Angeles community throughout his entire 12-year career,” the Los Angeles Rams stated in a statement. “He was a fearless and instinctive competitor who led some of the greatest defenses in NFL history.”
“Eddie’s ability to rally teammates made him the Rams’ heartbeat, and his humility made him approachable to everyone.” Our sympathies are with the Meador family and friends, and his legacy will live on forever.”
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Meador was drafted by the Rams in the seventh round of the 1959 NFL Draft out of Arkansas Tech. He appeared in 12 games as a rookie and soon established himself as a defensive mainstay.
Throughout his career, the defensive back moved from cornerback to free safety, garnering multiple awards. According to Pro Football Reference, he appeared in 163 games and has 46 interceptions.
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Meador was named to the Hall of Fame’s All-Decades squad, although he has yet to be inducted into Canton, Ohio. He was one of 12 finalists chosen by the senior committee for the Class of 2024, but he did not make the final cut.
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NFL Rumors: Rams Have $75 Million in Dead Money Against the 2023 Salary Cap to Prepare for 2024
The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly carrying plenty of dead money in 2023 but are set up well for the 2024 season.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFC West team has the largest salary cap punishment in the league this year because it is carrying $75 million in dead money. However, it has just $700,000 currently counting against the 2024 salary cap, so the roster could look much different next year.
The bottom line is the future looks bright for the Rams.
While they won the Super Bowl in the 2021 season, things fell apart in 2022 with a 5-12 record. That seemed to set the stage for a rebuild, although Los Angeles started off in impressive fashion with a 30-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1.
Things may go differently in Week 2 against the strong San Francisco 49ers, but there is plenty of cause to be optimistic moving ahead.
Even with 35-year-old Matthew Stafford at quarterback, the Rams’ roster has an average player age of just 26 years old, according to Schefter. They also have their own first-round pick for the first time since 2016, one of 11 picks in the 2024 NFL draft.
The front office will have lots of possibilities to improve for 2024, thanks to the draft picks, the youth movement, and the salary cap scenario.
For the time being, a healthy Stafford will seek to lead the Rams to an unexpected 2023 season.
He completed 24-of-38 passes for 334 yards, while running backs Kyren Williams and Cam Akers combined for three rushing touchdowns against the Seahawks. With a good defensive effort against Geno Smith and the Seattle offense, Los Angeles appeared to be a viable contender early on.
